The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is currently hosting a Research Training Workshop at the Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (FAFF) Conference Room. The workshop is designed to strengthen research capacity among early-career academics.
Organised and sponsored by the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), the workshop is part of an ongoing initiative to equip academic staffβparticularly those working in agriculture, forestry, ecology, environmental science, fisheries, physical geography, and biologyβwith essential skills in research planning and scholarly publication.
The workshop is facilitated by Professor Helen Wallace, a distinguished researcher and Head of the School of Biology and Environmental Science at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia. With over 35 years of experience in agriculture and ecology, Professor Wallaceβs research spans a wide range of topics including horticulture, food processing, forest restoration, forestry, pollination, and bee conservation. Her work, focused on βtrees and bees,β explores innovative ways to increase food production while promoting environmental sustainability, particularly in subtropical and tropical regions of Australia and the Pacific.
Professor Wallace is also a key partner in the Livelihoods in Forest Ecosystem Restoration (LIFER) Research Project, currently being implemented in the Solomon Islands. In collaboration with Dr. Vaeno Vigulu and Associate Professor Eric Katovai, the project supports forest regeneration trials led by local communities in the New Georgia Group of Islands in Western Province. Professor Wallace is expected to be formally endorsed as an Adjunct Professor at SINU, under the purview of FAFF and the Office of Research and Postgraduate Studies.
In his welcoming remarks, SINUβs Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Associate Professor Eric Katovai, warmly thanked Professor Wallace for sharing her wealth of knowledge with the SINU academic community. He emphasized the importance of nurturing early-career researchers, noting that building their competencies is key to generating meaningful, impactful research outcomes within the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region.
βWe are privileged to host a scholar of Professor Wallaceβs calibre. Her experience and dedication are not only inspiring but instrumental in shaping our next generation of researchers,β Associate Professor Katovai said.
This two-day workshop reflects SINUβs continued commitment to fostering a vibrant and impactful research culture that supports the advancement of science, innovation, and sustainable development in the Solomon Islands.
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-SINU Press Release
