Maia Archer, an undergraduate Neurobiology student, was selected as the recipient of a Health Humanities Undergraduate Summer Fellowship. For this internship, Maia explored the cross-disciplinary approach to health, healthcare, and medicine, took different perspectives (cultural, historical, social, etc.), and investigated how language could be used to improve the relationship between health and our society. In her project titled, “Efficiency vs. Equity: Should Language Matter?” How the Prioritization of English in the Scientific Literary Community Adversely Affects Francophone African Countries,” she analyzes how the cultural and linguistic implications and complexities of various societies and communities impact health and how it is discussed within the scientific community.
The dominance of English-written scientific and medical literature results in a limited understanding and application of research around the world. Her research project discusses the importance of diversifying and decolonizing scientific literature, focusing primarily on Francophone African countries. Maia presents a historical analysis of how language limitation in literature and research is linked to the disproportionate burden in healthcare within these African regions. Maia states,
“My ultimate goal for my project is to generate conversation on the dissemination and application of scientific knowledge across the world.”
Congratulations, Maia!
