Tasmania’s emerging agricultural leaders have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain invaluable experience and connections, thanks to a new Nuffield scholarship supported by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and the JM Roberts Charitable Trust.
The JM Roberts and Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Nuffield Farming Scholarship for Young Leaders in Sustainable Agriculture is valued at $30,000 and will be offered for the first time in 2021.
TIA Interim Director Professor Michael Rose said the annual scholarship would support an emerging leader in Tasmania’s agricultural sector to gain experience, develop leadership capability and build their international, national and local networks in sustainable agriculture for the benefit of Tasmania.
“We are thrilled to receive the generous support of the JM Roberts Charitable Trust to enable us to offer the invaluable experience of a Nuffield scholarship to Tasmania’s agricultural community. They are significant partners to our work and have pledged just under $400,000 support for this scholarship, as well as seed funding for research projects at TIA to be delivered over the next six years,” Professor Rose said.
“The successful scholar will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about the international agricultural marketplace and bring this knowledge back home to manage their operation better and add value to our local communities and industries.”
The 2021 Nuffield program will be slightly different due to the impact of COVID-19 but continues to present exciting opportunities for emerging change-makers in the industry. The program’s highlight will be a global study program where scholars can research their chosen topic across 14 weeks.
“TIA will support returning scholars to use their learnings to inform research and policy through lectures, seminars and discussions with industry peak bodies, researchers and government agencies,” Professor Rose said.
“This is one of the ways we are supporting the sustainable growth of Tasmania’s agriculture and food sectors and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of global trends and innovation.”
Applications are open to candidates aged between 28-45 who are engaged in Tasmania’s agricultural sector and have a passion for environmental sustainability. There is a preference for candidates from northern Tasmania and projects that aim to provide positive outcomes for land, water, plants or animals.
The JM Roberts Charitable Trust was established in 2003 by the late John Roberts with a goal to provide additional funding to support and promote the well-being of our natural environment today and for generations to come.
Specifically, the Trust has a focus on benefitting the northern area of Tasmania in the areas of reducing land and soil degradation, clean waterways, re-vegetation, managing erosion and informing and educating the community and youth on the importance of Landcare.
Applications for the 2021 Nuffield Scholarship Program are open from 29 June until 11 September 2020. For more information, please visit http://nuffield.com.au/
Image: Thomas Snare, right, 2015 Nuffield scholar, now a TIA senior project officer.