Monica Timbuka profile picture
Monica
Timbuka
Doctoral Researcher, Geography
Digital Data Innovation Hub, Resilience Academy, YouthMappers

Areas of expertise

GIS
Remote sensing
Big Data and Dynamic Landscapes
Participatory mapping
Sustainability and climate adaptation

Biography

I hold a Master of Science in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation for Natural Resources Management from the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University of Twente, The Netherlands. My undergraduate degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was complemented by an exchange program at Umeå University, Sweden, where I gained advanced knowledge in GIS and spatial analysis. Currently, I work as a Doctoral Researcher under UTU-Gredit program at the Department of Geography of the University of Turku. My topic focused on Open data, digital tools and youth engagement in public works for green transition and climate resilience in Africa.

Teaching

For the past five year I worked as an Assistant Lecturer at the Institute of Rural Development Planning – Lake Zone Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania, where I have been teaching courses related to Geospatial technologies, remote sensing and sustainability. My role also included supervising student's research and collaborating on multidisciplinary projects, such as initiatives with UNDP-Tanzania. I also served as a Faculty Advisor for Youth Mappers, where I assist students in spatial data collection and participatory mapping with the local communities enhancing their skills in geospatial technologies. The result for this were practical outputs like simple village and ward maps for local authorities

Research

I am interested in research on participatory mapping, the use of open data and digital technologies in developing countries as well as topics related to climate adaptation. Currently my research focuses on developing innovative strategies that enhance youth engagement, particularly female youth, in digital and green transitions, thereby contributing to climate resilience in African cities. Mainly the focus is engaging youth into different digital public works and novel data collection campaigns related to the co-creation of green transition and climate resilience solutions based on the opportunities of digital revolution, FOSS technologies and participatory methodologies