Programme and Abstracts of the First International Virtual Exchange between African and New Zealand Researchers

Abstract

The First International Virtual Exchange between African and New Zealand Researchers IVEANZR hosted by the University of Canterbury (NZ) was held via Zoom over 2 h on 15 May 2024. There was no registration fee for the conference. The purpose of the virtual conference was to provide a forum for postgraduate students and researchers to present their latest research in an international conference environment but without the burden of a registration fee and the prohibitive cost of international travel, particularly for many emerging researchers. There were 148 registered participants from several countries in the conference and nine presentations were made successfully. The successful event supports the notion that a conference held virtually is a sustainable, low carbon emission, interactive way to share knowledge across international borders.

Keywords

• ethnobotany
• food security
• heavy metals
• land use
• medicinal plants
• okra