Background and activities

Children's brain development is influenced by their environment. Caring relationships, safety, and learning opportunities all contribute in positive ways. By contrast, healthy brain development can be hindered by toxic chemicals in our environment — such as air pollution, heavy metals, pesticides, e-waste, and their "cocktail" effects. Children's fast-growing nervous systems and neuroplasticity also mean children are particularly sensitive to the effects of toxic chemicals. Children's levels of exposure to environmental pollutants varies widely, often based on where they live and their socioeconomic status.

My work aims to bridge neurodevelopment and environmental exposures in light of social inequalities globally, in collaboration with UNICEF and international organizations. More generally, I seek a greater understanding of how early experiences influence long-term health and wellbeing — especially in children who face biological, social, and environmental risks in early life. I am interested in science writing, education, and policy towards the goal of supporting these children and their families. 

As a Research Fellow at UNICEF Programme Division, I spearheaded the creation of children's environmental health as a new evidence-based program for the organization. At NTNU, I am based at the Center for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN) and examine social determinants of health, especially for children, in partnership with UNICEF and other partners internationally. I am a member of the International Society for Children's Health & the Environment (ISCHE) and a co-lead for the organization's newly launched social media outreach. I previously worked at NTNU's Center for Early Brain Development, using neuroimaging to study the long-term effects of preterm birth on brain structure, thinking, and behavior. From 2015-2017 I served as vice president of DION, NTNU's organization for PhDs and post-docs.

Communications: It is important that scientists make their work accessible to a wide non-academic audience. To do so, I share my research for general audiences and lead social media for CHAIN on global health inequalities and co-lead for ISCHE on children's environmental health:

ⓕ Facebook: @CHAINNTNU, @LTMische

ⓣ Twitter: @CHAIN_NTNU, @ltm_ISCHE

ⓘ Instagram: @ltm_ische

• Popular science writing in English, Norwegian, German, Spanish, and French

Scientific, academic and artistic work

Displaying a selection of activities. See all publications in the database

Journal publications

Report/dissertation

Others

  • Sripada, Kam. (2017) Preterm birth in India and Norway: What neuroscience tells us about long-term outcomes. NTNU Global Health Seminar ; 2017-09-14 - 2017-09-14.