The Pacific Islands Universities Regional Network (PIURN) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 Call for Proposals. Following a rigorous evaluation process, the Selection Committee reviewed all submitted projects against the established eligibility and selection criteria.
Projects were assessed for their interdisciplinarity, collaborative engagement with PIURN member institutions, and scientific rigor. The committee commended the high quality of submissions and the commitment to advancing research across the Pacific region.
After thorough deliberation, the following projects have been selected as recipients:
- ‘Co-designing health resilience frameworks: integrating indigenous and cultural knowledge into health policy and planning in Melanesia’ led by Divine Word University (DWU), with Dr. Gigil Marme as lead researcher, and in partnership with the Solomon Islands National University (SINU).
- ‘Tok Stories Stories with, for and by Pacific youth: connecting heritages, lands, oceans, and horizons for a sustainable future’ led by the University of New Caledonia, with Dr. Elatiana RAZAFIMANDIMBIMANANA as lead researcher, and in partnership with National University of Vanuatu and the University of French Polynesia (UPF).
- ‘PacDigiTwin: Pacific Digital Twin for Hydrogen-Powered Microgrid Resilience and Clean Energy’ led by The University of the South Pacific (USP), with Dr. Ali Mohammadi as lead researcher, and in partnership with UPF.
- ‘The Influence of University Governance Strctures on the Effectivness of Institutional Gendrer Equity and Inclusion Committees: Pacific Island Case Studies’ led by USP, with Dr. Gilianne Brodie as lead researcher, and in partnership with Fiji National University (FNU), UNC and SINU.
- ‘Managing gender-based violence (GBV): the experience of GBV survivors and the effectiveness of support services in Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Fiji’ led by USP, with Dr. Naohiro Nakamura as lead researcher, and in partnership with National University of Samoa and SINU.
- ‘AROCHEM: Study of the chemodiversity of AROmatic plants, selection of CHEMotypes and propagation in vitro’ led by UNC, with Pr. Nicolas Lebouvier as lead researcher, and in partnership with Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT)
- ‘Lifting the Veil – Empowering Widows through Community Engagement in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands’ led by the Pacific Adventist University, with Pr. Annlye Elumba as lead researcher, and in partnership with SINU.
- ‘Resilient Islands for Sustainable Engagement – Pacific (RISE-Pac)’ led by UNC, with Pr. Virginie de Barnier as lead researcher, and in partnership with USP and NUV.
- ‘Game Education for Sustainable Tourism (GEST)’ led by UNC, with Pr. Virginie de Barnier as lead researcher, and in partnership with NUV and UPF.
- ‘Gender Roles and Responsibilities in Contemporary Papua New Guinea and Solomon Island Families: Cultural, Biblical, and Constitutional Perspectives’ led by DWU, with Mr. Ben Ninkama as lead researcher, and in partnership with SINU.
- ‘Navigating Dual Realities: A Comparative Study of Adjustment Needs and Coping Strategies for Parenting Children with Special Needs in Fiji and Solomon Islands’ led by USP, with Dr. Victor Alasa as lead researcher, and in partnership with SINU.
- ‘The ontological security of pacific islanders and communities in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in the context of sea-level rise – (OSPICS)’ led by USP, with Dr. Sarina Theys as lead researcher, and in partnership with NUV and SINU.
- ‘LAPITA – Geoarchaeology of Lapita landscapes (Koné-New Caledonia) Between relative sea-level changes, sedimentary budget, marine resources and potential horticulture’ led by UNC, with Pr. Christophe Morhange-Anker as lead researcher, and in partnership with USP.
PIURN extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the successful nominees and their respective universities. This Call for Proposals would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors.
