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LIDC is proud to announce that we have now reached 5,000 members. We are delighted that so many have signed up to become a part of our diverse, dynamic and ever-growing community of students, development professionals and researchers.

 

We believe that collaboration is crucial to solving today’s most complex development challenges, which we strive to do by delivering interdisciplinary research that creates real change. For that reason, we appreciate every new member of our organisation.

 

New academic year, new members – also during Covid-19

Every year, LIDC participate in our member colleges’ Welcome Weeks to meet students face-to-face. This year, most member colleges opted to have an online version of Welcome Week, including the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. This is where we met Margaret Brennan – LIDC’s member number 5,000 – through a Zoom meeting.

 

Well over 100 students came to talk to LIDC during LSHTM’s Welcome Week.

 

Margaret graduated in medicine from the National University of Galway in 2016. Since then, she has worked as a hospital doctor, and has just completed her Basic Specialist Training in General Internal Medicine in St. James’ Hospital Ireland.

 

“While working as a hospital doctor I realized that I was increasingly interested in the upstream determinants of health. I also had a growing interest in planetary health and so I joined the committee of the Irish Doctors for the Environment*, an NGO that aims to promote human health through the protection of our environment. I decided that a Masters in Public Health would be the ideal next step to develop these interests. After the Masters, I hope to apply for the Higher Specialist Training scheme in Public Health. “

 

Margaret dropped into LIDC’s online Welcome Week virtual stall and became a member of LIDC because she is interested in LIDC’s collaborative approach to global research for development.

 

“This approach aligns with my interests in planetary health as the only way we can hope to sustain both human and planet health is with a concerted, worldwide effort”, she said.

 

“I expect the upcoming academic year to be challenging especially considering the need for teaching to be online at present. However, I also think it will also bring increased opportunities for networking and global collaboration as geography is no longer a limiting factor to who you can meet or work with!”

 

LIDC membership now open for students at any university

Interested in joining LIDC and growing our community further? Membership is open to staff, students and alumni from our member colleges, and has recently been opened to students of non-LIDC member institutions from anywhere in the world wishing to become LIDC members. Find out more and become a member here.

 

*You can find more information about this NGO on twitter @IrishDocsEnv and their website www.ide.ie.