The Soil CRC’s PhD student cohort is a significant feature our CRC and we are extremely proud of our students’ achievements. So, it was wonderful to hear Soil CRC PhD student Phil Kay express the students’ gratitude at the conclusion of our 2025 Participants Conference last month.
Now reaching the end of his PhD, Phil was looking for a way to say ‘thanks’ to Soil CRC participants, staff and Board members for the opportunities and support he received through his PhD scholarship. With the Soil CRC winding down in 2027 and many PhD students nearing the end of their doctorates, he decided that the penultimate Soil CRC conference was the ideal channel for his message.
Phil rallied the PhD student cohort to provide photos and messages of thanks and compiled these into a speech and supporting slide show, which he delivered at the end of the conference plenary. As photos of students presenting at conferences and standing in front of their research posters flashed up on the screen, Phil delivered the message to participants of the Soil CRC.
“As we’ve heard over the years, the PhD cohort is a very strong aspect of the Soil CRC. So, as the Soil CRC is wrapping up in less than two years, and by that time the majority of PhD candidates will have completed their candidature, we thought that it was a good idea for us to have a voice and express to you what being a part of the Soil CRC has meant to us,” Phil said.
In addition to providing the means to undertake their research, he told of how the Soil CRC PhD scholarships have enabled students to present at conferences both in Australia and overseas.
“The opportunity to present at these conferences has boosted our confidence as researchers and helped us to feel as though we belong to and have something to offer the research community.
“With this we acknowledge everyone here for your assistance. Whether your university has provided laboratory space, equipment and other resources, this has all helped the members of our cohort to succeed.
“Likewise, if your grower group or company has provided access to farming land for our trials, provided advice on our research, helped with data collection or assisted in disseminating our research surveys, we greatly appreciate your assistance in our success.”
Phil went on to say that he and other students have also learnt how to manage a research budget to get the most out of their research.
He then shared some comments from his PhD colleagues to express what being part of the Soil CRC has meant to them:
“The fascinating array of knowledge that is gained by hearing details of other candidates’ research, and the opportunities to network and make soil buddies who are doing the same (yet very different) research at the same time, as well as meeting people in wider research and related stakeholders, has been invaluable.” – Chris
“The annual conferences have been valuable, as has the opportunity to present in various forums.” – James
“Grateful to the Soil CRC for helping me fulfil my dream and giving me the opportunity to contribute to soil research.” – Tania
“Their prospect to keep students as the top priority builds so much confidence in international students to work on their PhD more openly without fear or hesitation to express their ideas with supervisors, ultimately making us realise we have someone to support us whatever the consequences will be.” – Vijay
“During the ECR 2023 final competition, I had the pleasure of getting to know several staff members more closely and without a preset agenda. The feedback and pointers from Cas, Michael, and Lukas still guide how I craft presentations and deliver talks. Michael even took the time to personally introduce me to so many stakeholders and leaders, which made me feel part of the community rather than an outsider. Since then, I’ve had the confidence to talk to anyone.” – Bhavya
Phil finished up by thanking everyone involved in the Soil CRC and gave a special shout out to PhD Program Manager, Dr Cassandra Wardle.
“She has been invaluable to our success. The support she has provided to everyone in the cohort is unparalleled,” he said.