Prof. Desiree A. Vilar, Director for the Institute of Environmental Studies at DMMMSU North La Union Campus, attended in the Asia-Pacific Network’s (APN) Proposal Development Training Workshop in Bangkok, Thailand on May 22 to 26, 2023.

She was among the 14 early-career scientists chosen by APN to receive the endowment, and the 25 early-career scientists and practitioners selected to participate.  APN sponsored the air ticket, accommodation, meals, and local transportation. A minimum of two early-career professionals were selected as recipients of APN financial support from each sub-regional member country and approved country (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam).

With the theme Water Security: Improving Knowledge Systems, Governance and Regional Cooperation, the training workshop was designed to enhance the capacity of young scientists and practitioners in the South East Asian Region to develop competitive project proposals for funding.

The main theme of the workshop focused on Water Security: Improving Knowledge Systems, Governance and Regional Cooperation, with sub-themes such as Food-Water-Energy Nexus Management for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and Climate SMART Agriculture in SEA Region.

The training workshop and other networking activities included hands-on proposal writing and peer-review sessions and tour of AIT water research facilities and an interactive local field trip with senior researchers and policymakers.

APN is an intergovernmental network of 22 countries working towards an Asia-Pacific region that is successfully addressing the challenges of global change and sustainability. (By Jesus Rafael B. Jarata)