KU Leuven, Belgium
Vera Flores Fernandez (b. 1992) is a Peruvian social scientist and postdoctoral researcher at KU Leuven , specializing in participatory action research, environmental justice , and sustainable development . Her work focuses on empowering marginalized communities through qualitative and transdisciplinary methods. She bridges academia and activism , with extensive fieldwork across Latin America and partnerships with global networks. Vera is committed to transforming territorial governance and socio-environmental realities in the Global South.
Profile
Orcid
🎓 Education
Vera earned her BA and Licentiate in Sociology from PUCP (2010–2017) and joined an exchange at VU Amsterdam (2015–2016). She completed an MSc in Human Settlements with magna cum laude honors at KU Leuven (2018–2019) supported by a VLIR-UOS scholarship . She is finalizing her PhD in Human Geography at KU Leuven (2019–2025), focusing on participatory territorial governance . Her academic path blends theory and practice, rooted in social justice and grassroots mobilization.
💼 Experience
Vera has served as research associate and consultant across institutions in Belgium, Peru, and internationally . She worked on participatory projects in Lima’s human settlements (Proyecto Público), post-disaster recovery with CISE-PUCP, and environmental mapping with Linterna Verde . Her recent work includes postdoctoral research and teaching at KU Leuven’s Dept. of Earth & Environmental Sciences . She collaborates with CELESTE and leads sustainability education for master’s students . Her approach blends critical inquiry with community-rooted activism .
🏅 Awards and Honors
Vera has earned multiple academic recognitions: VLIR-UOS scholarships for both her MSc and PhD at KU Leuven , and a PUCP merit scholarship for her BA . She achieved magna cum laude distinction for her MSc . Her work has been showcased at international conferences , including LASA, ALAS, and UN-Habitat III, where she was selected as academic presenter and chair. These accolades reflect her leadership in social science research and eco-territorial innovation .
🔬 Research Focus
Vera’s research centers on participatory action research, environmental governance, territorial justice, and sustainability transitions across Latin America . She explores how indigenous, peasant, and marginalized communities resist socio-environmental injustice through grassroots eco-territorial movements . Her focus areas include community-based conservation, post-disaster recovery, inclusive urban development , and critical geography. Using transdisciplinary and decolonial lenses, she contributes to policy-relevant scholarship that reimagines governance from below .
🏆 Conclusion
Vera Flores Fernandez exemplifies an impactful and socially committed researcher whose work bridges the gap between academic theory and grassroots reality. Her contributions to participatory action research, socio-environmental justice, and sustainable development across Latin America and beyond clearly align with the values celebrated by a Best Researcher Award. With her record of academic excellence, international engagement, and commitment to transformative social change, she is a strong and deserving candidate.
Publication
Title: Recovering nature and culture in protected areas threatened by neo-extractivism: the eco-territorial movement in the Chaparri Nature Reserve, Peru
Author: Vera Flores-Fernandez
Year: 2025
Link: https://kuleuven.limo.libis.be/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9995244131401488
Title: Transformations and eco-territorial governance innovations: The case of the Chaparri Nature Reserve, Peru
Authors: Vera Flores-Fernandez, Pieter Van den Broeck, Elke Hermans, Constanza Parra
Year: 2025
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2024.104178
Title: Construyendo movimientos ecoterritoriales en áreas de conservación privado-comunitarias
Authors: Vera Alejandra Flores-Fernandez, Pieter Van den Broeck, Elke Hermans, Constanza Parra
Year: 2024
Link: https://doi.org/10.18800/debatesensociologia.202402.002
Title: De invloed van het neoliberaal extractivisme op gemeenschapsgronden in Latijns-Amerika
Author: Vera Flores-Fernandez (with others)
Year: 2021
Link: https://bia.unibz.it/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/De-commoners-van-Chaparri–De/991006267898401241