PhD students get top tips on sharing their research

29 August 2025

Participants in the Hub’s Emerging Researchers Network (ERN) met in Canberra this month to learn more about capacity building, and the skills needed to engage with industry and government policy about their area of study.

The Hub worked with key partners, the Australian National University and the Agrifood Innovation Institute, to hold the two-day event on the university grounds.

Hub Program Manager Angus Dunne said the 10 participants in the program learned from some of the best in the research business on how to take their research to the next level.

Dr Susan Orgill, the Chief Scientist for Impact Ag Australia presented to the group on the day, as did Sue Ogilvy, Program Director for Farming for the Future and David Shearer, Strategic Advisor and Research Program Manager, Agribusiness for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

“Being able to communicate research is fundamental. Research isn’t only from the academic perspective of publishing a paper. It’s important to consider other ways to get research out there or engage with others to help add to that research,” Angus said.

Participants explored topics such as integrating behaviour change, applying science communication, understanding policy development and the cultural norms and language of the ERN.

Program participant Tiarna Scerri is working on a PHD at Charles Sturt University researching alternative treatment to antibiotics for bovine mastitis – susceptibility to which is exacerbated by drought and heat conditions.

She said considering that next step forward in communicating to farmers what she has designed, was an eye opener.

“How would I go about getting it manufactured, different kinds of agreements to factor in, whether there is a government regulation partner involved in what I am working on - understanding those next steps was really quite valuable,” she said.

ANU Iranian PHD student Zahra Ghoreishi is studying sociotechnical imaginaries in the Murray-Darling Basin to enhance the adaptive capacity of farmers and communities.

“The best part was the presentation about how to motivate people in our research, I found it really practical. I will use it to motivate people to participate in my research,” she said.

The 2025 ERN program will wrap up in December this year.