Enoch Mobisa Ontiri, Ivan Bond Scholar

Thanks to the generosity of alumnus Neil Harvey (Accountancy Studies 1985), Enoch has been able to fulfill a long time personal ambition to study internationally and undertake a PhD with a focus on conservation in Africa.

The Ivan Bond Scholarship was named in honour of Neil’s brother in law, a Zimbabwe born conservationist, who contributed significantly to African wildlife conservation during his lifetime.

Neil’s support is not only providing Enoch with a life changing opportunity but it is also supporting a project of enormous benefit to society. ‘Wildlife Wars in the Age of the Smartphone’ will look at research on the intensity of the conflict between pastoralists and lions from 200 community engagement events throughout Kenya’s rift valley. The project will review these focus groups to understand the links between economic development, climate and conflict, and will introduce an innovative smartphone app that will help map the risk of human wildlife conflict using citizen science.

Enoch said: “The opportunity to undertake this research will bridge a huge knowledge gap that exists in my society and in the developing world. I was born and brought up in rural Kenya. Following my studies in Nairobi, I was able to work with small scale farmers back in Kenya and it was here I first realised the pressures placed upon farmers to conserve biodiversity, especially the pollinators which their crops desperately need to survive. As a passionate conservationist, I was determined to continue with graduate level study despite the financial barriers, and my aim was to study internationally. I have always dreamed of undertaking a PhD so that I could develop in depth research, to enable a better understanding of the ways in which to tackle the conservation challenges facing Africa. The Ivan Bond Scholarship is a fantastic and unique opportunity for me to so this, and to take my career to the next level. I am truly grateful and excited to be the recipient of the Ivan Bond Scholarship and to pursue my passion and interest in biodiversity conservation. Without Neil’s generous support I would not be able to do this – I can’t thank him enough.”

IMAGE: Enoch Mobisa (first right) interviewing a pastoralist in Kenya