Stories of Impact and Change
At the Blum Center for Developing Economies, we are driven by a shared mission: to innovate, inspire, and empower solutions that tackle global poverty. Explore our latest stories, ground-breaking research, and impactful programs that bridge the gap between theory and action.
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Global Poverty & Practice
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Joe Leitmann, a World Bank expert in disaster resilience, highlights the shift from response to prevention in managing natural disasters. Advances in digital forecasting, catastrophe financing, and risk planning have significantly reduced fatalities and economic losses. Leitmann emphasizes cross-sector collaboration and innovative solutions to protect development gains and foster global resilience.
Global Poverty & Practice
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For 12 years, UC Berkeley’s Global Poverty & Practice Minor has enabled students to engage in impactful fieldwork across 72 countries. The annual photo contest showcases their experiences, with this year’s winners capturing moments of resilience and community—from Oaxacan weaving traditions to Tanzanian water distribution and Mayan fire ceremonies in Guatemala.
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In just five years, SOMO has transformed from a Big Ideas Contest proposal into a thriving nonprofit. Receiving nearly 2,000 applications annually, it has supported 58 Kenyan entrepreneurs in launching businesses through a two-year acceleration program, empowering communities and fostering sustainable economic growth.
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Emily Huynh, a UC Berkeley bioengineering senior, developed Fractal, a medical device addressing the lack of affordable orthopedic care in developing regions. Recognized with third place in Big Ideas' Hardware for Good category, Fractal aims to improve fracture diagnosis and treatment, reducing chronic pain and disability for underserved populations.
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The Blum Center continues to champion women entrepreneurs and innovators, highlighting their transformative impact. This month, stories feature Maria Artundauga’s Respira Labs, Vicentia Gyau’s Education Redefined for All, and Alice Agogino’s award-winning Squishy Robotics. By fostering networks, mentorship, and education, the center empowers women to break barriers and lead in entrepreneurship and STEM.
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The Blum Center celebrates women innovators breaking barriers in entrepreneurship and STEM. This month’s highlights include Maria Artundauga’s Respira Labs, Jill Finlayson’s advocacy for women in tech, Vicentia Gyau’s Education Redefined for All, and Alice Agogino’s award-winning Squishy Robotics. These trailblazers inspire progress and inclusivity, reflecting the center’s enduring mission.
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“Sustainability is something innovators don’t really think about because we are so focused on how our product is going to work, how we are going to market it, and how we are going to sell it,” said Emily Huynh, a senior studying biomedical engineering at UC Berkeley.
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Dr. Bertram Lubin, a trailblazer in pediatric hematology and health equity, joins UC Berkeley’s Blum Center and College of Engineering as a senior advisor. With a 50-year career advocating for underserved communities and advancing transformative healthcare initiatives, he plans to mentor students, promote diversity, and drive interdisciplinary approaches to public health and policy.
Alumni
Global Poverty & Practice
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At the Global Poverty & Practice Post-Practice Retreat, UC Berkeley alumni shared insights on navigating careers post-graduation. Panelists emphasized aligning work with personal values, embracing experimentation, and prioritizing mental well-being. From teaching and public health to energy inclusion and immigration policy, their diverse paths highlighted the evolving journey of finding purpose and impact in their careers.
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The Blum Center and UC Berkeley’s Anti-Trafficking Coalition are leveraging AI and machine learning to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable populations. Panelists at recent symposia highlighted successes like automated case processing reducing turnaround times from 30 days to 24 hours and innovations in monitoring at-risk youth online. While AI accelerates data analysis and supports prevention, experts emphasized the vital role of parents and communities as the first line of defense.
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UC Berkeley's DEVENG C200 empowers graduate students to develop impactful solutions for global challenges. Projects range from transforming plastic waste into construction materials in Uganda to scaling fluoride removal systems in India. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement, students address sustainability challenges, combining innovation with cultural and social integration.
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Jill Finlayson, a UC Berkeley alumna and lifelong mentor, has been judging the Big Ideas Contest since its launch in 2006. As director of the Women in Technology Initiative at CITRIS, she champions research and initiatives that promote equity and empower women in the tech industry, fostering impactful change.
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Abraham Martey and Vicentia Gyau, UC Berkeley alumni and Mastercard Foundation Scholars, founded Education Redefined for All (ER4All) to transform Ghana's education system. ER4All addresses systemic issues by providing school supplies, career coaching, and parental empowerment programs. With a focus on critical pedagogy and practical skills, they aim to create sustainable opportunities for youth and communities.
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Maria Artunduaga, a Colombian-born translational physician and entrepreneur, embraces her experiences with racial and gender bias as motivation rather than obstacles. Driven to close gender and racial gaps, especially in Silicon Valley, she channels her journey into empowering others and fostering inclusivity in the tech and innovation sectors.
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Darryl Diptee, a former U.S. Navy officer, once considered himself a "closet innovator," constrained by a culture discouraging creativity. That changed in 2018 when he began his Ph.D. in Education at UC Berkeley, an environment that encouraged thinking outside the lines and embracing innovation as a core principle.
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The Big Ideas Contest has been named one of four university social innovation competitions to be a part of The 2019-2020 Rockefeller Foundation-Acumen Student Social Innovation Challenge.
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Shankar Sastry, Faculty Director of the Blum Center at UC Berkeley, emphasizes fostering lifelong learning by adapting pedagogy to students' evolving needs. In his robotics course, recorded lectures allow self-paced learning, transforming faculty into knowledge guides. Sastry highlights engaging curiosity through interdisciplinary classes and supporting students’ personal growth through reflective conversations and leadership workshops.
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The Blum Center reached out to Karla Tlatelpa and Leilani Gutierrez-Palominos to ask how the Global Poverty & Practice minor helped shape their understanding of and participation in the medical field.