PhD thesis on the risk of Malaria infection successfully defended

Z_GIS researcher Marion Borderon defended her PhD thesis at Aix Marseille University, France, with the highest distinction mention très honorable avec les félicitations du jury à l'humanité. After three hours of presentation and questions to the attention of six members of the jury and a broad audience, Marion was appointed Doctor of Geography.

Her thesis is entitled "Between spatial distance and social distance: the risk of malaria infection in African urban areas. The case study of Dakar, Senegal." In her research, Marion has applied an Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) approach to study the complex phenomenon of malaria infection in Dakar. ESDA, still rarely applied in developing countries, is thus defined as a research approach, but also as a way to provide answers to global health challenges.

ESDA leads to observation from different angles, on the determinants of malaria infection as well as the examination of existing interactions between its three components - the parasite, the vector and the human host. Using some statistical and geostatistical analyses, including both bi- and multivariate statistics, Marion´s research has revealed unprecedented images of the risk of infection in Dakar. It can be used as a basis for some other case studies, including sensitive contexts and limited data environments. Congratulations to Marion and all the best for her future career!