PAS Announces 2026 Tupaia Research Grants recipients

PAS Announces 2026 Tupaia Research Grants recipients

Apia, Samoa – The Pacific Academy of Sciences (PAS) is delighted to announce the 2026 Tupaia Research Grant awardees, recognising outstanding Pacific early career researchers who are progressing their research careers while making meaningful contributions to Pacific communities and beyond. These grants are made possible through the generous support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and in partnership with the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi.

In its opening round, four researchers were selected and awarded NZD 50,000 each to support translational research projects that aims to deliver measurable impacts on the sustainability and wellbeing of communities in the Pacific region.

About the Tupaia Research Grants

The Tupaia Research Grants were established to empower Pacific early career researchers to undertake robust and innovative research that aligns with the PAS priority research areas to benefit the Pacific region. Grants are awarded to researchers whose proposals demonstrate:

• Strong alignment with PAS priority research areas

• Use of Indigenous research methods

• A collaborative, community-based approach

• A clear career development plan with access to experienced mentors.

The selected researchers and their projects have demonstrated the potential to generate measurable impact through actionable insights and practical solutions that will improve the lives, livelihoods and sustainability of people and environments in Pacific communities and beyond.

2026 Award Recipients

Dr Alexandre Bourles, Institut Pasteur of New Caledonia, New Caledonia

• Project: Antimicrobial Resistance in Meat And Domestic Animals (ARMADA)

• Summary: His research focuses on the study of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) using One Health approach by combining culture-based methods and genomic and metagenomic.

Dr Christina Newport, University of Auckland, Cook Islands

• Project: Pacific knowledge, Global Conversations: Publishing Climate Im/mobility Research

• Summary: This project support Pacific knowledge and leadership by publishing important research on climate change and human mobility with 17 communities across seven Pacific countries for diverse audiences.

Dr Emma Powell, Tu Puna Vai Mārama: Cook Islands Centre for Research, Cook Islands

• Project: Atu Nui Maruarua: an island and its houses

• Summary: This ethnographic case study uses the island of Atiu (Enuamanu) in the Cook Islands to examine contemporary Pacific governance and community networks beyond the home island.

Dr Joseph (Iosefa) Percival, National University of Samoa, Samoa and Hawai’i

• Project: Remote-sensing detection and monitoring of invasive Merremia (Decalobanthus peltatus) across Pacific islands

• Summary: This project will develop and test a satellite-based method for detecting and monitoring the invasive vine Merremia across forests in Pacific islands.

Sir Collin Tukuitonga, Chair of the Pacific Academy of Sciences Trust said “these grants are significant in ensuring that Pacific scientific research is led by the next generation of Pacific scientists. The outstanding quality of the proposals and recipients from diverse research institutions across the region, showcases Pacific scientific excellence.”

Dr Joseph (Iosefa) Percival who is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher with the University of Hawai’i at Hilo Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Lab and a research associate of the National University of Samoa is looking forward to carrying out his multi-site project.

“I am very grateful to the Pacific Academy of Sciences for this amazing opportunity. Research funding opportunities are quite limited in the Pacific region and this grant will have an impact not only on my career as a scientist from the Pacific but also demonstrating the possibilities that spatial data and remote sensing has in protecting our environment for a sustainable future.”

Applications for the next round of research grants for 2027 will open in September this year, offering another exciting opportunity for outstanding scientists to secure much needed funding for research innovation that will make a difference to our region.