Three female scholars from The University of the South Pacific (USP) have become the first recipients of the Vice-Chancellor and President’s (VCP) Strategic Fund for Female Academics, designed to enhance gender equity within the institution.
This Strategic Fund is intended to assist female academics nearing promotion by allowing them to take a break from teaching to concentrate on their research and publications.
The awardees include Dr. Buriata Tofinga, a lecturer from the School of Business and Management (SBM); Dr. Amanda Ford, a senior lecturer from the School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Oceans and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS); and Dr. Hilda Waqa-Sakiti, the lead researcher at the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD).
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia noted that the initiative was launched earlier this year in celebration of International Women’s Day, highlighting the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”
“This landmark initiative is the first of its kind at USP and aligns with our commitment to increasing the representation of women in academia,” Professor Ahluwalia stated. He added that this program is a critical aspect of a broader strategy aimed at advancing gender equity at the university.
He congratulated the recipients and praised the dedication of all female academics and researchers at USP, emphasizing the ongoing investment in women’s advancement.
Dr. Tofinga’s research centers on the impacts of climate change on women’s livelihoods, examining the role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in guiding women’s social and economic practices within indigenous communities that are particularly susceptible to climate change. She expressed enthusiasm for her research, highlighting its potential contribution to gender empowerment discussions and the significance of traditional knowledge in the Pacific region.
Dr. Amanda Ford’s work revolves around coral reef ecology and marine management, aiming to connect scientific research with practical management strategies. She is currently leading two major projects focused on conserving coastal marine ecosystems, one of which assesses marine plastics across four Pacific Island Countries, while the other investigates benthic cyanobacterial mats’ effects on coral reefs in Fiji.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hilda Waqa-Sakiti is spearheading a pilot project that aims to evaluate the health and stability of blue carbon ecosystems in Fiji, such as mangroves and seagrass meadows. This project seeks to develop a reliable monitoring tool tailored for Fiji’s unique ecosystems. Additionally, she oversees the Pacific Ocean and Climate Crisis Assessment Project, which spans 16 Pacific nations, examining the integration of Pacific Indigenous knowledge with Western scientific methods in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
The research findings are expected to assist Pacific governments in developing informed policies and contribute to global dialogues, amplifying the distinctive perspectives and experiences of the Pacific region.