Lency Muna is an Assistant Lecturer in Environmental Science at The University of Fiji, and hails from the Solomon Islands. With a passion for teaching and an unwavering commitment to community projects, he thrives on imparting knowledge to his students and sees their growth and development as the ultimate reward. Lency also prides himself on creating a supportive and collaborative learning environment, fostering relationships with his students to ensure they receive the best possible educational experience.
One project in particular stands out in Lency's mind as a source of immense pride: the Secondary School Waste Management Campaign in 2021. In partnership with the Australian National University (ANU) Science Circus Pacific, this initiative aimed to engage secondary school students in waste management activities, encouraging them to reduce waste production while exploring innovative ways to repurpose it. The project was a resounding success, achieving its objectives and inspiring Lency to continue making a positive impact on his community through similar ventures.
Like any field, environmental science presents its share of challenges, from navigating complex subject matter to communicating scientific concepts to students with varying levels of background knowledge. For Lency, one of the biggest challenges is staying up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the field, given its ever-evolving nature. However, he sees these challenges as opportunities for growth and is committed to overcoming them to deliver the best possible education to his students.
Despite the demands of his career, Lency still makes time for his hobbies, including hiking and team sports like football and volleyball. He also loves music, with his genre of choice depending on his mood or activity. His favourite sport is football, and he supports FC Barcelona. Lency's favourite food is chick lovo pack with dalo and palusami, a traditional dish from the Pacific Islands.
Lency learned of the Pacific Network on Environmental Assessment (PNEA) through the SPREP website and has since subscribed to the mailing list. He has found the portal to be an invaluable resource for his teaching and learning materials and has attended several workshops and webinars on impact assessment in the Pacific. By using resources from the PNEA webpage and exposing his students to real-world applications of environmental impact assessment, Lency is empowering the next generation of environmental scientists and leaders.