Sign in

Sera L. Young

@profserayoung.bsky.social
235 followers 198 following 45 posts

Anthropologist & nutritionist; Professor at @NorthwesternU. I care deeply about improving maternal and child health, water security, and food security. And having fun. Definitely that too. www.WISEscales.org www.serayoung.org

PostsRepliesMedia
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
Read it here: saludpublica.mx/index.php/sp...
saludpublica.mx
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
🎉 Thrilled to see new HWISE Scale research from Mexico! 🇲🇽 16.1% of households face water insecurity—driven by infrastructure gaps, not drought. Households without piped water are 2.6x more at risk. Congrats to Alicia Muñoz Espinosa & team at INSP!
230
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Read: link.springer.com/epdf/10.1186...
link.springer.com
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
🎉 We can now empirically verify the WISE Scales hold up in high-income settings! Our paper uses data from 🇦🇺🇧🇩🇧🇬🇳🇱🇺🇬🇬🇧🇺🇸 showing the IWISE Scale is valid, reliable & comparable. Huge thanks to co-authors & funders! 💙💚 Link in thread: International Journal for Equity in Health
140
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Read it here: www.mdpi.com/2674-0311/4/...
mdpi.com
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
🎉 Congrats to the co-authors on implementing WISE Scales in Panama for the first time! Kudos to Jael Alfonso (UDELAS), Hugo Melgar Quinonez (McGill), Olga García (UAQ), Alex Brito (U. San Sebastián) & Israel Rios-Castillo (FAO). Exciting work! 📊🇵🇦
110
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Congrats to WISE-LAC member Rafael Perez-Escamilla and team on their paper about water insecurity among Pilagá people in northern Argentina. Builds on earlier work by Ianina Tuñón! American Society for Nutrition | Current Developments in Nutrition
031
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
iopscience.iop.org
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Kudos to Joseph Toland, Anchal Bansal, Andrew Whelton, Clayton Wukich, Sybil Derrible & Lauryn Spearing for using #WISE_Scales to study East Palestine, OH disaster. 31% water insecure vs <4% US avg—key insights for post-disaster response in high-income settings. 🔬💧
110
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
A landmark moment for @plos.org, our first in-person Board Meeting! So much to love about The Water Institute at UNC, including the presence of both Academic and Section Editors. Guillaume Wright and I were pleased to welcome present Editors, future Editors, and friends-of-PLOS-Water.
000
Reposted by Sera L. Young
The Onion @theonion.com · 13/10/2025
Nation’s Indigenous People Confirm They Don’t Need Special Holiday, Just Large Swaths Of Land Returned Immediately theonion.com/nation-s-indigenous-pe…
Nation’s Indigenous People Confirm They Don’t Need Special Holiday, Just Large Swaths Of Land Returned Immediately
213227945298
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
🌋 New research on Tonga's 2022 eruption: Concurrent water & food insecurity = highest mental distress (vs. one or neither). Impact similar for men & women, 4-5 months post-ash contamination. #PublicHealth #MentalHealth #Tonga
000
Reposted by Sera L. Young
ANH Academy Science-Policy Platform @anhacademy.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
🌋 New research: Are water & food insecurity linked with mental distress among men & women after a natural disaster? A paper by IMMANA Fellow @indirabose.bsky.social explores this using the 2022 volcanic eruption data in Tonga 🇹🇴. 📄Read here bit.ly/3ITOwha
131
Reposted by Sera L. Young
Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 04/10/2025
Where are the people who were so outraged that Biden asked google to pull misinfo at Covid, now that Trump has made Apple pull the ice tracker app
19741041045
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
🌊 🪩 It brings me great pleasure to announce that yesterday I started as co-Editor-in-Chief at @plos.org Water! 🌊 🪩 A bit about my vision for the journal here: latitude.plos.org/2025/10/sera... Please reach out with ideas, suggestions, & even (esp?) constructive criticism. 🧡 💛 💚 🩵 💙 💜 ❤️‍🩹 More soon!
latitude.plos.org
Sera Young joins PLOS Water as co-Editor-in-Chief - Latitude
We are delighted to welcome Professor Sera Young to PLOS Water as co-Editor-in-Chief! Sera is a professor of anthropology at Northwestern University…
161
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
I'm attending No Kings's event, “NO KINGS Evanston IL” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
mobilize.us
NO KINGS Evanston IL · No Kings
**In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.** Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Bo...
030
Reposted by Sera L. Young
Havey Institute for Global Health @fsmglobalhealth.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
🎙️Patrick Mbullo Owuor, PhD, a pioneering anthropologist and public health leader, discusses his community-driven solutions to global health challenges in Kenya and beyond in the new episode of our #ExploreGlobalHealthPodcast. www.globalhealth.northwestern.edu/events/podca...
globalhealth.northwestern.edu
Community-Driven Solutions in Global Health with Patrick Mbullo Owuor, PhD
Patrick Mbullo Owuor, PhD, a pioneering anthropologist and public health leader, discusses his community-driven solutions to global health challenges in Kenya and beyond. He shares how local action an...
011
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Thrilled to share that IMPACT Initiatives is implementing the 💧 Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales in 12 countries facing humanitarian crises! HWISE-4 data will help calculate People in Need, enabling more efficient aid response in places like CAR 🇨🇫, DRC 🇨🇩, Lebanon 🇱🇧, Haiti 🇭🇹 and Ukraine 🇺🇦
020
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
See the IWISE Data in this feature by @foodwater.csis.org here: www.csis.org/analysis/liv...
csis.org
Living the Global Water Crisis: How the World Experiences Water Insecurity
As the world grapples with water security challenges exacerbated by climate change, demographic change, and conflict, tools like the Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales help quantify the human ...
001
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Heartbreaking but not surprising headline from @nytimes.com today. Back in 2020, Afghanistan was amongst the most water insecure countries in the @gallup.com World Poll. My thanks to @indirabose.bsky.social for flagging this story.
120
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
UNESCO.org, @wfp.org, @UNICEF.org, @charitywater.bsky.social, @helvetas-ch.bsky.social & Oxfam.
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Materials in English, French, Portuguese & Spanish 💧 Learn how WISE data is changing policy & practice across Africa #WorldWaterWeek #WaterSecurity #WISE
100
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
📢 Join us this Sunday (Aug 23) at @SIWI_water World Water Week! Our session on "Advancing Water Security in Africa Using Experiential (WISE) Data" features success stories from Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Mali & Sierra Leone! 🌍 Available both online & in-person
110
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Key findings: 1. Water insecurity increases depression risk. 2. Food insecurity impacts depression more than water insecurity. 3. Combined food and water insecurity heightens depression risk. 4. These effects are consistent across genders.
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Thanks to co-authors Hilary Bethancourt, Teresa Shamah-Levy, Verónica Mundo Rosas, Alicia Muñoz Espinosa, Talia Ginsberg, Suneetha Kadiyala, Edward Frongillo, and Pablo Gaitán Rossi, and funders.
100
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Congratulations to Indira Bose for leading analyses on the link between food and water insecurity in Mexico and mental health. This research was made possible by Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública's data collection over 4 years.
100
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Check it out: journals.plos.org/water/articl...
journals.plos.org
The utility of experiential water insecurity measures for monitoring and evaluating WASH programs: Case studies from Nepal and Sierra Leone
Progress toward safe water for all is predominantly tracked using directly observable, resource-based indicators, including primary water source and water collection travel time. There is growing…
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
What I love about this new WISE Scales paper in PLOS Water is how PRACTICAL it is! Organizations like Helvetas and Oxfam successfully used these scales in Nepal and Sierra Leone to measure the human impact of water interventions. We need more tools that capture effects on people's daily lives!
110
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
We are thrilled to share the latest newsletter from the WISE-LAC Network, marking two incredible years of collaborative research and action to improve water security across Latin America and the Caribbean! 🥂 🎂 lnkd.in/eynZvU4V Español: lnkd.in/eMJeskfF
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Read it in @aunz.theconversation.com : theconversation.com/how-much-sal...
theconversation.com
How much salt is OK in drinking water? Without limits, Australia’s health gap widens in remote and regional areas
Two litres of tap water in the regional New South Wales town of Walgett has as much sodium as an entire large bag of sea salt popcorn.
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Even low sodium levels in drinking water can be harmful. However, our review of 197 countries' guidelines, led by Juliette Crowther & Jacqui Webster, found most are based on taste, not health. This change needs to be pushed! (Yes, that's a Salt-N-Pepa reference!) #waterinsecurity
111
Reposted by Sera L. Young
Dawn Stover @dawnstover.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Hey, fiction writers: We're having a short story contest, and the wonderful Kim Stanley Robinson is the judge. The stories need to have some conceivable connection to (avoiding) the Apocalypse. thebulletin.org/write-before...
thebulletin.org
Write Before Midnight - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Write Before Midnight A Bulletin short fiction contest Announcing the Bulletin‘s new short fiction contest… Over the decades, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has published the smartest minds in ...
022
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
We received the "Champions of Health" Award from @inspmx.bsky.social. It honors hundreds of researchers and partners who've made #WISEScales successful across 80+ countries. Thank you to all contributors and funders for highlighting water insecurity challenges.
021
Reposted by Sera L. Young
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
📊 New study validates simplified yes/no responses for WISE Scales - making water insecurity measurement even faster! Same accuracy, half the options. Big win for global water security research! 💧 Read it here, in @plos.org : journals.plos.org/water/articl...
journals.plos.org
Investigating the suitability of dichotomous responses for the Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales using nationally representative data from 39 countries
The Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales have been validated to comparably measure water insecurity globally. The scales consist of 12 items that can be administered in approximately 3 minutes. ...
012
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
📊 New study validates simplified yes/no responses for WISE Scales - making water insecurity measurement even faster! Same accuracy, half the options. Big win for global water security research! 💧 Read it here, in @plos.org : journals.plos.org/water/articl...
journals.plos.org
Investigating the suitability of dichotomous responses for the Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales using nationally representative data from 39 countries
The Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales have been validated to comparably measure water insecurity globally. The scales consist of 12 items that can be administered in approximately 3 minutes. ...
012
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
It's painful to move platforms. Sky follower bridge helped me to find some of my twitter friends! ✨ Check it out: share.sky-follower-bridge.dev?q=338 #skyfollowerbridge
share.sky-follower-bridge.dev
Sky Follower Bridge
Bridge your Twitter/X followers to Bluesky. Detected Users: 338
020
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Want to join our study? Check your eligibility here: wise-dx.org
000
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...
cbsnews.com
Northwestern University researchers develop rapid test for lead in water
Chicago has more lead service lines than any other city in the United States. That concerning stat has inspired researchers at Northwestern University to help with a solution.
100
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Thrilled to share that our WISE-Dx project was featured on cbschicago.bsky.social today! We're developing a rapid at-home test for lead in water that gives results in just 30 mins. Helping Chicago tackle its 400k+ lead service lines, one test at a time. link in comments
111
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
Our appreciation to @evanstonroundtable.bsky.social for their coverage of some of the implications of the shortsighted federal research funding cuts. IYCMI: each $1 invested in federal research generates ~$5 in productivity, health, & living standards. evanstonroundtable.com/2025/05/20/t...
evanstonroundtable.com
Northwestern's scientific innovation faces significant setback under Trump - Evanston RoundTable
The Trump administration's funding cuts to Northwestern University's research programs have caused significant damage, with 80% of the school's research funding cut, and the loss of 790 million dollar...
001
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
Some of the brains behind this very cool paper, in action at UNC Water and Health earlier this year.
010
Reposted by Sera L. Young
ANH Academy Science-Policy Platform @anhacademy.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
💧New research: Can yes/no responses speed up water insecurity measurement without losing too much detail? IMMANA Fellow @indirabose.bsky.social explores this trade-off using data from 39 countries. 📄Learn more about methods to measure issues with water bit.ly/3HhpaZl #WISEScales #SDG6 #Water
242
Reposted by Sera L. Young
NU Water @nuwater.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Last week, Prof. Will Dichtel dropped some serious knowledge about tackling #PFAS contamination in our water systems. His team at NU Chem is doing groundbreaking work on selective PFAS removal materials. Awesome to see folks from Loyola's Getzinger group getting in on the conversation too!
122
Reposted by Sera L. Young
NU Water @nuwater.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
Earlier this week marked a historic moment as we hosted our first-ever Student Water Jamboree at Northwestern University! 🌊 The event united students from both Evanston and Chicago campuses, with 6 different schools represented.
151
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
I'm attending No Kings's event, “NO KINGS Evanston IL” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
mobilize.us
NO KINGS Evanston IL · No Kings
**In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.** NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allie...
031
Reposted by Sera L. Young
Sarah Bick @sarahbick.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
👋 Hi Bluesky! Our scoping review of water, sanitation and hygiene in schools is now published in BMJ Global Health Read on if you’re interested in 🧼 #WASH 🤸‍♀️ #AdolescentHealth 🔍 #EvidenceSynthesis 🎨 #dataviz ?? @lshtm-ehg.bsky.social gh.bmj.com/content/10/5...
gh.bmj.com
WASH and learn: a scoping review of health, education and gender equity outcomes of school-based water, sanitation and hygiene in low-income and middle-income countries
School-age children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) face health and educational challenges due to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools (WinS). Evidence for the ...
173
Reposted by Sera L. Young
Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute (RGHI) @rghi-hygiene.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
💧In our #WorldWaterDay 2025 edition of #RGHISpotlights, the Spotlight is on RGHI-funded researcher @profserayoung.bsky.social and her team, who are building on the groundbreaking Household/Individual Water Insecurity Experiences Scales to develop a #Hygiene Experiences Scale rghi.org/spotlights-s...
rghi.org
Spotlights Series – Sera Young – Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute
011
Reposted by Sera L. Young
Maggie Butler, PhD, CLC @bioanthmags.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
The first paper from my dissertation is now available online! www.frontiersin.org/journals/glo...
frontiersin.org
Frontiers | Applying authoritative knowledge to better understand preparation for breastfeeding
2123
Reposted by Sera L. Young
Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University @ipratnu.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Congratulations to @profserayoung.bsky.social, who accepted the “Champions of Health” Award on behalf of the Water Insecurity Experience (WISE) Scales! Presented by Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health, it honors the Scales’ impact on public health. www.ipr.northwestern.edu/news/2025/ef...
032
Sera L. Young @profserayoung.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Congratulations to @bioanthmags.bsky.social on her new paper about authoritative knowledge (AK) & infant feeding! AK has been so helpful for understanding birth practices, it's exciting and innovative of Maggie to apply it to IYCF! w/ @laurenkeenan.bsky.social www.frontiersin.org/journals/glo...
012