Future Thinkers' Award recognises Dr Leslie T Ubaub's research on heat stress impact on crop production and pollinators in Samoa
Future Thinkers' Award recognises Dr Leslie T Ubaub's research on heat stress impact on crop production and pollinators in Samoa
The prestigious Future Thinkers’ Award has been presented to Dr Leslie T Ubaub for her proposal aimed at addressing the impact of heat stress on pollen, pollinators, and crop production in Samoa. Dr Ubaub's project proposes to explore the effect of extreme temperature on floral development and pollinators of open-pollinated crops, particularly tomatoes, and aims to build capacity in the region to address this pressing challenge.
"I am happy and humbled by the award. I have received several accolades in my career, but this one is special because, for a very short time, I managed to step out of my comfort zone and developed a proposal that I am indeed proud of," expressed Dr Ubaub. She believes that through this proposal, she can expand her research horizon while retaining her deep-rooted passion for Entomology and Plant Protection.
The significance of dedicated research and capacity-building in Pacific Island agriculture, forestry, and fisheries is crucial, according to Dr Ubaub. "These three sectors are essential to Pacific islanders, and only a few researchers in the region are dedicated to these areas." One of the core research questions to be addressed by the project includes the vulnerability assessment of tomato farms in Samoa to the effects of heat stress, caused by extreme temperatures. The research will also investigate whether there are differences in tomato floral development and pollinator populations between different locations and cultivation systems.
The research's impact is anticipated to be far-reaching. "The data will hopefully influence farmers and the Ministry of Agriculture's decision-making, especially in prioritising areas for vegetable production and the system of production to promote," shared Dr Ubaub.
By participating in an internship at the University of Sydney under the guidance of Dr Daniel Tan, a renowned expert in heat stress research, Dr Ubaub will gain valuable skills to analyse the effect of heat stress on crop production, particularly focusing on pollen quality. This collaboration will enable her to extend her research network and foster potential future research collaborations between USP and the University of Sydney.
This Future Thinker's Award will not only recognise the research efforts of Dr Ubaub but also promote innovation and collaboration in the field of climate change research and sustainable agriculture. The award will significantly contribute to building the capacity of researchers in the Pacific region to address the challenges posed by climate change on agricultural systems.
The Future Thinkers' Award program, by facilitating research and capacity-building, is advancing climate change research in the Pacific region, and fostering a new generation of dedicated experts to combat its challenges.