The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the low trust in expert scientific opinion in many communities around the world. In our commitment to bridging information asymmetries, we engage with a range of public communication tools that have included frequent op-eds, podcasts, and informational webinars.
In 2024, we launched Hum Sab Ek, a traveling multimedia exhibition curated in close collaboration with women workers from India’s informal labor economy. We work with students from the medical sciences, government, engineering, and design.
Projects
Hum Sab Ek
Hum Sab Ek is an immersive exhibit inspired by the actions of members of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), which comprises 3 million women working in India’s informal sector. In 2022, Dr. Balsari’s team studied SEWA’s response to the pandemic’s impact on its members, conducting 30 hours of oral histories and a survey of over 1,000 households.
Designed by an interdisciplinary team of graduate students working with SEWA, this exhibit was first hosted at Harvard, then at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. It is now traveling across the U.S. before heading to Europe and India.
Podcasts
Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Resource-Limited Settings
August 2, 2024 | Community Science Alliance Podcast, Episode 1
In this Community Science Alliance (CSA) podcast, Dr. Rajani Bhat and Dr. Pavitra Mohan discuss the challenges of diagnosing and treating community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in resource-constrained settings. They highlight the importance of clinical examinations, given limited access to radiology and lab testing, and explore antibiotic selection, treatment duration, and antimicrobial stewardship. The episode offers practical insights for young practitioners, emphasizing evidence-based medicine and the need for better access to diagnostic resources in rural areas.
India In-Focus Series
2022 | COVID-19 Podcast Series, The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
In this special seven-part mini-series, Dr. Satchit Balsari explores India’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, one year after the nationwide lockdown began.
Through conversations with experts across industries, the series examines key challenges, societal impacts, and lessons learned, offering a narrative-driven analysis of India’s evolving public health strategies and the road ahead.
Public Service Announcements
Garmi: An informational video on heat stroke awareness and protection
December 8, 2023 | The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute’s Climate Platform & the Community Science Alliance
As part of its efforts to promote scientifically sound, community-centered dialogues on climate change and adaptation, the Mittal Institute’s Climate Platform, in collaboration with the Community Science Alliance and the National Foundation of India, produced an informational video on heat stroke awareness and protection. Given that a significant portion of India’s labor force worked in the informal economy without legal or financial protections from extreme weather, the video aimed to raise awareness and encourage preventive measures.
Available in Hindi and Kannada, it was broadcast nationally across mainstream and social media channels in anticipation of summer 2024 and screened at COP28 in November 2023.
Events & Webinars
The Paul Farmer Symposium on Global Health Equity:
The Audacity of Accompaniment
November 19, 2024 | Partners in Health
Dr. Satchit Balsari joined the Accompaniment in Teaching and Research panel to discuss how accompaniment is integrated into academia to shape the next generation of global health leaders.
Panelists explored how teaching and research initiatives foster patient-centered care, advocacy, and policy change, ensuring global health efforts remain equitable, sustainable, and community-driven.
Climate Questions Series
Satchit Balsari on Hurricanes & Human Health
October 24, 2024 | The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability
In this discussion with The Salata Institute at Harvard University, Dr. Satchit Balsari explores the health impacts of hurricanes, the role of public health officials in disaster preparedness, and how technology is improving response efforts.
He highlights how CrisisReady’s situation reports leveraged novel data streams to track evacuation trends and evolving displacement patterns during Hurricane Milton, underscoring the need for data-driven approaches to disaster response and recovery.
Is It Already Too Hot to Work?
Harvard at Climate Week NYC
September 24, 2024 | The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability
As part of Climate Week NYC, The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University hosted three expert panels through its Climate Action Accelerator program.
Moderated by Dr. Satchit Balsari, this panel brought together Harvard faculty in medicine, public health, and law, alongside experts and leaders from domestic and global labor movements, to discuss the impact of rising global temperatures on workers’ health, livelihoods, and productivity. Panelists examined occupational risks, policy gaps, and necessary interventions to protect vulnerable workers in an increasingly hot world.
Heatwaves 101 | Part II
Understanding the Impact of Extreme Heat
July 25, 2024 | The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
This webinar, hosted by The Mittal Institute at Harvard University, discusses the real-world effects of extreme heat, particularly on informal workers in South Asia. Speakers discussed how rising temperatures disrupt labor productivity, health, and economic stability, as well as current and proposed responses to protect vulnerable populations.
Moderated by Dr. Satchit Balsari, the session explored the urgent need for policies and interventions to mitigate the growing risks of heat stress in the region.
Heatwaves 101 | Part I
The Science of Extreme Heat
July 18, 2024 | The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
This webinar, hosted by The Mittal Institute at Harvard University, examined the science behind extreme heat, covering heatwave prediction, health impacts, and the effectiveness of India’s Heat Action Plans. As heatwaves intensify globally, speakers highlighted the need for better forecasting and adaptation strategies.
Moderated by Dr. Satchit Balsari, the session explored gaps in current response frameworks and the growing risks to public health, labor, and agriculture.
Oral Histories, Microsensors, and Parametric Insurance:
When Poor Women Workers Drive the Research Agenda
June 28, 2024 | The Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI)
In this HGHI Coffee Session, Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) members Manshi Shah and Kapilaben Vankar, in conversation with Dr. Satchit Balsari, discuss SEWA’s long history of academic partnerships and community-driven research.
They highlight how SEWA’s members are shaping climate adaptation efforts, including a traveling exhibition and the first parametric insurance product to protect wages during extreme heat.
The session explores how worker-led research can inform policy and innovation.
Inside the Hum Sab Ek Exhibition
May 3, 2024 | The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
As part of the Mittal Institute’s Annual Cambridge Symposium 2024, this session explored the Hum Sab Ek (We Are One) exhibition and its focus on women workers’ experiences and research-driven storytelling.
Moderated by Dr. Satchit Balsari, the discussion featured SEWA Secretary-General Jyoti Macwan and Harvard graduate students who contributed to the exhibition. Panelists shared insights into the creative and academic processes behind the project, highlighting its impact on policy, advocacy, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Hum Sab Ek (We Are One) Exhibition Opening
April 15, 2024 | The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
In the Spring of 2024, The Mittal Institute launched the Hum Sab Ek (We Are One) multi-media exhibition at Harvard University. The opening event featured project leader and curator Dr. Satchit Balsari, alongside members of the curatorial team, representatives from the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and global experts.
Speakers highlighted the role of women workers in shaping research and policy, as well as the exhibition’s mission to amplify their voices and experiences.
Op-Eds
Interviews
Resilience in Action:
Empowering India’s Informal Workers Through Crisis and Adaptation
November 26, 2024 | Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative, Social Impact Review
In this interview, Dr. Satchit Balsari discusses his work with India’s Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and its “economy of nurturance,” highlighting community-driven resilience strategies for survival and adaptation.
He emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, local innovation, and data-informed policies in addressing complex global challenges, advocating for solutions that are both context-specific and scalable.
Publications
Published Research & Academic Contributions
Explore Dr. Satchit Balsari’s body of research, spanning global health, digital health innovation, disaster response, and climate resilience. His work focuses on data-driven policy solutions, health system preparedness, and community-centered approaches to addressing complex public health challenges.
Browse his published studies, articles, and contributions through the links below.