Sustainability, Economics, and Ethics (SEE)
Intersecting big and thick data in environmental studies towards sustainability and well-being
On October 18, the Sustainability, Economics, and Ethics research group at IQS (SEE group) organized a seminar focused on the application of diverse data sets in environmental research. The event, which is part of the dissemination efforts of the European project PoPMeD-SuSDeV (Population Medicine and Sustainable Development), featured a presentation by Dr. Nataša Gregorič Bon, Research Associate at the Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies (ZRC SAZU).
Dr. Gregorič Bon's presentation, titled "The Intersection of Big Data and Ethnographic Data: Towards a Dynamic Continuity of the Vjosa Riverine Environment," addressed the intersection of remote sensing methods (big data) and ethnographic methods (thick data) to study the Vjosa River in Albania. The Vjosa River, recently designated as a National Park and protected area (March 15, 2023), has been the subject of debates on infrastructural interventions, such as the construction of hydropower plants, over the past decade.
The presentation highlighted the environmental and social challenges facing the Vjosa and other rivers in Southeastern Europe. Dr. Gregorič Bon explained how physical changes to the landscape, such as erosion and deforestation, along with infrastructure projects like irrigation canals, are deeply intertwined with the cultural practices of local communities. She also emphasized the need for interdisciplinary approaches that combine big data from remote sensing technologies with ethnographic research to better understand these complex ecosystems.
The seminar is part of IQS’s ongoing efforts to foster research collaboration and knowledge exchange, especially through the PoPMeD-SuSDeV project. This EU-China-Japan network seeks to build a joint research program in the fields of health, development economics, and anthropology, addressing issues of sustainable development and public health in a rapidly changing world.
Details of upcoming sessions for the Sustainability, Economics, and Ethics group will be announced in due course.