The Social Change Seminar Series is intended to help researchers and practitioners to integrate their professional training and work experience with their passions and values, to influence the structural determinants of health. It is based upon the following premises:

(1) Many of the upstream determinants of health are closely linked to social and economic factors.

(2) In order to influence the determinants of health, it may therefore be necessary to understand the process of social change.

(3) Social change happens through a complex web of causation, in which small actions can make a big difference.

(4) Each of us is capable, in our own way, of exerting influence in the process of social change.

The seminar series will focus on the process of social change, and the role of the change agent.  It will address activities such as social innovation, social activism, and social entrepreneurship.

The intention is to feature pathfinders who have carved out innovative roles for themselves in the service of society.  One objective is to sensitize students to the possibility of innovative career paths as an avenue for becoming agents of social change.  

Learning Objectives:

Describe the processes and mechanisms through which social change occurs.

Identify practical and effective strategies and tactics to influence the process of social change.  

Identify the characteristics of research that “makes a difference”.

Identify the factors that promote and enable the process of translating research findings into changes in health, economic, and/or social policy.  

Examine the dynamics of social movements in the twentieth century, to identify factors associated with the process of social change.  

Describe the lives of social innovators, social activists, and social entrepreneurs, in terms of career paths, lifestyle, work-life balance, sources of stress and satisfaction.

Learn how to integrate your talents, values and passions to make a difference in the world, and to help address the major challenges of our time.

Topics could include:

Models of change.  Relationship between individual, organizational, and social change. Directed and undirected change.  

Self-regulating systems.  Culture, values, ideologies.  Paradigm stress and paradigm shifts.  Thought-worlds and decision-making.  

Strategies and tactics for exerting influence.  Social movements and change agents.  Attitudes and belief systems.  Leadership and pathfinding.

Contact us:

Michael Epstein PhD, Coordinator, Integrative Health Seminar, or

Bonnie Janzen PhD, Coordinator, CHEP Graduate Research Seminar

Please send your ideas and suggestions regarding potential topics, potential speakers, or any other aspect of this seminar to us at:

socialchange.yeswecan@usask.ca

“If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”