Mr. Polas is a PhD candidate at the University of Kassel in the department of Social-Ecological Interactions in Agricultural Systems. He graduated in 2019 from the University of Cologne, Germany, in the program International Master of Environmental Sciences. Additionally, he obtained a Master and Bachelor degree in Agricultural Economics from Bangladesh Agricultural University. He gained experiences in place-based field works in various geographical locations, such as India, Egypt, and Bangladesh, working jointly with Jawaharlal Nehru University in India and Aswan University in Egypt. In his spare time, he e.g. volunteered in World Climate Conference (COP23-2017) at the United Nations Campus, Bonn.

Mr. Polas' current research focus is on the Bangladeshi part of the Sundarbans, world’s largest mangrove forest, which is partially located in both Bangladesh and India. Local people are a vibrant part of this mangrove ecosystem. Aiming to examine how local knowledge influences ecosystem management in this area, his PhD research relates the theories of environmental management and ecosystem modelling to the knowledge of local people. In order to do so, he will apply a mix of interdisciplinary methods of empirical research, as well as analytical tools such as Public Participation Geographic Information System (PPGIS).

Polas’s research interests are centered around:

• Ecosystem management (local and urban)
• Nature based solution for risk and disaster management
• Sustainable development
• Climate Change
• Natural and Cultural Heritage management.