PASS-CR
FUTURE THINKERS’ AWARDS
INITIATIVE FOCUSES THIS ROUND ON ACADEMIC SUPERVISORS
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.
The first iteration of the Future Thinkers Awards in 2022 successfully supported three PASS-CR scholars, Leikitah Katah Naituku, Christian-Yves Amato-Ali and Wati Tomasi Mocevakaca, 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. PASS-CR Future Thinker awardees will receive mentorship to effectively integrate climate change thinking into their existing research. These prospective projects will then be selected to receive funding of between AU$5,000 and AU$30,000, based on the complexity of the project. The selection process will also look for opportunities to enhance collaboration across sectors; for example, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, horticulture, water and soils, and natural resource management, while aligning with ACIAR research priorities.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Future Thinkers’ Award guidelines, eligibility and selection criteria for 2023 are accessible here.
HOW TO APPLY
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.
The main applicant needs to be qualified to supervise HDR students as a primary supervisor at Fiji National University (FNU) and/or University of the South Pacific (USP).
Please complete an EOI form by 12:00PM on 17 March 2023.
If you have any further questions, an Online Question and Answer Session will be held via Zoom at 10:00am AEST on 13 March 2023. Please register your interest by clicking above.
The organisers will access EOI by 20 March and you will be contacted about the next steps.