Videos show researchers “Having a go”

April 14, 2015

Three videos were launched at today’s Crawford Fund’s Queensland Committee event, “Have a Go” International Agricultural Research – Networks and Opportunities for Young Scientists and Communicators. It was an information and networking session to hear about the range of options for young agricultural scientists and communicators to broaden their opportunities for career and personal development in projects in developing countries or within international networks.

The videos show the experience of three volunteers in Laos. Click on the photos to view each video.

The Crawford Fund partners with the Australian Government’s Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program to place young Australians in developing countries in both scientific and communications positions. Since 2002, we have been an Australian Partner Organisation supporting around 30 placements. These have been facilitated in countries including Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, China, Bangladesh, Fiji, Laos, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia and Vietnam.

The volunteers featured in the videos are part of a sustained effort we’ve made with training around plant protection, biosecurity and food safety. Volunteer placements have been helping in those efforts, which are being managed and mentored by eminent plant pathologist Lester W. Burgess FAPPS FAPS, who is a member of our NSW Committee and an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney, where he was formerly Dean of Agriculture. While Kylie and Madaline have returned, and Lyall returns soon, they all report they have found the experience very positive professionally and personally.

We also currently have communicators Tamzin Byrne coming to the end of her 12 months as a communications officer in Kenya and Gabrielle Morrison just starting a 12 month communications placement in Ethiopia and will not doubt hear more of their activities in the coming months.

The videos were produced by Robbie Mitchell, from Econnect Communication.