“Spotlight on...” New Staff Member Ariel Macaspac Hernandez

What are your main tasks in your new position here at the GIGA? In my new role at the GIGA, I am advancing the T4T project (Transfer for Transformation – Knowledge Exchange with Global Reach) to strengthen knowledge transfer between the GIGA, the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO), and the global public. My responsibilities focus on three areas: research on knowledge transfer, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building for effective transfer practices. Can you briefly describe your previous work experience and how it relates to this position? My work experience reflects significant engagement with knowledge transfer through creating and sharing knowledge, developing and teaching curricula, and fostering dialogue with stakeholders. I produce knowledge that bridges disciplines (such as political science, sustainability, climate governance) and make it accessible across scholarly and policy circles, which is exemplified by my current work in the research project T4T. Also, my teaching philosophy highlights education as a transformative dialogue, through which theories are integrated with real-world issues. Moreover, I bring experience working with governmental and international bodies, including the UN and the European Union, where my work involved translating complex research into practical policy advice, promoting knowledge transfer from academia to policymaking. How do you hope to contribute to your team or the institute in general? As part of my contribution, I aim to enhance GIGA’s impact by advancing best practices in knowledge transfer, particularly within the context of sustainability transformations. For stakeholder engagement, I colead the Co-LABorate series, including a March 2025 workshop in Hamburg that will convene indigenous leaders and activists from Asia, Latin America, MENA, and Africa to discuss the opportunities and challenges of preserving and transferring indigenous knowledge in the digital age, alongside academics, business, civil society, and policy stakeholders. Additionally, I oversee strategic communication tool, such as visualizations and enhanced event formats, to increase the accessibility and impact of GIGA’s research. Through this role, I aim to advance knowledge transfer best practices and amplify GIGA’s influence on policy and global discourse.