Scholars selected to attend Singapore conference

Posted 13 June 2016

Three Harper Adams University students will be jetting out to Singapore this autumn, after being awarded scholarships to attend the 27th conference of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth. 

PhD student William Watts, as well as undergraduates Jenny Martin and Charlotte Reynolds, both due to graduate weeks before the conference, will all be joining the Next Generation event as well as the three-day biennial conference, starting on October 31.

William, who is involved in biofumigation research is being sponsored by The Lord Plumb Foundation. He said: “I would be fascinated to discover the pest management issues facing agriculture in Singapore and other Commonwealth nations so that I might better understand how biofumigation could fit into new agricultural systems. 

“I also hope that this conference could be of value in helping me diversify my own family farming business. I am looking for ways in which I can turn the farm into a more profitable enterprise. Links forged at the conference could therefore be of great value for my future research and farm business opportunities.

“I am very grateful to Lord Plumb for having presented this opportunity to Harper Adams University for its students and I hope that I will make a good ambassador for the University and for the Foundation whilst in Singapore.”

Jenny and Charlotte have secured scholarships from the university’s Development Trust, to cover their travel, accommodation and conference costs.  

Jenny said: “I am delighted to have secured this scholarship because I am extremely passionate about the continuation of agricultural shows. I believe they are the best opportunity for farmers to promote their businesses, educate the population about the industry and bring together the rural community. 

“As part of my degree, I completed a placement year with Anglia Farmers and I was fortunate to be a member of their Next Generation Group, which discussed current challenges within the agricultural industry, and I am keen to take this forward at the Commonwealth Next Generation Forum and would aim to come back and communicate my experiences to Harper Adams students and staff”. 

The trip to Singapore will complete a year of global opportunities for Charlotte, who has secured visits to Turkey and Chicago after winning the Global #LovePulses competition. Charlotte openly admits that she was not a typical candidate for the RASC conference scholarship. 

“Attending the conference in Singapore will be an enriching experience on many levels. This year’s theme, ‘Bridging the rural-urban divide’, lies very close to my heart. I am not from an agricultural background not from an area surrounded by fields, farms or local produce markets. I was born and raised in West London however, unlike my city loving peers, I have always been passionate about food production. 

“Transformational changes between rural and urban communities have always been of great interest to me, especially observing how a rapidly urbanising world can continue to sustain itself. The conference will provide valuable insight as well as networking opportunities and I welcome the chance to be an ambassador for Harper Adams University at a global event.”