A Zimbabwean PhD candidate has achieved a significant academic milestone after his research was accepted for presentation at a major international conference in Ireland, alongside securing a highly competitive bursary award.
David Anodiwa Chikwanha, a final-year Geography PhD candidate, announced that his abstract has been selected for presentation at the Conference of Irish Geographers 2026, scheduled to take place at University College Cork from 6–8 May. In addition to this achievement, he has also been awarded a conference bursary by the organising committee, a distinction granted to only a select few applicants.
“I am delighted to share that my abstract has been accepted for presentation at the Conference of Irish Geographers 2026, taking place at University College Cork (6-8 May). I’m also honoured to have been awarded a conference bursary by the CIG 2026 Organising Committee, selected from a strong pool of applicants for one of only three available bursaries,” he said.
Chikwanha’s research presentation, titled “Bridging Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge in Agricultural Climate Adaptation: Evidence from Gokwe South, Zimbabwe,” explores the integration of local Indigenous knowledge systems with scientific approaches to address climate adaptation challenges in rural farming communities.
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“My presentation, ‘Bridging Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge in Agricultural Climate Adaptation: Evidence from Gokwe South, Zimbabwe,’ will present findings addressing two of my PhD research questions. I look forward to sharing some of my original research and engaging with colleagues and scholars whose work continues to shape thinking in this field,” he added.
His work contributes to a growing body of scholarship focused on decolonial approaches to climate adaptation, particularly within Indigenous and rural contexts. Beyond academia, Chikwanha is also involved in social entrepreneurship initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for young people and advancing climate action across Africa.
He credited his academic journey and recent success to the support of his supervisors and institution. “My sincere thanks to my supervisory team, Dr Darren Clarke and Dr Jimmy O’Keeffe, as well as the DCU School of History and Geography and the DCU Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, for their continued support and for funding my doctoral research,” he said.
Chikwanha also acknowledged the role of fellow scholars and organisers in creating platforms for knowledge exchange. “I also extend my thanks to Dr Adwoa Ofori for organising the session ‘Rethinking the Production and Integration of Knowledge Systems: The Contribution of the Indigenous.’”
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