Prof Nijnik has a PhD in Social Sciences from WUR, in co- with Uni Victoria; post-graduate/MSc qualifications from the Mansholt Institute; NAKE and EPCEM, the NL; a MSc/ Dipl. Eng. from UNFU and PhD in Economics from the Academy of Sciences, UA. She is a winner of the IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award; Scientific Honour of UA and several BBSRC exceptional Performance Awards, UK. Her work addresses resilience of social-ecological systems, multifunctional/sustainable management/use of natural assets. This includes institutional aspects of the development of rural areas and social innovation. The publications list includes over 60 scientific journal articles (1789 citation; hi 20) .