GeoSyntheSES is pleased to welcome Gabriel Tamariz and Marie Louise Ryan who are beginning the Ph.D in Geography during fall 2016. Gabriel comes from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and CONABIO via the political ecology master’s program in Barcelona. Marie-Louise has completed her studies for the M.S. in Sustainable Ag and an M.C.R.P. in Community & Regional Planning at Iowa State. Their focus on issues of violence and migration linked to agrobiodiversity are important additions to the lab’s research portfolio.