Marie Schlenker

Project Officer, Wetland Learning Hub

About me

I love nature. I grew up in the German countryside and outdoor activities have always been a big part of my life. Unfortunately, so many places worldwide are currently under threat from development, pollution and climate change. I would love to ensure that future generations also get to enjoy nature and believe in the power of education to bring about meaningful societal change. This is why I have chosen to pursue a career in environmental education.

Before joining WWT, I worked as Care for Creation Officer with The Melanesian Mission UK, a charity that supports the mission of the Anglican Church of Melanesia in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. I looked after their education and advocacy projects on climate change, including a community-based environment observatory in Melanesia. I have also conducted research into climate change adaptation in the South Pacific with the University of Southampton and have obtained experience in public engagement with research and teaching.

My role

I am part of the International Engagement Team at WWT. In my role as Project Officer for the Wetland Learning Hub, I am responsible for supporting the development of a global digital learning hub for wetland conservation. The mission of the Wetland Learning Hub is to equip professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to protect wetlands from anthropogenic threats, such as climate change.

Experience and interests

• Education
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Research

Publications

• van der Plank, S., Addo, K.A., Anderson, R., Boruff, B., Bruce, E., Chambers, K., Duncan, J., Davies, K., Escoffery, D., Fidai, Y., Fletcher, D., Hickey, S., Jayson-Quashigah, P-N., Maxam, A., Pauli, N., Schlenker, M., Sowah, W.N.A. & Dash, J. 2024. The ‘more than maps’ framework for building research capacity among young people in coastal climate change adaptation. Area 56. DOI: 10.1111/area.12919.