ISEE strategic plan 2016-2020: summary of SWOT results

8/2/2016

ISEE is currently developing a Strategic Plan for the period of 2016-2020. The development of the Strategic Plan involves three phases of strategic planning: 1) an evaluation of the current situation, 2) the definition of goals and/or objectives, and 3) the development of a road map to the goals/objectives.

A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis has been performed to evaluate the current situation. The SWOT will be presented during the General Membership Assembly. A link to the description and summary of the SWOT results can be found below.

With this blog, we would like to give you the opportunity comment on the SWOT results.

We thank ISEE Europe for hosting the blog.

Manolis Kogevinas, President ISEE
Ulrike Gehring, Councilor ISEE

Disclaimer: Unless clearly stated, the views published in this blog do not represent ISEE’s views.

ISEE SWOT Survey Results

Gavin Pereira link

8/8/2016 11:24:03 pm

Thank you for the effort put into evaluating the strategic plan and seeking comment. Happy to make my comments public.

1. Middle-income countries have been forgotten yet are an opportunity for environ epi research and possibly easier to build capacity.

2. The movement toward interdisciplinary environmental health research is not (in my opinion) a threat. It is an opportunity to improve the quality of our research and expand the member base.

3. For some, there is little benefit to membership beyond the discounted conference reg. Researchers in high-income countries are likely to have full access to the journal through their institution. Opportunities to submit articles to the journal, and early notice of meetings are listed on the website as benefits of membership. Anyone can submit articles to the journal. Early notice is not a key driver for membership.

Alvaro Osornio Vargas link

8/23/2016 09:55:45 pm

Thank for the collection of information from the membership and the initiative of conducting a strategic plan. Let's focus on two aspects.
1) Agree with Gavin in seeing interdisciplinarity as an opportunity and not a threat. The inclusion of environmental toxicologists; water, soil, and atmospherics scientist, and computing scientist, among others, could make ISEE a stronger organization. For example, the Society of Toxicology brings more epidemiologist to their annual meeting by organizing combined plenary sessions.
2) How to attract members from less representative countries? Would it be a branding issue? How many “official” environmental epidemiologists exist in those countries? Maybe expanding to other disciplines researchers will identify themselves better with ISEE.

Manolis Kogevinas link

8/24/2016 10:53:46 am

Education and training, (connected to capacity building) was not identified as a top priority either in the strengths or weaknesses. Is this something we shoudl be considering as one of our priorities? Some of the ISEE chapters have taken initiatives in education and training but not the International society.

Yadav Prasad Joshi link

8/25/2016 11:15:06 am

Thank you very much for this effort. ISEE should give priority in research in South Asian nations as I am from Nepal and environmental health is serious issue here. The problems of air, water and sound pollution are serious and toxic effect of hazardous chemicals is very common but there is no priority in research. I am glad to work as a SNRN member in ISEE but my views are there must be research agendas and work opportunities for South Asian nations. Please, feel free how can I contribute, work in SA nations and contribute for ISEE. Thanks

Riana Bornman

3/10/2017 08:46:02 am

A focus on low and middle income countries inclusion may have a huge impact on local research, education and capacity building. We in Africa need collaborations where BUILDING of local expertise will result. By taking hands with experts of high income countries who have a serious interest in the well being of the continent, low and middle income countries may be empowered to take care of themselves.

Comments are closed.