Was on an EU programme panel last week interviewing #PapuaNewGuinea potential MPhil students for #biodiversity and #climate research, and we have now awarded 21 full scholarships. Most of the panel were #PNG academics (with a few of us from elsewhere too), and it was great to see these resources are going to flow through to PNG students and universities rather than those of the ex-colonial powers (as is too often the case with New Guinea related research).

The EU-FCCB Programme will be accepting applications for a further c20 MPhil scholarships in the next round, with applications deadlines expected towards the end of 2025. This is a rare funding opportunity for Papua New Guineans, so spread the word to anyone who may want to apply to keep an eye on the The EU-FCCB Programme scholarship pages: https://fccbpng.eu/scholarships-and-grants . I am sure other panel members would agree that we are really look forward to reading your proposals and meeting some of you at interview.

For background on why its important to decolonise research about New Guinea, see an article from last year co-written by staff from The University of Papua New Guinea, New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, University of Goroka, and Sussex Sustainability Research Programme (SSRP) + Brighton and Sussex Medical School (including Jessica A. Stockdale and myself): https://journals.lww.com/coas/fulltext/2024/22020/mobilising_papua_new_guinea_s_conservation.4.aspx