This text has been translated from Norwegian with the assistance of GPT UiO.
The extensive doctoral network HEALENAE is being supported through the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks-program from the EU. The Department of Social Anthropology (SAI), and Wenzel Geissler, becomes partner and supervisor in the network, will run for five years and involves universities from Europe and Africa, including Cape Town, Edinburgh, Leuven, Makerere, Nairobi, and Aarhus, as well as the University of Oslo.
HEALENAE is a continuation of the now-completed doctoral network ANTHUSIA.
In ANTHUSIA, all PhD candidates came from European universities due to ERC regulations. The new network aims to include African universities as full partners, which is a novel approach within EU-funded projects, says Geissler.
– This provides a unique opportunity to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange between European and African researchers.
The PhD candidates affiliated with HEALENAE will receive dual degrees from both their European and African host universities. The network also comprises medical anthropologists and environmental anthropologists from the respective countries, who have already collaborated for many years.
Geissler explains that the researchers, along with the PhD candidates, will focus on the interconnections between environmental and health challenges in Africa.
– In Africa, we are witnessing a significant increase in chronic and non-communicable diseases caused by environmental pollution. It is crucial to understand how international politics and economics impact these issues, and what we can do here in Europe as well as in Africa to change the situation, he states.
– Many of the causes and solutions to these challenges are global, and hence the aim of HEALENAE is to support PhD projects that connect various perspectives.
Global changes affect local communities
Lars Tjelta Westlye, research dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences, believes it is a strength that HEALENAE aims to map global changes and how they affect local communities, and how researchers can contribute to developing sustainable and locally adapted solutions for the future.
– The network serves as an outstanding illustration of the power of international cooperation. By pooling resources and knowledge from seven leading universities, we can address these challenges in a more holistic and effective manner, he remarks.
– We are greatly pleased with this funding from the EU, and we take pride in the exceptional researchers at SAI who play a central role in such important international collaboration. This once again confirms the strong international position of the institute. We look forward to following the project’s progress and to welcoming the new candidates to the faculty and UiO.
Increased use of harmful pesticides
Two specific PhD projects will be undertaken at UiO. The first, supervised by Ruth Prince, focuses on the health and environmental consequences of intensified agriculture in Africa, and the increased use of harmful pesticides – including substances banned in Europe that continue to be exported from here.
The second project, which is supervised by Geissler himself, will investigate the scientific and legal frameworks in African countries and between Europe and Africa – such as UN conventions that are intended to protect people and the environment from pollution but do not fully achieve their purpose.
– It is vital to gather knowledge about and monitor the use of harmful chemicals. The need for action is urgent in light of the dramatic consequences for both people and the environment, Geissler asserts.
– This requires collaboration between social and natural scientists, policymakers, and activists across nations and continents.
In addition to parallel supervision from two different universities, the programme will facilitate networking and mobility among partner institutions, with regular meetings and training workshops for all involved.
– We aspire to actively contribute to critical environmental work. I believe that collaboration between African and European researchers will be essential for addressing common challenges, Geissler concludes.
– With HEALENAE, doctoral candidates will not only have the opportunity to develop professionally but also to become part of an international network of socially engaged researchers dedicated to understanding and solving health and environmental issues across continents.