Grand Challenge: Ask Me Anything with Nothing But Nets

By joining this event you are under no obligation to submit a proposal to the Grand Challenge. Those that intend to, however, will find this event will help you to develop a great submission. This is an event for anybody to join, regardless of your affiliation to the University.

The University of Newcastle’s Grand Challenge is an annual initiative with the aim of encouraging multi-disciplinary teams to propose and develop potential solutions to a complex challenge. The most compelling submissions will share in more than $50,000 in funds to advance their idea.

This year the Grand Challenge has focussed on a complex problem that has both local and global significance – controlling mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can be a major annoyance, but also present an increasing threat of disease.

At this Ask Me Anything you'll have the opportunity to pick the brains of people at the forefront of mosquito interventions to help you develop and refine a potential solution for submission to the Grand Challenge.

Event is free but bookings essential - register here.

The United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign

Elizabeth Ivanovich is Director of Global Health for the United Nations Foundation, supporting global health campaigns including Nothing But Nets. She focuses on building global support for the fight against malaria, currently serving as the co-chair of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria Advocacy and Resource Mobilization Partner Committee. Before joining UN Foundation, Elizabeth worked as a malaria monitoring and evaluation specialist on the USAID-funded MEASURE Evaluation project. She has also previously served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador, focusing on rural health and sanitation. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Margaret Reilly McDonnell is the Executive Director of the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, which is committed to saving lives and defeating malaria. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006. Nothing But Nets has raised more than $70 million to help deliver more than 13 million bed nets to families in need, along with other crucial malaria interventions. In addition to raising funds for its UN partners, Nothing But Nets raises awareness and voices to advocate for critical malaria funding for the UN, the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Margaret oversees the campaign’s work- from fundraising and grant-making to advocacy and champion-engagement to building strong synergies with UN partners and the global malaria community.

The Grand Challenge

The Grand Challenge is open to all University of Newcastle students, staff, academics and alumni across the globe, as well as the wider community. It is a great way to meet new people, be exposed to fresh ideas, learn new skills and build creative, original work while having real-world impact. Great ideas come from everywhere, so no matter your background or experience you’ve got everything to gain by participating. For more information visit newcastle.edu.au/grand-challenge