Ms. Malaso Kotikot is a Ph.D. student in the Geography Department at Penn State University, University Park. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Planning and Management from Kenyatta University, and a Master of Science degree in Earth System Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Some of her previous research sought to characterize frost zones based on topographic characteristics, meteorological factors and field data, and to determine the applicability of satellite remote sensing data (MODIS land surface temperature) for mapping of frost affected areas on tea plantations in Kenya, and more generally, in high risk regions of sparse station data density.
Her research interests are in landscape ecology, agro-ecosystems, climate change, Remote Sensing and GIS data and methods. Her graduate research will potentially focus on agro-ecosystem dynamics resulting from climate change, their implications on ecosystem health and agricultural productivity.