January 2026 was a powerhouse month for the Centre, blending grassroots community engagement with high-level international collaboration. From welcoming Simanjiro Maasai leaders to launching global mobility networks, AKU-ACER is setting a fast pace for the year ahead.
The month kicked off on January 12 when AKU-ACER hosted 35 Maasai community members from Simanjiro. The visit, primarily composed of women, featured hands-on demonstrations at the Centre's arboretum and Artemisia farm. Conversations went beyond simple agriculture, touching on the mental health toll of drought-induced livestock loss and the naming of indigenous tree species.
This focus on local resilience was echoed on January 23 during a public lecture by Professor Terrence McCabe, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Colorado. He addressed how northern Tanzanian households navigate “compound extreme events", sparking a deep dialogue between AKU staff and private-sector partners.
On the international stage, Dr Sulle represented the Centre at the STEADY Network Virtual Launch on January 26. Championing the Erasmus+ mobility programme, Dr Sulle emphasized that international exchange is not just an “add-on" but vital to AKU-ACER's mission.
“International mobility is central to our vision... local action informed by global knowledge, and global learning grounded in local realities," noted Dr Sulle.
The month also marked a win for climate science. Dr Bashir Adelodun co-authored an article in Water Resources Management, introducing a novel index for drought assessment in agricultural reservoirs.
The AKU-ACER team closed the month with a five-day intensive retreat (Jan 26–30), aligning their internal strategy to ensure that the momentum gained in January translates into long-term impact for East African sustainability.
January 2026 was a powerhouse month for the Centre, blending grassroots community engagement with high-level international collaboration. From welcoming Simanjiro Maasai leaders to launching global mobility networks, AKU-ACER is setting a fast pace for the year ahead.
The month kicked off on January 12 when AKU-ACER hosted 35 Maasai community members from Simanjiro. The visit, primarily composed of women, featured hands-on demonstrations at the Centre's arboretum and Artemisia farm. Conversations went beyond simple agriculture, touching on the mental health toll of drought-induced livestock loss and the naming of indigenous tree species.
This focus on local resilience was echoed on January 23 during a public lecture by Professor Terrence McCabe, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Colorado. He addressed how northern Tanzanian households navigate “compound extreme events", sparking a deep dialogue between AKU staff and private-sector partners.
On the international stage, Dr Sulle represented the Centre at the STEADY Network Virtual Launch on January 26. Championing the Erasmus+ mobility programme, Dr Sulle emphasized that international exchange is not just an “add-on" but vital to AKU-ACER's mission.
“International mobility is central to our vision... local action informed by global knowledge, and global learning grounded in local realities," noted Dr Sulle.
The month also marked a win for climate science. Dr Bashir Adelodun co-authored an article in Water Resources Management, introducing a novel index for drought assessment in agricultural reservoirs.
The AKU-ACER team closed the month with a five-day intensive retreat (Jan 26–30), aligning their internal strategy to ensure that the momentum gained in January translates into long-term impact for East African sustainability.
