Scientists have long explored how stress and trauma leave an imprint on an individual’s biology, but what happens when entire communities endure upheaval and violence across multiple generations? How does prolonged collective trauma shape the epigenetic landscape of a population and what does it mean for community approaches to resilience?

In new research, an international team looked at intergenerational exposure to violence in three generations of Syrian Refugees. The research shifts focus from victimhood to resilience showcasing how communities adapt in the face of violence. This changes the conventional narrative around trauma that labels survivors as victims who are diminished but to one that speaks to adaptability and resilience. In this session we will explore what Dr. Dajani calls “my grandmother’s wisdom” and look at what it means to challenge traditional, western scientific paradigms and why experience-based, localised research makes a difference in decolonising science, the way that we think and most importantly the way that we see ourselves.