Crawford Fund Scholar Program
The Crawford Fund Scholar Program is one of the foundations of our efforts to encourage young Australians in international research, development and education for the benefit of both developing countries and Australia.
Scholarships to attend the Crawford Fund Annual Conference and our special Scholar Program are awarded to young students and scientists who have a genuine interest in international agricultural research and development.
Applications for this year’s scholar intake close on 24 May 2024. It’s a short and simple process! More details are available here.
The scholar activities around the conference include personal discussions with inspiring international speakers from the conference providing career advice and the matching of personal mentors for the duration of the conference and, depending on those involved, well into the future.
The fun and informative activities are developed in partnership with young and ‘old’ agricultural scientists and Researchers in Agriculture for International Development (RAID), a network hosted by the Fund which is working to connect, engage and support agricultural researchers working in international development.
Since the program started in 2010, we have had 403 scholars participate. You can hear some of the scholars being interviewed from our 2016 conference in the video below.
Support a Scholar
By donating funds to support young scientists and students to attend the Crawford Fund Annual Conference and Scholar Program, you can help shape their future in Australian agriculture and international development.
You may prefer to nominate and donate to support a young Australian you would like to see benefit from the scholarship and conference experience.
Donations are tax deductible, and support is acknowledged.
More background on the program, read our Scholar Booklet, with a list of the alumni and some of the scholars’ experiences, and you can read the positive feedback we received from recent scholars here.
You can support the scholar program here, or if you would like more information, please contact Cathy Reade, Director of Outreach, via email ([email protected]), or by calling 0413 575 934.
Recipients of conference scholarships submit a report after attending the event. See below for scholar reflections from our most recent conferences:
- 2023: Global Food Security in a Riskier World – Diversification for Resilient Food and Nutrition Systems – Forty young people were supported to attend the 2023 Crawford Fund Annual Conference, with 34 of the scholars supported by the Crawford Fund’s State and Territory Committees, and the other six scholars funded by our loyal and supportive external Scholar Sponsors.
- 2022: Celebrating Agriculture for Development – Outcomes, Impacts and the Way Ahead – Forty-six young people were sponsored to attend the 2022 Crawford Fund conference with 33 of the scholars supported by the Crawford Fund’s State and Territory Committees, and the other 13 scholars funded by our loyal and supportive external Scholar Sponsors.
- 2019: Weathering the ‘Perfect Storm’: Addressing the Agriculture, Energy, Water, Climate Change Nexus – Fifty-one young people were sponsored to attend the 2019 Crawford Fund conference with 30 of the scholars supported by the Crawford Fund’s State and Territory Committees, and the other 21 scholars funded by our loyal and supportive external Scholar Sponsors.
Forty-four Crawford Fund conference scholarships were awarded to students and young researchers across Australia in 2018.
- 2018: Reshaping Agriculture for Better Nutrition: The Agriculture, Food, Nutrition, Health Nexus – Forty-four conference scholarships were awarded in 2018, with half of our scholars supported by the Crawford Fund’s State and Territory Committees, and the other 22 scholars funded by our loyal and supportive external Scholar Sponsors.
Crawford Fund conference scholarships were awarded to 48 students and young researchers in 2017, again with generous support from our loyal Scholar Sponsors.
- 2017: Transforming Lives and Livelihoods: The Digital Revolution in Agriculture – In 2017, 48 Conference scholarships were awarded. Half of these were supported by the Crawford Fund’s State and Territory Committees, and the other half were generously supported by our Scholar Sponsors.
Once again, we would like to thank our sponsors and our wonderful mentors who volunteer their time and offer valuable guidance, support and insights to the scholars throughout the conference.
