Natalia Luxardo | social work | Outstanding Contribution Award

Dr. Natalia Luxardo | social work | Outstanding Contribution Award

Investigador Principal at CONICET, Argentina

Professional Profile:

Scopus

Google Scholar

Summary:

Dr. Natalia Luxardo is a prominent Argentine social scientist, educator, and researcher specializing in the intersections of health, social inequality, and care practices. As Principal Investigator at CONICET and a professor at the University of Buenos Aires, she has significantly contributed to the fields of medical anthropology, social work, and palliative care. With a multidisciplinary and transnational academic background, her work bridges local realities with global health and social policy debates.

Educational Details

Dr. Luxardo earned her undergraduate degree in Social Work from the University of Buenos Aires in 1996. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences with a focus on Health from FLACSO-CEDES, where she graduated with honors in 2005. Her first doctorate, completed at the University of Buenos Aires in 2007, examined non-formal therapeutic practices in cancer care. She further completed a second doctorate in Culture and Society at the Universidad Nacional de las Artes in 2011, focusing on home-based end-of-life care. Across these programs, she consistently earned top academic distinctions, including Suma Cum Laude.

Professional Experience

Dr. Luxardo is a Principal Researcher at CONICET, based at the Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani (UBA), where she has been active since 2007. She also holds faculty appointments at the University of Buenos Aires as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Social Work. She teaches courses on research methodology, final thesis supervision, and health-related topics. Internationally, she has lectured in Germany, Spain, and the UK, and participated in global research networks focused on health, care work, and social equity. She has also collaborated with organizations such as FEMEBA and the Universidad Nacional de Jujuy to enhance training for health and social professionals.

Research Interests

Dr. Luxardo’s research focuses on social inequalities in health, palliative and home-based care, medical pluralism, and the intersection of health systems with cultural practices. She emphasizes a gender-sensitive and epistemologically plural approach to care and disease, particularly cancer, end-of-life experiences, and informal caregiving. Her current projects address inequities in chronic disease prevention, the feminization of care labor, and collaborative health interventions in underserved populations.

Author Metrics

Dr. Luxardo has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in Spanish and international journals, contributing extensively to the fields of health sociology, medical anthropology, and public health. Her research is indexed in Scopus, Google Scholar, and ORCID (ID: 0000-0002-9304-0110). She is recognized for her methodological rigor, qualitative expertise, and interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly in Latin America and Europe.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Luxardo has received widespread recognition for her work, including the TASA Best Paper Award for Health Sociology (2019), an Honor Diploma from the Argentine Senate (2011), and multiple first-place research awards from national institutions like the Academia Nacional de Medicina. Her book "Morir en casa" was declared of social interest by the Buenos Aires Legislature, reflecting its societal impact. Internationally, she received the “Award of Excellence” from Family Service of South Lake County (USA) for her work with Latin American immigrants. These honors underscore her scholarly impact and public engagement on critical issues of health, care, and social justice.

Publication Top Notes

1. Keeping Unsafe at Home: Disputes and Social Practices Regarding Risks During a Geological Disaster in a Vulnerable Fishing Community in Argentina

Authors: N. Luxardo, L. M. Passerino, M. Bordes, I. Spessotti, F. Sassetti
Journal: Health, Risk & Society (2025), 1–22
Summary:
This article examines how a marginalized fishing community in Argentina perceives and navigates risk during a geological disaster (e.g., flooding or erosion). Using collaborative ethnography, the study uncovers the conflict between institutional risk narratives and community-based practices. The residents’ decision to remain in hazardous homes is shown to stem not from ignorance but from structural vulnerabilities and culturally embedded notions of care and survival. The study critiques one-size-fits-all risk policies and argues for more inclusive, community-informed disaster responses.

2. Collaborative Ethnography and a Call for Pluralism and Dialogic Knowledge in Health Equity Debates and Global Cancer Research Culture

Author: N. Luxardo
Journal: Anthropology & Medicine (2024), 1–18
Summary:
In this theoretical and methodological reflection, Luxardo advocates for dialogic, pluralistic approaches in global health equity research, especially in cancer care. Drawing on fieldwork experiences, the paper critiques dominant biomedical paradigms and proposes collaborative ethnography as a means to bridge epistemological gaps between Global North and South. It highlights the value of co-producing knowledge with marginalized communities and calls for restructuring the research process to foster equity, recognition, and contextual relevance in global oncology.

3. Tecnologías para la Inclusión Social: Implementación de un Sistema Informático para la Gestión de Programas de Prevención de Cáncer en el Territorio

Authors: F. Sassetti, E. Ridel, M. Iturain, J. Billordo, I. Spessotti, L. Alva, L. Passerino, N. Luxardo
Publisher: Asociación Latino-Iberoamericana de Gestión Tecnológica y de la Innovación (2023)
Summary:
This project report and applied study documents the development and implementation of a digital health system aimed at improving cancer prevention programs in underserved areas. The system allows for efficient, territory-sensitive data collection and follow-up, enhancing coordination between public health agents and community-based care networks. Dr. Luxardo contributed the socio-anthropological analysis of how such technologies can support equity if developed through participatory, inclusive frameworks.

4. Volcano: Between Structural Vulnerabilities and Collective Defence of Honor in Communities Surrounding an Open Dumpsite

Authors: N. Luxardo, F. Sassetti, L. M. Passerino, E. Wright, J. Billordo, M. Kolvenbach, et al.
Journal: Qualitative Health Research, 32(11), 1701–1720 (2022)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323221088183
Summary:
This ethnographic study investigates the sociocultural dynamics around a toxic dumpsite in Argentina, where communities live in extreme precarity. The paper explores how residents navigate health risks, environmental degradation, and social stigma. Central to the analysis is the concept of honor as a form of resistance and identity preservation amid structural neglect. It provides a powerful critique of environmental injustice and contributes to debates on health, place, and dignity in global public health.

5. “It Just Keeps Hurting”: Continuums of Violence and Their Impact on Cervical Cancer Mortality in Argentina

Authors: N. Luxardo, L. Bennett
Publication: Cancer and the Politics of Care: Inequalities and Interventions in Global Perspective (2022)
Summary:
This book chapter explores how various forms of violence—structural, institutional, and intimate—intersect to affect cervical cancer mortality among women in Argentina. Through a feminist and ethnographic lens, the authors analyze barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment, revealing how systemic neglect, stigma, and gendered violence contribute to preventable deaths. The chapter calls for integrating violence-awareness and social justice into cancer care policy and practice.

Conclusion

Dr. Natalia Luxardo exemplifies the mission of the Outstanding Contribution Award through her scholarly rigor, ethical research engagement, and unwavering commitment to equity in health and care. Her transdisciplinary and feminist approach to social work and medical anthropology has had a measurable impact on research, education, and public health across Latin America.

She stands out not only for her academic excellence and publication record, but for transforming the lives of vulnerable populations through both research and advocacy. Her leadership in bridging science, society, and care represents the very best of social work as a field of practice and scholarship.

 

Maria Pregnolato – Causal mapping

Assoc Prof Dr. Maria Pregnolato – Leading Researcher in Causal mapping

Dr Maria Pregnolato is a Civil Engineer and holds a MSc in Building Engineering and Architecture from the University of Pavia (Italy) and the Tongji University of Shanghai (China), a PhD in Civil Engineering from Newcastle University (UK) and MSc in Strategy, Leadership and Change from the University of Bristol (UK). Her work focuses on infrastructure resilience and risk management from natural hazards, in particular the impact of flooding to road networks, bridges and buildings. She held an EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK) Fellowship to investigate the impact of extreme flooding to bridges, including hydrodynamic modelling and scour risk management. In recent years, she has been

Education📚

🎓 Maria Pregnolato’s educational and professional journey is a testament to her dedication and expertise. From November 2020 to November 2022, she pursued her Master of Science in Strategy, Change, and Leadership at the School of Management, University of Bristol, UK, laying the groundwork for her proficiency in strategic management and leadership.

🏗️ Building on this, from January 2014 to November 2017, Maria embarked on a transformative research venture, earning her Doctorate in Urban Infrastructure Resilience at the School of Engineering, Newcastle University, UK. This impactful journey was funded by EPSRC, with contributions from ESRC, iBUILD EP/K012398/1, and EU H2020 RAMSES no. 308497. Her thesis, “Risk analysis of the disruption to urban transport networks from pluvial flooding,” showcased her commitment to understanding and mitigating risks in urban environments.

Rewinding to her earlier years, from October 2007 to December 2012, Maria pursued a Master of Science in Building Engineering-Architecture, earning the distinction of magna cum laude. This joint degree, funded by MIUR and a collaboration between the Università degli Studi di Pavia (Italy) and Tongji University of Shanghai (China), was a platform for her thesis, “Architecture and Structure: a new relation with Landscape,” where she explored innovative connections between architecture and the environment.

Professional Profiles:
ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

🌐 Since March 2023, she has been serving as an Associate Professor in Flood Risk Management and Resilient Infrastructure at TU Delft in the Netherlands. This role, based in Delft, involves contributing to the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences within the Department of Hydraulic Engineering. Additionally, she holds an Honorary Associate Professor position in Infrastructure Resilience at the University of Bristol in the UK, fostering collaborative ties between these two esteemed institutions.

🏛️ Before her current position, from August 2022 to March 2023, she served as a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Bristol, contributing to the Department of Civil Engineering within the School of Civil, Aerospace, and Mechanical Engineering (CAME). This role followed her tenure as a Lecturer in Civil Engineering from November 2018 to August 2022, where she actively engaged in shaping the academic landscape.

👩‍🏫 Her academic journey includes a significant role as an EPSRC Fellow from March 2018 to May 2022, supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. During this time, she conducted personal research and contributed to advancements in the field.

✈️ The global scope of her academic endeavors includes visiting assistant professorships in various locations. In June 2022, she contributed to TU Delft in the Netherlands, followed by a stint in Milan, Italy, from February to May 2022, at the Polytechnic of Milan’s Department of Architecture, Built Environment, and Construction Engineering. Her international experiences also extend to a visiting assistant professor role at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA, from May to September 2019.

🔬 Earlier in her career, from March 2017 to March 2018, she served as a Research Associate at Newcastle University in the UK, contributing to the EPSRC ITRC-MISTRAL project (EP/N017064/1) within the School of Engineering.

🌟 Maria Pregnolato’s academic and research journey reflects a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and contributing to the fields of flood risk management, resilient infrastructure, and civil engineering on both national and international stages.

 

SPECIAL AWARDS, HONOURS

In 2023, she received the IABSE (International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering) Outstanding Paper Award in the Scientific Paper category for the work by Orcesi et al. in 2022. This recognition highlights the excellence and impact of her research in the field.

In 2021, she was honored with the European Geoscience Union (EGU) Outstanding Early Career Award, acknowledging her contributions to the geoscience community.

Since 2019, she has held the prestigious position of an EPSRC Fellow of the Women in Engineering Society (WES), reflecting her commitment to advancing women’s participation and recognition in the engineering field.

In 2019, she achieved 1st place at the “Italy Made Me” UK Early-career Awards, underlining the recognition of her early-career achievements.

The year 2018 brought further accolades, including the EPSRC RISE (Recognizing Inspirational Scientists and Engineers) Award, acknowledging her inspirational contributions to the field. Additionally, she secured 2nd place at the ABTA UK Doctoral Researcher Awards, further highlighting the quality and impact of her doctoral research.

In 2016, she was honored with the Young Author Award for the best oral presentation at FLOODrisk 2016 in Lyon, recognizing the excellence of her work in the field of flood risk management.

Her contributions were further acknowledged in 2017 when she became a shortlisted finalist at STEM for Britain, an event hosted at the House of Commons in London, demonstrating the recognition of her work at a national level. These awards collectively reflect her dedication to advancing knowledge and making significant contributions to the scientific community.

COMMITTEE and MEMBERSHIPS

2023-now –   Board Member of 4TU Resilience Engineering Centre (4TU.RE)
2022-now  – Board Member of NERC Digital Research and Infrastructure Group (DRIG)
2016-now –  Member of the European Geoscience Union
2022-23  –  UKCRIC Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction (SoFSI) Executive Board member
2021-23 –  Co-leader for the Met Office Academic Partnership (MOAP)
2021-23  – Board member of the Brunel Institute
2021-22  – Digital Environment Fellow ofthe NERC UKRI ‘Constructing a Digital Environment’ Programme
2020-21 –  Board member of the GW4 Water Security Alliance

Publications:

  • Kumar, V., Gunner, S., Pregnolato, M., Tully, P., Georgalas, N., Oikonomou, G., Karatzas, S. and Tryfonas, T. (accepted October 2023). From IoT sensors and Open Data Platforms to Urban Observatories. IET Smart Cities, in press.
  • Evans, B., Lam, A., West, C., Ahmadian, R., Djordjevic, S., Chen, A.S. and Pregnolato, M. (2023). A combined stability function to quantify flood risks to pedestrians and vehicle occupants. Science of the Total Environment, 168237. Link
  • Beevers, L., Popescu, I., Pregnolato, M., Liu, Y. and Wright, N. (2022). Identifying hotspots of hydro-hazards under global change: a worldwide review. Frontiers in Water, 4: 1-14. Link
  • Pregnolato, M., Gunner, S. D., Voyagaki, E., De Risi, R., Gavriel, G., Carhart, N.J., Macdonald, J.H.G., Tryfonas, T. and Taylor, C. A. (2022). Towards Civil Engineering 4.0: concept, workflow and application of Digital Twins for existing infrastructure. Automation in Construction, 141: 104421. Link
  • Pregnolato, M., Winter, A.O., Mascarenas, D., Sen, A.D., Bates, P. and Motley, M.R. (2022). Assessing flooding impact to riverine bridges: an integrated analysis. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci, 22: 1559–1576. Link
  • Jaroszweski, D., Wood, R., Chapman, L., …, Pregnolato, M., … et al. (2021). Infrastructure. In: The Third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment Technical Report. [Betts, R.A., Haward, A.B., Pearson, K.V. (eds)] Prepared for the Climate Change Committee, London. Link
  • **Arrighi, C., Pregnolato, M. and Castelli, F. (2021). Indirect flood impacts and cascade risk across interdependent linear infrastructures. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 21: 1955–1969. [Link](https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-21-1955-202