New round of Future Thinkers’ Initiative boosting Pacific academics’ skills
PASS-CR academic supervisors are being offered the opportunity to develop interdisciplinary research skills in climate change through the Future Thinkers’ Awards. This initiative is part of the Pacific Agriculture Scholarships Support and Climate Resilience Program (PASS-CR) and is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
The program aims to provide PASS-CR scholars and their supervisors with the tools and knowledge they need to effectively integrate climate change into their agricultural research, increasing the scope and impact of their work. Through a capacity building program and funding opportunities the initiative seeks to prepare researchers to conduct interdisciplinary research in climate change that integrates concepts and methods from resilience thinking, climate change adaptation, greenhouse gas mitigation, and disaster risk reduction.
2022 Awardee Recipients with ACIAR Project Alumni, SROS representative, Veronica Vaaia.
The first iteration of the Future Thinkers Awards in 2022 successfully supported three PASS-CR scholars, while the 2023 focus is on the supervisors of higher-degree-by-research (HDR) students at Fiji National University (FNU) and University of the South Pacific (USP). Interested applicants are invited to prepare a research proposal for a research or capacity building activity that effectively integrates climate change thinking into their existing or planned research. The projects funded will need to be implemented in a year and will be eligible for up to AUD 30,000 of operational funding. The selection process will focus on projects that foster interdisciplinary approaches in conventional biophysical research in agriculture with research in climate science and related areas of social science and policy.
Current academics at USP and FNU who are eligible to supervise HDR students, or are current supervisors of PASS-CR scholars, are encouraged to apply. Projects submitted by academics who can demonstrate their ability to form teams with current PASS-CR scholars or other partners in the Pacific who have been involved in ACIAR projects or capacity building activities in the past five years are strongly encouraged to apply. The Future Thinkers initiative is a unique opportunity for Pacific Island researchers to enhance their skills and knowledge in climate change and agricultural research.
“We are very excited to be able to offer this initiative again in 2023 through the PASS-CR program” said ACIAR’s Director of Capacity Building, Kate Turner-Mann. “Integrating climate change knowledge and tools is a crucial pathway for expanding the scope and impact of research to address some of the most pressing agricultural challenges in the Pacific.”
Applicants will be provided with dedicated support throughout the application and implementation process. For information on eligibility, the application process and selection criteria, please click here.
