Forum joins global Sustainable Development Solutions Network

We’re excited to announce that the McMaster Health Forum | Forum+ is now part of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative that mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. Enthusiastically approved by the SDSN Executive Committee, the Forum joins the global SDSN movement, which includes a network of universities and research centres with common goals. The Forum is part of SDSN Canada, hosted at the University of Waterloo, and will also work with the Australia, New Zealand, & Pacific regional network hosted by Monash University in Australia (where our partnership with the Monash Sustainable Development Institute is currently focused on adding environmental content to the Forum’s Social Systems Evidence repository).

In the coming months, we look forward to engaging further with SDSN Canada and members of the regional network to find further ways to collaborate on research, solutions initiatives, and policy work. Our efforts will focus on SDSN theme 5, ‘Health for All,’ and will include bringing synthesized research evidence from Health Systems Evidence and Social Systems Evidence to network activities involving policymakers and other leaders, and identifying gaps in synthesized research evidence and primary studies that researchers can address.

We plan to share what we learn from SDSN activities with our fellow Partners for Evidence-driven Rapid Learning in Social Systems (PERLSS) in our effort to support the achievement of the non-health SDGs using best evidence, citizen values and stakeholder insights in 13 other countries around the globe.