The work of Atlantic Fellows, both individually and collectively, is more urgent than ever amid the pandemic. As a global community striving to accelerate the eradication of inequities through collective action, the Atlantic Institute is particularly keen to celebrate some of the collaborative projects that have forged bonds between the Fellows across countries and disciplines. In 2020, a panel of Senior Fellows, Atlantic Institute and program staff selected two projects that best exemplify the Atlantic community’s values and aims.

As both projects show the early signs of impact, the Fellows concerned are realizing the core aims and vision of the Atlantic community, both of which are recognized by the Award. The projects were each awarded Senior Fellow Awards of £50,000 because as well as demonstrating impact, the Fellows also showed a deep level of interdisciplinary collaboration, creativity and sustainability.

The Sleep and Dementia Expert System Platform

A project involving Elissaios Karageorgiou and Konstantina Sykara (Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health)
The online platform will be able to improve the assessment and management of sleep and neurocognitive disorders at low cost. It is a secure data-sharing platform that will help patients with sleep or cognitive problems and their caregivers - whatever their country or background - receive an early diagnosis and a framework of recommendations for further assessment or interventions tailored to their symptoms. The project is planned to be scaled up, with other Senior Fellows across other Atlantic programs engaged already, and planning to roll it out across high and low income countries - starting in Greece, Mexico, Botswana and Indonesia. Accessed via a mobile phone app or a weblink on a library computer, the platform will be available free of charge as a first port of call for people requiring help, particularly those in under-served populations.

Of the project, the selection panel said: “The early signs are that this relatively low-cost platform has great potential for improving the health outcomes of a huge number of people across both high and low income countries. The Fellows have a deep desire to democratize knowledge and expertise, and through leveraging technology, they are offering solutions that will particularly benefit vulnerable and endangered communities.”

The Fellows receiving the award said: “Health equity is a prerequisite in building just and equitable societies. Through the use of expert systems, we have the opportunity to promote equity in brain health by reaching vulnerable populations across the world who do not have access to experts in brain health and need it most."

Narratives of Displacement

A project involving Tala Al-Rousan (Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health), Durkhanai Ayubi (Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity), Dominic Campbell (Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health), Zanele Figlan (Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity South Africa), Johnny Miller (Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity), and Luqman Yesufu (Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity South Africa).

Six Atlantic Fellows from four Atlantic programs have created an online repository for narratives around displacement to shift misconceptions in the public domain and elevate the voices and views of the displaced themselves. They have created a website to host written works and images as well as collective academic research about displacement, its causes, and myriad impacts including those on health. The interdisciplinary team will build the repository to include contributions not only from themselves but also from future Fellows, and external like-minded stakeholders as well as displaced people themselves. The Fellows’ initial forum in Jordan explored approaches and produced reflections primarily about Syrian communities in the refugee camps. Using a communications and fundraising strategy, they want to create a body of material that will inform public debates about displacement and shift common misconceptions. They also plan to explore narratives linking displacement to climate change and economic crises.

The selection panel said: “The Senior Fellow Award acknowledges the capacity shown by the Fellows for engaging in deep listening, a process which has changed them, both as individuals and collectively. In Jordan, they were prepared to be transformed and through their website they have created written work and visuals to transform others. Their ability to overcome the potential barriers of different time-zones and disciplines to work collaboratively is impressive, as is their energy and determination to step up collectively at a moment of great challenge globally.”

The Fellows said: “It is a humbling delight for our efforts to be recognized by hopeful peers. Thank you. Coming now, when many lives are displaced by a pandemic virus demanding we recognize the ways we are woven to the world and each other, it is an opportunity to shine light on the interconnected causes and impacts of displacement, be these currently articulated as arising from conflict and climate, economic and digital behavior, or as consequences of social or cultural habit. When all are Displaced, might not all Belong? We continue to explore uncertainly, authentically, and inspired by you all. We extend a warm invitation to engage with us, however you can, as we begin to understand a practice of going into the unknown together.”

For further information, go to www.narrativesofdisplacement.org

See video of the Forum in Jordan

Read about the Jordan Forum in the Atlantic Institute “Annual Review”

“Health equity is a prerequisite in building just and equitable societies. Through the use of expert systems, we have the opportunity to promote equity in brain health by reaching vulnerable populations across the world who do not have access to experts in brain health and need it most

— Fellows from "The Sleep and Dementia System Platform"

“Coming now, when many lives are displaced by a pandemic virus demanding we recognize the ways we are woven to the world and each other, it is an opportunity to shine light on the interconnected causes and impacts of displacement

— Fellows from "Narratives of Displacement"