Hannah Thwaites is from the College of Science and Engineering and is one of the recipients for the 2025 Best Higher Degree by Research Student Publication Award and is supervised by Prof Timothy Cavagnaro and Prof Beverley Clarke.
Hannah publication was titled “The case for urban agriculture: Opportunities for sustainable development”
We invited Hannah to share insights into the PhD journey and what winning this award means.
What does your publication explore?
Given the increasingly urgent need to find applicable and multifaceted solutions to global pressing ‘wicked problems’, this investigation into the role of urban agriculture in addressing sustainable development aims (correlated to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)), is both timely and necessary – especially given this universal framework’s impending 2030 deadline.
This critical, transdisciplinary research extends across the physical and social sciences to critically explore urban agriculture’s contributions from human- and systems-perspectives of People and Planet. Drawing upon diverse and complex research fields, it reaches beyond niche SDG literature to bring potential sustainability benefits and challenges of urban agriculture into context, finding that the strongest and deepest connections are between urban agriculture and three SDGs: SDG2, SDG11, and SDG12. It illustrates urban agriculture as a serious farming system with a clear role to play in the attainment of global sustainable development ambitions.
What is your research about?
My PhD examines how urban agriculture provides individuals and communities access to localised, sustainable food systems, enabling opportunities to respond to both realised and anticipated changes in social-ecological systems (i.e. climate change). In this research I consider the views of community members both broadly and through a case study approach to better understand the practices and perceptions held about urban agriculture, delve into what helps and hinders engagement with this farming system, and consider the opportunities that urban agriculture undertaken at the household-scale can provide to foster community resilience.
Tell us about your PhD journey so far
I grew up in a household that valued growing food and growing community. This has translated into a range of activities and experiences – running an edible garden business; involvement in social enterprises and initiatives; and working to support research and engagement. The decision to extend my skills and knowledge (and passion!) via a PhD took a while to take root and returning to study after a decade away has had its own rewards and challenges. Not least has been transferring my candidature partway through as my Principal Supervisor Prof. Tim Cavagnaro joined Flinders University in 2023. My decision to take my own advice (‘follow the relationships’) has proven fruitful and I was lucky enough to both gain a new Associate Supervisor in Prof. Beverley Clarke, and retain my previous co-supervisor (now Adjunct Supervisor), Prof. Melissa Nursey-Bray. With their diversity of knowledge and perspectives, I am able to take on the (sometimes uncomfortable) intersection of disciplines of sustainability science and I look forward to completing in 2026!
What does winning this award mean to you?
Overall, I appreciate that Flinders University recognises the hard work involved in successfully getting through the publication process. It is no easy feat, and a lot is learnt in the process! Personally, I am grateful that the collaborative research I undertook with my co-authors is being honoured and through this award, hopefully more people can learn about our findings.
What advice would you give to current or prospective PhD students?
Relationships matter. Surround yourself with good folk (supervisors included!) and enjoy the opportunity to deep dive into a topic you’re passionate about. Give yourself a break when needed. And don’t forget to celebrate the successes. You’ll be surprised how many there are!