Learn a little about our Early Career Researchers!

Dr Rachad Sidi Imorou, based in Bénin.

Passionate about environmental protection issues in general, and more specifically about the aquatic environment and its resources, Dr Rachad Sidi Imorou completed his basic training in Agronomy and obtained a PhD in Hydrobiology and Fisheries Ecology. His studies focused on understanding the fish fauna of the Okpara River, the largest tributary of the Ouémé River.

Throughout a variety of projects, Dr Sidi Imorou compiled a list of the fish fauna encountered and exploited by local populations and worked with the entire community of marine fishermen operating on the Beninese coast, as well as all the stakeholders involved in this sector.

He’s also had the opportunity to work with women oyster and shellfish producers in the coastal zone of Benin. This project allowed them to study the oyster and shellfish production chain in the lagoon areas of southern Bénin. This project also enabled them to implement management and protection measures for mangrove ecosystems.

Finally, Dr Sidi Imorou contributed his expertise to a recent project looking at animal biodiversity in costal lagoons, where the study aims to establish a baseline from which monitoring will be conducted to determine the extent to which the work affects lagoon diversity.

Dr Angèle Noudagbé, based in Bénin.

Dr Angèle A. Noudagbé is an archaeologist in charge of environmental and heritage issues and a member of the Laboratory of Art, Archaeology, Cultural Dynamics, Heritage and Tourism Expertise (LACEPT) at the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC). Since 2020, she has been conducting research on ancestral forestry traditions in the royal sectors of southern Bénin. She has participated in several archaeological impact study missions in Bénin, and more specifically in the prospecting and rescue archaeology mission on the Route des Pêches in 2022-2023. Her research, methodologically focused on socio-historical and archaeological surveys, has allowed her to develop excellent skills in interacting with communities.