Speaker:

Sera Young, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University

Title:

A cross-culturally equivalent measure of household water security: experiences in scale development and implementation from 30 sites worldwide

Abstract:

The 2019 World Economic Forum report estimates that 9 of the 10 worst global risks are linked to water, but 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 (hwise.org). She will conclude by articulating the opportunities that the inclusion of this module in the 2020 Gallup World Poll could have for research, policy, and the global prominence of Northwestern.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Sera Young is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. In her research, she focuses on reducing maternal and child undernutrition in low-resource settings, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, she has ongoing studies in Tanzania and Kenya, investigating the causes and physical, psychological, and social consequences of food and water insecurity. She is also leading the development of a cross-culturally valid scale to measure household water insecurity in 30+ sites around the world. For her efforts, she has received a number of awards and honors, including the Margaret Mead Award for her book about pica, called Craving Earth.

Further reading:

Check out Professor Young's op-ed in Scientific American on this topic.

Live Stream:

bluejeans.com/8474912528

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