The first UNU-GTP doctoral graduate
On Friday the 15th of February 2013, Pacifica F. A. Ogola from Kenya, graduated from the University of Iceland with a PhD in Environmental and Natural Resources. She
defended her thesis "The Power to Change: Creating lifeline and mitigation-adaptation opportunities through geothermal energy utilisation" and is the first UNU-GTP Fellow to graduate with a PhD and
also the first student from Africa to get a doctoral degree from the University of Iceland.
Pacifica's supervisors were Dr Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir, professor at UI and Dr Ingvar Birgir Friðleifsson, the Director of UNU-GTP. They were also in the PhD Committee
along with Dr Sigurður Snorrason, professor at UI.
Her external examiners were Dr Halldór Ármannsson from ISOR and Dr Micheal Goodsite, a professor at Aarhus University in Denmark.
Pacifica got excellent remarks from her examiners for her work and Dr Micheal Goodsite wrote:
| "This is one of the finest Dissertations that I have had the honor of reading in my career. Nearly EVERY question I had, was addressed as I read your work. This is a sign of excellent science, analysis and compelling writing. Your Dissertation gives the impression that you are a responsible, driven, citizen of the world, an inspiring scholar and a patriot." |
The UNU-GTP congratulates Dr Pacifica on her achievements.
Pacifica's thesis can be accessed at Skemman the
University's online institutional repository.