ABOUT THE CENTER
Established in 2009, the Polo Center of Sustainability functions similarly to a university spin-off, non-governmental organization. It was first put together along the Italian Riviera in the city of Imperia, Italy, and has established additional offices in Sopot, Poland, the Southeast Asian city of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, an Indian and South Asian Office in Bangalore, India, and, our latest addition, an African Office in Abuja, Nigeria. The primary focus is the advancement of sustainability-based research with interdisciplinary interests in human geography and the environment. The Center is actively engaged with linkages at the local, national, and international level and is collaboratively engaged in strategies that bring together researchers, policy makers, government agencies, and the community at large to develop innovative solutions to living within a sustainability-oriented society.
EUROPE CENTRIC
The Polo Center of Sustainability provides the European social science research community with access to first-rate data surveying and scientific services. It offers a full range of survey design, data management, analytical, and qualitative and quantitative skills. Our enthusiasm has stemmed from the desire to collect data of the highest quality, to carry out research, and investigative work in the public good and to develop upon knowledge base to support state-of-the-art decision-making. Our aim is to be internationally recognized as a Center for excellence in the provision of scientific research, academia, and co-relating organizations.
INTERDISCIPLINARY UMBRELLA
The Center's key research interests are rooted and focus on the two themes that correspond with PCS Publishing, Co.'s special issue journals based in the Biblioteca Centrale "G. Marconi", Italy's central library in Rome: (1) Special Issue Journal of Human Geography and Environmental Studies, ISSN 2036-7910 and (2) Special Issue Journal of Sustainability Science and Studies, ISSN 2036-7929. The Center has been developed to allow researchers from various backgrounds to collaborate under a coherent interdisciplinary umbrella. This focus extends across various fields and perspectives through which the fundamental and related questions of sustainability are examined. The scale, complexity, and implication of sustainability related concerns requires good baseline research, along with the conceptual need for change over time, and the development of effective sustainability related tools to enhance outcomes.
CSR
MISSION
The Polo Center of Sustainability is devoted to running first-rate scientific research that informs decision making and improvements upon our understanding of European society, and beyond.
GOVERNING PRINCIPLES
Our premise is attained by its governing principles:
being leaders and innovators in applied social scientific research methodologies;
undertaking research that has a positive societal impact;
maintaining expert collection, processing, and interpretive knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data;
promoting a corporate ethos of continuous advancement with the pursuit of excellence as a focal premise;
creating high-performance research units or groups and working respectfully, collaboratively, and transparently with our clients, our stakeholders and each other;
working to the highest ethical standards;
actively enabling in our research all members of society, regardless of social status; and
encouraging and supporting our people to reach their top capacity.
CSR AT THE CENTER
The Polo Center of Sustainability is committed to creating first-rate scientific research solutions to support informed decision-making on ongoing and contemporary issues. Our mission is a commitment to conducting ethically sound research and to behave in a socially responsible manner. We extend this pledge to all of our stakeholders, our staff and others within the research community that we corroborate and collaborate with, in the research we undertake and those that we conduct research for. This is demonstrated through our governing principles which are stated above. In accordance with the Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility, ISO 26000, we comply that social responsibility is the responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, through transparent and ethical behavior. The governing principles highlight our commitment towards being socially responsible and our efforts to conduct our establishment appropriately so that we have a positive impact on the community, the environment, and our people. We believe that this is vital to the success of the Polo Center of Sustainability. Our responsibilities cover three areas: our staff, our community, and the environment.
OUR MEMBERS
The Polo Center of Sustainability has a dynamic workforce with members working internationally in various forms; this includes permanent, adjunct, and casual staff. Our people make our organization and so their welfare is principal to healthy day-to-day work. All employees that are permanent, fixed term (more than one year), and regular senior casual staff are included in our performance and development review process. These reviews are an important part of the Polo Center of Sustainability’s efforts to grow and develop our employees, through regular discussions and planning with managerial decisions. This contributes to the Polo Center of Sustainability’s culture of continuous improvement and ensures that we achieve our strategic objectives. Staff also have access to professional development and, if desired, are encouraged to learn and study outside of their paramount fields of expertise. We also ensure we have adequate number of staff who are trained in first aid or pre-arranged access to medical facilities in-house and abroad.
OUR COMMUNITY
Our community encompasses a wide range of groups, including our clients, our research partners and collaborators, the individuals and organizations who participate in our research, others in the social sciences research community, and the wider community itself. The Polo Center of Sustainability has taken an active decision not to participate in research projects for organizations which could have a detrimental impact on our community. Our research portfolio instead focuses on areas that are for the greater good of society. We strive to ensure that our research is as inclusive as possible, through adopting flexible approaches (the use of translators and translation services, for example is common practice), undertaking ethically sound research and full compliance with all relevant professional European standards. In addition to the orientation of our research activities, we encourage, recognize, and support our staff members’ own involvement in charitable activities. We encourage staff to participate in individual charitable and volunteer activities and showcase these through our internal communications.
THE ENVIRONMENT
At the Polo Center of Sustainability, we believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to contribute to sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices. We understand that even the smallest changes can go toward making a big difference in our organization. The Polo Center of Sustainability has adopted an Environmental Management Framework under which it: (1) advocates to encourage more environmentally sustainable transport; (2) assists members to reduce their environmental impact; (3) ensures that the Polo Center of Sustainability is environmentally responsible in the conduct of its business; and (4) assists the wider community to help the environment. The Polo Center of Sustainability has environmental policies it advocates in the areas of sustainable transport, air pollution, alternative transport, and environmental education. These policies support the need for sustainable development and environmental responsibility.
ACCOUNTABILITY
EUROPEAN FUNDING SYSTEM
Collectively, the European Commissioners have the ultimate political responsibility for ensuring that European Union funds are properly spent. Each year they endorse the European Union’s annual accounts, including data on all expenditure during that fiscal year. The European Parliament then decides whether to give its approval to how the Commission implements its budget, a procedure known as the ‘budget discharge’. The European Commission delegates day-to-day management of the budget to its directors-general and the head of the European External Action Service. They provide an analysis of the internal control and financial management systems set up by each department to ensure European Union funds are properly managed. The European Union’s accounts are based on ‘accrual accounting’ standards, a modern and transparent accounting system which only a few national governments apply as yet. The system mirrors the modern accounting standards used by the private sector.
FOCUS, EFFICIENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
The Polo Center of Sustainability complies with an international three-point platform of effectiveness:
Focus: to find practical, sustainable solutions to the problems concerning interdisciplinary studies, we concentrate our support for applied research on development priorities.
Efficiency: at the Polo Center of Sustainability, we have several mechanisms at both board and management levels to review priorities, evaluate successes, identify problems, and allocate resources. The Organization approves research, projects and plans that spell out our priorities, objectives and evaluation strategies.
Accountability: to manage risk effectively and fully comply with audit and evaluation functions. This is also demonstrated in Privacy and Disclaimer sections of this website.
TRANSPARENCY AND RISK MANAGEMENT
The Aarhus Convention grants the public rights regarding access to information, public participation, and access to justice in governmental decision making processes. This act gives European citizens, permanent residents and any individual or corporation present in Europe, the right to access records under the control of the Polo Center of Sustainability, subject to limited and specific exceptions. The Convention provides every individual who is a European citizen or a permanent resident with a right to access their personal information held by the Polo Center of Sustainability and protection of that information against unauthorized use and disclosure. The Polo Center of Sustainability has an integrated series of strategic, programmatic, and operational processes to manage the risk that is inherent in its work. This includes: (1) at the strategic level and senior management review and discuss the Center’s business risk profile; (2) at the programmatic level, the Center’s projects are assessed for risk before approval and risks are monitored throughout the project life cycle; and (3) at the operational level, the Center assesses its grantee institutions for financial and administrative risk and applies appropriate monitoring and reporting controls.
ORGANIZATION
FRAMEWORK OF THE CENTER
Established in 2009, the Polo Center of Sustainability is structured within the parameters and framework of a business organization.
OUR PEOPLE
ACADEMICIANS
Prof. Dr. Giuseppe T. Cirella, PhD, DSc
Director and Head of Research
Research Links: ResearchGate, Google Scholar
Affiliation: University of Gdansk, Poland; International Humanitarian University, Ukraine; Life University, Cambodia
Founder of the Polo Center of Sustainability, sustainable development, consumption, globalization and resources, sustainability indices and trends, human geography, interdisciplinary societal studies
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Felix O. Iyalomhe, PhD
Project Manager and Research Scientist
African Office Representative
fo.iyalomhe@polocenter.org, iyalomhe2003@yahoo.com
Research Links: ResearchGate, Google Scholar
Affiliation: National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria; Kampala International University, Uganda; University of Cape Town, South Africa
Sustainable development, EMS, environmental impact, energy, climate, GIS, Africa, developing world geography, socioeconomic analyses, urban sustainability, green infrastructure, conservation advocacy, ecosystem services
Dr. Liping Li, PhD
Research Scientist and Advisor
Research Link: Google Scholar
Affiliation: Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Environment, natural resource management, environmental impact, environmental advocacy, species diversity and distribution, medicinal plant conservation, stoichiometry, remote sensing, Chinese consultancy and advisor
Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Brusetti, PhD
Dr. Israel R. Orimoloye, PhD
Adjunct, Research Scientist and Project Consultant
Research Link: ResearchGate
Affiliation: Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, South Africa
Dr. Dimitris Andreopoulos, PhD
Adjunct, Research Scientist
Affiliation: Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs, Greece
Natural resource management, environmental impact, socioeconomics, ecosystem services, Mediterranean studies
Prof. Dr. Alessio Russo, PhD
Prof. Dr. Jang Ook Kim, PhD
Research Scientist and Project Planning
Research Blog: [KR] Save the Earth
Affiliation: Life University, Cambodia; Digital Seoul Culture Arts University, Korea
Environment engineering, Korean consultancy and affairs, green architecture and design, urban sustainability, geography, information technology, project development
Dr. Luigi Borruso, PhD
Adjunct, Research Scientist
Research Link: ResearchGate
Affiliation: Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
Microbial ecology, evolutionary microbiology, antibiotic resistance, ecology, statistics expert, mountain environments, external research support
Prof. Dr. Longbin Tao, PhD
Adjunct, Research Scientist
Research Links: ResearchGate, Google Scholar
Affiliation: University of Strathclyde Glasgow, UK
Offshore engineering, offshore renewable energy systems, fluid mechanics, naval architecture, civil engineering, sustainability, external research support
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Enoch T. Iortyom, PhD
Adjunct, Research Scientist and Project Consultant
Affiliation: 'Magburaka University College, Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Republic of Sierra Leone
Geographies of food and agriculture, food security and sustainable rural development, natural resources development and management, environmental governance and security, Africa, external research support, project development
Prof. Rathana Ly, MPhil
Adjunct, Research Scientist and Project Consultant
Affiliation: Life University, Cambodia
Social science, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, administration, education, Cambodian consultant and advisory committee, Indonesia, project development
Mr. Sathish Kokkula, MSc
Research Engineer and Project Consultant
Indian and South Asian Office Representative
Affiliation: Director, Srivaranam Organization for the Environmental Education (SOEE), India
Sustainability, governance, green infrastructure, environmental impact assessment, energy and climate, environmental management system (EMS), human geography, developing world geography, process plants: design, installation, commissioning and operation and maintenance of chemical processing, verification of chemical industries on behalf of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), The Netherlands for adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
Mr. Solomon T. Abebe, MSc
Research Scientist and Project Consultant
Affiliation: Senior International Freelancer Consultant; Business Developer; Trans Africa Hydro-Meteorological Observatory(TAHMO); Oregon State University, USA
Consumption, sustainability and well-being, ecosystem services, energy and climate, natural resource management and environmental impact, food and agriculture, poverty, aid and development, sustainability indices and trends, comparative and methodological socioeconomic analyses, conservation and advocacy, Africa, project development
Dr. Hriday Ch. Sarma, MPhil, MA
Research Scientist and Project Consultant
Research Link: www.caucasusasiacenter.org
Affiliation: Founder, Center for South-Caucasus-South Asia Business Development
Governance for sustainable development, consumption, urban sustainability, green infrastructure, energy and climate, natural resource management and environmental impact, conservation and advocacy, Asia, Southeast Asia, population dynamics and migration, poverty, aid and development, political ecology, geopolitics
Dr. Paul O. Adekola, PhD
Adjunct, Academic and Consultant
Research Links: ResearchGate, Google Scholar
Affiliation: Covenant University, Nigeria
Population and development, migration and displacement studies, health geography, gender and women studies, entrepreneurship, child marriage and environment, development studies, urban sustainability, Africa, rights and ethics, geopolitics, project development
Mr. Shobhit Navani, MSc
Adjunct, Research and Project Consultant
Affiliation: University of Gdansk, Poland
Globalization and resources, energy and climate, global health, environmental ethics and philosophy, green infrastructure, ICT, Germany, external research and project consultancy
Mr. Antonio Mercuri
Administration and Human Resource Manager
Administrative and secretarial services, Italian affairs, postal services, business consultancy
Mr. Ajay Akhed, MEng
Adjunct, Research and Project Consultant
Environmental ethics, environmental management systems (ems), environmental and ecological engineering, socioeconomics, energy and climate, Asian studies, population migration, external research and project consultancy
ADMINISTRATIVE AND RESEARCH MEMBERS
Ms. Asta Kondrakeviciute
Adjunct, Consultant
a.kondrakeviciute@polocenter.org
Latin America, Baltic countries, population dynamics and migration, rights and development, gender, family development, poverty, aid
Mr. Milan Trnka, MSportsSc
Administration and Business Consultant
Southeast Asian correspondent, business and external consultancy, Central Europe advisory committee, tourism, well-being, social development
Ms. Tanja Labat, BA
Adjunct, Administration and Tourism Advisor
Consultant, administrative resources, Central Europe and Balkan countries advisory, business tourism, external projects
Ms. Pavla Srstková, BIntlBus
Adjunct, Business and Research Consultant
Urban sustainability, green infrastructure, nature and culture, environmental ethics, conservation, resource management, energy and climate, Latin America, Post-Soviet states, business consultant, research planning and support
Mr. Michele Matejka
Business Consultant
Sociology, comparative and methodological socioeconomics, rights, aid development, urban sustainability, mountain environments, Alpine research, business consultant, research planning and support
Mr. Valle Holmlund, BTourism
Business Consultant and Research Advisor
Consultant, tourism, Scandinavian countries advisory, European migration, aid development, external projects and consultancy, research planning
Ms. Natalia A. Matecka, MTourism
Adjunct, Business Consultant
Research, travel and business consultant, tourism and planning, Central European and Mediterranean advisory, external projects and consultancy, research planning
Mr. Stephen M. Treacy, BA (Hons), Hum Geog
Adjunct, Academic Consultant
Research, editorial assistance, population dynamics and migration, urban sustainability, aid and development, geography of food research, external projects and consultancy, research planning
Ms. Anna Bialon, BCivilEng
Adjunct, Advisor and Consultant
Engineering research and business consultant, Central Europe advisory, sustainability, governance, consumption, ecosystem services, globalization, sustainability indices, urban sustainability, green infrastructure, external projects and consultancy, research planning
WORKING FOR THE CENTER
The Polo Center of Sustainability offer a vibrant, friendly and flexible working environment and is home to a wide portfolio of research projects in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and research infrastructure development. As an interdisciplinary and collaborative Center we encourage our staff to become involved in a wide range of activities both internally and in the wider community. The Center supports flexible working arrangements wherever possible.
MEMBERSHIP
The Polo Center of Sustainability is accepting memberships. An adjunct membership offers the possibility of associating the member, project work and publications with the Center. For candidacy please complete the Membership Form and submit the required documentation via email to pcs@polocenter.org.
DOWNLOAD: MEMBERSHIP FORM
VACANCIES
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Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. —Aristotle