The MRI is excited to announce the appointment of Joyce Kimutai and Mariana Melnykovych to the MRI Science Leadership Council (SLC). They were selected by the MRI Board for a first two-year term given their complementary expertise, track record in mountain research, and strategic links with key regions for the MRI work.

Joyce Kimutai

Kenya Meteorological Services, Kenya

Dr Joyce Kimutai is a Climate Scientist affiliated with Kenya Meteorological Services and the Grantham Institute of Climate Change Imperial College London. Under the World Weather Attribution Consortium, her research focuses on analysing the role of anthropogenic climate change in extreme weather/climate events to raise climate risk awareness and inform policy. Recognizing that long-term, high-quality observations are crucial for understanding changes in climate extremes and their impacts, especially in vulnerable regions like Africa’s Mountain areas, Klmutai is particularly interested in data rescue and raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation in a warming world. She is currently the alternate Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Focal point for Kenya and participated as one of the lead authors for the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land in the Sixth Assessment Cycle (AR6).

“I joined the MRI SLC to contribute to the advancement of mountain research, particularly in the context of climate impacts and adaptation. I’m excited to collaborate with fellow experts, share insights, and help shape strategic initiatives that promote sustainable development in mountain regions.” – Joyce Kimutai

Mariana Melnykovych

Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland

Dr Mariana Melnykovych is an ecological economist and social scientist at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, focusing on the resilience of socio-ecological systems and social innovations. She holds a PhD in Economics of Natural Resource Use and Environmental Protection from UNFU (UA) and the James Hutton Institute in the UK and completed her post-doctoral studies at WSL/ETH under the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.

Dr. Melnykovych is currently a Senior Researcher in the Department of Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences at BFH, following her previous roles as a consultant for UNECE and FAO and a researcher at the European Forestry Institute. Mariana is also a research fellow at the Center for Philanthropy Studies at the University of Basel and the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC).

Additionally, she serves as a Deputy Coordinator of the IUFRO Unit on Social Innovations, Co-Director of the CAS Program Rebuild Ukraine, and is an elected Executive Board and Scientific Committee Member of the S4C Science for the Carpathians Research Network.

“I am honoured to join the Science Leadership Council of the MRI to strengthen collaboration with the Science for the Carpathians S4C Research Network, where I am an Executive Board Member. I am here to bring my knowledge in social innovations to the MRI and to collaboratively work towards bridging science, policy, and practice to foster innovations for sustainable transformations in mountain regions.” – Mariana Melnykovych

We look forward to working closely with Joyce Kimutai and Mariana Melnykovych, whose insights and energy will drive our scientific initiatives forward. We wish them great success in their terms and are confident that they will provide valuable guidance for the MRI’s future endeavours.

About the Science Leadership Council

The MRI Board (Chair and co-Principal Investigators), together with the MRI Science Leadership Council and the MRI Executive Director, constitute the MRI Governing Body. Together, they oversee and provide strategic direction and advice to support the implementation and development of both flagship and community-led activities, with the support of the Coordination Office staff.

The Science Leadership Council (SLC) provides advice and impetus for the MRI’s scientific activities. SLC members are observers of the strategic environment. They are also key contributors to research on mountain regions, and through their own activities carry forward the MRI’s scientific agenda.

The Science Leadership Council meets regularly to discuss the MRI’s strategic and operational issues, as part of their engagement within the MRI Governing Body.

Cover image by Jonas Verstuyft