Network

Founded in 2020 as a transdisciplinary and international platform bringing together researchers and partners who are working on the climate-migration-health nexus. The network consists of a coordination team housed at Ghent University, a steering committee, and members consisting of academic institutions, NGOs and individuals from more than 40 countries around the world.

Network

Founded in 2020 as an interdisciplinary and international platform bringing together researchers and partners who are working on the climate-migration-health nexus. The network consists of a coordination team housed at Ghent University, a steering committee, and members consisting of academic institutions, NGOs and individuals from more than 40 countries around the world.

 

Coordination team

The coordination team of CliMigHealth is based at Ghent University (Belgium) and oversees the daily organisation of the network.

Ilse Ruyssen

Director

Biography

Ilse Ruyssen is Associate Research Professor in Migration Economics at the Department of Economics of Ghent University and affiliated Research Fellow at the UNU-CRIS. She is the director of the CliMigHealth International Thematic Network, uniting scholars around the world from multiple disciplines working on the nexus between climate change, migration and health(care). Her research focuses on the factors shaping migration decisions and immobility (with particular attention for the role of climate change, health and retain factors), as well as the implications of (non-)migration for the livelihoods of individuals and communities. She teaches various courses in migration and international economics at Ghent University, chairs the facultary Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, and coordinates the International Trade, Migration and Investment research group at her Department.

Skills and expertise

International Migration, Multiculturalism, Gender Studies, Panel Data, International Economics, Human Rights, Development Economics, Human Capital, Ethnicity, Cultural Diversity

Charlotte Scheerens

Coordinator – charlotte.scheerens@ugent.be

Biography

Charlotte Scheerens is a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University and is the coordinator of CliMigHealth. Her research interests are temperature and pollution impacts on COPD, integrated and equitable primary health care approaches, planetary health and climate change (and migration)-related health risks. She is affiliated with BIDMC’s Institute for lung health, UNU-CRIS, the Lancet Migration, and the WHO Technical working group on equity of the Global Health Workforce. She is involved in policy work for the Belgian governments, through committees on climate and health and just transition, and the New Green Deal Zorg. She was also former coordinator of Climate Express, a Belgian non-profit demanding higher climate ambition through mass mobilization.

Skills and expertise

Environmental health, Planetary Health, Temperature and Air Pollutants, Integrated Primary Care, COPD, Health System Equity

Steering Committee

The steering committee meets every two months to discuss strategic matters, and is composed of fourteen members: the director and coordinator, two leads per research stream (three for the Migration stream), and one responsible for the regional Africa hub. They are displayed hereunder.

Climighealth_IlseRuyssen
Ilse Ruyssen (Chair)
Faculty of Economics, Ghent University, Belgium.
 
 
Climighealth_CharlotteScheerens
Charlotte Scheerens (co-Chair)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium.
 
 
Climighealth_ElsBekaert
Els Bekaert  (Lead junior program)
Faculty of Economics, Ghent University, Belgium.
 
 
Climighealth_Christian
Christian Lueme Lokotola (Africa hub lead)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
Climighealth_Hans
Hans Keune (co-lead Methodology)
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Climighealth_Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle
Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle (co-lead Methodology)
Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University, Germany.
 
Nidhi Nagabhatla (co-lead Climate)
United Nations University-CRIS, and Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Canada.
Rashmi Venkatraman (co-lead Climate)
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
Climighealth_Inmaculada-Martinez-Zarzoso
Inmaculada Martinez-Zarzoso (co-lead Migration)
Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Goettingen, Germany.
Climighealth_MichaellaVanore
Michaella Vanore (co-lead Migration)
Maastricht Graduate School for Governance, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
Robert Oakes (co-lead Migration)
Environment and Migration: Interactions and Choices (EMIC) Section
United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), International Organisation.
 
 
Peter Delobelle (co-lead Health)
Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, University of Cape Town, Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases Process Evaluation Working Group.
Climighealth_RitaIssa
Rita Issa (co-lead Health)
Faculty of Climate Change and Migration, University College London, United Kingdom.
Arthur Wyns (co-lead Governance)
Climate advisor, World Health Organization.
 
 
Vijay Kumar Chattu (co-lead Governance)
ReSTORE Lab, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and  School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Canada.
 
 

Members

Academic institutions and NGOs (updated monthly)

  • Aarhus University Center for Global Health
  • Africa Climate and Environment Foundation (ACEF)
  • Africa Platform of Ghent University Association
  • Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration
  • Ethiopian Early Childhood Network (EECN)
  • Family Health and Development Foundation (FAHEDEF)
  • Ghent University Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees (CESSMIR)
  • Ghent University Conflict Research Group
  • Ghent University Dept. Economics
  • Ghent University Dept. European, Public and International Law
  • Ghent University Dept. Public Health and Primary Care
  • Ghent University Dept. Social Work and Social Pedagogy
  • Ghent University Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
  • Ghent University International Centre of Reproductive Health (ICRH)
  • Ghent University World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Family Medicine and Primary Health Care
  • Global Health Research and Innovations Canada (GHRIC)
  • GroundWork South Africa
  • Heidelberg University Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH)
  • Institute of Tropical Medicine Health Systems and Policy Research Group
  • Jimma University
  • Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES) Dept. Family Medicine
  • KIT Royal Tropical Institute
  • Lancet Migration
  • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health
  • Lúrio University Commission of Medical Residency
  • Maastricht University School of Business and Economics
  • Makerere University Dept. Family Medicine
  • Makerere University Dept. Geography, Geoinformatics and Climatic Sciences and Urban Action Lab
  • Primary Care International
  • RFF-CMCC European Institute on Economics and the Environment
  • Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University Dept. Family Medicine and Primary Health Care
  • Stellenbosch University Dept. Family Medicine and Primary Care
  • Stellenbosch University Dept. Nursing
  • SustyVibes
  • The Royal College of General Practitioners
  • Trinity College Dublin Dept. Clinical Psychology
  • United Nations University – Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT)
  • United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
  • United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS)
  • University College London Institute for Global Health
  • University of Cape Town Primary Health Care Directorate
  • University of Lomé Dept. Public Health
  • University of Zimbabwe Family Medicine, Global and Public Health Unit (FMGPH)

Individuals (updated monthly)

  • Aboi JK Madaki Dept. Family Medicine, University of Jos
  • Aina Roca Barcelo School of Public Health, Imperial College London
  • Akye Essuman Dept. Community Health, University of Ghana
  • Alan Dangour Climate & Health, Wellcome Trust
  • Aline Vandenbroeck School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago
  • Alissa Verclyte Ghent University
  • Alix Debray Dept. Economics, Ghent University and UNU-CRIS
  • Amal Sarsour UNU-CRIS
  • Ana Belluscio Health Care Without Harm
  • Ana Mosiashvili
  • Andrew Ross Dept. Family Medicine, University of KwaZulu Natal
  • Anne Galle WHO-CC on Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Ghent University
  • Ararso Desalegn Ethiopian Public Health Institute
  • Ashraf Kagee Dept. Psychology, Stellenbosch University
  • Azubuike Erinugha Brothers Movie
  • Belayneh Fentahun Shibesh
  • Bolatito Fatusin Consultant Family Physician at Federal Government, Nigeria
  • Brent Bleys Dept. Economics, Ghent University
  • Callum Forbes University of Global Health Equity and Program in Global Surgery and Social Change
  • Celia McMichael School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne
  • Clod Marlan Krister Yambao Dept. Conflict and Development Studies, Conflict Research Group, Ghent University and University of the Philippines Diliman
  • Concettina Trimboli Jönköping University
  • David Deconinck KU Leuven and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
  • David King General Practice Clinical Unit, University of Queensland
  • Diab Hamida
  • Elzarie Theron Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Cape Town
  • Esther Mireku Environmental Protection Agency
  • Filip Maric Environmental Physiotherapy Association
  • Florian Lauryssen Dept. Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven
  • Fulla Sharaf Intern CliMigHealth, Ghent University
  • Galiya Kabirova Royal College of General Practitioners
  • Geletaw Sahle Tegenaw Jimma University
  • Giovanni Peri Dept. Economics, University of California, Davis
  • Glenn Rayp Dept. Economics, Ghent University
  • Gulnaz Mohamoud Dept. Family Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital
  • Hans Ngo Center for Global Studies, University of Washington
  • Hoffie Conradie Dept. Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University
  • Ilan Kelman Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London and Dept. Global Development and Planning, University of Agder
  • Isaac Amoah KIT Royal Tropical Institute
  • Jacques Gihana Nkera-Gutabara HQS Consulting
  • James Irlam Primary Health Care Directorate, University of Cape Town
  • James Mawanda One Planet Network
  • Jamiu Badmus University of Lille
  • Joachim de Wilderman Ghent University
  • Johannes Hugo Dept. Health Sciences, University of Pretoria
  • Johannes Van Der Merwe Strijdom Van Der Merwe
  • Joy Mugambi
  • Juan Diego Giraldo Osorio Engineering School, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
  • Julia Baert
  • Julia Puebla Fortier Arts & Health South West
  • Jurrien Toonen KIT Royal Tropical Institute
  • Karien Mostert Dept. Physiotherapy, University of Pretoria
  • Kariuki Weru UNU-EHS
  • Kathi Zangerl Heidelberg Institute for Global Health
  • Kees van der Geest UNU-EHS
  • Kenneth Yakubu The George Institute
  • Kumar Jayanth
  • Kwan Soo-Chen United Nations University International Institute for Global Health
  • Laurel Baldwin-Ragaven Dept. Family Medicine, University of Witwatersrand
  • Lise Vanden Hautte Global Health Student, Ghent University
  • Louis Wauters Ghent University
  • Lucie Blondé B-Fast
  • Maaike Flinkenflogel School of Nursing, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
  • Malte Behrendt Dept. of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University and UNU-CRIS
  • Marte Martens Ghent University
  • Mashudu Manafe Dept. Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
  • Muhammad Asaduzzaman Dept. Community Medicine & Global Health, University of Oslo
  • Ndifreke E. Udonwa Dept. Family Medicine, University of Calabar and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
  • Nima Yaghmaei Dept. Global Health, KIT Tropical Royal Institute
  • Olivia Toles Ghent University
  • Olivier Degomme Dept. Public Health and Primary Care and ICRH, Ghent University
  • Oscar Mashin
  • Patrick Van Damme Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
  • Pauline Scheelbeek Dept. Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Peter Delobelle Dept. Public Health, VUB and Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, University of Cape Town
  • Polina Koriukina Dept. Economics, Ghent University
  • Prisca Zwanikken Unit Global Health, KIT Royal Tropical Institute
  • Rajnish Prasad Asia Pacific Regional Office, UN Women
  • Robert Mash Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University
  • Roeland Kindt World Agroforestry CIFOR-ICRAF
  • Ross Bailie The University of Sydney School of Public Health
  • Samuel Lietaer FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment
  • Sander Soenens Ghent University
  • Sarah Delaere Global Health Student, Ghent University
  • Sarah Newman Climate Mental Health Network
  • Sharon Baute Dept. Politics and Public Administration, University of Konstanz
  • Sofie Jacobse Dept. General Practice, Erasmus MC and Zorg voor Klimaat
  • Sofie Spiers Ghent University
  • Sonja Fransen School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University
  • Sonya Fernandes
  • Sorona Toma CESSMIR, Ghent University
  • Stéphanie De Maesschalck CESSMIR, Ghent University
  • Steven van de Vijver Dept. Family Medicine, OLVG and Amsterdam Health and Technology Institute
  • Stijn Speelman Dept. Agricultural Economics, Ghent University
  • Susanna Mitra
  • Thembekile Dhlamini Dept. Global Health, Stellenbosch University
  • Tibo Uyttersprot Health Care Without Harm
  • Veerle Vyncke Dept. Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University
  • Vincent Goossens Dept. Marketing, Innovation and Organisation, Ghent University
  • Vincent Setlhare Dept. Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Botswana
  • Yasir Mohammed Zaroug Elradi MOH Dhaman Company
  • Yves Jackson Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals
  • Zoé Hendrickson School of Public Health, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh

Funders

Funders

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We are always welcoming new members at CliMigHealth to get involved with our work.

Let us know if you would like to join as an organization representative of an academic institution or NGO, or as an individual.

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