Novel bottom-up initiatives that respond to global problems abound. Local communities in various countries invent ways to impose carbon emission reductions on themselves. Physicians create nifty nutritional supplements for malnourished children. Schools develop new modes of online teaching. Foundations give small grants to local entrepreneurs in the Global South. A hospital in India pioneers a cheap and effective treatment for cataracts. Yet sooner or later these initiatives face a common problem: how to take a promising local innovation and extend it system-wide in a way that is sustainable. This panel discussion will focus on the challenge of “scaling up.” What are the similarities across fields? What are the differences? And what is the way forward?

Dr. Joseph Wong (Political Science) on biotechnology

Dr. Clare Brett (Curriculum, Teaching and Learning) on online pedagogy

Dr. Stanley Zlotkin (Sick Kids Hospital) on “Sprinkles”

Dr. Matthew Hoffmann (Political Science-UTSC), on climate change

Nigel Biggar (Grameen Foundation) on microfinance

Dr. Robert Vipond, Department of Political Science

Panel presentations will be followed by audience Q&A

Registration is required; check the Munk School of Global Affairs website under “Events”