ANA Larcher
03-03 2023 12:33
wrote:
John Mumford was my PhD supervisor, but it was also with him that I started working in agricultural development projects in various regions of the world.
When I was doing my PhD with John and each time I met with him I was impressed by his ability to inspire me again and again. The mental image I always have of John was of someone who opened new doors in my brain and each one was a new adventure, where I set off to explore new ideas, new worlds. Coupled with this ability to inspire was the ability to guide, to give tools to navigate complexity, to help maintain focus and relevance.
Also fascinating was his ability and interest in exploring other disciplines and crossing them, integrating the natural sciences with the social sciences and humanities, and encouraging us, as students, to also explore these paths. So he encouraged me to explore so many other disciplines, which really transformed my whole professional life. That is why it still happens frequently today that when I am researching on some topic, John's work always comes up, and it is always the most inspiring to point out new avenues of research and practice. The quality and diversity of John's work, as well as the relevance of his work to the improvement of agriculture are recognised worldwide and are one of the greatest legacies he leaves us.
But it is also his human qualities and interest in the lives of others, particularly his students, that will remain forever with us. From several students with whom I shared stories, I know the support he gave to many, his kindness and generosity, as well as the pride he took in his student’s achievements. Indeed, John cared not only about the present work but about the future professional lives of his students, which he helped, in many cases, to drive forward. It was through John Mumford that the possibility opened up for me to work in various countries and regions of the world, namely the African continent, and in areas that I work to this day. We started by working together in the Algarve in Portugal, and several other projects followed in Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Seychelles and several other countries on the African continent, linked to improving the management of pests in agricultural crops as well as the management of human diseases transmitting insects, reducing the use of pesticides and their negative impact on health and the environment and valuing these costs, improving production and facilitating exports of African agricultural products to Europe, among others. It was through him that I understood the importance of our work namely for the small farmers and it was through him that I had the opportunity to work together with these farmers in various parts of the world, which was the greatest privilege of my life.
On a more personal note, I would like to say that John was one of the important people in my life who told me how important and wonderful it was to have children. I wanted to share with him that, after many years of trying, I finally had my daughter Rosa. It was in my plans to call him to tell him the news: I didn't make it on time, but I feel he will be looking out for us.
For everything he taught me and the doors he opened for me, for the inspiration he continues to be, I am eternally grateful.
ANA Larcher
03-03 2023 12:33
wrote:
John Mumford was my PhD supervisor, but it was also with him that I started working in agricultural development projects in various regions of the world.
When I was doing my PhD with John and each time I met with him I was impressed by his ability to inspire me again and again. The mental image I always have of John was of someone who opened new doors in my brain and each one was a new adventure, where I set off to explore new ideas, new worlds. Coupled with this ability to inspire was the ability to guide, to give tools to navigate complexity, to help maintain focus and relevance.
Also fascinating was his ability and interest in exploring other disciplines and crossing them, integrating the natural sciences with the social sciences and humanities, and encouraging us, as students, to also explore these paths. So he encouraged me to explore so many other disciplines, which really transformed my whole professional life. That is why it still happens frequently today that when I am researching on some topic, John's work always comes up, and it is always the most inspiring to point out new avenues of research and practice. The quality and diversity of John's work, as well as the relevance of his work to the improvement of agriculture are recognised worldwide and are one of the greatest legacies he leaves us.
But it is also his human qualities and interest in the lives of others, particularly his students, that will remain forever with us. From several students with whom I shared stories, I know the support he gave to many, his kindness and generosity, as well as the pride he took in his student’s achievements. Indeed, John cared not only about the present work but about the future professional lives of his students, which he helped, in many cases, to drive forward. It was through John Mumford that the possibility opened up for me to work in various countries and regions of the world, namely the African continent, and in areas that I work to this day. We started by working together in the Algarve in Portugal, and several other projects followed in Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Seychelles and several other countries on the African continent, linked to improving the management of pests in agricultural crops as well as the management of human diseases transmitting insects, reducing the use of pesticides and their negative impact on health and the environment and valuing these costs, improving production and facilitating exports of African agricultural products to Europe, among others. It was through him that I understood the importance of our work namely for the small farmers and it was through him that I had the opportunity to work together with these farmers in various parts of the world, which was the greatest privilege of my life.
On a more personal note, I would like to say that John was one of the important people in my life who told me how important and wonderful it was to have children. I wanted to share with him that, after many years of trying, I finally had my daughter Rosa. It was in my plans to call him to tell him the news: I didn't make it on time, but I feel he will be looking out for us.
For everything he taught me and the doors he opened for me, for the inspiration he continues to be, I am eternally grateful.
