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International Conference on Global Health by Academia: The Contribution of European Universities and Research after 1945 in RWTH Aachen University/Germany, 21-22 November, 2013

Subject: CFP: Global Health by Academia
From:    “Borowy, Iris” <iborowy@ukaachen.de>
Date:    Mon, July 1, 2013 5:11 pm

Call for papers

International conference

Global Health by Academia:
The contribution of European universities and research after 1945

RWTH Aachen University/Germany, 21./22. November 2013

The present Global Health movement is characterized by the important role
played by universities and academic researchers. However, both the scale
and the form of their contributions to the concept of global health have
been the result of a gradual and often unpredictable process. Between the
late 1940s and the 1980s there was only limited academic involvement in
(bi- and multilateral) development cooperation and humanitarian aid on
health. Existing interest in international health was marked by the
ambiguities of late colonialism and decolonization as universities of the
colonial powers intensified their ties to institutions of higher education
and research in their (former) territories while universities of European
and North-American countries without recent colonial territories sought to
establish such links.

This conference aims at discussing the involvement of Northern
universities and academic research in the broad range of international
activities for improving health in Southern countries during the late
colonial and the post-colonial period.

The subject is meant to be broadly defined, including the entire spectrum of
scientific institutions (universities, research institutes, laboratories,
research departments in political, commercial or civil society agencies
etc.) as well as individual scientists and scholars who may have moved
within different sectors. The main aim is to explore the dynamics of the
interaction between science, research and academia at large with the
practice of health-related development aid and national as well as
international health programs and policies. The differences between
practices and experiences in different settings, both in national or
institutional contexts, may be explored as well as their possible mutual
interaction and entanglement.  The focus is on early or even initial
stages of these activities, but drawing connections to more recent
developments is also welcome. Relevant questions may address but are not
limited to the following areas:

The institutional aspects of the work of universities and research
institutions:

* Did universities and research institutions express their interest to
get involved? Or did governments and international organizations initiate
an academic participation in the development aid process?

* How did they interact with civil society organizations and faith-based
organizations devoted to health in the developing world?

The type of activities:

* What role did twinning agreements between universities, faculties or
research institutes play?
* Were expatriate lecturers sent for regular curricular courses, special
teaching, or summer schools? What were the aim, extent and possible
outcome of these programs?
* What about invitations and grants to guest researchers and students at
undergraduate, doctoral or post-doc levels?

The impact on individual academic health experts:

* Did development work in (ex)-colonial regions benefit or hinder their
academic career at home? Or did it predispose them for jobs in
international cooperation and organisations instead of academic
institutions?
* Did the experience make a difference for their later academic
activities at home, regarding issues, methods or perspectives?
* Did research and teaching promote or discourage the promotion of
citizens of the host countries to senior positions?

* Where and how did the results of research alter the design and
implementation of these approaches?
* What was the reaction of politicians and practitioners when confronted
with health activities by academics?

Major attention will be also given to the kind of health problems,
interventions and academic disciplines, which were the focus of academic
interest:

* Did academic efforts privilege diseases accessible by vertical
programmes (vaccination, mass treatment, vector control) or did they
equally consider horizontal approaches?
* Who decided on research priorities?
* Was academic work on health mainly limited to laboratory and clinical
research or were social sciences integrated in programs of knowledge
transfer?

Proposals of 300 words describing the institutions and period to be
presented, sources and research questions, should be sent to
iborowy@ukaachen.de<mailto:iborowy@ukaachen.de> and
wbruchhausen@ukaachen.de<mailto:wbruchhausen@ukaachen.de> before 29 July
2013.

Information on acceptance will be sent until 2 August 2013.

Expenses for travel and accommodation for the presenters of the selected
papers will be covered.

Participation of other interested colleagues is possible. Please, inform
us at the address above.

The publication of selected contributions in a collected volume or a
special issue of a journal is intended.

Iris Borowy and Walter Bruchhausen
Institute for the History, Theory and Ethics of Medicine
Research project on the History of German Development Cooperation in Health
RWTH Aachen University/Germany
“Borowy, Iris” <iborowy@ukaachen.de>