Roots and Ruins 2

A Mexican environmental scientist committed to promoting justice for all living beings in the face of unsustainable development.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences and Health, as well as a master’s and PhD in Environmental Sciences. He currently serves as an associate researcher at the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (Mexico), and work as an environmental consultant in the implementation of the Minamata Convention in Mexico.

For nearly a decade Carlos’s work has focused on environmental issues related to chemical pollution from mining and metallurgical activities. He has extensive experience assessing the human health impacts of mercury and arsenic pollution in artisanal mercury mining sites. He has also contributed to ecological risk assessments in areas affected by primary mercury mining and arsenic-copper smelting, many of which are in important natural protected areas. Throughout his academic career, he has published several scientific papers in international journals, participated in national congresses on toxicology and biological conservation, and supported the academic community by supervising undergraduate research projects.

His current approach is grounded in a human and nature rights perspective. He believes that protecting the rights of all living beings is essential, not only to ensure the survival of both human and non-human life in the face unsustainable development, but also to guarantee that all beings can live dignified lives. In this context, and as a member of Sycomore, Carlos believes that the integrating art and science is an innovative and powerful way to help shift away from destructive human development towards a model that respects all life on Earth.

Joséphine Queffelec is a forest entomologist with twelve years of experience in research. She graduated with a PhD in genetics from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in 2021 and studied the reproductive ecology of an invasive forest insect. Since 2021, Joséphine has been an active member of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations where she serves as deputy coordinator for the Entomology Research Group within Division 7 – Forest Health. Joséphine is passionate about gender equality and regularly volunteers within multiple organisations to lead and contribute to projects that empower women within the fields of forest research and forest conservation.

Paula’s early years were spent in Senegal, Angola, Venezuela, and Spain, before continuing her life journey in Germany and Switzerland. Growing up immersed in such diverse cultures and landscapes, she witnessed firsthand the interconnected and multi-layered challenges faced by both people and forests—and the urgent need to protect them.

Motivated by these experiences, Paola pursued a Master’s degree in Forestry and Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM, Spain), followed by a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland). Over more than a decade, she contributed as a scientist at Swiss research institutes like WSL and Agroscope, exploring the impacts of climate change on forests and agriculture.

Recognising the gap between scientific research and practical business solutions, Paula transitioned into sustainability consulting at Quantis. There, she helped forestry and food & beverage companies move beyond business as usual to business at its best—operating within planetary boundaries. Her expertise includes forest carbon accounting, no-deforestation policies, nature-based climate solutions and developing innovative, science-based strategies. She has partnered with global organisations such as WWF, the World Cocoa Foundation and the Science Based Targets initiatives for climate (SBTi) and nature (SBTN).

Beyond her scientific and consulting work, Paola is passionate about empowering the next generation. She currently volunteers as a facilitator for The Earth Foundation in Geneva, empowering teenagers worldwide to transform their sustainability ideas into meaningful action within their communities. Raised in a family of artists and driven by a passion to make science accessible, Paula now collaborates with Sycomore to harness the power of art in fixing the world. Through vivid creativity and compelling storytelling, she believes art can awaken hearts, inspire change, mobilise resources, and unite us all in the urgent quest to address our planet’s climate and biodiversity crises.

Jhon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government and International Relations from Universidad Externado de Colombia and is currently in the final stage of his Master’s in Public Policy at Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

His research focuses on deforestation in the Amazon and explores how the European Union’s policies could serve as a model for addressing this critical issue. With a strong background in government affairs and public relations, Jhon has worked as a relations specialist, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including the private sector, public institutions, embassies, multilateral organizations, and civil society.

Margherita is a graduate master’s student with a strong interest in plant ecology, urban forestry and environmental research. Her work focuses on understanding the relationships between ecosystems and human activities, with particular attention to sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation in urban environments. Her background knowledge spans from agricultural practices to natural sciences.

She has experience in initiatives that address environmental challenges, aiming at integrating ecological knowledge with practical applications. Collaborating in interdisciplinary teams of students and experts of different fields has given her important skills for multidisciplinary and complex projects. She has been involved as well in several volunteering organisations (Legambiente, NOplanetB, Benkadì) committed to social and environmental sustainability, and that rely, to different extents, on citizen science and encourage public engagement.

She believes in alternative ways that can support restoration of natural ecosystems and holistic approaches to bring positive change!”

A research scientist and data analyst with a Master’s degree in Ecology, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology. Matthew’s work focuses on understanding how environmental factors like climate change, biodiversity loss, and habitat degradation impact ecosystems.

He has experience in data analysis, predictive modelling, and ecological research, using scientific methods to uncover insights and drive informed decision-making. His Master’s research explored the health and fitness dynamics of Carneddau ponies, analyzing biomarkers and their relationship to environmental factors.

Passionate about applying science to solve real-world challenges, using data-driven approaches to inform conservation efforts and sustainable solutions.