Simon Ryfisch

I hold a Joint Master’s degree in Water Cooperation and Diplomacy from the University for Peace (Costa Rica), IHE Delft (Netherlands), and Oregon State University (USA), where I specialized in conflict management and transformation as well as collaborative natural resource governance. These experiences are currently feeding into my PhD research on the implementation of small waterbodies (ponds) in urban and rural areas in the context of extended stakeholder engagement processes.

Previously, I built my expertise in international climate politics - first and foremost, transparency and adaptation - through various employments at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

In the Department of Earth Sciences, I conduct my PhD research in the context of the Horizon 2020 project PONDERFUL which explores in close collaboration with stakeholders socio-political and economic aspects of small waterbodies (ponds) as Nature-Based Solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as biodiversity conservation. Specifically, I assess the policy context across governance levels to understand how policies can support or hinder the implementation of ponds.

Previously, I have occupied myself with conflict management and transformation in transboundary river basins and collaborative natural resource governance in protected areas.