“Dynamic, supportive and thoughtful” – Our scholar reflections from the Top End
September 12, 2024
The Crawford Fund’s Annual Conference was held last month in Parliament House, Canberra. 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 2024 NT scholars (left to right) Waseem Ahmed and Birendra Kunwar, pictured with NT Crawford Fund Committee Coordinator Tania Paul.
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 450.
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 international student awards to enable students to be involved in overseas projects as part of their university study.
One of the requirements of the scholarship is that each scholar provides us with a reflection on their experience. We will be providing these reflections over the coming weeks, grouped by State.
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.
Two scholars supported by our NT Committee attended the 2024 Crawford Fund conference. Highlights of their experiences have been captured below:
NT CRAWFORD FUND COMMITTEE SUPPORTED SCHOLARS
Waseem Ahmed, Charles Darwin University
“Overall, the conference was a fantastic experience in terms of learning, networking, and exploration. The forum members were welcoming, and the environment was dynamic, supportive, and thoughtful.”
Birendra Kunwar, Charles Darwin University
“I had the great privilege and honour to be given the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Crawford Fund Conference…it provided a platform to engage with pioneering thinkers whose insights and enthusiasm have motivated me to dedicate an extra hour daily towards personal improvement.”
Read on for the full reflections of each NT scholar:
Waseem Ahmed, Charles Darwin University (CDU)
Mentor: Tania Paul
I want to share my recent experience with the Crawford Fund Conference, which began with an email from Nirmala Sunil, Research Skills and Communication Officer. The email was particularly engaging and memorable. It highlighted the Crawford Fund Student Awards, which offer students the chance to travel to a host country to research and explore their chosen topics by visiting international agricultural or aquaculture projects or CGIAR centres and opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students alike.
The names on the email, Tania Paul and Beth Penrose, were new to me at that time, followed by a series of emails from Larissa Mullot and Cathy Reade. These communications covered everything from flight and hotel bookings to the various activities planned over the three days. The engaging nature of the emails painted a vivid picture of the conference, which exceeded my expectations. Although I have attended many conferences before, this one was exceptional in every aspect.
The conference was an incredible experience, packed with valuable knowledge in a short period. The sessions were information-rich, and the addition of mentors welcoming scholars made a significant impact. They were eager to assist and encouraged everyone to ask questions, connect, and benefit from their expertise.
The conference theme, “Food and Nutrition Security,” was relevant to my background. I hold a bachelor’s degree of Science in Agriculture, another Bachelor’s in Business and Marketing, a Master’s by Research in Food Science and Technology, and a PhD focusing on agricultural waste, sustainability, and high-nutrient food. The theme resonated with me and fuelled my interest in attending, meeting like-minded individuals, and learning from peers and leaders.
The conference’s location was also superb, with excellent weather and a great venue that added to the overall positive experience. I gained valuable insights, such as the need to increase agricultural production by 70% to meet the demands of a growing population over the next 25 years. Discussions on global malnutrition and hunger were particularly informative.
On the third day, the RAID (Researchers in Agriculture for International Development) event was a highlight. It was my first exposure to such a platform, sparking a new passion for exploring other countries and finding innovative ways to share knowledge for mutual benefit.
I had the pleasure of meeting many scholars, and I want to mention a few—Birendra Kunwar, Dinesh, Megan, Dasuni, Zareef, Asad, and Sonali—who have since become close friends and strengthened my network. The discussions on topics like “Why International Agricultural Research,” “How to Break into International Ag Research,” “An Introduction to ACIAR,” and “So You Want to Work in a Developing Country” were particularly impactful and remain fresh in my mind.
Overall, the conference was a fantastic experience in terms of learning, networking, and exploration. The forum members were welcoming, and the environment was dynamic, supportive, and thoughtful. I used this opportunity to consider career possibilities in International Agricultural Research, meet other scholars, forge new friendships, discuss research, and seek valuable advice.
I am grateful to everyone involved in making my experience at the Crawford Fund Conference so remarkable. Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Crawford Fund NT Committee for granting me the opportunity to be a conference scholar. Through our collective efforts, we can work towards sustainable development and ensure food for all, striving to eliminate hunger and ensure that everyone has access to sufficient nourishment.
Birendra Kunwar, Charles Darwin University
Mentor: John Radcliffe
Among the 19 months spent in Australia, the month of August 2024 was one of the most productive months for me as I had the great privilege and honour to be given the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Crawford Fund Conference.
It was not just because it was my first opportunity to get out of Darwin and learn that agricultural produce needs to be increased by 70% to sustain the growing population by 2050 or double the investment by 2030 in agricultural research and innovation to end global hunger and malnutrition. It was because it provided a platform to engage with pioneering thinkers whose insights and enthusiasm have motivated me to dedicate an extra hour daily towards personal improvement. For the first time, I discovered career opportunities in International Agricultural Research and gained valuable advice on pursuing this path.
The 2024 Crawford Fund Conference was a revelation, granting me insights into the complexities of addressing global food and nutrition security and facilitating invaluable networking with individuals committed to this cause. The Scholars’ Program, in particular, offered a dynamic and supportive environment that was especially beneficial for someone as introverted as I am. The thoughtful pairing of scholars with mentors ensured I could navigate the event effectively, making meaningful connections with leaders in agricultural research. The Crawford Fund Conference Scholars Program is one of the most uniquely energising programs that I have ever been to. The well-organised scholar and mentor pairings were the highlight of the event.
This year’s conference theme, ‘Food and Nutrition Security: Transformative Partnerships, Local Leadership, and Co-design’, highlighted the critical challenges of our time: climate change, biodiversity loss, and health crises. These issues call for collaborative solutions, systemic transformations, and a shared knowledge approach to develop resilient responses. A significant learning point for me was the importance of food systems in enhancing resilience, as well as the distinction between resistance and resilience. Given the urgent necessity for adaptation over mitigation, these insights were particularly pertinent.
For emerging researchers and enthusiasts in agriculture like myself, the conference doubled as an invaluable personal development workshop. It stressed the importance of approaching communities and traditional owners with a mindset ready to learn, rather than to ‘fix’ their problems. Establishing genuine partnerships and valorising indigenous knowledge through co-leadership and co-design were presented as essential strategies for advancing understanding and research in international agricultural contexts.
Overall, the 2024 Crawford Fund Conference expanded my view of the challenges and opportunities ahead and equipped me with the mindset and connections to make a meaningful contribution toward addressing global hunger. Millions of thanks to everyone involved in making my experience at the Crawford Fund Conference truly remarkable.
You can hear more about Birendra’s journey from Nepal to the NT in this interview on ABC Radio’s NT Country Hour on 27 August 2024:
Meet Crawford Fund scholar, Birendra Kunwar, who grew up in Nepal and is now studying at CDU and spending a lot of time in mango plantations (starts 49m05s)
