Regina Therese Bacalso comes from Cebu, an island province in the center of the Philippines - rich in marine biodiversity, but also confronted with the ecological challenges of intensive fishing. As a biologist and environmental expert, she has dedicated many years to the sustainable use of marine resources - in research, consulting and practice.
After completing her degree in Fisheries Science and Environmental Studies at the University of the Philippines and a Master's degree in Aquatic Tropical Ecology at the University of Bremen - where she graduated top of her class - she worked for over a decade in various development and resource conservation projects in her home country. She contributed her expertise in the ecological assessment of fisheries systems to national programs such as FISH and ECOFISH, where she was involved in the protection of coastal ecosystems and the sustainable development of local fishing communities.
From 2019 to 2023, Regina Bacalso completed her doctorate at the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research in Bremen. In her dissertation, she developed ecological models (Ecopath) that analyze fish catches, fishing effort and environmental parameters in the Visayas Sea - an important fishing area off her home island. Her research is scientifically sophisticated, practical and deeply rooted in the needs of the local population. She published her initial findings in specialist journals during her doctoral studies and presented them at international conferences, such as the International Coral Reef Symposium.
Regina Bacalso was also involved outside the academic context: during her doctoral studies, she was part of the Catholic university community in Bremen, where she was actively involved in liturgical celebrations and intercultural events. With her perspective from the Global South, she enriched discussions about social justice, environmental responsibility and church life in an international community. Her contributions reflect not only her cultural roots, but also her reflective view of social transformation processes.
