Gideon Lasco is a Filipino physician, medical anthropologist, and public intellectual whose work focuses on public health, drug policy, and contemporary health crises in Southeast Asia. Based in Manila, he serves as a professorial lecturer at the University of the Philippines Diliman and as a research fellow at Ateneo de Manila University. He was also a Takemi Fellow in International Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Lasco’s academic background combines medicine, anthropology, and the history of science. He earned his medical degree from the University of the Philippines Manila before pursuing graduate studies in Medical Anthropology and completing a PhD in the field at the University of Amsterdam. He also obtained a master’s degree in the History of Science from Harvard University, with a focus on the history of medicine. His interdisciplinary scholarship explores the intersections of health, politics, culture, the body, and social inequality.
Beyond academia, Lasco is widely known as a public writer and columnist who bridges social science perspectives with everyday public issues in the Philippines. His writings address topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, public health governance, popular culture, nationalism, and environmental concerns. He is also the author of several influential books, including The Philippines Is Not a Small Country. Outside his scholarly work, Lasco is an active mountaineer and environmental advocate, often connecting his hiking experiences with anthropological reflections on society and modern life.
Amita Baviskar is an Indian sociologist and one of the leading scholars in environmental studies, political ecology, and development studies in South Asia. She is currently Professor of Environmental Studies and Sociology & Anthropology at Ashoka University. Her work focuses on the cultural politics of environment and development, especially in relation to ecology, urbanization, class, and social inequality in contemporary India. She is widely recognized for examining how environmental issues intersect with questions of power, citizenship, and social justice.
Baviskar studied economics at the University of Delhi before completing a master’s degree in sociology at the Delhi School of Economics and a PhD in Development Sociology at Cornell University. Throughout her academic career, she has taught and conducted research at several major institutions, including the Delhi School of Economics and the Institute of Economic Growth in Delhi. She has also been a visiting scholar at institutions such as Stanford University, Yale University, and the University of Oxford.
Her scholarship is especially influential in studies of environmental conflict, urban ecology, and indigenous communities. One of her best-known books, In the Belly of the River: Tribal Conflicts over Development in the Narmada Valley, critically examines the social and ecological consequences of large-scale dam development in India. Other important works include Waterscapes, Contested Grounds, and Uncivil City. Baviskar received the Infosys Prize in Sociology in 2010 for her contributions to understanding environmental movements and the politics of development in modern India.
Her research and fieldwork focus on crucial issues such as maternal health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and rural development. She deeply examines the childbirth experiences of Papuan women, pushing for healthcare models that recognize and celebrate local knowledge—such as specific diets and traditional relaxation methods—ensuring that mothers retain full agency in their medical decisions. Furthermore, her research with coastal communities like the Kamoro analyzes the historical impacts of colonialism and modern capitalism on indigenous reproduction and sexuality, working to localize HIV education and dismantle stigmas surrounding local cultural practices.
A central theme underlying all of Katmo’s work is the urgency of placing Papuan epistemologies at the center of knowledge production. She emphasizes that resolving systemic social and health issues requires dismantling top-down, hegemonic perspectives. By actively amplifying grassroots voices, her dedication aims to foster contemporary healing, self-determination, and a more equitable approach for women and indigenous communities in Papua.
Prof. Li Xiaoyun is the Lead Chair Professor at China Agricultural University and serves as Honorary Dean of both the College of International Development and Global Agriculture (CIDGA) and the China Institute for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (CISSCA). His extensive body of work in the domain of international development, particularly in poverty reduction, marks him as a notable contributor to the field. His scholarly endeavors cover a wide range of themes, including international development, aid, poverty reduction, and rural development, underscoring his dedicated approach to multidisciplinary research and policy influence.
Prof. Li’s global influence extends through his leadership roles as Chair of the Network of Southern Think Tanks (NeST) and the China International Development Research Network (CIDRN). His profound expertise has been sought after by premier international organizations, including the World Bank, United Nations, and German Corporation for International Cooperation, where his strategic insights have significantly shaped global development policies and practices.
His notable contributions include the pioneering “small technology, big harvest”“small beans, big nutrition” China-Tanzania poverty reduction program and the “Global South Rural Entrepreneurs Initiative” that exemplify his innovative approach to bridging theoretical insights with actionable strategies in global development. The founding of the Action Against Poverty organization and the China Institute for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture reflects his commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable development initiatives.
Throughout his career, he has advised numerous heads of state and governments on development strategies, showcasing his extensive experience in guiding economic policy across diverse global contexts. His scholarly and practical contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards including the China Poverty Eradication Award and the National Poverty Reduction Award by China’s state council.