Harvard Social Science

On Friday, March 11, 2011, a catastrophic earthquake resulted in a tsunami engulfing parts of Japan's coastline. That same day, a state of emergency was declared at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which subsequently experienced multiple explosions and a fire. More than 3,600 people have been confirmed dead, but thousands more are missing. This Forum event will examine the "Response to the Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Crises in Japan: Disaster Leadership in Action." Gordon Thompson, Michael VanRooyen, Michael Reich, Takashi Nagata, Jennifer Leaning

What is the value of gender diversity in organizations, politics and society? To learn about the business case for gender equality, watch the Women and Public Policy Program of Harvard Kennedy School's new film, Gender Equality: The Smart Thing To Do. Discover what the evidence tells us from leaders in academia, business, development and politics.

The countries with the worlds highest HIV prevalence are found in Southern Africa. In Lesotho, between one in three and one in four adults in the nation of 1.7 million are infected, and life expectancy has plummeted to 34 years.

A 15-month-old baby named Kazabelo lay in a small room where an open door and windows let in a cooling breeze against the Lesotho summer heat. Dr. Furin raised the folds of the blanket that was keeping the flies away, and was immediately concerned by what she saw.

After two hours of emergency medical care the 15-month old baby's condition was stabilized. Doctors then prepared her for the next round of treatment to combat the tuberculosis, HIV, and malnutrition that nearly took her life.

The eastern DRC has been swept up in a maelstrom of violence against women that has swirled for more than a decade. Researchers and physicians from Harvard and its affiliated hospitals are at work in the midst of the crisis, providing care for the women whose bodies and minds are fractured by their experiences.

Harvard researchers believe that the collection and analysis of data obtained by interviewing survivors of atrocities in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo could help improve humanitarian responses in that region.

Imani was just 15 when soldiers from the rebel group Interahamwe found her on the road in a remote region in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The massive 2010 earthquake overwhelmed a country already struggling mightily with astounding levels of malnutrition, HIV and infant mortality. Through it all, Louise Ivers remains committed to Haiti.