Blog Geoffrey Hawtin empowers future innovators
Dr. Geoffrey Hawtin - a renowned agricultural scientist and former Director General of IPGRI and CIAT (now part of the Alliance) - has donated part of his share of the 2024 World Food Prize (often called the 'Nobel Prize of Food') to the scholarship program at the Centro Auxiliar de Servicios Docentes (CASD): a scientific immersion program for technical secondary school students.
This initiative, in partnership with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, guarantees six annual scholarships for public-school students in Cali, including those from rural and hillside communities.
The World Food Prize award was announced on May 9, 2024, during an official ceremony in Washington, D.C., presided over by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Hawtin shared the honor with American scientist Cary Fowler in recognition of their “extraordinary leadership in preserving and protecting the world’s heritage of crop biodiversity and mobilizing this critical resource to defend against threats to global food security”.
With this donation, Dr. Hawtin expands his legacy from science to education, supporting the early development of talented youth in vulnerable settings. For over 25 years, the school internship program—initially supported by the CIAT Biotechnology Research Unit—has supported more than 100 students from 17 public schools in Cali, from both urban and rural areas.
Each internship lasts one month and takes place at the Alliance campus in Palmira, near Cali. Students engage in hands-on research and practical scientific training. Focus areas include biotechnology, genetics, microbiology, soil science, entomology, DNA bank, agricultural data analysis, and technology transfer. Guided by researchers and facilitators, students gain immersive experience while exploring potential academic and career paths.
More than just a scientific project, this partnership between CASD and the Alliance seeks to expand perspectives, develop life skills, and motivate students to envision beyond their current circumstances.
Thanks to this support, high school students from CASD now have the chance to work with researchers in cutting-edge laboratories, where their curiosity and talent can help shape future innovations,” said Joe Tohme, Scientist Emeritus at the Alliance.
“As a Colombian and a father, it’s deeply rewarding to see a young person start to imagine a future through education,” said Roosevelt Escobar, a former program fellow and current coordinator. “Investing in students is how we truly plant the seeds of lasting change.”
Geoffrey Hawtin’s donation is a powerful symbol of his belief in education as a catalyst for social change. It highlights his conviction that scientific innovation must lead to tangible societal benefits. His support ensures the continuation of this program and invests in a new generation of changemakers committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable world.
Cover Image: Students from Cali public schools awarded annual scholarships: Cali Angie Ramón (IE La Merced), Harrison Benavides (IE Gral Fco. de Paula Santander), Mariana Umaña (IE Julio Caicedo y Tellez), Anailyn Prieto (IE Carlos Holguín Lloreda), Anderson Lamos (IE Carlos Holguín Lloreda) and Fenis Vargas (IE Isaías Gamboa).
