Doreen Misanya successfully defended her PhD thesis at Wageningen University and Research on 9 April 2025

1. What is your research about?
My research is about ecological and transformative learning processes and how these processes contribute to the development of socio-ecological stewardship competences among stakeholders in a rural context. The research was undertaken within the Manafwa watershed which is found in the Mt Elgon region.In the first instance, the research investigated how smallholder farmers learn and what they learn for the socio-ecological stewardship of the Manafwa watershed. In the second instance, the research explored children as a stakeholder category in socio-ecological stewardship. Here, I researched how children in rural areas learn to become stewards and the learning features that influence competence development for children’s socio-ecologocal stewardship. Towards the project end, the research investigated ways of strengthening environmental education programmes to become more holistic and support socio-ecological stewardship especially in resource-constrained rural areas.

2. How did you experience your defence?
It all seemed scary until I was at it. I had two defenses; the mock defense was the most difficult, I wasn't prepared for it so I felt that I did not do well with it although the questions raised and the guidance provided in the process gave me great ideas on how to prepare for the main defense. The main defense was great, I felt confident about it and I could answer questions raised by the opponents.Moreover, I had many friends, colleagues, and relatives, from within and outside Wageningen, physically present and cheering me on. I also had a host of others attending the defense online. For instance, I received so much ululation from the Department of Development Studies at the University of Agder in Norway. This department organized a room to watch my defense online. Additionally, I had a great organizing team within Wageningen that supported the preparation for my defense academically and logistically. This team was very critical given that I wasn’t in Wageningen until a few days to my defense.

3. Do you have a nice anecdote from your time as Promovendus?
During my birthday in 2023, I received 15 cakes from colleagues and friends in Wageningen. I started cutting cake from 12hrs in Lumen and the last at 23:46hrs the same day. The number 15 does not include the cakes I had to cut the following day. I was ‘spoilt’ to tatters in that season, such a beautiful memory to behold.I have great memories of the outings organized by the ELS secretariat, the most outstanding being the visit to Didam where there were so many bonding activities (games) and just too much to eat. Another nice anecdote was the beautiful relationship I had with most PhDs that saw us enjoy nice conversations, koffie, and meals together.

4. What are your plans for the future?
I am open to new and better employment opportunities, I need new challenges. I need more field-based/community-based than class-based employment opportunities. Hence my plan is to find such opportunities and to further my research in the contemporary field of environmental stewardship even if this comes through a postdoc. I also plan to grow my network and networth in the field of environmental stewardship.

5. Do you have tips for future Promovendi?
Stay focused with your eyes fixed on your goal no matter what challenges you encounter; do something about your PhD each office day even if this means fixing a paragraph or organizing the reference list; build a solid network of colleagues and enjoy social events together with people who have similar academic tasks as you; maximize all social events as these help you to breath and take charge of the next steps towards your goal; and don’t be too serious, a PhD is only a life path, not a destination in itself.