Interview with James N. Nkhoswe, Researcher at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)
In this interview, James N. Nkhoswe reflects on a professional journey shaped by water quality, freshwater ecology, fisheries, aquaculture, and environmental management in Southern Africa. He explains how field experience in Malawi strengthened his interest in understanding water problems not as isolated measurements, but as catchment-scale challenges that connect ecosystems, food production, livelihoods and governance. Using the Bua River as a practical example, he discusses how agricultural expansion, deforestation, domestic waste disposal and changing land use can influence erosion, sediment and nutrient inputs, with consequences for aquatic ecosystems and communities that depend on the river. He highlights the value of combining field-based water-quality monitoring with satellite remote sensing, Earth observation and GIS to identify landscape change, potential pollution hotspots and areas where limited monitoring resources can be targeted more strategically. The interview also considers the Water-Energy-Food nexus, sustainable aquaculture, community participation and the institutional challenges involved in translating scientific evidence into practical water governance. Looking ahead, Nkhoswe sees strong potential in integrating satellite observations, low-cost sensors, cloud computing, field measurements and local knowledge, while stressing that technology should always respond to a clearly defined environmental problem. His advice to young professionals is to understand both the river and the technology: develop strong spatial and quantitative skills, but remain grounded in field realities, ecological processes and the perspectives of people who depend on freshwater systems.
