Esther Chacha Wambura

Passionate and driven interdisciplinary researcher with a strong academic foundation in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Aquatic Ecosystems. Deeply committed to understanding Earth’s past environments through paleoecology, sedimentology, and hydroclimate reconstruction. Skilled in sediment coring, fossil analysis, and biogeochemical proxy interpretation, with hands-on experience across diverse environments from tropical African lakes to polar marine systems. Brings a unique combination of analytical expertise, fieldwork resilience, and a collaborative, solution-oriented mindset, well-suited for tackling complex environmental questions.

Beach cleanups at University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 03/01/21, 05/31/21, Spearheaded and participated in initiatives to raise awareness about marine pollution and coastal biodiversity protection, promoting sustainable waste management practices.

Over the course of my academic and research journey, I have developed a strong interdisciplinary foundation in aquatic and environmental sciences, supported by hands-on research, fieldwork, and international academic exposure. I conducted a field-based study on marine biodiversity in the intertidal zones of Audresselles, France, assessing species composition in relation to physicochemical gradients. At Ghent University, I completed an internship analyzing pigment data from Antarctic sediment samples using R, contributing to insights into primary productivity in polar environments. I also co-authored a blue carbon consultancy proposal in Kenya, focusing on mangrove and seagrass ecosystems and their roles in carbon sequestration and community-based carbon offset initiatives. My MSc thesis reconstructed the hydroclimate history of Western Uganda using fossil assemblages (molluscs and ostracoda) from a saline crater lake, which I presented to the RAOS panel. I participated in an Integrated Limnological Field Course in Switzerland, conducting lake monitoring and phytoplankton assessments across varying depths and basins. Throughout these projects, I utilized R for statistical analysis and modeling, developed a deep understanding of biodiversity loss and conservation, and collaborated with interdisciplinary teams blending ecology, data science, and policy.

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC)

• Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB), Ghent and Antwerp University
• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC)