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Dimitris Antoniou is a lecturer in Modern Greek History and Culture in the Department of Classics at Columbia University.
“Diseases in India can be tackled only with an equity plan,” remarked Dr. Nerges Mistry from the Foundation of Medical Research, an expert speaker invited for the orientation program organized by the Columbia Global Centers | Mumbai on April 8, 2019 for nursing students from the Columbia School of Nursing. The students were beginning a six-week global clinical practicum to care for patients with infectious diseases at the Bel-Air Hospital in Panchgani and St. Philomena’s Hospital in Bengaluru.
The conference brought together researchers from different social sciences disciplines and strategically convened in Nairobi, to contribute toward academic decolonization of information and knowledge through its production and diffusion within the East African region.
Female enrollment in higher education rose to an all-time high of over 47 percent, according to a 2018 Government of India report. Yet, “the closing gender gap hides ongoing gender inequalities,” noted Dr. Leena Pujari, Head of the Department of Sociology at K. C. College, Mumbai, citing the persistence of gender-based discrimination, harassment and violence that impedes academic institutions from becoming inclusive, respectful and nurturing spaces for all.
In pursuit of becoming a clean energy-driven economy, India pledged to reduce its carbon emissions by a third by 2030 and ensure that 40% of its electricity comes from non-fossil fuel-based sources. While ambitious targets are a good start, one gap in particular if addressed, would help India leapfrog quickly – innovation in energy storage or specifically, in batteries. Many challenges lie ahead for India to roll out battery storage at scale: the electricity grid is weak compared to the United States or Germany, sourcing of raw materials for Lithium ion-based battery chemistries is potentially hard, and many Indian consumers are averse to paying a premium for better quality electricity, having not experienced the benefits of it before. Therefore, a battery that provides quick discharge, lasts long, and is cheap could prove to be a game-changer.
Will Slauter is a historian of media and copyright, an Associate Professor at Université Paris Diderot, and a former fellow of the Society of Fellows in the Humanities at Columbia University.
The Nairobi Center in partnership IFRA and GLNA hosted a workshop on the governing peri-urban land brought together experts in Urban and Town Physical planning and management, researchers and professionals from different backgrounds to reflect upon the impact of urbanization
Columbia Global Centers | Amman held the ninth annual Arabic language program in June 2019.
The Columbia Global Centers I Nairobi in partnership with Mind Speak Business Club with Aly-Khan Satchu hosted Prof. Howard French to the highly anticipated public lecture on 'Africa-China' relations. Prof. French, the author of "China: Second Continent: How a Million Migrants Are Building a New Empire in Africa" and professor at the Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, expounded on China’s dynamic history of China and how it first developed its relations with Africa. Prof. French vividly illustrated the sequence of events that maps the geopolitical and economic impact of both China’s engagement in Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the subsequent growth of other economic activities across the Continent.
The highly engaging lecture and emerging discussions provided insights around Africa's opportunities around their engagement with China and how African countries should embrace bloc negotiations to increase their leveraging power, particularly for smaller economies. Another growing concern around the world, and indeed, Africa is the challenge of an increasing debt portfolio with China that has unveiled highly punitive measures. "This is not in China's business interest" was Prof French response. This is not part of the business model, and it certainly erodes the soft power China is trying to build in regards to China's market for other goods and services.
China is also facing its challenges that include its rapidly changing demographics that include a large aging workforce, steadily increasing the demand for pension services and healthcare. Similarly, China’s model of engagement with most Africa countries where do not readily engage in their social and political challenges or solutions is praised and frowned upon in equal measure as on the one hand seems non-intrusive and on the other comes across as indifferent to the prevailing problems and norms to the region.
The public lecture held in a Nairobi hotel was attended by over sixty people, including students, professionals, and the media. The conversation continues more so as China's interests continue to grow and economic dominance in the Belt and Road Initiative takes root in the region.