RAID 2020 Blog Comp

Entries are now closed for the RAID Network 2020 Blog Comp. We thank all those who have submitted entries – here are this year’s winners.

“About two-thirds of the developing world’s 3 billion rural people live in 475 million small farm households, working on land plots smaller than two hectares. Many are poor, food insecure and have limited access to markets and services. Their choices are constrained, but they farm their land and produce food for a substantial proportion of the world’s population (FAO 2015).”

Each year, Australian scientists work together with farmers, entrepreneurs, governments, NGOs, researchers, and universities in developing countries to find solutions for agricultural challenges, working towards more sustainable and secure food and nutrition.

This is international agricultural research for development (R4D). 

Working and studying in the R4D space is a unique experience for all involved, with some amazing stories of success and failure along the way. Here at RAID Network our aim is to capture these stories and publish them for the greater R4D community, but to do this we need your help. If you have an insight, experience, or lesson to share on international agricultural R4D, here is an opportunity to share it with the R4D community.

Are you passionate about agricultural R4D?

Does international agricultural R4D have an application in your sector?

Are you working on/have you worked in the international agricultural R4D space?

Are you learning about the role and applications of international agricultural R4D?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, we invite you to share your voice with us on the topic of Ag R4D and enter our blog competition.

To get you started, this year’s theme is:

This is what ag R4D is for me

What we’re looking for:

To point you in the right direction, here are some blogs we at RAID Network have loved. Use these as a jump-off point for building your submission. We are looking for a unique perspective on R4D, delivered with captivating prose. A great submission will be delivered in a personable style, with character and panache.

• Remembering how to write beautifully
• Connecting with Timorese youth through fisheries research
• Getting your message across: Don’t miss an opportunity to take and share a photo
• I don’t love rice but I love rice research

Requirements:

• Length: 750– 1,000 words (give or take a little)
• Photos: Minimum 2 photos/graphics with captions

Prizes

• First prize: $1000 towards academic or professional development¹
• Second prize: $200 towards academic or professional development²
• Third prize: $100 towards academic or professional development²
• RAID Committee’s pick: 3 X $50 RAID Vouchers, redeemable in the RAID store, or for RAID events

Judging:

An external communications expert will assess and critique all submissions.

Submission details:

All entries must be submitted via email to Candice-skelton@live.com.au. Submissions must be saved as word file. Photos/graphics must be placed within the word file and originals attached as separate files to the email. 

Need more info? 

For any queries, please bug our friendly blog comp coordinator, Candice Skelton, Candice-skelton@live.com.au. NB She is ruthless with deadlines. 

Terms and conditions:

• Entry is open to anyone living in Australia as of 11 June 2020.
• Entries with joint authorship are welcome.
• By entering the competition, you declare that the submitted work is entirely your own. RAID Network will disqualify any work suspected of being plagiarised.
• All entries may be published on the RAID Network website at any time throughout the year. The work will be attributed to the entrant at all times.
• RAID Network reserves the right to modify and format the entries for publication purposes.
• Winners will be notified via email and announced on RAID Network’s website and social media

¹The successful entrant will be awarded $1000 for use in the advancement of their academic or professional capacity. Use of the award will be at the discretion of RAID Network. The successful applicant will provide details of suggested items, associated costs, and justification to the RAID network within 90 days of being notified as the successful entrant. RAID Network reserves the right to withhold the allocated award where the intended use is considered as unsatisfactory – that is, not contributing to academic or professional development. Appropriate uses include, but are not limited to, conference support, professional development courses, items to support work or education such as laptops. Funds will be administered either directly to the supplier of proposed items or services, reimbursed to the awardee upon presentation of receipts of purchase, or via voucher (gift card) for a supplier.

²The successful applicant will be awarded the specified value in the form of a voucher (gift card) for use in the advancement of their academic or professional capacity. The successful applicant will provide details of a suggested supplier, details of the proposed purchase, and justification to the RAID network within 90 days of being notified as the successful entrant. RAID Network reserves the right to withhold the allocated award where the intended use is considered as unsatisfactory – that is, not contributing to academic or professional development. Appropriate uses include, but are not limited to, Kathmandu voucher to purchase field clothing, JB Hi-Fi voucher to subsidise the purchase of a tablet, Dymocks voucher to purchase textbooks.