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SLS organises a lecture by Gregory Harper

SLS organises a lecture by Gregory Harper

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SLS organises a lecture by Gregory Harper
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School of Life Sciences

lecture on

Building Mission-based Research Capability for Agriculture and Food

Gregory Harper

Associate Professor
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, and Research, Innovation and Commercialization, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia

SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES, JNU
FEBRUARY 20TH, 2020 AT 3:00 PM

ALL ARE INVITED

ABSTRACT: The focal points for agricultural research and development have changed markedly in the last decade through the evolution of corporate and private capital, the changing role of governments in sponsoring and applying R&D, and the broader community’s drive to address the challenges facing global food production and distribution. Drawing on observations made around the world, Dr Harper will discuss current initiatives within the University and Research Institution sectors, to find appropriate mixes of intuition-directed, and mission-based research effort in order to meet community needs for innovation and sustainability in agriculture and food systems. He will also debate whether current researcher training curricula, address the diverse needs of the system.

Gregory Harper is a biological scientist who focusses on the translation of scientific discoveries into commercial, environmental and social benefits. He is Director of Business Development and Indian Engagement for the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences within the University of Melbourne. He also leads the business development team for the four STEM Faculties, within the University’s Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, business unit. Gregory has spent his career working in the global science community and has professional expertise in management of public and private R&D funds. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry and spent 10 years working in medical research, before redirecting his efforts toward agricultural & food sustainability. He has held senior executive roles within Agriculture Victoria, the CSIRO, a Non-executive Director role within Meat and Livestock Australia, as well as within his family business Crondar Pty Ltd.  Gregory has worked in the United States, Sweden, in Japan, and in multiple Australian agricultural systems. His relationship with Indian institutions began in 2009, and the focus has been building links with Universities and government Institutes with strengths in agriculture and food research for dry and changing environments. Gregory has held Fellowships with the Fogarty International Center, the Wenner Gren Foundation, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. His work in the transfer of knowledge and technology has been recognised internationally through the Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals and through Fellowship with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.