April 19, 2017

Global university partnership fosters research collaboration

An appetite for global collaboration has led to a new partnership with the most prestigious state-based research and development funding agency in Brazil. 

In a recent visit to South America for the 2017 University Global Partnership Network (UGPN) Annual Meeting, an official signing ceremony took place between the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and UOW, greatly enhancing UOW’s ability to collaborate and share knowledge across an array of fields.

The University Global Partnership Network (UGPN) sets out to create a foundation for international collaboration enabling academics and students from some of the world's top universities to work together on issues of global importance. The UGPN comprises the Universidade de São Paulo, North Carolina State University, the University of Surrey and UOW.

Held at the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) from 3-5 April, the UGPN Annual Meeting involved an overview of the partnership, updates on current collaborative projects, a visit to FAPESP and workshops for all attendees to present their work.

The UOW research delegation, led by Professors Judy Raper and Joe Chicharo, presented a range of topics at the workshops, covering the areas of health & biomedical related technologies, early childhood development, natural resources: agriculture & biomass production and new materials and photonics.

UOW Early Start Director of Research Professor Anthony Okely co-convened the inaugural early childhood development workshop, which explored the potential for cross-collaboration.

“In addition to learning about the work being done in the area of early childhood development in each institution we really wanted to explore if we could develop a multi-country study,” he said.

“The workshop highlighted the breadth of expertise across the network in complementary areas, including related areas such as maternal health and epigenetics.

“The workshop sent a strong message to other UGPN institutions of the importance that UOW has placed on the area of early childhood development.”

Professor Sharon Robinson from UOW’s School of Biological Science said the opportunity to meet colleagues working in Antarctic research was invaluable.

“At the Biomass and productivity workshop we talked to colleagues from Surrey and USP about new ways of using satellites and drones to map and monitor vegetation, both for health and productivity. Such research is important in Antarctica and also to assess crop productivity around the world,” she said.

“By developing collaboration with the UGPN we are providing a great opportunity for HDR students to participate in Antarctic research.”

The UOW delegation was made up of Prof. Gursel Alici, Dr Jennifer Atchison, Dr Dylan Cliff , Prof. Andy Davis , Associate Prof. Jane Herbert , Prof. Dianne Jolley, Prof. Roger Lewis Prof. Tony Okely , Prof. Sharon Robinson , Dr Kerrylee Rogers , Prof. Glenn Salkeld, Prof. Colin Woodroffe Dr Rute Santos and PhD student Maria Braga Salum De Abreu.

Find out more about the UGPN on the website.