Three female academics at The University of the South Pacific (USP) have become the inaugural recipients of the Vice-Chancellor and President’s (VCP) Strategic Fund for Female Academics, a program designed to enhance gender equity within the institution.
The fund is intended to assist female academics on the verge of promotion by allowing them to step away from teaching responsibilities to concentrate on their research and publications. The first recipients of this initiative are Dr. Buriata Tofinga from the School of Business and Management, Dr. Amanda Ford from the School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Oceans and Natural Sciences, and Dr. Hilda Waqa-Sakiti, lead researcher at the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development.
Professor Pal Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor and President, noted that this initiative was introduced earlier this year in celebration of International Women’s Day, emphasizing the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” He described it as a pioneering effort for USP that aligns with the university’s commitment to increasing the representation of women in academia and as a vital component of a broader strategy to promote gender equity.
Dr. Tofinga’s research will explore the impact of climate change on women’s livelihoods, particularly the role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in supporting women’s socio-economic practices in indigenous communities vulnerable to climate change. She expressed enthusiasm for this research, highlighting its potential contribution to discussions on gender empowerment and traditional knowledge in the Pacific.
Dr. Amanda Ford’s work focuses on coral reef ecology and marine management, aiming to connect scientific research with practical management solutions for coastal marine ecosystems. She is currently leading two multi-year projects that assess marine plastic pollution in reef fish across four Pacific Island Countries and examine the influence of benthic cyanobacterial mats on coral reefs in Fiji.
Dr. Hilda Waqa-Sakiti is heading a pilot project aimed at evaluating the health and stability of Fiji’s blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves and seagrass meadows. This initiative aspires to create an effective tool for assessing and monitoring these ecosystems, specifically designed for Fiji. Additionally, she leads another project that assesses how Pacific Indigenous knowledge systems can integrate with Western scientific methods for climate change adaptation and mitigation, with the aim of aiding Pacific governments in policy formulation and enhancing representation in global discussions.