Perspectives in Global Development: Spring 2023 Seminar Series

Distinguished speaker: Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted

Global hunger and malnutrition rates have been increasing, exacerbated by disruptions, including climate change, conflicts and COVID-19. Over the past three years, these disruptions have reversed the progress we have made towards achieving Agenda 2030, especially meeting the targets of SDG 2: Zero Hunger. There is growing recognition, backed by scientific data, on the potential and role of aquatic foods in transforming food systems to nourish people and planet. Aquatic food systems provide food and nutrition security and livelihood opportunities for over three billion people, globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Studies have shown that aquatic foods have lower economic and environmental costs, when compared to land-based foods. A paradigm shift, to diversify and build resilience in aquatic food systems, is necessary to optimize the reach of aquatic foods in nourishing people and planet. This requires strong commitments by food systems enablers, including governments and policymakers, research institutions, the private sector, and local communities.

About the speaker

Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, native of Trinidad and Tobago and a citizen of Denmark, is the Director of the Nutrition, Health and Food Security Impact Area Platform at CGIAR. She received the 2021 World Food Prize for her groundbreaking research, critical insights and landmark innovations in developing holistic, nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquaculture and food systems. By bringing together interdisciplinary and international collaborators, she drove transformations in aquatic food systems to deliver improved nutrition, resilient ecosystems and secure livelihoods for millions of vulnerable people across the globe.

Prior to joining WorldFish in 2010, she worked as an Associate Professor in the human nutrition departments of the University of Copenhagen and The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Denmark. She has more than 25 years’ experience in research and has published many refereed articles on food and nutrition security in low-income countries. Shakuntala holds a Ph.D from the The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Denmark.

About the seminar series

The Perspectives in Global Development seminars are held Wednesdays from 12:25 – 1:15 p.m. eastern time during the semester. The series will be presented in a hybrid format with some speakers on campus and others appearing via Zoom. All seminars are shown in Emerson 135. Students, faculty and the general public are welcome to attend. The series is co-sponsored by the Department of Global Development, the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and the School of Integrative Plant Science as part of courses IARD 6960, NTRES 6960, PLSCS 6960, and AEM 6960.

This virtual career panel hosted by the Cornell China Center features three accomplished Cornell alumni pursuing academic paths in sustainability research. Chinese panelists will share how they have built their academic paths in sustainability, with insights from their international and multicultural backgrounds. They will discuss their interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies as well as their personal stories and takeaways from their academic journeys, offering valuable guidance and inspiration to students, postdocs, and alumni who are interested in sustainability. We welcome you to join this conversation to gain a deeper understanding of how to build a sustainability-related career in academia.

Panelists:

Chuan Liao, MS'12, PhD'15: Assistant Professor, Department Global Development, Cornell UniversityYue Li, PhD'17: Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointsZhenli Richard Chen, ESS'20, MPS'21 : Current PhD student, Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford UniversityModerators:

Yingyun Zhang '23 (Information Science and Government)Ying Hua, Director of the Cornell China Center and Associate Professor at Cornell UniversityRegister here.

International students, connect with successful international alumni working in the United States, India, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and beyond during this two-hour virtual networking session!

Participating alumni work in real estate, engineering, law, finance, venture capital, architecture, and more. You'll have the opportunity to learn about their career trajectories and seek mentorship.

Alumni will have their own virtual rooms, and students can move between rooms throughout the event to speak with different alumni. Come prepared with questions and an eagerness to connect!

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Registration is now closed

In Latin America, dairy production faces serious challenges such as low-quality forage, diseases (infectious, metabolic, and parasitic), climate change, and insufficient access to technology, markets, infrastructure, and resources. Nevertheless, the dairy industry directly impacts the socioeconomic status of millions of families through its contribution to income, food security, and access to protein. A review of unique pasture-based dairy systems located mainly in lowlands (valleys and plains) and highlands (Andes Mountains) will provide context for a presentation of applied field research aiming to improve dairy cows’ health and quality of life for dairy farmers in Colombia.

About the Speaker

Dr. Francisco Leal Yepes is originally from Colombia, where he obtained his DVM degree. In 2011, he moved to Ithaca, NY, and worked as a research assistant for two years. Then, he started his Ph.D. in 2013 and a residency in Ambulatory and Production Medicine in 2016 at Cornell University. From 2018 until 2020, Franco was a Clinical Instructor in Ambulatory and Production Medicine at Cornell University. Franco started as an assistant professor of Agricultural Animal Production at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, in October 2020. He provides dairy farms with advice on primary care and preventive medicine while teaching senior veterinary students.