Description:

The 2019 World Economic Forum report estimates that 9 of the 10 worst global risks are linked to water, but the measurement of water insecurity is still in its early days. Sera Young will be discussing the development and use of the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) scale, the first cross-culturally equivalent way of measuring household water insecurity. She will conclude by articulating the opportunities that the inclusion of this module in the 2020 Gallup World Poll’s could have for research, policy, and the global prominence of Northwestern.

Sera Young is an assistant professor in anthropology. The focus of Dr. Young’s work is on the reduction of maternal and child-undernutrition in the first 1000 days, especially in low-resource settings. Methodologically, she draws on her training in medical anthropology (MA, University of Amsterdam), international nutrition (PhD, Cornell) and HIV (Fellowship, University of California San Francisco) to take a biocultural approach to understand how mothers in low-resource settings cope to preserve their health and that of their families. 

The Buffett Institute Faculty & Fellows Colloquium brings together an interdisciplinary audience to build awareness of global research on campus. This series promotes dialogue on scholarship and develops a deeper sense of community among Buffett Institute affiliates. Each meeting lasts one hour; lunch is provided.