CONTRIBUTORS
Diama Diop Dia Djigo
Senior Communication Officer
El Hadji Malick Sylla
Post-Doctoral Research Scientist
Briefly introduce yourself.
My name is El Hadji Malick Sylla. My nationality is Senagelese. I am a Postdoctoral research scientist at APHRC. I hold a doctorate in Geography from Gaston Berger University (Saint-Louis, Senegal).
How long have you been at APHRC?
I have been at APHRC since May 2021. This marks my fourth year at the Center.
When did your journey as a researcher begin?
My research career began during my Master’s program in 2016 when my then-supervisor included me as a trainee researcher on a project he led on the Sustainability of Agricultural Production Systems in Gandiolais in northern Senegal. Later, in 2017 and 2019, he entrusted me with significant responsibilities on other projects related to agroecology and the special economic zones of Senegal, respectively.
What inspired you to pursue research?
In October 2011, I enrolled at the Gaston Berger University (UGB) in Saint-Louis for a doctorate. This was a promise I made to my older brother, who, being the first in our family to go to UGB in 2003, unfortunately, had to discontinue his studies to support our family following the death of our father in 2004. My brother entrusted me with the responsibility of making his dream come true. In 2016, direct contact with impoverished populations through the surveys we were conducting allowed me to listen to their difficulties, complaints, and hopes, motivating me to finish my dissertation quickly, register for a thesis, and strengthen my ambition to pursue a career as a scientific researcher.
What research issues are you most passionate about and why?
I am passionate about poverty, well-being, food, the environment, and urban planning. Environmental resources should be used equitably, effectively, and efficiently to enable people to escape poverty, eat well, access social services, and enjoy a decent and fulfilling life.
Please share some of the awards and achievements you have garnered.
I was honored as the winner of Senegal’s Best Thesis award for the 2024 edition. I have also received prestigious distinctions at Gaston Berger University, including the “La Parole aux Étudiants” prize in 2016, organized by the Circle of Economists and graced by the President of the Republic, S.E. Macky SALL. In addition, in 2019, I was the only Senegalese to be named one of the top 30 young African researchers in the Capacity to Apply Research Evidence (CARE) program run by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
What were the main challenges you faced at the beginning of your journey, and how did you overcome them?
I initially faced challenges in the use of scientific language. As a poet, I enjoyed writing poems using rare words and figures of speech and transmitting my emotions to my readers. However, scientific language is completely different; it is simple, direct, and neutral. With guidance from my thesis directors and extensive reading of scientific publications, I was able to perfect my scientific writing gradually. Since then, however, I have never been able to finalize a poem 😀.
Where do you hope to be five years from now?
In the next five years, I hope to be an established researcher in my field, with more articles and books published in my account. I want to actively participate in developing my country and continent by training young people and reducing poverty.