David Tchouassi appointed TWAS Young Affiliate

David Tchouassi, a scientist in icipe’s Behavioural and Chemical Ecology Unit (BCEU), has been selected as a Young Affiliate of TWAS, The World Academy of Science, by the organisation’s Regional Office for sub Saharan Africa (TWAS-ROSSA). 

This highly competitive and prestigious honour, which will run for a period of five years, is accorded by TWAS to the most outstanding and promising researchers in the developing regions below the age of 40.

During their five-year tenure, TWAS Young Affiliates have plenty of opportunities to enhance their networks with other affiliates, TWAS Fellows and the global scientific community. For instance, Young Affiliates are invited to attend international conferences such as the TWAS General Meeting,

In October 2015, TWAS-ROSSA nominated Tchouassi for the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Future Leaders Programme. As a ‘Future Leader’, he   participated in the Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum, Oct 4-6 2015, Kyoto, Japan (http://www.stsforum.org/). The forum focused on how to enhance progress of science and technology for the benefit of mankind and the environment while controlling their negative applications. It brought together more than 1,000 eminent participants, by invitation only, from 100 countries, regions, and international organizations, including eight Nobel Laureates, top business leaders, scientists, and political leaders. Tchouassi also took part in the special event “Dialogue between Nobel Laureates and Young Leaders.” 

Tchouassi holds a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Pretoria. He received an MPhil with distinction under the icipe African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), at the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, and a BSc. in Zoology (First Class) from the University of Buea, Cameroon.

Tchouassi has a strong interest in the applications of chemical ecology and molecular approaches to the development of improved control and surveillance tools for vectors of arboviral diseases, malaria and leishmaniasis and has published some of his work in leading journals in the field such as PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Parasites and Vectors and PLoS One