The Seminar on Issues in African Development series examines a broad range of critical concerns in contemporary Africa including food production, human resource development, migration, urbanization, environmental resource management, economic growth, and policy guidance. The weekly presentations are made by invited specialists. Students write weekly memos about the talks. Graduate students (CRP 6770/GDEV 6770) facilitate one seminar question period. 

Thursdays, 11:15 a.m. - 12:05 p.m., 109 Ives Hall

Schedule

August 29

Issues in African Development: an overview 
Rachel Bezner Kerr, Professor, Global Development, and Director, Institute for African Development, Cornell

IAD/Cornell Cinema Film Series:  BORDERS  7:00pm to 9:00pm Willard Straight Theater

September 5

Can Traditional African Cuisines & Food Systems Inspire a Model of Development? -    Pierre Thiam, chef, author, and social activist

September 12

Eco-tourism and the Rural Economy: Disease, Design, and Gendered Development in Botswana - Rebecca Upton, Professor, Global Public and Environmental Health, Colgate University   

September 19

Threats to Power: Methane Extraction in Rwanda - Kristin Doughty, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Rochester

September 26

Constitution making in Africa - Muna Ndulo, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of International & Comparative Law, Cornell Law School

October 3

Elections, Governance, and Human Rights in Africa - O’Brien Kaaba, Lecturer, Department of Public Law, and Assistant Dean of Research, University of Zambia

October 10

Cornell Botanic Gardens’ Seeds of Survival and Celebration: Plants and the Black Experience - Sarah Fiorello, Interpretation Coordinator,(and team), Cornell Botanic Gardens  Register

October 17

Behaviorally Targeted SMS Reminders Improve Smallholder Adoption of Sustainable Agr. Practices -  Jordan Blekking, Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Global Development, Cornell   Register

October 24

Acoustic Monitoring as an Effective Conservation Tool: examples from the African Forest Elephant - Daniela Hedwig, Director, Elephant Listening Project, K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of Ornithology   Register 

October 31

Urban Africa and the Global Environment - Niwaeli Kimambo, Asst. Professor of Geography, C.V. Starr Faculty Fellow in Intl. Studies, Middlebury College   Register

November 7

Development or Solidarity?: Reflections on Nigerian Higher Education  - Abosede George, Tow Assoc. Professor of History and Africana Studies, Barnard College Columbia University  Register

November 14

Dress, Globalization and African Fashion Economies in the 21st Century - Judith Byfield, Professor, Department of History, Cornell  Register

November 19

Global Internship Showcase (4:00pm - 6:00pm, Physical Sciences Atrium, Baker Portico)     

November 21

The Demographic and Health Survey Program. and The New Nutrition Team - Rukundo Benedict, Nutrition Technical Specialist

December 6

Final Class Discussions