Peter Oksen
Ph.D., M.Sc. Geography
Senior Environmental Scientist, Earth Systems Lao
Manager Aid & Development

Summary

Peter holds a Ph.D. in Development Studies from Roskilde University, Denmark, and a Master of Science in Geography from Copenhagen University.

Peter is managing several project for ESL and also works a technical expert, especially witin the fields of socio-economic development and GIS & Remote Sensing. Before joining ESL, Peter held a position as Associate Professor in International Development Studies at the Department of Society and Globalisation at Roskilde University. From 2004-05 he was assisting the National University of Laos (NUOL) as TA in establishing the Centre for Environment and Development Studies. Peter has more than 10 years experience working with natural resource management and related fields.

Education and Affiliations

Ph.D. in International Development Studies, Roskilde University 2001

M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Human Geography, University of Copenhagen 1993

Countries of Work Experience

Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Philippines, Burkina Faso, Niger, South Africa.

Professional History

2009- Senior Environmental Scientist, ESL

2005-2009 Member of the board of DDRN (Danish Development Research Network).

2005 Visiting professor at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok at the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).

2004-2005 Long-term Technical Advisor in Lao PDR on the DANIDA financed USEPAM project (University Support to Environmental Planning and Management in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam).

2003-09 Associate Professor at International Development Studies, Roskilde University

2002-2008 Team leader for the USEPAM project at IDS

1998-2003 Assistant Professor at the SLUSE program (Danish University Consortium on Sustainable Land Use and Natural Resource Management) at International Development Studies (IDS), Roskilde University.

Fields of Special Competence

Natural Resource Management; Land Use Planning; Environmental Management; Development studies; Climate Change; EIA & SIA; Socio-Economic Rural Studies; GIS & Remote Sensing; Institutional capacity building & HRD; Teaching and Training.

Representative Experience

Project manager for the Thakho Hydropower project EIA/SIA, Champassak province.

Project manager and lead analyst/writer on the 2009 Houshold survey for the MMG LXML-Sepon Gold mine. Survey covered all aspects of socio-ecnomic development among aprox. 2300 households.

Socio-econmoic baseline and Health Impact Assessment for the Ban Houay Xai Gold and Copper Mine, Pan Australia (2009).

Short-term GIS & Remote Sensing Consultancy for The International Woodland Company doing forest classification in Congo DRC based on SPOPT5 satellite image (2009).

Head of the Danish researcher team involved in the Danida funded research programme “Assessing effects of and responses to climate change on environment and socio-economic development in Mid- Central Vietnam” in cooperation with Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology, Institute of Geography, Hanoi. (2008-09).

Head of the research group ”Interfaces of Development: Global Challenges, Local Complexities” at International Development Studies (IDS), Roskilde University. (2003-09)

Team leader for the USEPAM project (University Support to Environmental Planning and Management in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam) at IDS.(2002-08)

Teacher at “Kultur Studier” in Hoi An, Vietnam. Kultur Studier is a private Norwegian enterprise offering M.Sc. courses to international students. Subject of the course was development issues in SE Asia. (2008)

Mission with the aim to identify research and capacity building opportunities under the DANIDA/DFID Natural Resource Management and Livelihoods Programme in Cambodia. In cooperation with Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Bangkok and Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). (2005)

Preparation and execution of the Khun Samun Interdisciplinary Research Project, Nan Province, Thailand. The Project was undertaken in cooperation with the Chiang Mai and Maejo Universities, Thailand. The project was focussed on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the establishment of a new National Park in the area. (2003, 04)

Fieldwork in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, with the objective of investigating land reform and tenure related issues in smallholder farming systems in the former homelands. (2002)

Selected Publications

Oksen, Peter, Jakob Magid, and Andreas de Neergaard. 2009. "Thinking Outside the Box. Interdisciplinary Integration of Teaching and Research on an Environment and Development Study Programme. "Interdisciplinary Science Reviews 34".