Five College African Scholars Program : Theme for Spring 2006

Theme for Spring 2006

Health & Society

The Five College African Scholars Program seeks applications for scholars in residence for Spring 2006 focusing on the topic of Health and Society. Issues of health and society include understanding not only the physical agents of disease, but the social, economic, political, and cultural factors that affect health, disease, and the delivery of effective treatments and interventions. African countries in particular suffer from a paucity of health facilities, trained personnel, and pharmaceuticals necessary to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the persistence of infectious diseases such as malaria, the resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) and polio, as well as malnutrition and trauma. These health inequities are exacerbated by burdens of poverty, periodic famine, civil and domestic violence, and by varying responses of the international community.

We encourage applicants in the social sciences, humanities, and public health fields to reflect on their own research and to contest and enlarge upon broad questions of health and society. We welcome proposals dealing with policy issues, with the analysis of current or historical circumstances, or with the development of concepts and practices dealing with health in African societies. Potential topics include the policies of international institutions (such as WHO, FAO, UNDP, World Bank), as well as colonial and postcolonial policy, traditional healing, local level practices, and the interface between international and local agencies and actors, in pre-colonial or more recent times. Given the links between human health and society and fauna and plant productivity, epizootics, changing plant pathogens and resultant policy innovations are also possible subjects. Finally, because attitudes toward health and well-being are culturally constructed and culturally expressed, proposals may consider cultural and artistic manifestations dealing with health such as witchcraft, forms of ritual or religious power, rumor, or popular media—story, music, dance, film.

The following questions suggest the range of possible approaches to this vast and important field; we welcome other perspectives and approaches as well.

What are the political and economic dimensions of public and personal health?

What are the social processes whereby advances in basic science and technology can have maximum, sustained benefit for communities and individuals? What forms of western science (past or present) are seen as threats to local health? How is this vision expressed?

How has the history of particular African societies been affected by health policies under colonial or post-colonial administrations?

How successful have policy responses (governmental and non-governmental) been in addressing health demands and problems in African countries? How do different models of health system governance address questions of access, equity, and sustainability?

How do epidemics and widespread disease shape the history and development of nations and regions?

How has “development”—urbanization and globalization—affected health?

How do sexual attitudes and practices affect general health and prosperity? What role does education or advertising and “the media” play in diminishing or increasing health risks?

What are the psychological effects for individuals and societies undergoing traumatic stress?

How does society articulate health concerns through cultural, artistic, ritual or religious expression—or through rumor or resistance in response to health initiatives?

Please note: The Program does not have the facilities or funding to support basic scientific research, but it welcomes applied projects relevant to the social sciences and humanities.

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	Theme for Spring 2006 Health & Society The Five College African Scholars Program seeks applications for scholars in residence for Spring 2006 focusing on the topic of Health and Society. Issues of health and society include understanding not only the physical agents of disease, but the social, economic, political, and cultural factors that affect health, disease, and the delivery of effective treatments and interventions. African countries in particular suffer from a paucity of health facilities, trained personnel, and pharmaceuticals necessary to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the persistence of infectious diseases such as malaria, the resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) and polio, as well as malnutrition and trauma. These health inequities are exacerbated by burdens of poverty, periodic famine, civil and domestic violence, and by varying responses of the international community. We encourage applicants in the social sciences, humanities, and public health fields to reflect on their own research and to contest and enlarge upon broad questions of health and society. We welcome proposals dealing with policy issues, with the analysis of current or historical circumstances, or with the development of concepts and practices dealing with health in African societies. Potential topics include the policies of international institutions (such as WHO, FAO, UNDP, World Bank), as well as colonial and postcolonial policy, traditional healing, local level practices, and the interface between international and local agencies and actors, in pre-colonial or more recent times. Given the links between human health and society and fauna and plant productivity, epizootics, changing plant pathogens and resultant policy innovations are also possible subjects. Finally, because attitudes toward health and well-being are culturally constructed and culturally expressed, proposals may consider cultural and artistic manifestations dealing with health such as witchcraft, forms of ritual or religious power, rumor, or popular media—story, music, dance, film. The following questions suggest the range of possible approaches to this vast and important field; we welcome other perspectives and approaches as well. What are the political and economic dimensions of public and personal health? What are the social processes whereby advances in basic science and technology can have maximum, sustained benefit for communities and individuals? What forms of western science (past or present) are seen as threats to local health? How is this vision expressed? How has the history of particular African societies been affected by health policies under colonial or post-colonial administrations? How successful have policy responses (governmental and non-governmental) been in addressing health demands and problems in African countries? How do different models of health system governance address questions of access, equity, and sustainability? How do epidemics and widespread disease shape the history and development of nations and regions? How has “development”—urbanization and globalization—affected health? How do sexual attitudes and practices affect general health and prosperity? What role does education or advertising and “the media” play in diminishing or increasing health risks? What are the psychological effects for individuals and societies undergoing traumatic stress? How does society articulate health concerns through cultural, artistic, ritual or religious expression—or through rumor or resistance in response to health initiatives? Please note: The Program does not have the facilities or funding to support basic scientific research, but it welcomes applied projects relevant to the social sciences and humanities.