Teaching assistant of the following courses: -Political Economics at the Political Sciences Faculty -Analysis of Contemporary Economic Issues at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management

I worked for Takata Research Center, NGO based in Mahahual (Mexico) specializing in marine ecology, sustainable coastal management and public awareness. The organization ensures its work is based on effective collaboration with the local community and government. I arrived in the village during the pandemic, and being particularly interested in the ambitions of the NGO, I offered my help and knowledge in economics to create a local awareness campaign and a design of a future conservation project of the mangroves ecosystem, while collecting a database for further economic analysis (economic valuation of the ecosystem, and any potential future cost-benefit analysis of a conservation plan). In order to preserve the coastal ecosystem of the village which is necessary for the sustainable preservation and development of the village, raising awareness of the local population as well as of the local and federal authorities is needed. However, the local perception and knowledge of the local inhabitants have for the ecosystem services is not precisely known at the moment. Understanding the perception, the needs, the expectations regarding the mangrove forest, and the community's potential desire to preserve it is a major step before undertaking any conservation program. To run the project, I designed a survey questionnaire at the micro level to collect data allowing us to understand the needs, perceptions, and knowledge of the local community. In order to benefit from a large sample, I started a fundraising which allowed me to hire 5 local investigators to help me on the field to collect my data. In the questionnaire, a large educational part is dedicated to the local community in order to raise awareness about the ecosystem services the mangroves provide.