Samanvi Kanugula: “I am an undergraduate student at Northwestern University, studying Global Health and Sociology on the pre-med track. I currently work in the Young Research Group under Dr. Sera L. Young and Patrick Mbullo. My research interests include the negative impacts of water insecurity on the well-being of women, specifically the impact of household water insecurity on women’s social capital in western Kenya. Seven hundred million people across 43 countries currently experience water insecurity. Stripped of their right to water, women not only succumb to physical health consequences but many detrimental psychosocial consequences, which overall diminishes their quality of life. The economic impacts of water insecurity have been researched previously, but there is a lack of research on how household water insecurity impacts women’s social capital.

Through the Young Research Group, I had the opportunity to pursue my research interests and study the pathways by which greater water insecurity lead to diminished social capital amongst women. Social capital is an important pathway to understanding household and individual health outcomes, which can help us advocate for policies to increase water availability and accessibility. In December 2019, I had the opportunity to present my findings at Global Health Day hosted by Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, alongside medical students and physicians. My research cultivated my passion to work toward long-term, sustainable solutions to combat water insecurity around the world.”