Joanna Springer
Research Triangle Institute International
Tell us about your background and international/research-for-development interests.
My background is in governance and resilience-related research in conflict-affected countries. I started out focused on the Arab World, but since joining the international development field, I have worked primarily in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, and Kenya. I am especially interested in community engagement and women’s economic empowerment within market systems.
How does your professional background inform your approach at the Fish Innovation Lab?
In my work with the lab, I am always thinking about how activities are fitting into an overall system with many players and actors who have different levels of influence, power, and access. I’ve been inspired by researchers with deep and long-standing ties in the communities and organizations they are supporting. I’ve noticed the way those relationships enable them to leverage openings to shift systems in ways that result in better incomes and nutrition for vulnerable groups.
In your view, what are the most pressing challenges related to food and nutrition security worldwide, and what are some ways we can overcome these challenges?
Climate change, global inequality, and conflict are the main drivers of global food and nutrition insecurity. Wealthy nations must take responsibility for their role in climate change and its impacts on the most vulnerable countries and communities. Serious discussion of debt relief for countries most affected by inflation and hardships resulting from Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict is needed. Finally, industrialized nations’ interests in natural resources have long contributed to instability and conflict around the world. As development practitioners, we must advocate for global investment in health, education, infrastructure, and the enfranchisement of marginalized groups.
What do you wish other people knew about fish and/or food security?
How complex and varied fisheries and aquaculture systems are! Through my work with the Fish Innovation Lab, I have gained exposure to the array of disciplines involved in these systems. Creative solutions are needed, ranging from hyper-contextualized approaches for small-scale fisheries to regional coordination to address disease outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and so much more.
What other careers might you have pursued if you hadn't pursued the career you are currently in?
I would have been a journalist. I like to interview people, hear their stories, write and take photos, and investigate the root causes and complexities of structural problems we face. Through my experience in war-torn countries without free and independent journalism, I have experienced what it’s like to live in an information vacuum. The journalists who risk their lives to investigate powerful actors and share the stories of people overwhelmed by war and catastrophes inspire me deeply.
What are your hobbies or activities outside of work?
I love to spend time in nature, biking, kayaking, or hiking. I enjoy reading memoirs and historical works. I dance the Argentine tango, which is a social dance, and love hearing live jazz—both great ways to meet people when traveling!
What is on your bucket list? (What do you hope to do, accomplish, see, experience, etc. in your lifetime that you haven’t yet?)
I would love to continue studying languages I’ve started to learn such as Spanish, Farsi, and Amharic. I would also love to live in a community and speak one of these languages long enough to become fluent and learn the culture. I’d like to experience not working for six months or a year and discover what I would do and how I would live if I weren’t working on a project or at a job.
Published March 7, 2023