The wars the United States waged in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos did not end for the people living there with the US withdrawal in 1975. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) continue to threaten livelihoods and prevent the use of affected land for productive economic purposes; the dioxin legacy of Agent Orange continues to impact tens of thousands born with disabilities. Government agencies, individual scholars, and civil society groups working on-the-ground to clear UXO and remediate dioxin hotspots have collected significant amounts of data over the years, but the data are housed in disparate locations and are in need of integration.
The War Legacies Data Dashboard is an effort to bring together various data sets into one online, public-facing platform which is easily visualized to educate people about the legacies of war and how they continue to impact people today. This event is co-hosted with the U.S. Institute of Peace, Quang Tri Mine Action Center, and War Legacies Project.
Check out the War Legacies Data Dashboard: https://www.stimson.org/2024/war-legacies-data-dashboard/
Featured Speakers:
Susan Hammond, Executive Director and Founder, The War Legacies Project
Susan Hammond, the daughter of a U.S. Vietnam veteran, became interested in post-war Southeast Asia after traveling to Viet Nam and Cambodia. Susan became involved in fostering mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia and addressing the long-term impacts of war while working as the Deputy Director of the Fund for Reconciliation and Development from 1996 to 2007. In 2007, Susan returned to her home state of Vermont and founded War Legacies Project.
Nguyen Van Duc, Technical Manager of Database Unit, Quang Tri Mine Action Center, Vietnam (QTMAC)
Nguyen Van Duc is Technical Manager of the Database Unit at QTMAC. With over a decade of experience in Information Management for Mine Action, ArcGIS, and other related tools, he has participated in multiple database projects from the provincial to national level. He holds a M.S. in Computer Science from Hue University, Vietnam. He has attended many conferences on mine action, including the 23rd International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and United Nations Advisers.
Andrew Wells-Dang, Senior Expert on Southeast Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace
Dr. Andrew Wells-Dang leads the Vietnam War Legacies and Reconciliation Initiative at USIP and contributes to other projects on Southeast Asia. Dr. Wells-Dang joined USIP following over 15 years of experience with international nongovernmental organizations in Vietnam, including Oxfam and Catholic Relief Services. Dr. Wells-Dang holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Birmingham and a master’s in social change and development from the Johns Hopkins SAIS.
Regan Kwan, Research Analyst, Southeast Asia Program, The Stimson Center
Regan Kwan is a Research Analyst with the Southeast Asia Program and the Energy, Water, and Sustainability Program. His research focuses on the environmental and socioeconomic impact of development in the Greater Mekong Subregion. He leads the program’s data collection and management processes. He holds a MPP from the University of California, San Diego and a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Moderated By:
Courtney Weatherby, Southeast Asia Program Deputy Director, The Stimson Center
Courtney Weatherby is Deputy Director of the Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia program and a Fellow with the Energy, Water, & Sustainability program. Her research focuses on sustainable infrastructure and energy development challenges in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific, particularly at the nexus of issues in food, water, and energy. She holds a M.A. in Asian Studies from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a B.A. in East Asian Studies with honors from Dickinson College.