This is the first in a series of three blogs about my first experiences of teaching online in a new socially distanced world. I have learned that at times, being in lockdown can provide unique opportunities to reach out to people around the world through technology, which we otherwise would not have.

I sat in the resources centre of my department on the first day of my PhD. I was incredibly excited at the prospect of starting my research! I had it all planned out: do literature review, set objectives, plan methodology, choose case study, collect data, write it up, and voila! PhD done! It was all going to be smooth running. But of course, it was research, which … never goes to plan!

Imagine that you are on a field visit in a rural village in India to try to understand how a sanitation facility which you have been involved in constructing has impacted the community. Has it generated health benefits for everyone? Can every person use it with ease?

Hygiene has come to the forefront of conversation during the COVID-19 crisis. Handwashing is, of course, the first line of defence against COVID-19, though this advice is difficult to follow where water and sanitation services are lacking. But in reality, hygiene is about more than handwashing alone …

The post-2015 agenda through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focusses on aiming to ‘leave no-one behind’ in global development.  The SDGs seek to provide a blueprint for people, the planet, peace and prosperity for now and the future, whilst addressing the key challenges of climate change and protecting the environment. The goals are broad …