Jing Helmersson
PhD Researcher, Umeå University, Sweden
Visiting at: Shanghai Jiaotong University
Period: 1 month
Research Theme: Studies of Sami people's health & wellbeing - China collaboration
Jing Helmersson received CNARC scholarship in November 2017 and was granted the opportunity for a one-month fellowship at the Center of Polar and Oceanic Studies in the School of Political Science & International Relations at Tongji University in China.
Report on CNARC scholarship from the Polar Research Institute
In Nov., 2017, I have received CNARC scholarship for visiting the Center of Polar and Oceanic Studies in the School of Political Science & International Relations at Tongji University in China. I spent the month of March, 2018 in Shanghai. I have visited two other universities beside Tongji University in Shanghai and have given total 4 seminars and one workshop during my visit. My activities are listed below.
- On March 18, 2018, I have given one seminar and one workshop at Fudan University, Dept. of Public Health. The title of the seminar is “System Dynamics Modeling Using Vensim”. The same day after the seminar, a workshop was given also which was entitled “Workshop -Dynamic Modeling Using Vensim”. Here the aim is to teach modelling method for researchers in public health.
- On March 20, 2018, I have presented a seminar at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Public Health. The title of the seminar is “System dynamics modeling to bridge qualitative and quantitative research – HEALS model”. The aims are 1) to introduce a new research method to both students and researchers, 2) to use a model to show how to live a happy and satisfied life with emphasis on Chinese medicine’s goal of holistic way of seeing health and life together. Here I also introduced laughter yoga to help students reduce stress in studies. Many questions were asked
- On March 22, 2018, I have given two seminars to my host institute: the Center of Polar and Oceanic Studies at Tongji University. The first seminar is on Sami study as requested by my host: Prof. Pan Min, with the title “Indigenous Challenges – The Sami of Northern Sweden” and the second seminar is “System dynamics modeling to bridge qualitative and quantitative research – HEALS model”. During the first seminar, I have introduced various researcher’s work from Umeå University, especially Professor Peter Sköld who is the director of the Centre for Arctic Research (Arcum) from Umeå University. To give the sense of Sami reindeer herder’s life to the Chinese PhD students and colleague, I have played the Sami song “The Reindeer Herder's Joik” by Jon Henrik Fjällgren. I also used the expressive dance to show the difficulty to be a Sami reindeer herder.
What is more, I have taken the time during my visit to collaborate with several universities, that is, Fudan University and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Fudan University, I have helped a research group to develop mathematical modelling of infectious diseases that are common in China, TB. We are currently working together to go further with this research and hope to publish the study later this year. I will continue to visit this group in the near future.
Therefore, this fund has been well spent and appreciated very much. I am grateful to the CNARC support for the research and collaboration network activities.
