Project Background
In this project, you will work as a member of an interdisciplinary research team to develop a series of assets for a Samoan seaweed recipe book. These assets are varied, including seaweed facts, recipes, nutrition analysis, food photographs, impact stories, value chain opportunities, sustainable harvesting methods.
Duration:
The Summer Research Scholarship program for this project comprises 16 days between January 22nd and February 16th, 2024, and potentially includes two weeks travel to Samoa, with a mix of project work and recreation time. Funding for travel (to the value of $3000) will be provided for each eligible student through the New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant Scheme.
There is some flexibility in the dates that student can work, and this will be negotiated at the start of the ACPIR-SRS.
This project is linked to a recently completed ACIAR project. Background information that may be useful for students considering this project:
For further information, eligibility and how to apply, visit ACPIR Summer Research Scholarships.
Dr Libby Swanepoel
Senior Lecturer, Nutrition and Dietetics | School of Health
Primary supervisor: Dr Libby Swanepoel
Libby is Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Nutrition, and a Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at UniSC. Libby works across aquatic food systems to build individual and collective empowerment, food and nutrition security, capacity building and improved livelihoods for coastal communities across the Indo-Pacific region. Libby is currently leading externally funded projects in this area.
Secondary supervisor: Dr Lee McGowan
Lee is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at UniSC and his primary research interests are in creative writing as research, football (soccer), and community storytelling. He’s recently published two books, Women’s Soccer in Oceania (Routledge 2023) and Beach Soccer Histories (Routledge 2023) and co-edited the anthology, Intersections of Creative Writing in Sport and Society (Springer 2023).
HDR student mentor: Ms Courtney Anderson
Courtney is a PhD Candidate and has a Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics (Honours). Courtney has several years professional research experience in stakeholder engagement, partnerships and collaboration, and dietary assessment in Australian and international projects.
External collaborators:
Ms Ulusapeti Tiitii (MAF Samoa), illustrators and graphic designers (Australian based), and other stakeholders across the Pacific Islands region:
- Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Samoa
- Dani Lunn Design Studio
Please contact Dr Libby Swanepoel via email (lswanepo@usc.edu.au) with any questions.
Students will contribute to this project in several ways, with tasks such as:
- Consulting with stakeholders and Samoan community members
- Content creation for seaweed post-harvest processes, health and nutrition information, recipe development, village-based impact stories, and sustainable harvesting methods.
- Developing culturally appropriate nutrition promotion materials to communicate the benefits of seaweed and encourage villager’s engagement in the seaweed value chain.
Possible deliverables will include
- Village-based impact stories using varied mediums
- Consumer-facing resources for post-harvest processes and opportunities
- Consumer-facing resources for sustainable harvesting methods
- Seaweed nutritional promotion materials
- Recipe cards
- Photographs to support recipe book modules
- A final presentation
This project is suitable for students with varied backgrounds, who have completed at least one semester in any of the following fields of study (including but not limited to): nutrition & dietetics, occupational therapy, biomedical science, international development, environmental science, marine science, creative writing, journalism, international development, and graphic design. We value working across disciplines and encourage all interested students to apply for this opportunity.
In addition to the general ACPIR-SRS selection criteria, personal attributes of collegiality, integrity, teamwork and reliability, attention to detail, critical thinking and initiative are required for this project.
Applicants are required to submit a resume and a brief statement outlining their interest in the project and how this fits with their career/research aspirations. Please note that applicants may be invited to take part in an interview as part of the selection process.