Surveying the room in Solapur, I’m struck first by the elegance of the women’s saris, and second, by the iPad. Equipped with advanced facial recognition software, the machine’s sophistication stands in stark contrast to the rest of the scene, which otherwise comprises piles of tendu leaves, processed tobacco, thread, and perilously sharp sheers. Over the […]

Globally, healthcare products are often developed without taking into consideration sex- and gender-based physiological and psychological differences. Male domination in science, medicine, and technology has led to the overrepresentation of men in clinical trials, a lack of gender-specific medical guidelines, and limited innovation in health-related technologies tailored to women’s needs. The impact of these oversights […]

I attended the 25th Anniversary of Liberation Day in Kigali on July 4, 2019, commemorating the end of the genocide. The contrast between “then” and today was extraordinary.     Parade commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Liberation Day in Kigali on July 4, 2019.   Rwanda has made progress since 1994 toward attaining many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). […]

The Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria, Italy, has seen ancient civilizations come and go. Conquer and be conquered. Odysseus describes how Scylla, a six-headed monster, awaits sailors on the one shore and Charybdis, a giant whirlpool, is ready to swallow the entire ship. In the face of these dangers, what does one do?   Similar […]

THE COMPLEXITIES AND IMPACT OF TOBACCO USE IN INDIA DEMAND ACTION India has the second largest tobacco-using population in the world after China. The tobacco ecosystem in India is complex. In this article, we examine the (1) tobacco products, (2) health impacts, (3) economic implications, and we conclude by seeking inputs and ideas for the […]