Highlighting this exploration, we're thrilled to introduce Dr. Vu Thi Que Anh and Janette Bulkan, whose stories and insights offer a fresh perspective on the field.
Trong gian khó, mới biết lòng phụ nữ – “In adversity, we truly see the strength of women.” This Vietnamese proverb echoes through our work in forestry research, where every challenge in the wild terrain tests our resolve, reflecting the courage of women dedicated to protecting the forests' ecology. Alongside ethnic minority groups, our commitment lights the way. We share knowledge, lifting each other, our spirits bound in the mission to guard Mother Nature. Facing these trials, our collective bravery and steadfast dedication preserve the balance of the cherished forests we call home.
~𝐃𝐫. 𝐕𝐮 𝐓𝐡𝐢 𝐐𝐮𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐡, 𝐏𝐡𝐃., 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲; 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐒𝐂 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦
‘’Women hold up half the sky’ is a famous quotation attributed to Mao Zedong. When women participate in associations at every level – from local to global – our work that ‘holds up half the sky’ stands a better chance of getting recognized and safeguarded. That work spans traditional ecological knowledge to Western knowledge, from reverence and respect for the earth to environmental defenders. ‘’
~𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐤𝐚𝐧, 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫, 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚
Our next researchers' spotlight shines on 𝐃𝐫. 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐥 and 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐉. 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞:
“Dare to envision a world where our skills become instruments of transformation, resolving conflicts, restoring our environment, and birthing a financial system rooted in fairness. Change is inevitable, and to reshape the world, women must step into their power. Let us rewrite the narratives that have confined us for centuries – the tales of male superiority, unbridled progress, and dominance. These stories no longer serve women or our planet. Stories matter; they shape our reality. It's time to tell new stories, narratives of equality, balance, and collective stewardship, for in them lies the power to change the course of humanity."
~𝐃𝐫. 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐥, 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
“Few fields can boast more excitement, challenge, variety, and satisfaction than those affecting forests. A holistic perspective on forests and the people who inhabit them requires input from just about any scientific field we can imagine – including social science. We have gradually come to realize that! Just as we’ve begun to realize the importance of women’s input, whether at a forest or village level or in terms of conventional science. Forestry and its related disciplines need you!”
~𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐉. 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞, 𝐏𝐡𝐃, 𝐌𝐏𝐇, 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐈𝐅𝐎𝐑-𝐈𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐅