Barely six years into her career as an agricultural researcher, Nepalese scientist Deepa Devkota is choosing to challenge gender inequity in profound and practical ways.
Read More
“This year’s IWD is very special for me. Becoming a Meryl Williams Fellow has given me the motivation to challenge my own ignorance. I have chosen to celebrate International Women’s Day with compassion, by talking with my family, colleagues and community about the ways in which women contribute to our society and taking photo’s that demonstrate this contribution. I hope you enjoy these images and agree with me that women are equal in being amongst the most clever, beautiful, loving, hard-working and wonderful creatures in this universe.” Runte Likiafu, Tonga
Read More
As a child growing up in Nepal, Sumeena Karki was forever asking questions and challenging what girls could do. Today, she's continuing that tradition on a much grander scale as a ground-breaking scientist, entrepreneur and Meryl Williams Fellow.
Read More
Dr Glory Dee Romo is a gender/socio- economist based in the Philippines and a champion of gender equity in agricultural systems and research. She is amongst eight women from the Philippines to be awarded a Meryl Williams Fellowship by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in 2021.
Dr Romo is currently responsible for two research projects that respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, one funded by the ACIAR Alumni Research Support Facility, managed by the University of New England, Australia and another funded by the Australia Awards in the Philippines through the Australian Alumni COVID-19 Response Grant Scheme. The research looks at enhancing strengths and mitigating vulnerabilities in food systems to improve food security during times of crisis.
Read More
One of the inaugural 20 Meryl Williams Fellows is working to ensure the sustainability of livestock supply chains throughout her homeland. A recipient of ACIAR's Alumni Research Support Facility (ARSF), administered by the University of New England, Australia, Dr Daovy Kongmanila is casting a welcome spotlight on the systems behind the production and sale of ruminants, pigs, poultry and fish in Laos.
Read More
Dr Melinda R. S. Moata is interested in how women use their social capital to achieve food security during crises. She wants to develop a model for optimising women’s social capital to enhance food system resilience in the Nusa Tenggara Timur province in southern Indonesia. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has awarded Dr Moata ACIAR Alumni Research Support Facility funding to carry out her research .
Read More
Dr Phonevilay Sinavong has recently spear-headed a seminar at NAFRI providing staff the opportunity to share experiences regarding gender development in Laos and increase knowledge about the role of the Lao PDR trade, youth and women’s unions within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read More
Meryl Williams Fellow Dr Hoa Pham awarded ACIAR grant to bring local farmer voices to the table in addressing post-pandemic food security.
Read More
Prior to the current pandemic Agnes Sumareke, a forestry and Remote GIS Sensing specialist based at the Forest Research Institute in Lae, had developed plans to conduct research that would advance the development of the emerging Galip nut Industry. When COVID-19 forced lock-downs it looked as if the project would be suspended indefinitely.
Read More
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security in Cambodia is just beginning to be understood and the potential for a food crisis in the coming months is very real. Meryl Williams Fellows Dr Sonnthida Sambath and Sophornthida Lim have been awarded an ACIAR Research Support Facility grant to examine the impact of the pandemic on access to vegetables in Cambodia.
Read More