The UB Conference Series – “Science for everyone’s understanding” in online format continues with a new conference, given by professor and sociologist Marian Preda, Rector of the University of Bucharest, who spoke about poverty and disadvantaged categories in today’s Romania, but also about the need to firmly implement concrete policies of solidarity and social equity.
Addressed to the public, the conference, entitled “The actual disadvantaged. Where to direct social solidarity”, brings to the fore one of the most serious and sensitive problems of today’s Romanian society, namely the level of poverty in disadvantaged communities or social groups, and invites us to seriously and discerningly address possible solutions to this situation.
Professor Marian Preda, PhD, discusses the role of solidarity policies in society, addressing the mechanisms of discrimination and prejudice that often underlie the challenge of the need to provide support to clearly disadvantaged groups.
Among the most vulnerable categories that professor Preda’s presentation refers to are children in extreme situations, certain local or ethnic minority communities or certain specific groups, such as substance addicts or refugees. In addition to arguments regarding morality, empathy and social responsibility, the conference also addressed the economic benefits that solving these social problems would bring.
The full conference can be accessed here.
Marian Preda is Professor of Sociology, Management and Social Policies, Rector of the University of Bucharest (since December 2019). He is former president of the Senate of the University of Bucharest (2015-2019), former dean of the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work (2008-2015), former president of the Society of Sociologists in Romania (2010-2012), president (coordinator) of the Presidential Commission for Social and Demographic Risk Analysis (2009-2010).
Professor Preda has 29 years of experience in scientific projects related to various social aspects both as a researcher at the Quality-of-Life Research Institute and as a member of the academic and scientific community of the University of Bucharest. He was a consultant to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity and the National Commission on Anti-Poverty and Promotion of Social Inclusion within the Romanian Government in projects funded by the EU, DFID and the World Bank, as well as in the Republic of Moldova (for UNICEF and FNUP).
Professor Preda was the recipient of a Fulbright research grant from the Department of Sociology at George Washington University (May-August 2017).The UB – “Science for everyone’s understanding” conferences are organized by the Science Communication Group within the University of Bucharest in collaboration with the Communication and Public Relations Department of the University of Bucharest.
