Vulnerability and Healthcare Research Showcase Event 

Coinciding with the Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers, the event will present the results of a collaborative project supported by the SACRU Working Group ‘Vulnerability and Healthcare

 

Join the Panel Discussion on Microsoft Teams

Date: Monday, 7 April 2025

Time: from 5pm to 7pm CEST

Location: Australian Catholic University Rome Campus, Largo Giovanni Berchet, 4, 00152 Roma.

The interdisciplinary project involved doctoral candidates from seven of the Catholic universities in the SACRU alliance, together with supporting faculty. Over a series of virtual meetings, the doctoral candidates explored the theme Vulnerability and Healthcare from the perspective of their respective research projects, which cover the topics of vaccine trials in developing countries, physician assisted suicide, theologies of prenatal genetic testing, interreligious dialogue on healthcare in conflict zones, boundaries in environmental ethics, the history of monastic medicine, Aristotelian and Thomistic virtues, and social and ecological justice in residential aged care. They will come together at Australian Catholic University’s Rome Campus to finalize and present their results as a panel discussion.

Proceedings will be in English as follows:

Welcome and introduction to the project
Associate Professor David G. Kirchhoffer, Director of the Queensland Bioethics Centre at Australian Catholic University, Chair of SACRU Working Group 1.

On the importance of research into the ethical significance of vulnerability for Catholic health and aged care agencies
Virginia Bourke, Pro-Chancellor of the Senate of Australian Catholic University, Chair of the Board of Mercy Health Australia, Director of Catholic Health Australia, and Director of Caritas Australia

Panel Discussion on Vulnerability and Healthcare with Doctoral Candidates
Lachlan Green—Australian Catholic University
Dorothy Goehring—Boston College
Gabriel Vidal—Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Jefferson da Silva Bellarmino—Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
Joana Ramos—Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Enrico Frosio—Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

With additional input by
Aitana Juan Giner—Universitat Ramon Llull
Geetanjali Rogers—Australian Catholic University

Q&A with audience

Reflections on Vulnerability and Healthcare: a response to the panel
Reverend Professor James Keenan, SJ, Vice Provost for Global Engagement at Boston College.

For questions about the event, please contact Dr David Kirchhoffer at david.kirchhoffer@acu.edu.au

 

 

 

Reflections on United Nations SDGs:
n.6 Clean Water and Sanitation

 

Boston College has realized this insight through the written article of  Hanqin Tian, Director and Professor of the Center for Earth System Science & Global Sustainability, and the video of Cyrus Rosen, undergraduate student of Engineering 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 with the goal of providing a path for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The core of the Agenda is represented by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which represent an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership to adopt strategies that aim to end poverty and other deprivations, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth. The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities is collecting insights from SACRU experts and students on the SDGs. This contribution is by Boston College on SDG n6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

Advancing Sustainable Water Management and Global Sanitation

Written by Hanqin Tian, Director and Schiller Institute Professor, Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. Boston College has undertaken notable initiatives to advance this goal through extensive water conservation measures, sustainability practices, research endeavors, and community engagement. The university has implemented campus-wide initiatives such as upgrading toilets, showerheads, and faucets with low-flow fixtures, utilizing weather-responsive sprinkler systems, harvesting rainwater, and reusing gray water to mitigate stormwater runoff. These measures have earned Boston College a Silver Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), reflecting its integration of water conservation into daily operations.

Faculty and students actively participate in research and educational programs that promote sustainable water practices. Projects like the “Social Justice Through Hydroponics” initiative demonstrate innovative approaches to reducing water usage while educating participants about sustainability. The newly established Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability focuses on interdisciplinary research addressing critical issues such as the food-energy-water nexus and sustainable nitrogen management. The Schiller Institute for integrated Science and Society supports local and global research on water sustainability, particularly in underserved communities.

Boston College also extends its efforts beyond campus through community and global engagement. Service-learning projects improve water quality in urban areas, while public workshops raise awareness of conservation practices. Participation in UN Climate Change Conferences enables the university to contribute to international discussions on climate resilience and water security. Through global partnerships, such as the Global Ethics and Social Trust Program, the university addresses the impacts of climate change on water and food security and their implications for migration.

Boston College’s initiatives reflect a deep commitment to environmental sustainability and social justice. By integrating innovative water conservation practices, fostering interdisciplinary research, and engaging with communities globally, the university plays a vital role in ensuring clean water and sanitation for all while addressing long-term sustainability challenges.

 

Why AGI could not be (just) a tool: goals, life, and general intelligence

A research article published by the co-chairs of the SACRU Working Group on AI, William Hasselberger and Micah Lott, in the journal Inquiry 

It is widely believed that AGI has the potential to be a wonderful tool that humans can use to meet our needs, solve our problems, and improve our lives. Against this view, we argue that any entity with truly general, human-level intelligence would have the capacity to lead its own life, with its own purposes and integrated hierarchy of goals. And thus any true AGI could not be merely a tool, even if it turned out to be extremely helpful for human beings. If we are correct, there is a dilemma at the heart of the ambition to build AGI as a valuable tool.

On the one hand, any mere tool that we might build would lack capacities essential to the kind of general intelligence exhibited by human beings; it would not be genuine AGI. On the other hand, were we to create genuine AGI, then what we would have created would not be a mere tool, but something more. In this paper, we make the case for this dilemma. In so doing, we illuminate the connections between a set of core ideas: intelligence, agency, tools, and life.

Read here

Reflections on United Nations SDGs:
n.3 Good Health and Well-Being

Universidade Católica Portuguesa has realized this insight through the written article of  Lurdes Veríssimo, coordinator of the University Psychology Clinic, and the video of Sofia Torneiro, undergraduate student of psychology

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 with the goal of providing a path for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The core of the Agenda is represented by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which represent an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership to adopt strategies that aim to end poverty and other deprivations, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth. The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities is collecting insights from SACRU experts and students on the SDGs. This contribution is by Universidade Católica Portuguesa on SDG n3: Good Health and Well-Being.

What is the role of universities in the promotion of mental health?

Written by Lurdes Veríssimo, coordinator of University Psychology Clinic (CUP)

In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #3 was set to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages by 2030. However, the latest WHO Mental Health Report (2022) indicates that one billion people (more than 1 in 8 adults and adolescents) worldwide still suffer from a mental disorder, such as depression or anxiety. Moreover, the 2024 SDG Report highlighted the global progress is “alarmingly insufficient”, falling significantly short of the targets set. Specifically, concerning mental health, a reduction by a third of the mortality rate from intentional self-harm/suicide is expected by 2030 (SDG 3.4.2. indicator). How can this be achieved? It is essential to assume an integrated, developmental, and systemic approach. In this context, Universities play a paramount role in SDG3, through Teaching (e.g., psychologists’ training), Research (e.g., identification of predictors of mental health), and University Social Responsibility activities (e.g., services in the community). At Universidade Católica Portuguesa we have worked to enhance mental health and psychological well-being of the community, through the University Psychology Clinic, a service provided by the Faculty of Education and Psychology, since 2007.

In addition to a psychotherapeutic framework, an early approach to promoting mental health and preventing mental disorders is crucial. Thus, at our university, we have designed and implemented numerous initiatives, such as the recently launched UCP2 Mental Health project, which aims to create an integrated system for promoting mental health. We have also developed initiatives aimed at promoting mental health skills in children and parents. For instance, the project “Sou Capaz” aims to develop skills such as self-awareness, self-control, social awareness, relation skills and responsible decision-making in children. The programme “Aprender a Educar” develops positive parenting practices in order to promote mental health. By implementing supportive policies, providing psychological services, creating and fostering awareness for students and for community, Universities play a crucial role in achieving SDG#3.

 

 Boston College’s Summer Visiting Doctoral Research Fellowship

In keeping with Boston College’s strategic initiatives—including increasing its impact around the globe—and to highlight its leadership as a premier Jesuit University in Global Engagement, this fellowship is designed to support the next generation of scholars through research opportunities and hospitality. The summer research fellowships will support graduate students matriculated at a partnering university  who are seeking to undertake 2 months of research at Boston College.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

2025 Applicants

Start Date: June 09, 2025

Time Period: June 09- August 09

Benefits:

•Round-trip, economy-class airfare to Boston
•Housing, provided through University services
•A modest living stipend, to cover living expenses (including fellow’s purchase of health insurance)
•Library privileges
•University internet access

Application Details: The applicant should submit the application along with their CV.  The application should include a description of the intended research project , including how the applicant’s time spent at Boston College would contribute to the overall success of the project.

Deadline: January 31st, 2025

Requirements: The fellow must have a major research project. The fellow has the option to deliver one public lecture during their stay.

Sponsor: The Office of Global Engagement

 

 

One Health for a Better Future:
SACRU and FAO united for global food safety

The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities workshop at the Food and Agriculture Organization on November 26 and 27 in Rome. Keynote lectures, panel discussions and new synergies between universities and international organizations for education and research

 

“One Health Approaches: on the Boundary between Research and Policies” is the title of the workshop, sponsored by SACRU and held Nov. 26 and 27 at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.

The workshop, opened by Junxia Song, FAO Senior Animal Health Officer, and Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, SACRU Secretary General and Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences at Università Cattolica, was designed to promote dialogue and collaboration between the world of research and policy makers through discussions between academics and representatives of supranational institutions and counted on the contribution of national and international experts who brought different perspectives and experiences to the table. “One Health has never been more relevant than it is today, as we are facing complex challenges that are all interconnected and require us to work together across disciplines, sectors. The global health landscape has changed significantly in recent years. We’ve seen the emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases like COVID, MPOX, the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the effects of climate change, and the ongoing loss of biodiversity”, Junxia Song said.

“The One Health approach aims to improve the health of people and animals, along with the quality of food and environments by recognizing the close interdependence between these elements,” Pier Sandro Cocconcelli affirmed. “To achieve this goal, it is essential to promote a dialogue that integrates diverse scientific expertise and adopts a global vision. SACRU, a network composed of eight Catholic universities from five continents, is actively engaged in producing scientific knowledge capable of generating concrete impact. In this first FAO-SACRU workshop, two key aspects of One Health were addressed: food safety and resistance to antimicrobials. In addition, it discussed how cutting-edge research findings can be used to shape effective policies in the One Health area.”

The two days of sessions consisted of prestigious keynote lectures – with presentations by Ernesto Liebana, AMR Coordinator, EFSA, Phil Landrigan, Director of the Program for Global Public Health, Boston College, Simona Seravesi, Technical Officer (One Health), WHO/Europe, Romano Marabelli, Advisor to the General Director, WOAH, and Junxia Song -and roundtable discussions on research and developments on food safety issues and upcoming global challenges, with a particular focus on the synergy between international organizations and academic institutions for the development of joint training and research projects. The workshop also featured the participation of Andrea Urbani and Maurizio Sanguinetti, Full Professors of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of Università Cattolica, and Claudia Cortimiglia, Researcher of the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences.

The workshop was attended, both in person and online, by students and PhD students from the Piacenza-Cremona and Rome campuses of Università Cattolica and researchers in the fields of Food Safety and One Health, along with many researchers from universities in the SACRU network, who were able to listen and learn new ways and interconnections to address the global challenges related to human, animal and environmental health and the creation of a single platform where scientific evidence meets decision-making.

“Food safety is a fundamental pillar of public health,” Claudia Cortimiglia, Researcher in Microbiology, said. “At the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, we face the challenge of monitoring pathogens that contaminate the food chain, taking a ‘farm to table’ approach and developing new solutions to mitigate risks. Increasing food safety knowledge and communicating it effectively are essential tools for meeting the challenges posed by foodborne infections.”

On the second day of the workshop, an interesting and well-participated roundtable on the topic of antibiotic resistance took place. It was moderated by Andrea Urbani, Full Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology: “In our University Department we have chosen to translate the One Health approach into concrete actions through innovative and tangible programs. The three-year funding obtained by our University represents not only a recognition of our commitment, but also an investment in addressing global health challenges. This first event, organized under the auspices of the United Nations, allows us to focus on a crucial issue: antibiotic resistance”. Urbani also added that “the evolution of drug resistance by microorganisms not only challenges the pharmaceutical industry in the development of new chemical entities, but also requires a more strategic and responsible use of existing drugs. For our Pharmacy students, this is a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a global debate, touching on the central issues of a global challenge and building skills to address the future of public health.”

“The increasing prevalence of antifungal resistance poses a significant threat to human, animal and environmental health, especially in the context of the One Health approach,” Maurizio Sanguinetti, Full Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, said. “This challenge highlights the interconnectedness between ecosystems, as resistant fungal pathogens can emerge and spread between clinical, agricultural and natural environments, requiring coordinated efforts to monitor, prevent and mitigate their impact globally.

Two scientific, purposeful and international days where the global representation of issues and problems greatly enriched the discussions, shedding light on the challenges and opportunity to apply a “One Health” approach, integrating the health of humans, animals and the environment, to provide the global ecosystem with sustainable and shared solutions

 

 

 

Reflections on United Nations SDGs:
n.15 Life on Land

Sophia University has realized this insight through the written article of Mikiko Sugiura, Professor in the Graduate School of Global Studies, and the video of Otoha Kawada, undergraduate student in Global Studies

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 with the goal of providing a path for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The core of the Agenda is represented by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which represent an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership to adopt strategies that aim to end poverty and other deprivations, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth. The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities is collecting insights from SACRU experts and students on the SDGs. This contribution is by Sophia University on SDG n15: Life on Land

Satoyama: Showcase of Reconciliation Ecology

Written by Mikiko Sugiura, Professor in the Graduate School of Global Studies

It is important to remember that the 17 goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are all interconnected. Human activity is the nexus that links these goals together. Living on this planet, we produce food, manufacture products, transport them as commodities, consume them, and dispose when they are no longer in use. For example, our water use extends beyond drinking to showering, we water our greens, use it for cooking or flush our toilets. As a result, the supply of water can become insufficient, contaminated, or may not reach the people in need. The various challenges of the SDGs result from human activity, and we see a reflection of ourselves in a mirror named the environment.

Assuming human activity is the nexus of each goal, what can we do for a sustainable future? Besides scrutinizing historical behavioral patterns and undertaking meaningful transformations, learning from our predecessors’ wisdom while respecting local diversity can also provide great insights. An exemplary embodiment of this ethos is found in Satoyama, a traditional Japanese human-induced production landscape. It represents cohesive ecological mosaics of biodiversity that emerged as a result of long-term human-nature interactions. It comprises forests, grasslands, farmlands, rice paddies, irrigation, reservoirs, streams, and human settlements. The traditional farming practices employed in Satoyama, particularly in wet rice cultivation, serve to preserve rich biodiversity through water level control, conducive to the reproductive cycles of amphibians and insects.

For the past few years, students at Sophia University have regularly participated in conservation activities with the understanding of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and local groups, learning how Satoyama contributes to sustainability, which implies human involvement is essential for a sustainable future. Contributing to biodiversity conservation (n.15) is also a vital climate change response as an example of Nature-based solutions (n.13). In the modern context where multi-purpose solutions are required, why not join us on a journey to explore human involvement with the wisdom of our predecessors respecting local diversity?

 

UC Chile Global Research Program

The Global Research Program is an on-site, hybrid or virtual international experience that supports research and creative projects in UC Chile within the framework of Global Internships for Research and Practice-Based Learning. The program aims to enhance and stimulate research collaboration at a global level, connecting UC Chile researchers with master’s and senior undergraduate international students within new, creative, and innovative international research opportunities. The call is open to all areas of knowledge, and interdisciplinary projects are especially welcome to apply.

All internship offers can be found here

Student application – Eligibility requirements

Students application process: Deadline is December 4, 2024.
Start (April/May 2025) – Ending (July/August 2025).

Every student must be in the senior year of their bachelor’s degree at one of our partner universities. Internships are also open to master students. It is the applicant’s sole responsibility to submit the necessary information and documentation. Interested students must upload the following documents.

  1. Statement of Purpose (One page)
  2. Updated CV or Resume (One page)
  3. Transcripts or records of the last academic period (non-official transcripts admitted)
  4. English or Spanish proficiency tests, if required

The students interested in being part of this program must apply here

Benefits

The Office of the Vice President for International Affairs at UC Chile supports the incoming students, while the Office of the Vice President for Research supports UC Chile researchers by offering their internships and selecting the most suitable candidates for each position.

  • At the end of the internship, UC Chile will issue a certificate of completion of the Global Research Program.
  • Travel information and immigration
  • UC | Chile ID
  • Wi-Fi Connections on campus
  • Access to the Library

 

More information here

SAVE THE DATE

One Health Approaches: on the Boundary between Research and Policies

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU) are organizing a workshop on “One Health approaches on the boundary between research and policies”. Held on 26-27 November 2024 at FAO headquarters, in Rome, Italy, this event aims to foster collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and key stakeholders to address global challenges and explore opportunities for connecting research with policymaking under the One Health framework. Featuring a hybrid format, the event will accommodate in-person participation at FAO headquarters and a global online audience, ensuring accessibility and inclusion. Engaging sessions, keynote speeches, and panel discussions will provide opportunities to share diverse perspectives and strategies

Register on Zoom here

Download the Flyer here 

Download the Agenda here

Global Engagement Teams from SACRU Universities Gather
at the 2024 EAIE Conference

 

 

On the occasion of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) 2024 Conference, which is taking place in Toulouse, France, global engagement staff from SACRU member Universities met on Tuesday, September 17, for afternoon refreshments to discuss their collaborations and current and future activities across the Alliance.