2019 Human Development Conference

Panel Presenters

Presenters are expected to attend the entirety of the conference, from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening. Due to the number of presenters involved in the conference, we are unable to meet requests for specific presentation times. Please plan your travel accordingly.

Panel Presenters will be placed with 1-3 other students whose research is related. A panel will last for 1 hour and 30 minutes and consist of student presentations, feedback from a faculty moderator, and discussion & questions with the audience. Please be aware that going over time will infringe may infringe upon the time allotments of other presenters.

Length: 15 minutes

Format: Presenters typically utilize a PowerPoint, Prezi, etc. to present their project. We encourage creativity with graphs, charts, videos, etc.

A laptop, projector, screen, and podium will be available in each of the session rooms. You will not be able to use your own laptop for your presentation.

What to include in your presentation:

• Brief introduction of research and relevance
• Methodology
• Discussion of results and conclusion (this should be the bulk of the presentation)
• Relate your research to the conference theme.

Your final presentation (be it PowerPoint, Prezi, paper, etc.) will be due by Monday, February 11, so that panel moderators will have adequate time to review and prepare their remarks and feedback.  Following the conference, your presentation may be placed on our website to serve as a guideline for next year’s presenters.

Photo Contest Presenters

HDC will alert you of the status of your submission by late January to early February.  Finalists are invited to the conference to share with conference attendees about their photo and experience.

• Photos will be enlarged and displayed during the conference.
• Photo presenters in the Ongoing Gallery may stand with their display and be prepared to discuss their research during the three breaks of the conference on Saturday, and for the second half hour of lunch.
• Presenters in the Photography Open House will share the stories behind their work in a special 45 minute session in which conference attendees will be directed to the room to hear about the connections and importance of these selected photos/videos. More information will be provided on this session to those selected to present.  

All submitted photos may be used by the University of Notre Dame for publicity or educational purposes and will be properly credited if used. 

In a Local Hotel

In order to help accommodate presenters, we have reserved a block of rooms at three local hotels (listed below) under some variation of the name ND-Kellogg/Human Development Conference.  Please make reservations under this name in order to receive the conference discount. To receive these reduced rates, reserve your hotel room no later than Tuesday, January 22. The discount is not guaranteed following this date.

To keep costs down for students, we are offering to pair presenters to split the cost of the room. We will introduce paired presenters to each other via email. Presenters will be in charge of contacting each other and making the hotel room reservation. Please remember that these pairings are random, and we are not responsible for any personal differences that may arise. We cannot guarantee that presenters who express interest in having a roommate will receive one. Please indicate your preferences in the RSVP survey.

The Fairfield Inn and Suites in South Bend has rooms that will be available at a rate of $133/night plus tax. The room block is entitled ND-Kellogg/Human Development Conference. The hotel is located on the edge of campus and is within walking distance of the conference activities. A breakfast bar is offered each day and is included in the above price.

The Fairfield Inn and Suites
1220 East Angela Boulevard
South Bend, IN 46637
(574) 234-5510

Book your group rate for ND Kellogg Institute Human Development Conference

The Inn at Saint Mary’s has rooms that will be available at $99/night plus tax. The room block is entitled ND-Kellogg Institute/Human Development Conference. Complimentary hotel shuttle service to Notre Dame’s campus is available. It is located on St. Mary’s College campus, less than 2 miles from campus. A breakfast bar is offered each day and is included in the above rate.

Inn at Saint Mary's
53993 US 933
South Bend, Indiana 46637
To make reservations, contact Shelby Nelson at 574.323.2465
www.innatsaintmarys.com

The Morris Inn has rooms that will be available at $179/night plus tax.  The room block is entitled ND-Kellogg Institute/Human Development Conference. It is located on the Notre Dame campus.

The Morris Inn
1399 Notre Dame Avenue
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
(574) 631-2000
Toll free (800) 280-7256
www.morrisinn.nd.edu

Helpful Information for Travel to South Bend

The majority of the conference will be held at the Hesburgh Center for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame, located in Notre Dame, Indiana. (Note: This is not to be confused with the Hesburgh Library, which is also located on the Notre Dame campus. You can distinguish the two by noting that the library is 13 stories tall, while the Hesburgh Center is not).

Please note that the University of Notre Dame is in the Eastern Time Zone.

Notre Dame, Indiana, is 90 miles east of Chicago. The surrounding communities are South Bend and Mishawaka.

Car Travel

From the north, east, or west (ex. Chicago)

The University is located South of the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80/90).

• Take exit 77 toward IN-933/US-31/South Bend/Notre Dame from I-80/90 E.
• Turn right onto Indiana 933 South/South Dixie Way. Proceed 1.1 miles.
• Turn left at the 4th stoplight onto Angela Boulevard. Proceed 0.8 miles.
• Turn left at the 1st stoplight onto Notre Dame Avenue.
• Turn right at the 1st stop sign onto Holy Cross Drive.
• Signs will identify visitor parking.

From the south (ex. Indianapolis)

• Take US 31 North. It becomes Indiana 933/US 31/Michigan Street just south of South Bend.
• Proceed on Indiana 933/US 31/North to Angela Boulevard, which is the second stop light north of the St. Joseph River.
• Turn left at the 1st stoplight onto Notre Dame Avenue.
• Turn right at the 1st stop sign onto Holy Cross Drive.
• Signs will identify visitor parking.

Air Travel

Flying into the South Bend Regional Airport: Arriving at the South Bend Regional Airport can be a convenient way to travel to Notre Dame. Airlines serving South Bend include Allegiant, Delta, and United Airlines.

Cab fare from the South Bend Regional Airport is approximately $15. There are typically cabs waiting outside the airport. A list of South Bend Regional Airport approved cab services is available on the airport website at http://flysbn.com/transportation/taxi-train-bus/

Flying into Chicago Airports: Flying into Chicago O'Hare or Midway Airport can be a cheaper way to travel to Notre Dame. Bus transportation is available from both Chicago airports directly to the campus of Notre Dame. Train transportation is also available from Chicago to the South Bend Regional Airport via the South Shore Line.

Train Travel

From Chicago O’Hare to Millennium Station

Follow the signs in the airport for trains to the city. In the train area, follow the flashing yellow light to find the train that is loading passengers. Take the Blue Line towards the Forest Park Terminal to Washington station. From that stop, walk one block north on Dearborn Street and 3 blocks east on Randolph Street to arrive at Millennium Station, where you can board the South Shore Line to the South Bend airport.

On the way back to Chicago O’Hare, take the South Shore Line to Chicago’s Millennium Station. Walk 3 blocks west along Randolph Street to Dearborn Street. Turn left on Dearborn Street and proceed to the Washington subway station for the Blue Line. Follow overhead signs towards Chicago O'Hare. Ride the train to the O'Hare Station, which is at the end of the line. The train ride to O’Hare takes approximately 40 minutes and runs every 5–10 minutes depending on the time of day.

From Chicago Midway to Millennium Station

Follow the signs in the airport for trains to the city. Board the Orange Line and take it to the Randolph/Wabash station. Walk 1 block east on Randolph Street to arrive at Millennium Station, where you will board the South Shore Line to the South Bend airport.

On the way back to Chicago Midway, take the South Shore Line to Chicago’s Millennium Station at Randolph Street. Walk 1 block west along Randolph Street to Wabash Avenue and enter the Randolph/Wabash station for the Orange Line. Follow signs and take the train marked with orange signs to Midway Airport. Ride to the Midway Station, which is at the end of the line. The train ride to Midway takes about 30 minutes and runs every 5–10 minutes depending on the time of day. Follow the signs and take the overhead passage to the airport terminal, about one-quarter mile.

From Chicago’s Millennium Station to the South Bend Regional Airport

The South Shore Line commuter train travels from downtown Chicago to the South Bend Regional Airport. One-way fare is $13.25. The train takes about three hours to travel from Millennium Station to South Bend, but keep in mind the one-hour time change between South Bend and Chicago. Additional information is available at www.nictd.com or by calling (800) 356-2079. To arrive at the downtown terminal of the South Shore Line in Chicago (Millennium Station), take the Blue Line train from O’Hare Airport or the Orange Line train from Midway Airport (see above).

From Cities across the Country

Amtrak runs directly to South Bend. After arriving at the station, you would then need to call a taxi or uber to take you to the Notre Dame campus. Please refer to www.amtrak.com for schedules.

Bus Travel

From Chicago Airports: Coach USA provides bus transportation from O’Hare and Midway airports in Chicago and runs directly to the Notre Dame campus. Round trip tickets cost $75, and one-way tickets cost $42. Coach USA buses run approximately every two hours. Please refer to www.coachusa.com/tristateunitedlimo/ for schedules.

From Midwestern Cities: If you are traveling in the Midwest, check for low fares from Megabus, which has stops in Chicago. You would then need to take the train or another bus to South Bend. Schedules and stations are available at www.megabus.com/us/.

From Cities across the Country: Greyhound stops at South Bend Regional Airport. Schedules and stations are available at www.greyhound.com.

Deadline for Photo / Video submission: Friday, January 25, 2019 at 11:59 PM

In light of the theme of 2019’s Human Development Conference, Engaging With Empathy: A Preferential Option for the Poor in Development, the committee is seeking photo and video submissions that relate to the development research that will be showcased at the conference. The conference provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to engage with development challenges through the perspective of those most impacted. Photos and videos are a crucial component to this perspective.

Photos and videos are more than a snapshot; they have the potential to tell stories and provide a glimpse into the complex human experience. At this year’s Human Development Conference, the committee is aiming to transform photos and videos into an experience, one that allows the viewer to better understand the context and relationships that make the art so impactful. This goal drives the theme for 2019’s photo and video exposition; Through a Lens of Empathy.

Photos and videos submitted to this year’s conference should shed light on people, subjects, or places that are often misunderstood or left out of the development conversation. All photo/video submissions will be considered according to artistic quality and how well they illustrate the theme. In order to best showcase submissions that take an empathetic approach, the committee will select photos or videos that take lengths to demonstrate the humanity of their subjects, highlighting challenges, places, and relationships on a personal level.

We will  divide this year’s selection into three parts:

1. Photography Open-House: Submitting a photo to the open-house will allow you to both display your photo and to explain the story behind the shot to viewers as they peruse the exhibit on Saturday, February 23, 2019 during the Human Development Conference. The Open-House will be in the style of a forty-five minute poster presentation. Conference attendees will have the chance to pass by to hear the story of the photo and your connection to the people and the places highlighted within it. If you are selected, we will share more details regarding presentation guidelines and timelines closer to the date.  
2. Ongoing Gallery: The gallery will display your photo or video submissions throughout the course of the conference, but you will not be asked to present your submission.

Interested undergraduate students should submit photos or videos to either the gallery or the open-house through this form. The final submission deadline is January 25, 2019 at 11:59 PM. Invitations for participation will be extended by the end of January. Students who accept invitations to present photos or videos as part of the open-house will be responsible for securing funding for travel and other related expenses.

We hope that you will join us in participating in this important conversation!

Call for Papers

The Ford Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, part of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, announce the 11th annual Human Development Conference.

For eleven years, the Human Development Conference ​has provided a forum ​for undergraduate students from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines who are passionate about development to engage in dialogue about development research. ​

The 2019 Human Development Conference will encourage participants to view research, problems, and policies from the perspective of those most affected by development challenges. The conference seeks to explore how the use of the preferential option for the poor and solidarity with marginalized individuals improve potential development solutions on the ground. Conference participants will be encouraged to highlight the need for increased partnerships among all stakeholders engaged in human development.

Undergraduate students interested in presenting should submit an abstract of their research project and complete this questionnaire. The final submission deadline is Monday, November 19, 2018, at 11:59 PM. Invitations for participation will be extended in early December. Students who accept invitations to present at the conference will be responsible for securing funding for travel and other related expenses. 

We hope that you will join us in participating in this important conversation!

HDC Abstracts Workshop Video

Abstract Guidelines

A good abstract that will be considered for the 2018 Human Development Conference does each of the following:

1. Briefly introduces the reader to the topic by providing relevant background information
2. Clearly expresses the research question that was asked
3. Provides concrete details about the methodology used (including where the study was conducted, how many participants were involved, recruitment method, and type of data analysis)
4. Presents research findings that answer the proposed question

Abstracts must be no more than 250 words long. Sample abstracts that have been accepted to previous Human Development Conferences are provided below:

Sample Abstract 1

Sub-saharan Africa currently bears 24% of the global disease burden, yet is home to just 3% of the global health workforce (Anyangwe 2007). Despite this crippling disease burden, nearly 45% of graduating physicians in Uganda plan to emigrate upon graduation (Kizito 2015). Medical brain drain refers to this human resource crisis that plagues the healthcare systems of many developing countries, where newly graduated physicians choose to leave the country after receiving their formal medical education. For over a decade, public health leaders have attempted to meet this critical human resource shortage through an increase in the availability and efficacy of medical education (Akuffo 2014). Through in-depth interviews with over 40 medical students at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, my research attempts to uncover the complex push and pull factors that affect the emigration decisions of Ugandan medical students. While past research points to low pay and high overburden on health professionals as the impetus of the brain drain, my project identifies sociocultural factors that influence emigration like social ties, national pride and shame, socioeconomic background, as well as lived experience in the health system. These results provide tangible recommendations for public sector managers and policy makers in Uganda to help curb brain drain in their health system.

Sample Abstract 2

Although the Ministry of Health recommends yearly cervical screening through Pap tests, Nicaragua has one of the highest cervical cancer mortality rates in Latin America due to pervasive barriers that women face in accessing healthcare. One aim of this study was to explore strategies to mitigate these barriers in culturally appropriate and feasible ways, including primary prevention and secondary prevention through Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection. HPV self-collection is an innovative and empirically based strategy shown to increase cervical cancer screening for women in lower resourced settings. Utilizing a collection brush, women can collect their sample in a setting of their choice and send the sample to get tested. We partnered with the Ministry of Health, a local human rights NGO and interprofessional collaboration in Bluefields (the largest city on the Caribbean Coast) to conduct a community-based needs assessment, key informant interviews (n=12), focus groups (n=25) and a systematic environmental scan, all guided by the socio-ecological model. We audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim all data. We analyzed descriptive statistics and through thematic analysis, we analysed qualitative data. According to our findings, the main barriers were: cultural obstacles, machismo being the main issue, misconceptions about prevention, and a lack of systematic and comprehensive sexual health education. If rolled-out under specific circumstances, HPV self-collection could increase access to cervical cancer screening for women in Bluefields and the surrounding rural areas by overcoming these barriers, thus empowering women to take agency over their health. More research is needed to pilot this intervention.

Sample Abstract 3

Dubbed as the worst country to be disabled by the British Broadcasting Corporation, 95% of people in Ghana have no access to rehabilitative services (Tinney 11-12). Without a systemic chronic disease policy, organizations and researchers have paid little attention to study amputees and invest in rehabilitative care despite their unprecedented growth. Although there are clear financial, logistical, and social barriers to receiving care, it is unclear what factors impact an amputee’s decision to be treated or whether a prosthesis is desired in the first place. The study aims to research the ability, choice, and desire to pursue prosthetic services from the viewpoint of amputees. Between July and August 2016, data was collected through 24 interviews with healthcare providers, amputees, and prosthesis-users in the Cape Coast and Accra region. Ethnographic research methods were used to analyzed key distribution and health facilities which found that (1) rehabilitative facilities in Ghana for prosthesis are severely under-resourced due to (2) the lack of priority funding in rehabilitative services. (3) The inability to access is compounded by the lack of information on prosthesis centers and their sparse distribution, and (4) in addition to financial barriers, social stigma and isolation may play a larger part in the amputee’s decision-making process. This study makes recommendations to healthcare organizations to address the plight of amputees in Ghana. As the number of amputees rise worldwide, a targeted approach in addressing the needs of amputees is invaluable for their reintegration into society and to address weaknesses within current healthcare systems.

Sample Abstract 4

This study evaluated the impact and technical progress of the Sustainable COmprehensive REsponses (SCORE) for vulnerable children and their families’ project, as implemented by St. Francis Health Care Services (STFHCS), in the Nyenga and Wakisi Sub Counties during its original 5-year tenure. This study was initiated on June 6th, 2016 and was fully completed on July 22nd, 2016 with the submission of the final report. The motivation for this study was the need to identify the best practices and capacity gaps of the SCORE project in order to inform the project implementation of STFHCS and the SCORE project implementation for the 2 year extension. The data collection methods used in this study included home visits, vulnerability assessment tool review, project report review, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Generally, the SCORE project has had a positive impact in reducing the vulnerability of beneficiaries in Nyenga and Wakisi Sub Counties. With the data collection methods, it was found that the economic strengthening (SCORE objective 1) activities were the most appreciated and praised by the beneficiaries. However, it was also the area of least reduced vulnerability. The area that saw the greatest reduction in beneficiary vulnerability was food security (SCORE objective 2). This success was attributed to the nutrition dialogues and urban horticulture trainings. The activities that were ineffective and/or in need of correction included the apprenticeships, bank linkages, farmer field schools, child friendly schools, and community skills trainings.

The Rev. Ernest J. Bartell, CSC, Prize for Undergraduate Research on Poverty and Development is conferred annually at the University of Notre Dame's Human Development Conference. Two $1,000 prizes recognize outstanding undergraduate student research on poverty and development. Each year one prize will be given to a student at the University of Notre Dame and one to a student from another university. 

Undergraduate students invited to present at the 2019 Human Development Conference are eligible to apply for this award. Information regarding how to apply is included in the conference invitation. Students who wish to be considered must apply by  Monday, January 14, 2019. Finalists will be notified by January 30 and additional information and/or an interview may be required.

Student research should address a specific aspect of poverty and development, whether in the United States or abroad. Research may be submitted from any field of study, including the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. Students are encouraged to conduct original research and to consider programs and policies that could help reduce poverty.  A faculty committee will determine the award recipients, and prizes will be conferred during the Human Development Conference, February 22-23, 2019.

Past Conferences

2018

Decades of Development: Contextualizing the Past, Envisioning the Future
February 23-24, 2018
Human-centered approaches to development requires trust, compassion, and awareness in order to place the individual at the center of development.

2017

Development with Dignity: A Human-Centered Approach to Progress
February 24–25, 2017
In order to implement the Sustainable Development Goals, the global community needs to shift from theory to practice – from policy to individuals – refocusing its efforts by placing humans at the center of the sustainable development agenda. Creating solutions to critical issues that afflict the world’s populations today requires not only a shift in scale but the recognition and continual affirmation that the dignity of peoples on all sides of the path to progress must be the central focus of development.

2016

Development with Dignity:  A Human-Centered Approach to Progress
February 24–25, 2017

2015

Envision, Enact, Evaluate: Sustaining Momentum in Development
February 27-28, 2015

2014

Transforming Development: New Actors, Innovative Technologies & Emerging Trends
February 28 – March 1, 2014

The theme of the sixth annual Human Development Conference, "Transforming Development: New Actors, Innovative Technologies & Emerging Trends," was inspired by the idea that development is an evolving process. A widening set of stakeholders and rapidly advancing technologies raise new possibilities for the field. The conference was a chance to reflect on both successes and failures in development, while analyzing opportunities created by these new trends.

2013

In the Field: Cultivating Collaboration and Innovation
February 8-9, 2013

The fifth annual Human Development Conference, “In the Field: Cultivating Collaboration and Innovation,” brought together more than 200 students, faculty members, and development experts from around the world, including keynote address speaker, Sara Sievers, the founding executive director of the Center for Globalization and Development at Columbia University’s Earth Institute.  Over 70 students presented their own research, representing fieldwork from more than 30 countries. Topics addressed ranged from evaluating the perceptions of trust among Peruvian sexually abused victims to combating cancer in Samoa and implementing organic agricultural certification in India.

2012

Faces Behind the Figures: Visions of Prosperity, Progress, and Human Potential
February 10-11, 2012

The fourth annual HDC, “Faces Behind the Figures: Visions of Prosperity, Progress and Human Potential,” took place during February 2012, culminating in a keynote address given by Not For Sale’s co-founder and executive director Mark Wexler. The conference featured 250 students, faculty and development experts from across the United States and beyond. Eighty-two students presented research on development-related topics conducted in over 35 different countries. Panels addressed topics ranging from food security and agricultural development to post-conflict transformation and the effectiveness of foreign aid. 

2011

Unleashing Human Potential: Global Citizens in Pursuit of the Common Good
February 11-12, 2011

The third annual Human Development Conference, “Unleashing Human Potential: Global Citizens in Pursuit of the Common Good,” brought together 73 undergraduate and graduate student-presenters with research experiences in over 30 countries. The Ford Program also welcomed a group of two students and three faculty members from Uganda Martyrs University, the program’s partner university in on-site research and development projects. The two-day conference concluded with a dinner banquet and keynote address given by microfinance specialist David Roodman from the Center for Global Development.

2010

People, Power, and Pragmatism: The Future of Development in Our Changing World
February 26-27, 2010

The second annual Human Development Conference, “People, Power, and Pragmatism: The Future of Development in Our Changing World,” was held in February of 2010. More than doubling in size from the previous year, the conference grew to 80 students with research experiences in 38 different countries. Thirty-eight colleges and universities from across the globe were represented. Ray Chambers, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria, spoke on his commitment to the Millennium Promise and Malaria No More. The keynote address was delivered by Joseph Sebarenzi, the former speaker of the Rwandan Parliament, who spoke passionately about his experience as a genocide survivor and his efforts to create reconciliation, peace and development in Rwanda and the world.

2008

Solidarity in Pursuit of Authentic Human Development
Saturday, February 23, 2008

In 2008, together with the Center for Social Concerns, the Ford Program sponsored a student research symposium entitled “Solidarity in Pursuit of Authentic Human Development.” Twenty-eight students presented at the event, including students from Uganda Martyrs University. Raymond Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America, delivered the keynote address.

In November of 2008, the symposium grew into a full conference sponsored by the Ford program and cosponsored by the Center for Social Concerns and the School for International Training. “Innovation in the Service of Human Dignity” featured graduate and undergraduate student presenters from 29 universities and representing 28 countries of research. Moderators from around the country also attended the conference to facilitate panel discussions. Peter McPherson, the former head of USAID, delivered the keynote address.