Emergent Network Organizing in Rural Ethiopian Communities

The NetSCI Lab at the School of Communication and Information is holding a talk on at 12 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023, as part of its Distinguished Speaker Series. The following is from the event description:

“Emergent Network Organizing in Rural Ethiopian Communities”

Presented by Seungyoon Lee, Purdue University

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, 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.

Presenter Seungyoon Lee 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. Lee received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Southern California.

Online via Zoom

Free and open to the public. Advance registration required. For more information, contact assistant professor J. Sophia Fu at sophia.fu@rutgers.edu.