The COVID-19 pandemic has become a defining event of the 21st century. Academic thinking and research are providing new ideas and tools for us to move forward. But how realistic are these? Do they offer practical solutions for concrete challenges? How do they correspond with the stories and experiences of those actually working with affected communities?

This year, the Institute is hosting four online events called the Down to Earth dialogues. Their distinctive contribution is to bring cutting-edge academic research into dialogue with the concrete perspectives of policy-makers and practitioners. They provide a unique opportunity to challenge, enrich and refine current academic thinking on the post-COVID world by bringing it into conversation with those who are on the ground and in the midst of the trouble.

This third dialogue will be between:

• Dr Gaël Giraud, SJ (Georgetown University and CNRS) 
• Sr Alessandra Smerilli (Vatican Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development) 

It will explore how the COVID crisis might present new opportunities to build a sustainable economic future.