Santiago

Mailman Students Practicum in Chile Focusing on the Impact of Automatization in Workers’ Mental Health

Editor's note:

Charlotte Abrams and Lynn Phan Vo, both graduate students at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, spent two months in Chile working at Universidad Mayor’s Society and Health Research Center. Their practicum focused on the impact of automatization of the labor market in workers’ mental health and was performed under the supervision of Esteban Calvo, faculty member both at Mailman and at Universidad Mayor. It was partly financed by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

July 22, 2018
Charlotte Abrams and Lynn Phan Vo

Both students are convinced that the incorporation of machines and robots in the labor market will have profound repercussions on the health and welfare of the population in the coming decades. “I was very excited about the chance to be at the forefront of research being done involving how automating the workforce will impact public health. This is a very important and relevant issue today…I was also drawn by the fact that the practicum was located in Chile… I’ve really enjoyed my time working and exploring this amazing country” said Charlotte Abrams. “We reviewed the literature to examine the types and proportions of jobs at risk and the potential mental health effects that automation can have on those who lose them. We also looked at individual-level data in Latin American countries to further investigate our aims”, explained  Lynn Phan Vo.

Tags
Columbia University Education Mailman School of Public Health Columbia Aging Center at the Mailman School of Public Health Santiago Center Stories