Dr. Anna Bettini

The oil and gas industry is facing transformational change. The 2020 oil market price crash has deepened existing challenges. Various strategies to decarbonize economies and lower CO2 emissions have resulted in job cuts and the displacement of oil and gas professionals. In regions where the oil and gas industry has been the primary source of income, workers have struggled to identify alternatives for their future, maintain their current livelihood, and satisfy their basic needs. A more in-depth analysis of the challenges the oil and gas workforce faces and what educational and professional programs could be made available and implemented to redeploy displaced skilled workers from the sector is required. In my proposed research, I aim to investigate this displacement by listening directly to the workers to learn what they envision for their future. 

For my project, I will focus on two central geographic regions: Taranaki, New Zealand, and Alberta, Canada, both areas considered the centers of oil and gas production in their respective countries. In both jurisdictions, the energy sector has become one of the principal sources of employment. Many are the challenges and uncertainties presented to these communities to transition to cleaner and greener forms of energy. By using in-depth interviews and collecting oral histories, I aim to understand the impacts of workers’ displacement while investigating the community members’ perceptions and responses to the energy transition and gain a more in-depth understanding of the future of oil and gas-centred regions. Listening to those directly affected by layoffs, those currently employed in the oil and gas section of the energy sector, their families and their communities will contribute to public policy by adding valuable information and perspectives on related topics of equity, social justice, and energy ethics. 

The global market for assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) is expected to reach $45 billion by 2025, with over 8 million babies scheduled to be born through these methods. Europe leads in this market, followed by North America and Asia. However, many countries have laws that limit access to ARTs for individuals and couples needing donated eggs, embryos, or surrogacy, prompting hopeful parents to seek treatments abroad.

Access to ARTs varies widely across countries due to differing regulations, costs, and societal attitudes, with some restrictions making it challenging for certain groups to obtain these technologies. This trend fosters new practices and ideas about family, reshaping our understanding of relationships and genetic ties.

We need a new perspective on cross-border reproductive care to study these changes. This study has three main objectives:

1. To explore the circulation of reproductive technologies, bodily materials, and ideas across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, focusing on Spain, Denmark, Canada, and Israel.
2. To analyze the interplay of biological, social, political, ethical, legal, and ideological factors that influence reproductive technologies and their impact on new family forms, shaping the experiences of these families.
3. To gain evidence-based knowledge on the implications for offspring conceived through these technologies

As ARTs become more accessible, the understanding of reproduction is evolving, especially for those who challenge traditional norms. Technologies like in-vitro fertilization and surrogacy have redefined family and kinship, shifting the view that intercourse is essential for reproduction. Despite this progress, laws and cultural norms still favour heterosexual couples, often excluding single individuals and same-sex couples. Ultimately, this research aims to provide a clearer understanding of how reproductive technologies influence family structures and experiences and the implications for children born through these methods.