Tuesday, March 14: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Professor Dr. Subhashni Raj presents at the Great Decisions Speaker Series

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted grain shipments from the major grain producer, sparked fears of global food shortages. But what about countries and regions that were suffering before this impending shortage? How is famine defined and how is it different from simple food shortages? Why is that difference important? What remedies are there?

Dr. Subhashni Raj, professor in the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, will present on Global Famine this Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 

Tuesday, March 14, marks our fourth 2023 Great Decisions Speaker Series presentation. The series features eight engaging foreign policy discussions introduced and facilitated by leading experts across Western New York. To order tickets, download the 2023 Registration Form.

About Dr. Subhashni Raj

Dr. Subhashni Raj is a professor in the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning. She began her career in microbiology, studying the impact of sea surface temperatures on coral health in Fiji. A failed sampling expedition made her realize that poor land-use was a much larger threat in the territorial waters of Fiji than climate change at the time. At this realization she pivoted and started a career in regional development, bringing integrated water resource management governance principles to Pacific Island Countries through SOPAC (now the Pacific Community). A chance meeting with Professor Coffman, then redirected her career trajectory towards urban planning. A Fulbright scholarship brought her to Buffalo, NY for her masters in urban planning, followed by a Kaufman fellowship for her doctoral work. She then returned to her native Fiji and worked for UN Women to lead their climate change programming. When opportunity came knocking, she and her husband moved to Davis, California to pursue a postdoc with Dr Catherine Brinkley. In pursuit of the Academic dream, she moved to Oahu in 2022, with her husband, Jeffrey Fine, and toddler (Nikhil).

To view the dates, topics, and speakers scheduled for our next discussions, click here.

For more details on the series and to participate download the 2023 Registration Form

Questions? Contact the International Exchanges and Education Department at 716-883-1900 ext. 310