Defy the Odds - A Myanmar scholar's PhD at Oxford

Invest in Resilience: Support a Myanmar Scholar's PhD Journey Amidst Ongoing Myanmar Crises



Dear GoFundMe Community and everyone who has encountered this page,

My name is Pan Ei Ei Phyoe, though most know me as Pan Ei. Today, I find myself reaching out to you with a request that is deeply personal yet holds far-reaching implications. I've established this GoFundMe campaign to gather support and raise funds for my first-year PhD tuition course fees at the University of Oxford. An extraordinary chance has presented itself to me, an opportunity to pursue my doctorate in Geography and the Environment. This isn't just a personal achievement for me, but it's also a beacon of hope for my homeland, Myanmar. I am honoured and thrilled to potentially become the first individual from Myanmar to study in this field at the University of Oxford's School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE). But I cannot achieve this without your help.

In 2017, I made a life-changing decision to leave Myanmar to pursue the highest level of education. It was a journey filled with determination as I started my education in a remote and inaccessible village, studying under the faint glow of candlelight. Through relentless determination and unwavering commitment, I opened the door to unprecedented opportunities. Today, I stand before you as an Oxford Scholar with a master’s degree, a testament to my passion and perseverance. However, the 2021 political coup in Myanmar has drastically affected the education landscape, making it exceedingly challenging for scholars like me to chase their dreams. Many talented individuals are being denied the opportunities I had in 2017.

My dream is to complete a PhD and contribute significantly to developing my home country, Myanmar, and other climate-vulnerable nations. Now, I have an extraordinary opportunity, something countless Burmese students, including myself, have dreamt of. However, the situation isn't always favourable for Myanmar nationals like me, with few scholarships available and student visa restrictions limiting work hours. This opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Oxford is a significant milestone, not just for me but also as a representative of my country, given the current political turbulence and developmental challenges within Myanmar.

My Story

About Me

I was born and raised in Kwanthe Village, a remote settlement on Bilu Island in Mon State, Southern Myanmar. Starting from candlelit studies in my remote village, I have navigated through multiple challenges to become an Oxford Scholar. My academic journey began with a Bachelor of Engineering from Myanmar Maritime University, where I graduated with the highest GPA. Despite initial setbacks, including rejections due to the perceived inadequacy of my degree from Myanmar, I ventured abroad in 2017 and completed my first master’s degree in Water Resources Engineering and Management at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. This set the stage for my opportunity at the University of Oxford, where I graduated with a merited master’s degree in Water Science, Policy and Management, and I was trained to be an interdisciplinary researcher. Here, I have not only attained my master's degree but am also set on my path towards a Doctor of Philosophy DPhil (PhD) degree. Though my beginnings were humble, and my island was isolated from the mainland, my path through life has been defined by unwavering determination, steadfast resilience, and a deep-rooted passion for education, specifically in environmental and climate change studies. This drive has transported me from my quiet village to the prestigious halls of the University of Oxford. I am immensely grateful for the experiences I have had so far, and I'm excited about what the future holds on this academic journey. See my full LinkedIn Profile here .

Myanmar Crisis

The situation in Myanmar has been rife with fear and instability, heightened post the military coup on February 1st, 2021. To put this into perspective, credible sources have confirmed that since February 1st, 2021, an alarming 17,572 individuals, including 381 of us children, have been apprehended, with about 13,763 still in detention. It also verified that at least 2,947 civilians had been killed by the military and its affiliates, including 244 children. With political instability, human rights abuses, fear of arrest, and complications with passport renewal and travel, deferring my DPhil offer without a valid work visa or returning to Myanmar is not a decision I can make lightly.

Here is the very recent report at the UN Human Right Council in regards to worsening situations in Myanmar: Myanmar: High Commissioner details severe violations amid shocking violence

The Opportunity

The opportunity to undertake a DPhil in Geography at the University of Oxford under the supervision of esteemed Professors is both a significant achievement and a substantial responsibility. I aim to utilise this platform to focus on environmental research, combining natural and social sciences to understand and address the challenges posed by climate change, an issue of utmost importance to nations vulnerable to climate change like Myanmar. My research is about making better decisions in managing water resources, especially in the face of unpredictable climate changes, particularly revolving around the transformation of climate services. I will use both natural (from my engineering background) and social sciences (from my Oxford Degree) in my research, allowing me to study water management issues from different perspectives. Recently, a devastating cyclone named Mocha hit my home country, showing just how important it is to build climate resilience for many of the climate-vulnerable countries such as Myanmar. My research can help us develop and advance new ways to deal with these kinds of future unpredictability of climate change.

The Challenge

While this opportunity is indeed remarkable, it brings with it a significant financial burden that presently hinders my aspirations. The tuition for the first year of my DPhil at Oxford is £28,020, with the following years estimated at £29,701 and £31,483, amounting to a total of £89,204 for the entire program. Regrettably, I was unable to secure a scholarship or funding for the first year. The University does not permit deferrals due to financial constraints; otherwise, I would consider taking a year to work and save before commencing my studies. Furthermore, my graduate visa is set to expire in December 2023, which would compel me to return to Myanmar. There, academic and job opportunities are extremely limited , and national development jobs have reached a standstill.

Despite strict budgeting and all available resources, I face a tuition shortfall, further complicated by the looming expiration of my graduate visa in the United Kingdom, risking returning to Myanmar, where conflicts and severe violations are inevitable.

Additionally, living expenses, estimated at £16,000 annually, compound the financial challenge. I'm fortunate to have received a partial living cost grant, the Hale Scholarship from Christ Church College, which covers £5,000 annually. The remaining living costs are anticipated to be supported by my savings and part-time employment, which Oxford restricts to 20 hours weekly for full-time DPhil students.

Details of the PhD:

• Specialisation: Doctor of Philosophy in Geography and the Environment

• Course duration: 3-4 years (Full-time)

• Institution: University of Oxford

• College: Christ Church College

• Department: School of Geography and the Environment

• Tuition fees (for 3-4 years): £ 89,204

• Living costs (for 3-4 years) £ 48,801 (lower range)

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Fundraising Goal: £18,000

Deadline: 2 October 2023

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Here's a breakdown of my first-year DPhil expenses:

• Course Fee: £28,020

• Living Cost: £18,000

• Total Required: £46,020

Current Financial Status:

• I have successfully secured a £5,000 partial living expenses grant from my college which will go towards my course fees

• I have also received a scholarship grant £5,000 and £18,622 from my college which I will allocate them towards my course fees.

• I have initiated this GoFundMe page to raise my living fee shortfall amount off £18,000 to cover the living costs of the Year 1.

• The funds raised will be allocated for my living costs for the first year

The Way Forward:

While I am revisiting my scholarship applications for obtaining major funding for the upcoming two years of my studies, the financial gap for the current year still poses a challenge. I have managed to cover most of my tuition costs (which is quite an accomplishment given the high cost of living in the UK!), but most of my living costs remains to be funded.

Here's How You Can Help:

To commence my DPhil journey at Oxford, I must provide a financial declaration demonstrating my capacity to bear the first-year tuition fees and costs. This is where I humbly ask for your assistance. Your support, irrespective of its size, would contribute significantly towards making my dream a reality, allowing me to pursue my academic and career development amidst the ongoing crises in Myanmar. As we come together to defy the odds, your generosity would not only help light up my path but also represent a crucial step towards conducting much-needed environmental research. Let's join hands to keep the beacon of education alight, serving as a symbol of hope and resilience for the future of Myanmar. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. It truly means the world to me.

Serving the Community

As a dedicated advocate for climate issues, I've been selected as a Youth Delegate for the International Youth Climate Delegate Program for the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC). This initiative, led by YOUNGO and the UNFCCC COP28 Presidency, aims to empower young individuals, especially from Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, to participate more effectively in climate negotiations. The program, announced by His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, attracted nearly 11,000 applications worldwide, illustrating its significant reach and my commitment to serving the community. I will be representing Myanmar in this highest level of global climate change conferences.

About my research project

Brief Title: Climate Services Transformed: Bridging Science and Practice to Support Better Water Sector Decision-making Under Future Uncertain

Research Proposal Summary: Pressures on freshwater resources are escalating due to burgeoning demand and the impacts of climate change. These pressures have far-reaching consequences, affecting ecosystems, communities, and diverse economic sectors. Furthermore, uncertainties in climate predictions present a significant challenge to decision-making in water resource management and planning. Mitigating these pressures and enhancing resilience to current and future climatic conditions calls for evidence-based decisions and a secure operating environment to diminish climate vulnerability and bolster adaptive capacity. This need is especially pronounced in large river basins where data is scarce. Thus, improving the availability and accessibility of climate service information is paramount for reinforcing decision-making processes and endorsing sustainable water management practices, as it remains a key hindrance to effective decision-making under climate-related uncertainty for water managers.

My DPhil research endeavours to create an interdisciplinary framework and develop decision-support tools that evaluate the use of climate information and services by water managers. This research will concentrate on case studies underscoring the necessity for long-term climate data and develop decision-support tools integrating innovative data-driven models tailored for water-related decision-makers. Utilising a mixed methodology that combines systems modelling and stakeholder analysis, I will analyse both quantitative and qualitative data. This methodology consists of two primary components: a stakeholder-centric inquiry to determine shared perceptions and data needs, followed by the establishment of a science-driven evaluation framework for sector-specific decision support tools.

By offering a comprehensive approach, this research aspires to render climate science readily accessible and applicable across sectors, thereby facilitating evidence-based decision-making and refining decision-making processes. This research aims to push the boundaries of our understanding in this vital field, enhancing evidence on climate risks and deepening our comprehension of environmental impacts across various climatic scenarios and timeframes in large river basins. Ultimately, my DPhil research strives to pave the way towards a more sustainable and resilient future by tackling the challenges posed by climate change and aiding in effective decision-making processes for long-term water resource planning and management.

Thank you very much for investing your time in understanding my story and supporting my mission to propel important discussions on water management amid climate change within academic and policy arenas. As the saying goes, every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference! Despite the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, my determination to continue my research and educational journey remains unshaken. When you support my endeavour, you're not just assisting me - you're elevating and enhancing the representation of Myanmar voices in the worldwide academic community.

#womeninacademia #equalitycantwait #climatechange