Global Sustainable Development News
New Article in Special Issue of Antibiotics Journal by Dr Marco J Haenssgen on Antibiotic Resistance
A new article by Dr Marco J Haenssgen in a special issue of the Antibiotics Journal casts doubt on global health action to fight superbug crisis in developing countries.
Dr Marco J Haenssgen has recently published the first paper in a special issue on social, economic, and policy perspectives on antibiotic resistance in the medical journal Antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is regarded a global health priority that threatens the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is feared that the growing resistance of microbes to antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs will cause 10 million deaths every year by 2050 – if left unchecked. (Combatting anitmicrobial Resistence to Achieve SDGS Goals).
Global action plans recognise that the broader problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has a social dimension, which is addressed through proposals of a “massive global public awareness campaign” (The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, 2016, p. 17;).The paper is entitled “The Consequences of AMR Education and Awareness Raising: Outputs, Outcomes, and Behavioural Impacts of an Antibiotic-Related Educational Activity in Lao PDR” and provides one of the most detailed accounts to date on the effects of antibiotic-related awareness-raising interventions in a low-income country context. Marco and his co-authors analyse the case study of two Lao villages, in which they implemented an antibiotic-themed educational activity to learn about villager’s conceptions and health behaviour, and to share ideas about antibiotic use and drug resistance. Fine-grained survey data with nearly 2,500 observations enabled the team to study interpretations of the activity within the villages, its outcomes on awareness and attitudes, and the impact on villagers’ healthcare access and antibiotic use. Finding positive effects on awareness and interpretations of drug resistance alongside limited and potentially detrimental behavioural outcomes, the authors contribute to, and challenge, the dominant communication-centric policy discourse in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. The paper was co-authored with the Southeast Asian social researchers Thipphaphone Xayavong, Nutcha Charoenboon, Penporn Warapikuptanun, and Yuzana Khine Zaw, and it is the first substantive publication from the interdisciplinary research project “Antibiotics and Activity Spaces” . The team used local media and concepts to share content based on educational material from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the World Organisation for Animal Health. The activity lasted half a day; it was designed for 25 to 40 participants and implemented in two villages in Salavan – the poorest province in Lao PDR. Survey data was collected from all villagers before and after the activity.
Funding Success for Dr Jessica Savage
Dr Jessica Savage has been awarded £16,300 Catalyst Fund to undertake a research project titled "Protected Areas and People : Exploring perceived wisdoms surrounding natural resource management and sustainability". The aim of the research is to design and implement protected areas in Cambodia.
Dr Savage explained the importance of the project...
New Director announced to lead the Institute for Global Sustainable Development
January will see the appointment of a new Director of the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD). The IGSD is hosted at the School of Cross-Faculty Studies and has been established to foster research that contributes to sustainable development across the global north and global south, in alignment with the 17 global goals set by the United Nations.
Professor João Porto de Albuquerque, who will assume the role from 1 January, 2019, will lead the IGSD and work across faculties to leverage transformative research with impact - working closely with both departments and Global Research Priorities (GRPs).
This is an important role for the University, and João will be instrumental in creating a strategic direction for the Institute ahead of its official launch in August 2019. The Institute will create links between researchers from different parts of the University to deliver enduring social, economic and environmental solutions, and act as a focal point for world-class research with transformative impact.
New Podcast Mini-Series from the School for Cross-faculty Studies - Available Now
A new short podcast mini-series from the School for Cross-fauclty Studies is now available. Featuring staff and students from the School's Global Sustainable Development and Liberal Arts divisions, each episode tackles a testing "global challenge", posing difficult questions and interdisciplinary solutions. Topics include human rights in Latin America, and our fascination with apocalyptic narratives. Three episodes are currently available to stream or download from the School's website via this link.
New Assistant Professor in Global Sustainable Development joining in January 2019
Marco J Haenssgen will join the School for Cross-Faculty Studies in January 2019 as Assistant Professor in Global Sustainable Development. Marco has a background in development studies and general management, and experience in development evaluation and management consulting. Prior to joining Warwick, he led research projects at the University of Oxford on the consequences of mobile phone diffusion on rural healthcare access in India and China, and on health behaviour and antimicrobial resistance in Myanmar, Thailand, and Lao PDR. The interdisciplinary environment at Warwick promises exciting new collaborations and will enable Marco to intensify his development studies research on human behaviour and social innovation in tropical medicine.
To contact Marco, please email marco.haenssgen@warwick.ac.uk
(Photo Credit: AIDF Asia Summit)
Seminar: "The Power of Good Design", Mark Adams (Vitsoe), 05/12/18
Ramphal Building, R2.41, 4pm 5th December 2018
Via lessons from Charles Darwin, the Routemaster bus and the strongly-held beliefs of those who strove for a better world, Mark Adams (Vitsoe, Leamington Spa) will explore how good design has the power to make our ailing planet just a little bit better.
Vitsoe have been making long-lasting furniture since 1959 with a distinct sustainability ethos. Their designs are driven by living better with less for longers, embedding reuse and sustainable practices into the core of their products.
Wine & Mince Pies available throughout!
Warwick In Africa Applications Now Open - Hear From Previous Participants
Applications for Warwick In Africa's summer 2019 programme are now open. Since 2006, the initiative has grown exponentially, currently consisting of a multi-layered programme helping learners and their teachers across South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana. In 2017, Warwick In Africa worked with 109 volunteers, trained 518 teachers and taught 23,008 learners. A number of GSD students have previously taken part in the programme and found it to be a transformational experience.
Volunteering as an English teacher in Accra (Ghana) for Warwick in Africa in 2017 was an experience that drastically changed my world-view. I had never visited an African country before, therefore being in contact with the Ghanaian culture was truly eye-opening. Teaching and living in Ghana comes with some challenges, however, thanks the support of both the University and the local staff members I managed to settle in and fully appreciate my stay. I taught English to four classes at a junior high school with an average of 50 students per class, from 8am to 3pm. Most of the times I stayed longer in school to teach them some Italian and organise dancing competitions. Being open minded and able to adapt to a different (and amazing) environment helped me get the most out of this experience.
Nicola Blasetti, 2017 Warwick In Africa participant
Cross-faculty Studies Volunteering Fair Showcases Inspiring Student Projects
On Wednesday, November 21st, the School for Cross-faculty Studies hosted the first Volunteering Fair, organized by Dr. Stéphanie Panichelli-Batalla. Students showcased a variety of volunteering projects with which they were or are currently involved, in hopes of inspiring other students, faculty, and staff. Presenters spoke about how they came across their volunteering project, what they did, and how others can get more information. Guests asked questions regarding the impact created, challenges encountered, and lessons learned.
The volunteering projects spanned the local, national, and international scales. On the local scale, Esther Rzewski shared her current volunteering experience at an organisation offering various support services to immigrants in Coventry. She has also been involved with an organisation providing homeless people with temporary accommodation.
On the national scale, Imaani Hashamy volunteered at a community volunteer centre in Thurrock, Essex. She worked on a report about the impact of the voluntary sector, in addition to having worked with local businesses and large corporations on their social awareness and recognition, ensuring they were making a positive impact on the communities where they are present.
The variety of experiences on the international scale was remarkable. Keelie Renwick spoke about volunteering through ICS (International Citizen Service) with Voluntary Service Overseas in Tanzania. Her activities included organising projects related to irrigation, sexual health, employability and business skills; organising Community Action Days; and establishing relationships with various stakeholders.
Lily Rose shared her various experiences with GVI (Global Vision International), which she has been involved with since 2014 in Costa Rica, Thailand, and India, both as a volunteer and staff member.
Marina Zorila and Lucy Page shared their experience volunteering at the Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco-Foundation in Nepal, where, along with three other GSD students, they taught English, helped build an eco-house made of recycled glass bottles, and worked on a biodynamic farm.
Last but not least, Latin America hosted two students’ experiences. David Munday went to Cuba and made the most of volunteering in a restaurant, in construction, as well as on a farm. Bella Brant went to Honduras with the Warwick Global Brigades; and to Guatemala to volunteer for De La Gente, an NGO that enhances the economic opportunities of coffee-producing communities.
Overall, the Volunteering Fair has inspired many guests and will hopefully become an annual event where students of the School can share their experiences and encourage others to delve into the rewarding world of volunteering.
Event: What Can We Do About Climate Change? (07/12/18, 10:00-12:00)
Friday December 7th 2018, 10:00-12:00
Lecture Room MS01, Zeeman Building, Warwick University
The role of business
The role of government
The climate movement
Wilfrid Petrie, CEO, Engie.com
Matthew Bell, former Chief Executive, UK Government Committee on Climate Change
Mark Kenber, Chair, Advisory Council, Reneum, and Board Member, Community Energy England
Chair: Joan MacNaughton CB, The Climate Group and the Energy Academy of Europe
The talks will be followed by a Q+A. Please register here.
Events: Dr María Luisa Ortiz on Memory and Human Rights (04/12/18) AND Chilean Voices Evening (05/12/18)
During the final week of Autumn Term, there are two exciting events on Latin America to look forward to. Firstly, on 4th December, 17:30-19:00, OC1.04, Dr María Luisa Ortiz, Head Curator of the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago (Chile) will discuss the role of museums as promoters of memory and human rights. The museum's programme of memory and its promotion of human rights awareness has covered a variety of areas, from repression and violence to exile and indigenous communities. The museum runs a programme of oral interviews, recording life experiences and preserving them for future research. María Luisa will discuss the challenges and the benefits of this work in Chile today.
The following day, (5th December, 19:30, Helen Martin Studio), to mark the conclusion of the AHRC-funded project, 'Chilean Exiles and the World Service', the School for Modern Languages and Cultures will be hosting an evening of poetry, spoken word and music featuring:
- María Eugenia Bravo Calderara(Poet)
- Carla Guelfenbein (Novelist)
- Valentina Montoya Martínez(Singer-songwriter)
To reserve your place, please email caroline.parker@warwick.ac.uk