3MT Spotlight: Reforming conservation policy in Pakistan to protect the Markhor mountain goat
The Markhor is the largest wild goat species in the world. Found in northern Pakistan, the mountain goat is the country's national symbol and is currently listed as endangered due to annual trophy hunting and poor conservation policy.
Hassan Virk, a PhD candidate at the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP), wants to change this by creating impactful policy reform in Pakistan. His work aims to improve Markhor conservation policy and the treatment of marginal village communities.
“Through annual community-based trophy hunting of Markhor, I'm looking at the discourse of development in northern Pakistan where trophy hunting has been touted as a source for generating development funds for local villagers,” he said.
Mr Virk wants his research to benefit local communities. He wants to draw links between conservation policy of native animals and development challenges facing minority villages in Pakistan.
“I would like to see my research translate into conservation policy reforms and to contribute towards resolving the long-standing crisis between the marginal communities, the natural environment and the state in Pakistan,” he said.
Mr Virk is eager to test his presentation and public speaking skills at the upcoming 2024 ANU College of Asia and the Pacific 3-Minute-Thesis Competition (3MT) where he will share his thought-provoking research. He views 3MT as an invaluable opportunity to challenge and refine his ideas so that they are understandable to a general audience. He says that although academia is primarily about knowledge, it is also about competition and collaboration, two principles at the core of the 3MT competition.
“CAP keeps providing its students with such platforms of learning and sharing ideas which help them in understanding their role as researchers and professional academics to be,” he said.
Hassan encourages everyone from the CAP community to attend his 3MT presentation where he will “transport them to the high mountains of Pakistan” to share innovative conservation and local development policy suggestions.
The 2024 ANU College of Asia and the Pacific 3-Minute-Thesis Competition is not just about presenting research; it is about storytelling. The competition challenges participants to captivate audiences and craft a narrative from their work. Participants will have three minutes to present their research with one PowerPoint slide. The winner will receive a $500 prize and entry into the ANU 3MT final, with a chance to claim a $4,000 grand prize.
The College wishes Mr Virk all the best in his endeavours at the 2024 3MT competition and encourages all members of our community to attend the event.
The event will take place this Thursday, June 27 June from 2-4 pm at the Hedley Bull Building in lecture theatre one. Come along and see the incredible research being undertaken across the College by our talented HDR students.