We are thrilled to share that Alexandra Konieczny has successfully defended her Master’s thesis, developed within the framework of the IEK-CHANGES project. A student in the MSc programme in Interdisciplinary Studies in Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Alexandra presented her thesis entitled “A Comprehensive Assessment of Palm (Arecaceae) Uses by the Tsimane’ Indigenous People of the Bolivian Amazon“, supervised by Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares, Mónica Moraes R., and Jorge C. Llopis.
Alexandra’s thesis represents an extraordinary piece of research, combining rigorous ethnobotanical analysis with a deep sensitivity to Indigenous knowledge systems. Her work provides one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of how Tsimane’ communities use palms. Awarded an outstanding 9.7 out of 10, her research makes an important contribution to our broader efforts to understand continuity and change in the ethnobotanical knowledge systems of Amazonian Indigenous Peoples.
Congratulations, Alexandra, on this remarkable achievement. We are incredibly proud of you and excited to see all the wonderful things you will accomplish in the future!