Faculty and Staff

Lucy Atieno, PhD

Lucy Atieno, PhD

Title
Lecturer in Human Dimensions of Endangered Species
Location
Kenya
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Education
PhD in Social Science
University of Bremen, Germany
Masters degree in Communication Studies
Moi University, Kenya, 2012
Bachelors degree in Tourism Management
Moi University, Kenya, 2007
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about

Faculty Profile

Lucy Atieno is a tourism researcher with over a decade of experience integrating social sustainability into environmental conservation across East Africa. Her doctoral thesis at the University of Bremen, Germany, explores how coastal tourism in Kenya can adapt to climate change, with a focus on equity, justice, and community-led solutions. She has contributed to international initiatives such as the 2024 Sustainable Blue Tourism in the Western Indian Ocean policy guide and is editor of Sustainable Tourism Dialogues in Africa (De Gruyter, 2022). Her scholarship spans community-based tourism, gender inclusion, and socially responsive conservation.

Lucy is interested in how social values, and community engagement shape conservation outcomes, and looks forward to helping students examine the relationships between people and the environment. Beyond her research, she has designed and delivered field-based trainings across East Africa, equipping tourism professionals and community groups with practical tools for sustainability. She has also taught tourism and environment courses at universities in Kenya, Rwanda, and Germany.

Academics & Research

Research Interests

My research explores community perspectives on conservation challenges. I aim to co-design solutions that are effective and socially acceptable, combining individual mental modelling with participatory workshops to reflect diverse voices

outputs

Publications

Sustainable Blue Tourism in the Western Indian Ocean: Trends, Challenges and Policy Pathways. (2024)

Kepher Gona, J., Baraka, P., Sciacca, A., Balestracci, G., Rambahiniarison, J., Atieno, L., (2024). Sustainable Blue Tourism in the Western Indian Ocean: Trends, Challenges and Policy Pathways. Blue Tourism Initiative.

Sustainable Tourism Dialogues in Africa. De Gruyter Studies in Tourism. (2022)

Kepher Gona, J., and Atieno, L. (2022). Sustainable Tourism Dialogues in Africa. De Gruyter Studies in Tourism. Sustainable Tourism Dialogues in Africa | De Gruyter

Community based tourism in Africa. Encyclopedia of tourism management and marketing. (2022)

Kepher Gona, J. and Atieno, L. (2022). Community based tourism in Africa. Encyclopedia of tourism management and marketing. (Ed. Buhalis D)

SDG 10: Valued Resource Distribution. Encyclopedia of Sustainable Development Goals (2021)

Atieno, L. and Njoroge, J. (2021). SDG 10: Valued Resource Distribution. Encyclopedia of Sustainable Development Goals. Springer.

Employing the enhanced Regional Tourism Sustainable Adaptation Framework with a case study of Climate Change Vulnerability in Mombasa Kenya. (2018)

Njoroge, J. Ratter, B., Atieno, L., and Maino, I. (2018). Employing the enhanced Regional Tourism Sustainable Adaptation Framework with a case study of Climate Change Vulnerability in Mombasa Kenya. Tourism and Hospitality Research,0 (0), pp 1 -16.

Climate change Policy Making Process in Kenya: deliberative inclusionary processes at play. (2017)

Njoroge, J., Ratter, B., & Atieno, L. (2017). Climate change Policy Making Process in Kenya: deliberative inclusionary processes at play. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management. Vol, 9, No 4, pp 535 – 554.

The Ecotourism metaphor and environmental sustainability in Kenya. (2015)

Atieno, L., & Njoroge, J. (2015). The Ecotourism metaphor and environmental sustainability in Kenya. Tourism and hospitality research. Sage publications. 0(0) pp. 1 -12