Nominees for 2025 Board Elections

---

University of Kabianga, Kenya

Faith is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department, Public Health, University of   Kabianga, Kenya. She holds a PhD in Environmental Health (Food Toxicology and   Nutrition), Master of Science in Community Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. She has post-doctoral research experience from the British Geological Survey and the University of Nottingham, UK, among other research exposures. Faith is a licenced Public Health Officer by the Public Health and   Technicians Council of Kenya and an associate Nutrition Expert by the Kenya Nutrition and Dietetics Institute. Faith has previously practised as a Public health officer in the Ministry of Health, as a Senior Public Health Officer as well as a lecturer at the Department of Public Health.    

I will promote the SEGH vision, mission and activities in relevant events within and outside the University to improve the membership numbers within Africa. Use of social media handles, tagging the Society to ensure that they appreciate what the Society is doing. I will further seek inter-society partnerships and collaborations.  

University of Ibadan, Nigeria

My name is Dr. Felicia Funmi AJAYI, I am a Lecturer 1 at the Department of Geology,   University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. My area of specialization is   Applied/Environmental Geochemistry and Soil Mineralogy. Apart from SEGH, I am equally a member of several professional bodies, such as the Geochemical   Society and European Association of Geochemistry, the Nigerian Mining and   Geosciences Society (NMGS), Organization for Women in Science for the   Developing World (OWSD) and so on.    

I believe SEGH can improve by having a wider and all-inclusive membership across the various regions of the world. Not only that, the Society should be intentional about ensuring the representation and participation of each region at major events. By so doing, the Society becomes more relevant and known, with a robust global impact.    

Being a faculty member in the Geoscience Department of a University affords me the   opportunity to meet and interact with upcoming youths/geochemists; who I hope to and have been introducing as early career researchers into the membership of the Society. I believe that as they grow and become established in their professional career, the Society will keep expanding and having greater global relevance.    

Zambia Agricultural Research Institute 

Belinda Kaninga is a Senior researcher at the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, who is passionate about environmental management and general ecosystem’s health. Kaninga is specialised in Soil Science with a research focus in nutrient and contaminant uptake from soil into food crops.  

National Autonomous University of Mexico

I am a researcher at the Institute of Geophysics of the National Autonomous   University of Mexico. My main academic research interests are environmental geochemistry in urban and mining areas, as well as health damage related to metal contamination. I am in charge of an ICP-MS laboratory that has given me the opportunity to be involved in dozens of projects with different scientific groups in Mexico for almost 30 years.    

The SEGH fulfils important tasks in disseminating high-quality scientific and outreach activities that have a significant impact on the scientific community and, indirectly, on society. However, I think these activities need to be reinforced with the support of more SEGH members.    

I have carried out activities that have increased the visibility of the SEGH, such as the Seminar of the Americas for students. This activity has to be taken up again this year.    

Jinan University, China    

My name is Xia Huo, a professor in Jinan University, China, where I direct the   Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology. My research interests are on environmental pollution and children's health, in which I have published 172 scientific articles in SCI-indexed journals such as EHP, ES&T, JHM. I am one of the most cited Chinese researchers   [Elsevier’s Scopus database] and top 100 list of experts with high academic influence in public health and prevention medicine of China. I currently serve as a member of the World Health Organization working group on E-waste and Children’s Health, an associated editor of Environmental Geochemistry and   Health, and the vice chair of the Environmental Mutagen Society of Guangdong, China.    

We can attract more people to join our society by hosting SEGH international conferences and paying conference fees, including annual membership fees. I can mobilize more Chinese scholars, especially public health experts, to participate in our conference.    

I can mobilize more Chinese scholars, especially public health experts, to participate in our conference.  

University of Kalyani, India  

I am a Full Professor at the Department of Ecological Studies and International   Centre for Ecological Engineering, University of Kalyani, India. I have editorial affiliations to different journals of international repute published by Springer, Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, as Associate Editor, Advisory Board   Member and Editorial Board Member, including Associate Editorship of Environmental   Geochemistry and Health (Springer). My main research focus deals with distribution, fate, toxic effects, assessment of environmental health and human health risk related to trace metal(loid)s and emerging contaminants in the environment. Therefore, my research interest, expertise and activities perfectly match with the principles and practices of The Society for   Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH) which provides a productive platform for scientists to work together in understanding the interaction between the geochemical environment and the health of plants, animals, and humans.  

I believe SEGH can improve by having a wider and an all-inclusive membership across the various regions of the world in general, and Indian Sub-continent in particular. By doing so, the society becomes more relevant, vibrant,   bigger, more productive with a robust global impact. I will strive for the presence of SEGH and spreading its activities through motivation and inclusion of interested researchers and academicians in the circle of SEGH as its member.       

In India,  many researchers are involved in the research domain of environmental geochemistry and health. I will catalyse more inclusion of interested researchers and academicians in the circle of SEGH as its member, and will contribute to the promotion of the cause of SEGH by communicating, connecting and cooperating with the researchers (having similar objectives) from India and neighbouring countries. Ensuring more representation, we can spread the SEGH network and intensify its activities in India and other countries in   Asia involving new members from Asia in general and India in particular, in multifarious societal activities. In the future, as a board member of the esteemed society, I will try to build bridges between researchers, fostering interaction and connection through organizing special lectures, seminars, and conferences on virtual mode as well as physical platforms, which will help in promoting the growth and development of the SEGH.

 Michigan State University  (Visiting Scholar)

Dr. Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi received Fulbright Visitng Scholar training from Michigan State University and PhD in Environemntal Engineering from Zhejiang University, China. Dr. Hashmi is known worldwide for the development of treatment technologies to control pollution; to understand toxicology mechanisms of e-waste and to develop novel methods for monitoring of pollution. Dr. Hashmi is the fellow of SEGH and organized workshops and delivered talks through SEGH platform.

Maintaining Interdisciplinary Collaboration: I will participate in multidisciplinary projects with experts from different disciplines such as microbiology, environmental sciences, toxicology, and soil science to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration. I think SEGH can improve in Science Diplomacy in environmental issue: Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh have similar environmental pollution issues. The workshops and seminar using science diplomacy can help to understand environmental issues and to resolve the conflict among these nations.

I intend to grow the visibility and membership of SEGH in Asia and Pakistan by organizing workshops and seminar using SEGH platform, encourage the students and early carrier researchers regarding the SEGH activities and its membership benefits.

University of Bordeaux, France    

My name is Melina Abdou, and I hold a PhD in Geochemistry and Ecotoxicology. My research focuses on biogeochemical cycles of emerging metallic contaminants in coastal environments, studying the impact on abiotic and biotic compartments. I am now a Research Project Coordinator at the University of   Bordeaux, France, working on interdisciplinary themes for research departments.

The SEGH has put extensive efforts in the involvement of ECR members. Since my nomination into the SEGH Board in 2023, I have actively participated in these efforts, providing support to organize ECR Coffee Meetings and updating the LinkedIn page of the group. I would like to follow up with these efforts and provide as much support as I can in this sense.        

I would like to grow the visibility and membership of SEGH in Europe using my professional network. I had the opportunity to work in various laboratories in Europe including France, Spain, Switzerland, and Portugal; where I kept very close contacts. I can also use my alumni network as I am a former student of the Erasmus Mundus Marine Environment and Resources MSc. I am doing and will do my best to diffuse SEGH actions through this network.    

Sapienza University de Roma, Italy    

I am a professor of Geochemistry with a comprehensive background in studying groundwater quality, soil geochemistry, and using geochemical tracers to analyze environmental processes. My academic and professional pursuits center around understanding the chemical interactions within the Earth's systems,   particularly how they influence water and soil environments. I am dedicated to advancing research in these areas while sharing my knowledge through teaching and contributing to scientific and environmental advancements.    

(i) Facilitating Interdisciplinary Collaboration: I will actively promote and participate in projects that bring together experts from different disciplines, fostering synergies between geochemistry, environmental science,   and public health. 

(ii) Supporting Global Representation: By leveraging my professional network, I will encourage researchers and institutions from underrepresented regions to join SEGH, emphasizing the value of their contributions to addressing global and local geochemical challenges. 

(iii) Fostering Member Engagement: I plan to contribute by organizing and participating in initiatives such as webinars, discussion forums, and mentorship opportunities, creating a stronger sense of connection and collaboration among members. I aim to support SEGH in becoming a more inclusive, engaged, and impactful community through these efforts.

University of Lisbon, Portugal  

 I am Carlos E. Monteiro, from Portugal, a Researcher at Centro de Química Estrurural, and Invited Assistant Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. My work is focused on Environmental Geochemistry and Oceanography,   dedicated to trace element geochemistry in aquatic systems and urban surroundings (sources, speciation and reactivity, fluxes, bioaccumulation),   with a special emphasis on priority pollutants and Technology-Critical   Elements (TCEs).      

Attracting a community of young scientists will bring new ideas and a variety of initiatives to address and tackle emerging environmental issues, increasing the collaboration between scientists of different areas of knowledge, and globally as well. In addition, SEGH may put an effort to reach audiences outside Academia and Industry, in particular reaching out to children in elementary schools as well as teenagers in high schools, providing talks and other informal activities that encourage their curiosity towards environmental and health issues, and to pursue a career in Sciences.   Furthermore, such activities could also be done with an older audience, e.g., activities to pass knowledge about environmental and health topics within a University.    

Dissemination and outreach activities to recruit new memberships to SEGH and increase the number of associates in SW Europe. Contributing to SEGH members’ Blogs with short articles targeting multidisciplinary topics, encouraging the participation of younger associates and promoting of an interdisciplinary approach for Science (S), Technology (T), Engineering (E), Art/Design (A) and   Mathematics (M). Relating STEAM activities within the goals of the Society to pass information on several levels to a wider and varied audience. Organizing, promoting and disseminating worldwide, a newsletter based on members’ activities within the scope of SEGH, with a periodicity of three or six months. Organization of online Live events, promoting the scientific dissemination of R&D activities within SEGH scope. Fostering new collaborations towards R&D contributing to the mobility of ECR and/or students associated to SEGH, thereby empowering their experiences in research.    

 Geological Survey of  Slovenia    

 I am an environmental geochemist at the Geological Survey of Slovenia (EU). My main research interest is urban geochemistry, with a focus on geochemistry of soil, stream sediments, various types of dusts, and solid airborne particulate matter. An intriguing new research field that I am working on is the impact of extreme weather events on geochemical properties of the Earth surface. An important aspect of my research is the identification of anthropogenic sources of inorganic particulate matter by using electron microscope techniques.    

I believe that the SEGH can increase its presence and promotion in Eastern and   South-Eastern Europe. SEGH can also improve in recruiting members from these areas. I could contribute to these improvements because I am ideally placed geographically for representation of SEGH in these parts of Europe and I could use the numerous connections that Geological Survey of Slovenia has established with research institutions and universities in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, especially in the Balkan region.    

My first goal will be to increase the membership of Slovenian researchers in the SEGH   which can be achieved by short presentations of SEGH at various events, such as national conferences and lectures for students. The growth of visibility and membership of SEGH in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe could be achieved by promoting SEGH through already established personal and organizational connections with researchers from various research institutes and universities in these areas. After this basic approach has been implemented,   some smaller events (online or in person) may be organised. Contributing contents to the SEGH website will also help to achieve these goals.    

University   of the West of Scotland 

My name is Kiri Rodgers, and I am an Environmental biogeochemist. I have developed my scientific background from an analytical chemistry undergraduate, to a geochemical PhD student, to an interdisciplinary Postdoctoral researcher focusing on environmental geochemistry and antimicrobial resistance. Now I am the programme lead for a new environmental Science and Sustainability undergraduate degree at the University of the West of Scotland within the   School of Health and Life Sciences. In conjunction with this, I continue to carry out research across multiple disciplines and environments including the impact of environmental contamination across air, water and land, and its implications on microbiological, human and animal health.      

The main area for improvement with regards to SEGH I would say is acquiring members. I know we have fluctuated over the years in numbers, and that will have a knock-on effect on the money the society has, what it can offer to members and how it can help with conferences. As a committee member of the   Environmental Chemistry group within the Royal Society of Chemistry, I would start by trying to combine memberships across both groups, particularly as these groups now alternate their UK conferences, I think that we have a great opportunity to expand our membership numbers too.    

I am lucky enough to work in the center of the core four universities across Glasgow and collaborate with each institute, which I believe offers a platform to have guest lectures and advertise the society at conferences, and meetings as well as to students. This also includes new students who join my university degree. In   addition, I am part of numerous biological, aquacultural and geoscience research forums across the whole of Scotland, where I can advertise SEGH.