RAID SA social catch up: featuring Emma Karki

On 2 April, early career researchers were invited to Intersection Traders in Adelaide for a a relaxed evening of connection and conversation.

It was an intimate group of thirteen people, so we were able to enjoy casual conversation with everyone seated at a long table. Attendees were mostly early career researchers, primarily PhD students, with mixed disciplinary backgrounds. Most were in agriculture or agricultural development but others specialising in energy transitions and water resources. Everybody got the chance to introduce themselves and talk about their backgrounds. This was followed by an overview of RAID, what we do, and some of the scholarship opportunities which are currently available at the Crawford Fund for Food Security. One of the attendee’s had won a Crawford Fund Travel Award for her PhD and was able to share details of her first-hand experience.

Guest speaker, Emma Karki, spoke about how she ended up in her chosen PhD field and what inspired her to be there. Her presentation prompted a good amount of questions and discussion. The conversations, especially around women’s empowerment in agricultural development, were incredibly frank and honest.

The event highlighted that the casual discourse and opportunity for honest conversation, with space to share thoughts and ask questions, filled a gap and provided something which was otherwise lacking in the PhD student experience.

–  Mackenzie Coopman, RAID SA representative