A transformational gift in the will of Anthony Johnston in 2019 enabled the University to establish the Anthony & Margaret Johnston Centre for Doctoral Training in Plant Sciences which provides fully funded PhD studentships in this globally important field.
Anthony and his wife Margaret met while at Aberdeen, both graduating in 1943. They maintained a lifelong relationship with the University through the Development & Alumni Relations team, funding scholarships for many years.
Anthony was a passionate mycologist and botanist and had an eminent international career in plant pathology, plant disease and plant protection, working for both the United Nations and as Director of the Commonwealth Mycology Institute.
The couple had informed of their intention to leave a gift in their will to the University and when Anthony died in 2019 aged 98, following Margaret’s death in in 2005, their generosity enabled the establishment of a long-term PhD research and training programme for some of the brightest student minds in Plant Sciences within the Centre.
Vivek Kumar Awon is one such student, with Anthony and Margaret providing him with opportunities he could only have dreamt of when he started growing his own plants as a little boy.
Vivek was born and raised in Kolkata, India and, from a young age, was fascinated by plants. When growing his own, he noticed that some thrived while others didn’t and was already curious about why some failed and how he could change the outcome.
At secondary school Vivek had the opportunity to study Botany. This led him to apply to the University of Calcutta, India where he completed his Bachelor and Masters in Botany. During his Masters, he specialised in fungi to investigate their interaction with plants and was mentored by two professors who nurtured his talent and advised him that his curious mind should be used for research. Later he secured funding to continue his research.
Covid-19 then impacted on his next steps, preventing him from moving abroad. However, he was determined to continue with his own research and, once travel started to open up again, he found out that the University of Aberdeen’s Anthony & Margaret Johnston Centre for Doctoral Training in Plant Sciences provided funded PhD research opportunities in his area of expertise and applied and accepted a place. Vivek clearly states that, without this funding, his PhD research would have been impossible.
Vivek went on to say “Funding for research is critical. Someone can be extremely talented, with experience and knowledge, but without funding for their research, it’s not possible to progress. Philanthropic support, such as that gifted generously by Anthony and Margaret Johnston, can enable research with the potential for real impact and allows more flexibility without restrictive conditions being attached and without target-based outcomes that must be achieved. The Johnstons’ generosity has allowed my research to continue without constraints which is truly amazing and has provided me with the opportunity to follow my passion and pave the way for my future career.
“I've had access to essential resources, databases, and tools that have been indispensable to my research and have been able to attend conferences and workshops where I've had the chance to collaborate with fellow researchers and present my findings. On a personal note, the financial support has also significantly reduced the weight of financial stress, allowing me to focus wholeheartedly on my studies without constantly worrying about managing my finances.
“My PhD programme involves collaboration with MycoNourish Ltd based in Dundee, which provides the mycorrhizal fungi for my experiments. My research involves finding their influence on plants by enhancing the absorption of phosphates by selecting microbial community in soil. The company already provides mycorrhizal fungi to the farming community and my research could have further positive impact on methods going forward and contribute to sustainable farming both locally and globally.
“To me, this research and funding represents a quest for knowledge and a desire to contribute to the betterment of our communities and the sustainable future of agriculture. This year has been an enlightening and challenging journey. As with any scholarly endeavour, I've faced my fair share of challenges, but this has strengthened my resolve and broadened my perspective. I have developed many skills and have successfully passed my nine-month viva, which is crucial for proceeding into the second year of my PhD, and I am extremely grateful.”
