Hi 
I'm Gergino CHOUNNA
PHD CandidateEnv. EngineerSAVVY Fellow 2022
MISSION STATEMENT
As a young and passionate Environmental Engineer and Researcher, my mission statement is to contribute in creating a more sustainable world through scientific research and development. My interest lies in improving the living conditions of my society with more focus on improving access to basic needs like water and education. I aim to reduce the under representation of Scientists in my society, particularly in the water sector and adaptation to geo-environmental hazards. In this regard, this website aims to share my activities, experiences, and eventually appears as one of the paths to achieve my mission. Here, I am committed to share my experiences in scientific research, higher education and advocacy. Hoping this experience will inspire or foster the desire of other young people from any part of the globe to take effective actions in his life and thereby contributing in creating a global change.
PERSONAL THOUGHTS, BEYONG ENGINEERING
let me share two personal thoughts beyond academic and professional views in the form of two questions and answers.
#1- 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 « 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 » 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞?
If I had lived in a different era, I would have dreamed of time travel. But today, I don’t feel the need. I am proud to live in this historical period where global upheavals are no longer just recounted in books, but experienced daily. Every day is a page of history being written, an adventure for those who are passionate about the evolution of societies.
On a personal level, I see this era as a mix of challenges and opportunities. True power now lies in the ability to learn continuously, access relevant information, and use it effectively and sustainably.
#2- 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?
Reading and reflecting on the history and long-term strategy of nations is a passion that I hold dear, just as much as engineering. I admire the constant dynamism of nations throughout the ages. Despite the evolution of actors, eras, and methods, fundamental objectives seem to endure. This realisation helps me to adopt a more serene and realistic perspective of the world.
MY ACTIVITIES
What I Do
RESEARCH
My research interest lies at the nexus between land subsidence, sea level rise, unsustainable groundwater extraction and others geo-environmental hazards in coastal cities and deltas. (Read more on Research Interest below or click on "RESEARCH" above.)
ENGINEERING
Hold an international Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering that provides me, a multidisciplinary approach that covers the various physical, biological and chemical aspects of natural and anthropogenic systems. (Read more on "Valuable Links" below.)
ADVOCACY
I am passionate and committed to contribute in findings sustainable solutions to the environmental and developmental challenges. By joining youth and professional organisations, i hope to learn, unlearn, network and collaborate with other people so as to fulfil this mission.
About Me
Environmental Engineer
and Researcher
I am a Ph.D. Candidate at the department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Padova, Italy. My research interests encompass land subsidence, sea level rise, groundwater management, coastal flooding and related hazards. I am particularly interested on how these geo-environmental phenomena are connected and contribute to the vulnerability of growing coastal cities and mangroves along the low-lying coastland of the Gulf of Guinea in the context of climate change. I began my Ph.D. at the Environmental Geomechanics Group of the University of Padova under the supervision of professor Pietro Teatini and Philip Minderhoop in December 2022 after being awarded the 38th Cycle Padova University scholarship. Prior to my Ph.D. studies, I received in 2021, a Master in Environmental Engineering (GPA of 3.48/4.00) from National Advanced School Public Works Yaoundé, Cameroon, and an International Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering (GPA of 108/110) from the University of Padova. These two degrees are a fruit of a successful collaboration between the University of Padova and National Advanced School Public Works Yaoundé which started far back in 2010. My Master research focused on the use of hydrogeochemical approach (rock-water-soil interactions) to explain how elements which are nutrients to plants (essential plant nutrients) are generated, mobilised and distributed at the soil horizons, and the further dynamic that contributed to nutrients depletion and low crops yields within sedimentary watersheds with Sahelian climate, and igneous watersheds with sub-tropical climate in Northern Cameroon.
Elevate Professional Development
Program Fellow 2021-2022ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8843-8837Groundwater Youth Network (GWYN)
Steering Committe Member of UNESCO Groundwater Youth Network since 2022
RESEARCH INTEREST
My research interest lies at the nexus between land subsidence, sea level rise, unsustainable groundwater extraction and others geo-environmental hazards in coastal cities and deltas.
My PhD research focus on the vulnerability of coastal cities and mangroves to the combined effects of Land subsidence, relative sea-level rise, unsustainable groundwater extraction and flooding along the low-lying coastland of the Gulf of Guinea in the context of climate change; case study the coastland of Cameroon. This research connects the fields of geomorphology, geology, hydrogeology, geomechanical engineering and remote sensing.
Summary of my Ph.D. research
The coast of Cameroon (590 km) is located at the Gulf of Guinea and is known for its low elevation above sea level, making it particularly vulnerable to erosion and sea-level rise. Cameroon’s coast and its extensive mangrove forests (one of the most important in Africa) face many economic pressures, including: encroachment from urban expansion; agro-industrial development; booming port activities; expanding oil and gas exploration and exploitation; and higher levels of pollution associated with these activities. In addition, many rapid growing cities located along the coast (Douala, Kribi, Tiko, Limbe) and neighbouring the mangroves (Duala estuary, Rio Del Rey estuary and Ntem estuary) are currently experiencing alarming coastal erosion rates, frequent flooding and complete loss of land. But till now, there exists no detail investigations on the connection between land subsidence phenomenon sea-level rise, coastal flooding and their present and future impacts on emerging coastal cities and mangroves along the coastline of Cameroon in the context of climate change scenario. Hence, this PhD project aims to investigate, understand and predict the causes, consequences, and coastal vulnerability relative to land subsidence and sea-level rise under climate change scenarios, and further propose mitigation strategies and policies.
Objectives
Investigation of the elevation and vulnerability of Cameroon’s low-lying coastal zone to relative sea-level rise.
Evaluation of the current land subsidence rate, and identification causes of subsidence and relative sea-level rise at delta level and neighbouring cities.
Projections of cause-induced subsidence for the study area.
Proposition of mitigation/adaptation strategies
keywords: Land Subsidence, Coastal Processes, Relative Sea-level Rise, Digital Elevation Model, InSAR, Groundwater extraction.
SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS
SCIENTIFIC PAPERS
Wilson Y. FANTONG, Gergino CHOUNNA, Therese L. L. Jokam NENKAM, Alain T. FOUEPE, Ernest CHI FRU4, Yaya FODOUE, Claire CARLIER, Sara VASSOLO, Yollande NKWESSE, Pierre NBENDAH, George E. NKENG, Nelly MONTCOUDIOL. Hydrogeochemistry of low agricultural soil yield in Sahelian and Sub-Tropical watersheds, Northern Cameroon. Journal of African Earth Sciences 199 (2023) 104823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104823
Alain Fouépé Takounjou · Wylliam Foano Dandjio · Yaya Fodoué · Wilson Fantong · Mohamed Ngah · Thérèse Jokam Nenkam · Claire Carlier · Sara Vassolo · Nelly Montcoudiol · Carine Enow Tarkang · Gergino Chounna · Robert Kringel. Assessment of water availability for agricultural activities in the savannah Plateau of Adamawa‑Cameroon. Environ Monit Assess (2022) 194:813 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10476-z
J.B. Haman Didier, Wilson Y. Fantong, Ewodo G. Mboudou, Auguste Ombolo, Therese L.L. Nenkam Jokam, Gergino Y. Chounna, Gabriel Messi. Hydrogeochemistry and stable isotopes of groundwater in the Sudano-Sahelian zone: a case of the Mayo Bocki watershed in North Cameroon. Journal of HydroResearch 6 (2023) 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydres.2023.01.002
J. B. Haman Didier, Guillaume M. Ewodo, Wilson Y. Fantong, Auguste Ombolo, Gergino Y. Chounna, Line L. Nenkam Jokam, Gabriel Messi, 2023.Potentially toxic elements contamination in groundwater and human health risk assessment in the Mayo Bocki watershed, North Cameroon. Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2023) 16:479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11576-x
POSTER AND ORAL PRESENTATIONS
WACA-VAR (West and Central Africa Coastal Areas – Vulnerability, Adaptability and Resilience in a Changing Climate), From December 04 to 08, 2023 at Douala and Kribi, Cameroon: Vulnerability of coastal cities and mangroves to the combined effects of Land subsidence, relative sea-level rise, and groundwater extraction along the low-lying coastland of Cameroon. Authors: Gergino Chounna Y., Pietro Teatini, and Philip Minderhoud.
2. EGU 2024 (European Geological Union), From 14–19 April 2024 at Vienna, Austria.Presentation title: Vulnerability of coastal cities and mangroves to the combined effects of Land subsidence, relative sea-level rise, and groundwater extraction along the low-lying coastland of Cameroon. Authors:Gergino Chounna Y., Pietro Teatini, and Philip Minderhoud.
3. URBIS2024 (Insights from Space), From 16th- 18th September 2024 at European Space Agency, Frascati, Rome. Presentation title: Estimating Land Subsidence dynamics on Rapidly Developing Coastal Urban Environments, Case of Douala City in Cameroon.Authors: Gergino Chounna Y., Philip Minderhoud, Leonard Ohenhen, Manoochehr Shirzaei, and Pietro Teatini.
4. First West African International Workshop on Coastal Land Subsidence, From 4th to 8th November 2024 at the University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Presentation title: Land Subsidence and Coastal City Vulnerability: Elevation Data Challenges in Douala Coastland, Cameroon.
Authors: Gergino Chounna Y., Philip Minderhoud, Leonard Ohenhen, Katharina Seeger, Manoochehr Shirzaei, and Pietro Teatini.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Cameroon Association of Geomorphologist (ACG)
- Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG)
- American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES)
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) &Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute (COPRI) of ASCE
- UNESCO Groundwater Youth Network (GWYN)
- Esri’s Young Professional Network (YPN)
- World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW)
- Community Surface Dynamics Modelling System (CSDMS)
- Rural Water Supply Network for young professional (RWSN)
- Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD)
- Global Ambassadors of Sustainability (GAoS)
- Children and Youth Major Group on Environmental Processes-UNEP Youth Constituency
- Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2022 fully funded PhD scholarship, University of Padova, Italy.
- *2022 fully funded PhD scholarship, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani-Ghana. (Rejected)
- *2021 fully funded PhD scholarship, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani-Ghana.(Rejected)
- 3rd best Cameroonian Engineering Student in Italy
- Future Africa Fellow 2023
- Rural Water Supply Network mentoring program 2023
- 2023 Zhejiang University SDG Global Summer School
- Fellow of Climate X Leadership Training 2023
- 4th cohort of CWW Tech Africa Program 2023
- UN Groundwater Summit 2022 Fellow
- Elevate Professional Development Program Fellow 2021-2022
- Fellow of the Tsinghua Global Summer School (GSS) 2022
- 1st cohort of CWW Tech Africa Program 2022
- World Youth Forum 2021 Fellow
- Young African Landscape Leadership Program Fellow 2022
- SAVVY Fellowship Program Fellow 2022
- E-Mentoring Professional Network fellow 2021
- Ambassador of Sustainability 2020.
VALUABLE LINKS
- Link to my Resume :GERGINO_CHOUNNA YEMELE_CV_2023
- Master Thesis: ABLE OF CONTENT (unipd.it)
- Gergino Chounna Yemele (researchgate.net)
- Detail of my Master program at UNIPD: Award Laurea Magistrale internazionale in Environmental Engineering – Gergino Chounna Yemele (bestr.it) /
- Digital Certificate: Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering (unipd.it)
- LinkedIn : Gergino Chounna Yemele ( S.M. ASCE) | LinkedIn
CONTACT
Let's talk?
It's all about the humans behind a brand and those experiencing it, br we're right there. In the middle performance quick.
Address
35132 Padova,
Padova, Italy
Phone
.