Dr. Matthew Chidozie Ogwu is an Assistant Professor of Integrated Ecology and Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University, USA. With an interdisciplinary academic background and extensive experience in convergence research, his work spans coupled human and natural systems, food security, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. His research integrates One Health and EcoHealth approaches to address the intersections between environmental health, food systems, and sustainable livelihoods. Dr. Ogwu has received numerous awards, grants, and fellowships, recognizing his leadership and scholarly contributions. In addition to his teaching and research, he serves on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals and actively mentors early-career researchers. Dr. Sylvester Izah is a distinguished faculty member at Bayelsa Medical University in Yenagoa, Nigeria. He holds dual Ph.D.s in Public Health and Applied Microbiology and Environmental Health, alongside an M.Sc. in Applied Microbiology and a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from Niger Delta University, Nigeria. Dr. Izah serves as Assistant Director of Academic Planning, Research, and Innovations at Bayelsa Medical University and is a licensed Environmental Health Specialist in Nigeria. His expertise covers a broad range of fields, including environmental health, sustainable food systems, public health microbiology, waste management, and biodiversity conservation. With over 300 peer-reviewed publications, including books, chapters, and articles with globally renowned publishers such as Springer, Elsevier, and Taylor & Francis, Dr. Izah continues to make impactful contributions to the scientific and sustainability communities.
