Emergent Network Organizing in Rural Ethiopian Communities

Communities facing social and environmental disruptions mobilize and utilize various forms of mutual support practices. This talk will center on findings from a project examining networks of social support and trust among diverse demographic groups in rural communities within the Somali region of Ethiopia. In addition to discussing findings regarding local network practices with a specific focus on intersectional groups, Dr. Lee will outline a systems theory approach for examining emergent networks and share insights on the processes of collecting network data in a field setting.

Seungyoon Lee (PhD, University of Southern California) is a Professor in the Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue University. Her research is at the intersection of network theory and methods and organizational communication. She considers networks as a key medium in the organizing processes of individuals, organizations, and communities toward resilience and well-being. Her recent projects situated in the context of complex and grand challenges (e.g., recovery from natural disasters, violent conflicts intertwined with climate change) have focused on modeling the interdependence between social, physical, and ecological networks. 

Zoom registration and link: https://tinyurl.com/netsci-sl