Chin Min Yee, a Master's student from New Energy Science and Engineering Programme, Xiamen University Malaysia, attended Global Development Conference 2023, which took place at Quito, Ecuador, from 31 October to 1 November, 2023. 

Themed “Biodiversity and Sustainable Development”, the Conference was organized by the Global Development Network (GDN) in collaboration with Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and Future Earth, gathering a total of 360 participants from 70 countries.

The two-day conference comprised four Plenary Sessions and three Parallel Sessions, fostering robust and in-depth discussions on eight thematic streams. The discussions emphasized the importance of conserving Earth's biodiversity and leveraging nature-based solutions, specifically focusing on the ambitious Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Before the Conference, Chin Min Yee engaged in the Global Development Awards Competition (GDAC) Workshop - a pre-conference workshop organized by the Global Development Network (GDN) - and participated in discussions on the future of GDN grantees, emphasizing the network's unique and diverse excellence.

She also showcased the progress of their award-winning projects on solid waste management under the Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) and the Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP) categories.

These projects reflected a profound depth of academic innovation and practical implementation, addressing critical issues in the Global South and exemplifying the potential for impactful collaborations on a global scale.

This conference trip was generously sponsored by the GDN.

Chin Min Yee said: "I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Vincent, who gave me this amazing opportunity. This journey has opened up a new world for me, providing a deeper understanding of global realities and fostering a heightened desire for research and knowledge."