Rounding up our scholar reflections from Tasmania
March 21, 2023
The Crawford Fund’s Annual Conference was held in August 2022. As well as bringing together the world’s leading experts in agricultural science, research, policy, development and industry to address the conference topic, the Crawford Fund is committed to encouraging the next generation in international agriculture for development to the event via scholarships awarded through our State and Territory committees and scholar supporters.
Our conference scholarship program started in 2010 in the hope that by experiencing the Crawford Fund conference and network, our special program of activities around the conference and being mentored by inspirational experienced researchers, young researchers would be inspired and energised to be more involved. The results have been fantastic, with a great mix of youth and experience at our flagship event each August and a growing and enthusiastic conference scholar alumni approaching 400.
Our competitive Conference Scholarships are offered to young people with a genuine interest in international agricultural research and development to attend the conference and a special set of activities that we have developed since the program commenced in 2010.
Our other activities to encourage university students and early career researcher include highlighting opportunities in volunteering for projects overseas through the Australian Volunteers Program; our work with Researchers in Agriculture for International Development (RAID), and our special student awards to enable students to be involved in overseas projects as part of their university study. Applications for these awards are now open!
Once again, we would like to thank our wonderful mentors, mentioned alongside the scholar they supported, who volunteer their time and offer valuable guidance, support and insights to the scholars throughout the conference.
Four scholars from Tasmania attended the 2022 Crawford Fund conference supported by Tasmanian Committee. One of the requirements of the scholarship is that each scholar provides us with a reflection on their experience. Highlights of their experiences have been captured below:
TAS CRAWFORD FUND COMMITTEE SUPPORTED SCHOLARS
Faruq Shahriar Isu, Pinion Advisory
“The conference and scholar activities were very well organised, which must be appreciated as it is no small feat to achieve. The day one scholar activities were pivotal in getting the networking started and I was pleasantly surprised to find a good mix of professionals from various industries attending as scholars, in addition to students and researchers. The memorial address later in the day set the scene for the main conference while the dinner was yet another opportunity to continue networking.”
Phillip Kay, University of Tasmania
“I really enjoyed the scholar days as they gave us all an opportunity to meet other like-minded early-career researchers from a variety of fields and disciplines as well as from all around the country.
That being said, I believe that the greatest benefit I will take from the conference and the scholarship in particular, will be the mentorship that is being provided.”
Waleed Khan, University of Tasmania
“Through this piece of my personal reflection, I strongly encourage other young people to think of the Crawford Fund Conference as an important event that they should attend at least once. I am sure that there are many other benefits of the conference that I have not mentioned, and hopefully you, the future reader of my reflection, will find out by yourself.”
Raj Kishore Rajan Babu Sheela, University of Tasmania
“Everybody, especially the people we as scholars look up to were so warm and willing to talk and give us their insights and that had filled me with hope and inspiration to pursue my own career aspirations and dreams. I feel its effect even right now and I see myself to be more proactive because of it.”
Read on for the full reflections:
Faruq Shahriar Isu, Pinion Advisory
Mentor: Richard Warner
As a second time attendee at the Crawford Conference, I had very high expectations. In 2019, I attended as a student and this year as a consultant. Exactly as the previous conference, it was beyond my expectations. My focus this time was to reacquaint with agricultural research updates and explore potential opportunities for private sector involvement in agricultural research for development. I also knew the opportunity for networking would be immense, which is great for professional development.
The conference and scholar activities were very well organised, which must be appreciated as it is no small feat to achieve. The day one scholar activities were pivotal in getting the networking started and I was pleasantly surprised to find a good mix of professionals from various industries attending as scholars, in addition to students and researchers. The memorial address later in the day set the scene for the main conference while the dinner was yet another opportunity to continue networking.
The main event covered various aspects of agricultural research, their importance, outcomes and the road ahead by very knowledgeable and passionate speakers. Learning about the tenfold return on investment in agricultural research was a key point, in my opinion, which highlights the importance and continuation of research funding. With ongoing biosecurity threats, new zoonotic viruses expected every five to ten years and the ever-present battle against climate change, the road ahead is not without bumps. One question that stuck with me was “How do we sustainably intensify agriculture while maximising conservation of the natural environment?” With innovation, technological advances and solid research, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Products such as “BioClay” has the potential to be revolutionary and it is my feeling that this where extension and private industry collaboration can play a crucial role. The RAID event at the end of the conference was a good way to unwind and process a plethora of information, while catching up with friends and making some new ones.
The last day of scholar activities was a good way to share our thoughts about the conference with some lively discussions and perspectives.
I was honoured to have Mr. Richard Warner, the chair of the TAS Committee, as my mentor and would like to thank him for volunteering his time, sharing his knowledge and providing guidance and encouragement.
Finally, I would like to thank the Crawford Fund TAS Committee for nominating me for a second time and the Crawford Fund for creating this wonderful platform and for their ongoing support to students, researchers and the agriculture sector through various programs.
Phillip Kay, University of Tasmania
Mentor: Holger Meinke
Firstly, I would like to thank The Crawford Fund for the opportunity to attend this years’ annual conference in Canberra with the theme being, ‘Celebrating Agriculture for Development – Outcomes, Impacts and the Way Ahead’.
As a PhD candidate that has not yet had the opportunity/experience to work in agriculture in a ‘Global South’ (GS) country, you could say that I have a limited understanding/appreciation of certain issues, dynamics and challenges that could be presented on a daily basis. However, as I am interested in working and living in a GS country, I have been actively engaging with those that work and conduct research in GS countries to help gain an understanding of what it would be like to live and work there myself. From this engagement I believed that I had a ‘rough idea’ what it would be like (I still do) however, I found the conference really opened my eyes to a lot of issues that I had not previously considered (at least not in the depth that was presented).
I really enjoyed the scholar days as they gave us all an opportunity to meet other like-minded early-career researchers from a variety of fields and disciplines as well as from all around the country.
That being said, I believe that the greatest benefit I will take from the conference and the scholarship in particular, will be the mentorship that is being provided. Not only does my mentor have a myriad of contacts that they have garnered throughout their distinguished career that could potentially help me in acquiring a suitable position, but the guidance that they have already shown to me as well as what I perceive will be provided in the future has and will be invaluable on my journey as a researcher in a GS country. I feel that the mentoring program is not only about ‘networking’ but my mentor getting to know and understand me personally which can only help me into finding a research position that will be beneficial to both me and the research organisation that I will be working with.
Waleed Khan, University of Tasmania
Mentor: Neville Mendham
I thought I was very lucky that I got an opportunity to attend the Crawford Conference 2022 as a scholar. It was a wonderful experience for me listening to many amazing speakers from Australia and other parts of the globe. This has helped me to broaden my knowledge and thinking ability and I also learnt lots of new things about International Agricultural Development.
This year’s conference topic, “Celebrating Agriculture For Development – Outcomes, Impacts and the Way Ahead” which was an incredibly interesting topic to me as I am highly interested in contributing for international agricultural development particularly in improving global food security and public health. Through a series of conference, training, and networking activities, I have gained a valuable knowledge, skills, and experience and a chance to meet and chat with other great young scholars, senior scientists and researchers working in Australia and other parts of the world.
Reiterating the fact mentioned by Dr Alison Bentley that peace in the world, food security and climate change are issues of global concern. The world, and its environmental and human (food, economic, social, etc) systems are all connected. The impacts of Covid-19, geopolitical instability and extreme climates recently have created a surge in global food demands and increase global hunger significantly. Therefore, these issues need to be tackled at national and international government levels through effective, strategic and consistent policy. The Q&A part for almost all the sessions was also very interesting.
The RAID networking event provided a fun and relaxed environment to further get to know the other scholars and people involved in RAID. The quiz accompanied by drinks and snacks also made for a good time.
I am highly grateful to my mentor Dr. Neville Mendham who listened to my talks and shared pieces of his advice that would be really help me to make decisions and moving further into my professional career. I also wanted to convey my immense gratitude to my PhD supervisor, Dr. Beth Penrose, who encouraged and supported me to take part in this outstanding event.
Through this piece of my personal reflection, I strongly encourage other young fellows to think of the Crawford Fund Conference as an important event that they should attend at least once. I am sure that there are many other benefits of the conference that I have not mentioned yet, and hopefully you, the future reader of my reflection, will find out by yourself.
Overall, the Conference and Scholar Program were exciting and it exceeded my expectations. I would like to thank the Crawford Fund Tasmania Committee for allowing me to be able to participate in such an exceptional event. Without their financial support, it has not been possible to experience such an inspiring event.
Raj Kishore Rajan Babu Sheela, University of Tasmania
Mentor: Suzi Gaynor
I was very excited to attend the conference ever since it was announced, it would be the first conference I would be attending and as a naturally curious person I wanted to experience how a conference would function. After attending the conference, I can say for sure that my high expectations have been exceeded.
First of all, working in a mushroom farm in remote Victoria, it was a great opportunity and a welcome change for me to connect to people, and more importantly people with common interests. It reminded me of University life but more enriched with the higher number of experts.
My mentor, Suzie Gaynor and I had a video chat a week prior and we were talking about the conference, she was absolutely delightful and made me comfortable so that I wasn’t at all anxious that I am talking to someone in a top position in a research organisation. We had discussed what I wanted out of the conference, potential obstacles like shyness and among others. She helped me meet the people I wanted to connect with at the conference and did that so well! I managed to connect with a lot of scientists, industry professionals and scholars and we discussed different aspects of research, agriculture, academia and life in general.
Everybody, especially the people we as scholars look up to were so warm and willing to talk and give us their insights and that had filled me with hope and inspiration to pursue my own career aspirations and dreams. I feel its effect even right now and I see myself to be more proactive because of it.
The speeches and Q and A sessions were great and I took away points that I keep in my mind now. I also really enjoyed the RAID activity where we have to guess the name of the country from a random fact that was given in a piece of paper to everybody, I thought it was an ingenious way to help foster interaction with the task at hand acting as a focal point and an icebreaker! As a whole, it was a very memorable, extremely worthwhile and fun conference to be part of and I am looking forward for the next one!
