Fulbright Finland News Magazine
My Fulbright journey in Finland encompassed a dual focus: exploring regulations and ethics surrounding health literacy policy and refining inclusive strategies to counter the proliferation of health misinformation.
Utilizing a community-based participatory approach, I collaborated with expert stakeholders to explore the roles of regulatory frameworks and ethical considerations in combating health misinformation in Finland. I anticipate that the insights gained from this process will contribute to scholarship that promotes evidence-based decision-making and policymaking in the U.S., Finland, and beyond.
In addition to my research, I taught a graduate course on infodemic management. Course instruction was dedicated to engaging diverse communities, developing inclusive health literacy interventions, and monitoring the dissemination of misinformation during public health crises.
By providing future professionals with essential tools and strategies, the course aimed to empower them to collaborate with stakeholders in their local communities. Ultimately, this approach fosters a culture of informed decision-making in both public and clinical health settings.
Throughout my Fulbright experience, I seized serendipitous opportunities, including contributing to an ideation workshop hosted by the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE). This workshop provided a platform to address cognitive intrusions – insidious misinformation tactics aimed at undermining democratic values. The resulting trend report, a product of interdisciplinary collaboration, offers actionable insights to strengthen societal resilience against cognitive intrusions.
My experiences stand as a testament to the Fulbright program’s commitment to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation, transcending geographical boundaries to tackle urgent global challenges.
Additionally, my participation in the ‘Towards Sustainable Societies’ seminar, hosted by the newly established WHO Collaborating Centre on Health in All Policies and the Social Determinants of Health at Tampere University, facilitated connections with a multidisciplinary array of expert stakeholders, enriching my Fulbright research.
Beyond workshops and seminars, I delivered lectures and visited institutions such as the University of Helsinki, University of Oulu, University of Turku, and the Bibliothecarii Medicinae Fenniae—Finland’s professional association for medical and health librarians. Furthermore, I received an Inter-country Travel Grant, which enabled me to visit and lecture at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
My experiences stand as a testament to the Fulbright program’s commitment to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation, transcending geographical boundaries to tackle urgent global challenges. The steadfast support from the Fulbright Finland Foundation and my hosts at the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences (ITC) at Tampere University was instrumental in empowering me to embrace information diplomacy and drive positive change.
Bethany McGowan
Associate Professor, Purdue University, IN
2023–24 Seeking Solutions for Global Challenges Award
Read the whole Fulbright Finland News magazine 1/2024!
