Guest Post: From an AuthorAID Travel Grant Recipient

[This post is from Om Basukala, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology. Mr. Basukala received an AuthorAID travel grant to attend the course “Molecular Biology of Leishmania”, which took place in Italy. Thank you! —Barbara]

To be selected for the first time to present a paper about my research at an international conference was very exciting, and I was much delighted and proud to be representing my country. This conference became an opportunity to meet, interact with, and establish possible collaborations with people from across borders. However, this would not have been possible without the travel grant from AuthorAID.

I was desperate to attend the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) leishmania course, as it was a golden opportunity for me and my institution for gearing up our research. Meanwhile, my research advisor, Dr. Anjana Giri, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), referred me to a call for travel grants from AuthorAID, and I applied for a grant. This was the first time I came to know about AuthorAID. I can only say—I did my best to be persuasive about why attending this conference was so important to me and my research at NAST. After about 2 weeks, AuthorAID informed me that I would receive a travel grant. (Very delighted moment.) Oh my God! “Thank you so much, AuthorAID.”

I thank AuthorAID at INASP once again for supporting my travel with a grant. I successfully presented my work at, and otherwise participated actively in, the ICGEB Leishmania Course 2014, held 22–24 October 2014. My interaction with the faculty and fellow participants has led to potential for collaboration. If collaborations or publications result from this conference attendance, I will acknowledge AuthorAID for this support.

AuthorAID actually is a hub for authors and developing country scientists, helping them with aspects of publication and providing many opportunities for research, workshops, mentorship, online learning, and connecting to researchers around the world. I have also participated in 2 other activities using AuthorAID materials—the online course “Research Writing Course Batch 7” and a 2-day workshop on “Scientific Writing and Publishing” organized by Progressive Sustainable Developers (PSD), Nepal, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.