Announcing the winners of “Your research in one photo” competition – 2024

Once again, we were treated from beautiful and creative entries to the 2024 rendition of the RAID Network research photo comp! We get excited every year to see our members entries and learn more about their research!

Nittya Simard took out the top prize and the people’s choice award with her photo of Mabé pearl (above).

As Nittya explains, ‘Half-pearl (also known mabé pearl) jewellery and shellcraft are livelihood activities that rely on marine resources from small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in Papua New Guinea. While shellcraft is known to provide essential social and economic benefits for coastal communities, small-scale fisheries associated with shellcraft were poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that shellcraft fisheries are mostly sustainable, rely on over 80 species, and have minimal links with mollusc consumption (less than 10% of shells from consumed individuals are used for shellcraft) in Papua New Guinea.’

Congratulations to our runner up Matt Champness! His photo put quite simply promotes a participatory, systems-based approach to irrigation. ‘It is complex, but goats can fly, it is figure-out-able.’

A huge thanks to our wonderful judges Sabrina Velasco & Lachlan Hall, plus everyone who voted in the people’s choice!

We’re excited to bring back another round in 2025. Until next year, keep snapping!