Arnold conducted her research Master’s Geoinformatics and advanced geospatial analysis for urban and regional planning support at the University of Cape Town.
2019 marks the ten-year anniversary of the programme under the motto 'Smart Green Planet – Solutions for a Sustainable Future'. This year, a high-ranking jury of German experts selected 25 up-and-coming researchers from among 837 applicants and 97 countries, which marks a new high score of applications received. Furthermore, and for the first time, winners from Cameroon, Lebanon, Morocco and Papua New Guinea are among the chosen awardees.
Held under the patronage of the federal minister of education and research Anja Karliczek, the award has been honouring talented researchers since 2009, providing young scientists with a platform for sharing their innovative green concepts to help shape a more sustainable future.
Green Talents visited German research institutions, universities and organisations concerned with sustainability science and discuss their projects with local experts. Among the research institutions included in this year’s programme are the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Saarbrücken, the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security in Bonn, RWTH Aachen University, and the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy.
Furthermore, Germanwatch e. V., a non-governmental organisation based in Bonn was visited, as well as the company Covestro AG, which will present itself at K 2019, a trade fair for plastics and rubber in Düsseldorf. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, the tour ended with a major networking conference bringing together the awardees, further distinguished German experts from the field of sustainability research and selected Green Talents alumni.
By establishing contacts with the German science community and exchanging ideas with its key innovators, the awardees will be able to lay the foundations for future cooperation. These efforts are supported by the invitation to return to Germany in 2020 for a fully funded research stay at an institution of their choice.
