NextGen deliver inspiration in National Science Week
August 21, 2020
As National Science Week draws to a close across Australia, the Crawford Fund is celebrating the success of its free online and interactive panels featuring young Australian scientists talking passionately about their diverse and rewarding work in developing countries as part of our “Science for Food Security: Making a Global, Career and Personal Difference” series.
The aim of the panels was to inspire Australians to explore countries and cultures, have a rewarding career AND make a difference by pursuing studies, careers or volunteering opportunities in the rewarding field of international agriculture for development.
More than 450 people registered, and others tuned in live to our Facebook and website streaming of the events.
“It was great to see that we had high schools registered for every event. We will be linking with them when we release our new teaching materials around global food and nutrition security,” said Cathy Reade, Director of Outreach and manager of our NextGen program.
Videos of the events are now available on our YouTube channel.
Our NextGen program has been providing young and not-so-young Australians with awards, scholarships, volunteering and mentoring opportunities in developing countries to encourage their interest in related studies, careers and placements with enormous personal, Australian and international benefits.
We would like to thank our talented and engaging young speakers – Ollie Gales, Jillian Lyall and Olivia Woodiwiss in Tasmania; Matt Champness, Sam Coggins, and Anika Molesworth in New South Wales; and Sam Coggins, Bec Cotton and Laura Macfarlane-Berry in the Australian Capital Territory. And, of course, we extend a big thank you to award winning ABC journalist Sarina Locke for her professional touch in sharing her experiences in this field and moderating all three panels. Finally, a thanks for the technical assistance and platform management by Samuel Stacey.
You can read and hear some of the media coverage our events generated:
- Grains Central – Ag hits National Science Week
- The Land – The young Australian scientists tackling global food security
- Research4Ag mag – Science for Food Security: Making a Global, Professional and Personal Difference
- ABC Country Hour (Tasmania) – travelling the world with an agricultural science degree
- ABC Country Hour (NSW) – National Science Week goes online
We would like to thank the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Researchers in Agriculture for International Development (RAID) Network, and the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) for partnering with us in bringing these events to you.
NextGen speakers Tamaya Peressini and Bec Cotton were also in action in Queensland as part of National Science Week at a special virtual Awards Ceremony for the 2020 ‘Plant Health’ DAF Hermitage Schools Plant Science Competition which the Crawford Fund has supported for the past eight years.
This initiative has been supported by Inspiring Australia as part of National Science Week.
