Alum Rita Agha’s commitment to reimagining menstrual health for real-world contexts

I was as born and raised in Osun State, Nigeria, and over the years, I have held roles including Media Correspondent, Researcher, and Assistant Lecturer in media and academia before starting my PhD at the ANU.

At first glance, these may seem like separate roles, but they reflect how my curiosity has grown around women’s health and representation in Nigerian society, especially in advocacy and research on ‘menstruation’ as a holistic issue. Growing up, I personally experienced and witnessed others who struggled with menstrual health problems, often worsened by systemic bias and a lack of research-backed solutions.

What started as a desire to raise awareness about the importance of evidence-based solutions to menstrual health issues, such as dysmenorrhea and period poverty, soon became a drive to challenge how menstruation is portrayed in the media, which influenced my master's degree research. The research findings also revealed a gap in evidence-based approaches to policy, practice, and sustainable interventions. This journey has influenced my work across both media and academia, particularly in my PhD research in Science Communication at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at ANU, where I am researching contextually sustainable approaches to menstrual care.

My supervisor inspired me to apply to ANU. When I discussed my research idea with Professor Sujatha Raman [Director of the ANU Centre for the Public Awareness of Science and leader of the UNESCO Chair in Science Communication for the Public Good], she asked questions that completely challenged my thinking. I had been focused on the problems facing Nigerian menstruators, but her questions made me consider: how can people be empowered to create their own solutions that align with their local realities?

In that moment, I realised I wanted my research to truly serve and support their autonomy—and that Professor Raman was exactly the kind of person I wanted to learn from. She inspired me to apply to the ANU.

One of the key lessons I have learnt in my studies in Science Communication is that science tells a story, and often that story rests on a shared understanding that connects us all. Essentially, being able to communicate effectively with different stakeholders—whether through policy briefs for policymakers, the local language and values of the community, or shared intellectual values among peers—is important. In practice, I have also found that it can be quite challenging to integrate all these different ways of understanding, particularly when working across sectors, which is where negotiation becomes crucial.

My media work had to do with following a story, which often starts with the most critical question: ‘Why?’ It seems simple, but it helps to stay curious and explore the different angles of a story, even when everything seems in place. These were skills I found really useful in honing the critical thinking needed for the goals and objectives of my PhD research and advocacy. Also, writing in the media prioritises clarity, which is something I have also brought with me to academia.

One of my biggest challenges in my PhD research has been managing the uncertainty that comes with conducting original research. It takes time, things often don’t go as planned, and sometimes they are not practical to implement. However, years of managing uncertainty and practicality have taught me resilience and reflexiveness, which I believe are vital to any research endeavour.

The world as we know it is changing rapidly, and with that comes the need to rethink how we address issues related to governance, science, technology, climate change, and development both locally and internationally. Every voice matters—especially young people with transformative ideas for the system change we need. 

It can be really challenging to stay motivated when working on emotionally or politically complex issues, but early on, I learnt through the guidance of my supervisors that the goal is not to be the solution but to amplify the work already being done by the community. That way, it decentralises my perceived complexity of the issue and centres the community, and in that process, I am essentially learning from them.

When I moved into Burgmann, I was new to both the ANU and Australia. The College provided me with a $6,000 housing bursary, which also covered breakfast, lunch, and dinner, greatly helping me settle in and concentrate on my studies during my first year. Beyond the supportive environment, the College also encourages resident participation in leadership. During my stay, I served as a postgraduate representative on the Burgmann College Council, which was a wonderful opportunity to develop capacity and confidence in leadership and communication.

I really enjoyed the occasional teatime at Burgmann, but one event stood out to me; it holds some of my fondest memories from living at Burgmann. About a month after I moved in, residents were invited for teatime at the Principal’s residence. A fellow resident led us in a Chinese calligraphy session; we were mainly from different cultural backgrounds and shared aspects of our cultures while we worked on the calligraphy. It was such a great way to meet and connect with other residents.

During one of the Burgmann end-of-session dinners, then-Principal Sally Renouff gave a speech where she said, ‘In a world where you can be anything, be kind to others and yourself’. Those were words that stayed with me.

As for what comes next after completing my PhD, they say no one knows what tomorrow holds, but I have an idea of what will remain constant even after my PhD studies: my commitment to research that amplifies community voices and solutions. I will continue learning from diverse sectors and disciplines, and I believe this will influence my post-PhD choices.