GDS PhD Candidate Renz Prudenciado Makes Significant Impact at NERPS 2026 in Tokyo
𝐓𝐎𝐊𝐘𝐎, 𝐉𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐍 — Renz Prudenciado, a PhD candidate in the Gender and Development Studies (GDS) Program at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), achieved outstanding recognition at the 5th Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS) Conference. Held from March 4–7, 2026, at the United Nations University, the prestigious event brought together global experts to discuss the intersection of technology, peace, and sustainability.
Prudenciado was one of only 21 student scholars worldwide selected to receive financial support and complimentary registration, a distinction awarded strictly based on the exceptional quality of their research submissions.
𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 & 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
• 𝐵𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑: Prudenciado clinched the coveted Best Presentation Award for her compelling research presentation.
• 𝑆𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: Demonstrating the organizers’ high confidence in her expertise, Prudenciado was invited to chair a formal session on Peacebuilding—a rare honor for a student scholar.
𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞: “𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞-𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧-𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬”
Prudenciado’s award-winning presentation, titled “More-than-Human Caring Masculinities,” explored the lived experiences of Filipino male fishers in a disaster-prone coastal community in Leyte, Philippines. Shaped by the collective memories of Typhoon Haiyan (2013), her interdisciplinary research beautifully connects the natural and social worlds.
The study highlights how these fishers practice unique forms of care that challenge traditional gender roles, emphasizing the urgent need to nurture ecological care and restore balance between human survival and environmental harmony (symbolized as “guns” and “roses”).
Beyond this specific presentation, Prudenciado’s broader doctoral research at AIT’s Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development (FPSD) examines Nepali masculinities in the context of water-related disasters and climate change. She is conducting this research under the supervision of Dr. Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij, Assistant Professor in GDS.
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
Dr. Duanghathai emphasized the profound, real-world relevance of Prudenciado’s academic contributions: “understanding how care is practiced in everyday life helps identify pathways toward cooperation, resilience, and peace.”
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
The 5th Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS) conference was jointly organized by Hiroshima University and the United Nations University (UNU). This year’s iteration focused heavily on the role of emerging technologies in strengthening multilateralism for global peace and sustainability, featuring a dynamic mix of research presentations, expert roundtables, and innovative workshops.
