The power of multidisciplinary research in addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Sydney Environment Institute and the Faculty of Medicine and Health are proud to host a special event on 31 October 2023, featuring a presentation by Professor J. Jaime Miranda on the recently launched United Nations Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). Following this, leading researchers from the University of Sydney will respond to the report's findings and discuss the imperative need for multidisciplinary research in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This event was held at the University of Sydney on Tuesday 31 October 2023.

Presentation by Professor J. Jaime Miranda

Professor J. Jaime Miranda is a renowned expert in the field of sustainable development and global health. As the co-chair and lead author of the Global Sustainable Development Report 2023, Professor Miranda will delve into the report's key findings, offering crucial insights into the progress, challenges and opportunities surrounding the SDGs on a global scale. Professor Miranda will emphasise the importance of a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to address the complex interconnections between the various SDGs.

Responses from leading University of Sydney Researchers

Following Professor Miranda's presentation, leading researchers from the University of Sydney will share their insights on the report's implications. This esteemed panel will comprise:

• Associate Professor Alice Motion, Westpac Research Fellow, Deputy Director (External Engagement and Academic Development) Sydney Nano Institute
• Professor Ollie Jay, Professor of Heat and Health, Director of the Heat and Health Research Incubator and Research Academic Director (Researcher Development, Output and Impact)

This event promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking session, offering attendees a multi-disciplinary perspective on the challenges and opportunities presented in the GSDR. Their responses will highlight how their respective fields intersect with the SDGs and underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving these goals.

Please join us for networking drinks and canapes following the event in the Auditorium foyer.

Jaime Miranda, Global Sustainable Development Report co-author

Jaime Miranda is Professor and Head of School of the Sydney School of Public Health at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health. Prior to his move to Sydney, he was a Full Professor at the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, and founding Director of the CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, both at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. His work brings together epidemiological and health policy aspects of chronic non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries, with a focus on obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health.

Alice Motion, Deputy Director, Sydney Nano Institute

Alice Motion is Deputy Director of the Sydney Nano Institute and Associate Professor and Deputy Head of School in the School of Chemistry at the University of Sydney where they lead the Science Communication, Outreach, Participation and Education (SCOPE) research group. The overarching theme of Alice’s research and practice is to connect people with science. The SCOPE research group are exploring ways to share science with new and diverse audiences through arts-based collaborations and school partnerships, and the democratisation of science through citizen science and open science. Alice was awarded the Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science in 2020. Alice is the creator of Live From The Lab, founder of the Breaking Good citizen science initiative and host the ABC Weekend Breakfast segment ‘Science in Motion’.

Ollie Jay, Director, Heat and Health Research Incubator

Ollie Jay is Director of the Heat and Health Research Incubator in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, and currently holds a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator grant. He has led several large-scale projects that have directly influenced international public health heatwave policies internationally. He has also led extreme heat policy development for Sports Medicine Australia, Tennis Australia (Australian Open), and Cricket Australia. In 2021, he co-led the first-ever Series on Heat and Health in The Lancet. To date, Ollie has published more than 180 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Lancet, JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, Lancet Planetary Health, and Nature Communications. He has received more than $14 million in funding as chief investigator from organisations such as the NHMRC, Wellcome Trust (UK), and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, as well as various industry partners.

Amanda Sayan (Chair), Director, Global Research Engagement

Amanda Sayan is the Director, Global and Research Engagement in the Office of Global & Research Engagement at the University of Sydney. She has worked in international education for 20 years and is responsible for managing the implementation of the University’s international partnership strategy. A key objective of her role is to help the University build and monitor alliances with leading universities around the world, bringing together researchers to work on collaborative projects that address complex global challenges. She is a regular presenter at the Asia-Pacific International Association for International Education (APAIE). Ms Sayan is also responsible for leading the University’s research engagement with prominent institutions in India.

Header image: Photo by Hugh Whyte on Unsplash