Renz Prudenciado, a PhD candidate at the Gender and Development Studies (GDS) Program at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), received the Best Presentation Award at the NERPS 2026 Conference, held from 4–7 March at the United Nations University headquarters in Tokyo. The conference presented three awards, each for students and non-students, drawing participants from around the world.
Photo by: Abdulrahman Clavero Manalundong
Prudenciado presented her research on “More-than-Human Caring Masculinities,” based on the lived experiences of Filipino male fishers in a disaster-prone coastal community in Leyte, Philippines. Shaped by collective memories of Typhoon Haiyan (2013), the study explores how care is embedded in everyday fishing life, extending beyond human relationships to include connections with the sea, the natural environment, and the spiritual world.
“I presented stories of Filipino male fishers and their more-than-human caring masculinities,” she said. “In a world facing conflict, these narratives remind us of the need to nurture care and restore balance: between guns and roses, we must care for the roses.”
The paper was co-authored with Marieta Bañez Sumagaysay, Professor in Economics at the University of the Philippines Tacloban College, and Sultan Adeel, an alumnus of AIT’s MSc in Agribusiness Management.
Prof. Sumagaysay noted that the research builds on emerging perspectives in gender and fisheries by drawing attention to the caring roles of male fishers, an area often overlooked, especially in disaster contexts. She added that such perspectives can contribute to gender equity, peace, and justice. “I was proud and happy to learn that Renz had won, as it shows that the subject is gaining wider attention for further study,” said Prof. Sumagaysay. “I look forward to more scholars contributing to this discourse.”
The research also reflects an interdisciplinary perspective shaped by Prudenciado’s interest in connecting the natural and social worlds. Her doctoral research examines Nepali masculinities in the context of water-related disasters and climate change, under the supervision of Dr. Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij, Assistant Professor in GDS.
Dr. Buranajaroenkij emphasized the broader relevance of such work. “Understanding how care is practiced in everyday life helps identify pathways toward cooperation, resilience, and peace,” she said.
Prof. Kyoko Kusakabe, Chair of the GDS program and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development (FPPSD), highlighted the importance of positive masculinities. “As we celebrate Women’s Month, we must also recognize the role men can play in advancing gender equality,” she said. “Promoting positive or feminist masculinities is essential to this effort.”
Student Scholars and Research Contributions
Prudenciado and another PhD candidate, Shwe Yi Myint Myatt from the Development, Planning, Management and Innovation program, FPPSD, were among 21 first-tier student scholars selected for a ¥100,000 bursary and complimentary conference registration, based on the quality of their research submissions.
Recipients of the NERPS 2026 scholarships with Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Chair of NERPS Council and Rector of the United Nations University (first from right), and Prof. Shinji Kaneko, Director of NERPS and Executive Vice President for Global Initiatives at Hiroshima University (fourth from left). Photo: United Nations University.
“We launched the Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development in January 2026,” said Thi Phuoc Lai Nguyen, Dean of the faculty. “Seeing our students reach this milestone is a meaningful start for the faculty.”
“We are grateful that the NERPS organizers recognized the potential of our work. It was an honor to be selected,” said Shwe. “For all of us, it was also a meaningful experience to engage internationally and visit Japan for the first time.”
Shwe presented a study titled “Fractured Power? Pre-coup and Post-coup Energy Security, Justice, and Planning in Myanmar,” co-authored with Shubham Dhital, Harish S. Saud, Sai Aike Sam, and Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal of AIT’s Faculty of Climate Change and Sustainability.
Shwe, Renz, Mayumi, and Prachee in conversation (left to right).
Prudenciado also chaired the Peacebuilding session.
Another AIT student, Prachee Shrestha from the Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM) program under the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (FCEE), delivered both a research presentation and a poster at the conference. Her presentation, co-authored with Sabin Dotel and Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Professor at FCEE and Co-Director of the Global Water and Sanitation Centre (GWSC), examined transboundary water conflicts and cooperation in the Lancang-Mekong River basin under climate and human pressures.
She also presented a poster titled “Integrated Stormwater and Wastewater Management for Flood-Resilient Low-Income Housing: A PCSWMM Study of CODI Pathum Thani, Thailand”, developed in collaboration with Glenn Lucas Hendrajaya, Phaisit Buaban, and Naina Ghazal.
Reflecting on her experience, Shrestha described the conference as both challenging and rewarding, noting that engaging with scholars helped build her confidence and motivation as an early-career researcher.
Partnership and Collaboration
Prof. Sangam Shrestha attended the conference and served as session chair for a discussion on Governance in the Digital Age. “Addressing global challenges requires transdisciplinary collaboration across institutions.”
Group photo during the closing ceremony with the officials from NERPS, UNU, and Hiroshima University. Photo: United Nations University.
The Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS) conference marks three years of collaboration between Hiroshima University, the United Nations University, and AIT. Previously hosted at AIT in 2023, the partnership continues to strengthen academic cooperation.
Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director of AIT’s Office of International Affairs, highlighted the value of such partnerships in advancing peace and sustainability through academic collaboration.
Dahlia Simangan, Associate Professor of International Relations at Hiroshima University and a core member of NERPS, emphasized the urgency of collective action. “In the face of interconnected global crises, collaboration among emerging scholars is key to building a peaceful and sustainable future,” she said.
The next NERPS Conference will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Edited by: Office of Communications and Public Affairs
