2026 In-Person Recipients
For each conference, a small number of Emerging Scholar Awards are given to outstanding graduate students and emerging scholars who have an active research interest in the conference themes. Emerging Scholars perform a critical role in the conference by chairing the parallel sessions, providing technical assistance in the sessions, and presenting their own research papers. The 2026 Emerging Scholar Award Recipients are as follows:
Jacob Kwakye
McGill University, Canada
Jacob Kwakye is a second-year PhD student in Social Work at McGill University whose research explores women’s leadership in climate action across Sub-Saharan Africa. He is particularly interested in how women shape community responses to environmental challenges and how their voices can influence policy and governance. Jacob holds an MPhil in Climate Change from the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana, and a BA in Development Education from the University for Development Studies, Ghana. His academic journey is fueled by a deep commitment to social justice and sustainability. Outside of academia, he is passionate about mentoring young scholars, engaging with grassroots organizations, and promoting knowledge that empowers communities to confront the realities of climate change.
Essien Oku Essien
Drexel University, USA
Essien Oku Essien is a PhD candidate in Communication, Culture, and Media Studies at Drexel University (Philadelphia, USA). His research examines the intersection of climate change and spirituality/cultural epistemology in the Global South, with a focus on semiotics, post-coloniality, and “spirito-digital” public spheres. He has presented internationally and earned multiple recognitions across the US, Canada, Argentina, Italy, Sweden, Mexico, Ireland and Nigeria, and serves in student leadership roles advancing global graduate engagement. A certified Climate Reality Leader, Essien’s work bridges rigorous scholarship and public impact, informing policy dialogues and community initiatives.
Hieu Thi Hoang Nguyen
Cerge-Ei, Czech Republic
Hieu Thi Hoang Nguyen is a PhD candidate in Economics at CERGE-EI in Prague, focusing on environmental and development economics. Her current projects include a study using a novel “NetFires” instrument to identify the impact of fire-driven pollution on child health in India, alongside studies on willingness-to-pay for clean air, heat and crime in South Africa, and climate-driven migration. Methodologically, Hieu works extensively with large survey and satellite datasets, employing designs such as instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, and mediation frameworks. Her works have been published in Heliyon (2021) and the Eurasian Business Review (2023), and she has participated in conferences and summer schools across Europe and Asia. Hieu also lectures in Econometrics, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics.
Maya Lis
University of Pennsylvania, United States
Maya Lis is a Master’s student in Environmental Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on sustainable waste management and socio-technical transitions, with a current project examining the potential of electro-composting as an emerging technology to accelerate organic waste decomposition, reduce emissions, and support circular economy goals. Using a socio-technical transition framework, she analyzes the technical, economic, business, and behavioral factors influencing adoption in both rural and urban contexts. She is passionate about connecting environmental technologies with policy and community action to foster sustainable and equitable waste management systems.
