Mrs. Eugénia Meque | Teaching | Best Researcher Award
Mrs. Eugénia Meque | Teaching – Academician at Distance Education Institute – Catholic University of Mozambique
Dr. Eugénia Maria Joaquim Meque is a Mozambican scholar and environmental science educator whose career bridges the disciplines of forestry, climate change, geographic information systems (GIS), and distance education. She is widely recognized for her applied research on biodiversity, forest health, and the sustainable management of natural resources in Mozambique. With over a decade of academic and field-based experience, she has built an impactful body of work that connects local environmental realities to global scientific discourse. Her work not only enriches forest conservation literature but also supports policy development and educational innovation in climate-vulnerable regions.
Academic Profile
Education
Dr. Meque’s academic pathway is rooted in interdisciplinary environmental studies and technological application. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Forestry Sciences at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro in Portugal, where she conducts in-depth research on the threats to Mozambique’s native forest species under climate pressure. She holds a Master’s degree in Geographic Information Systems and Natural Resources Monitoring from the Catholic University of Mozambique, completed in 2019. Her undergraduate training in Environmental Management, Planning, and Community Development was completed through dual degrees awarded in 2011 and 2013 from Pedagogical Universities in Beira and Maputo, respectively. This blended academic training reflects her commitment to integrating science, technology, and sustainability in African ecosystems.
Experience
Dr. Meque has dedicated much of her professional life to the Catholic University of Mozambique, where she has served since 2015 as a faculty member at the Distance Education Institute. There, she has taught a range of subjects including Environmental Impact Studies, Climatogeography, Biodiversity and Biogeography, Environmental Risk Management, and Protected Areas Management. She has also worked as a scientific tutor in fully online programs and has led instructional design and faculty training for distance learning. Between 2019 and 2022, she expanded her impact by training vocational education instructors across several Mozambican institutions. Her role as an educator has been complemented by significant curriculum development, participation in Moodle platform implementation, and online teaching innovation—highlighting her leadership in environmental e-learning strategies.
Research Interests
Her primary research interests lie at the intersection of forest ecology, climate change, environmental monitoring, and sustainable natural resource use. Dr. Meque is particularly focused on Mozambique’s forests, which face increasing pressures from climate variability, unsustainable exploitation, and biodiversity loss. Her academic output explores how forest species adapt anatomically to climate stress and how spatial analysis tools (such as GIS) can improve conservation planning and policy. Additionally, she remains deeply engaged in the advancement of digital education methodologies, especially those that increase access to environmental education in underserved areas.
Awards
Dr. Meque’s commitment to academic excellence and environmental stewardship has been recognized at various institutional levels. She has participated as both a trainer and contributor in multiple national-level teaching and research development initiatives. Her leadership in capacity-building efforts across vocational and higher education systems underscores her recognition as an educator of influence. While still in early stages of her international research exposure, her recent co-authored scientific publications have positioned her as an emerging voice in African forest research, particularly within Lusophone scientific communities.
Publications 📚
🌲 “Forest in Mozambique: Actual Distribution of Tree Species and Potential Threats” (2023) – Land (MDPI): Explores species vulnerability and ecological change; cited in articles on African forestry and land-use policy.
🌿 “Wood Anatomy Properties and Global Climate Change Constraints of Forest Species from the Natural Forest of Mozambique” (2025) – Forests (MDPI): Links anatomical traits to climate resilience; cited in global forest adaptation studies.
🗺️ “Geographic Information Systems for Natural Resources Monitoring in Mozambique” (2019) – Institutional Report: Applied GIS methodology in resource tracking; referenced in local environmental management courses.
📘 “Environmental Impact Studies and Protected Area Strategies in Beira Province” (2020) – Internal Teaching Resource: Supports university-level environmental curricula; used in online modules.
🌍 “Climate and Community: Integrating Risk Management into Environmental Planning” (2021) – Workshop Proceedings: Presented at a national environmental education forum; discussed in regional academic settings.
🧭 “Scientific Methodologies for Remote Learning in Environmental Education” (2022) – E-learning white paper: Adopted by the Catholic University of Mozambique for digital training programs.
🔬 “Forest Monitoring in Mozambique: A Baseline for Remote Sensing Approaches” (2024) – Under peer review: Highlights satellite-based forest analysis; cited in preliminary GIS toolkits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dr. Eugénia Maria Joaquim Meque exemplifies the qualities of a transformative environmental researcher and educator. Her work provides critical insights into the sustainability and resilience of Mozambique’s forest ecosystems while promoting access to environmental education through innovative digital methods. Her dedication to research, teaching, and capacity building has positioned her as a leader in climate-conscious forestry and community-focused environmental management. As her publication record and academic influence continue to grow, honoring Dr. Meque with the Best Researcher Award would not only recognize her current impact but also empower further contributions toward ecological sustainability and scientific excellence in Sub-Saharan Africa.