Course Description
Experiential learning course to explore contemporary environmental and public health issues of a host country outside of the United States. Key topics include impacts of climate change, ecological sustainability, water quality, and responsible agricultural, industrial, and urban development on human health and well-being.
Athena Title
Global Env Pub Health
Non-Traditional Format
Students will travel to multiple sites in a host country to observe, research, and collect data that will illustrate interconnections between environmental, animal, and human health indicators. Lectures will be given by faculty and experts within the host country to supplement and enhance experiential learning.
Prerequisite
(BIOL 1103 and BIOL 1104) or (BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1108) or EHSC 3060 or CRSS 3050 or CRSS(FANR) 3060 or ECOL 1000 or permission of school
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. To promote interdisciplinary collaboration between students in public health, environmental, biological sciences and human and veterinary medicine in field conditions. 2. Compare and contrast key environmental issues of a foreign country and their relationship to public health. 3. Demonstrate how promotion of environmental sustainability can improve public health outcomes. 4. To explore public health and environmental justice issues faced by indigenous populations. 5. To analyze linkages between culture, health and environmental sustainability relative to all populations in a foreign country.
Topical Outline
1. Introduction of One Health concept and roles of environmental and human health 2. History and culture of the host country outside of the United States 3. Regulatory framework for environmental and public health 4. Impacts of urbanization, traditional agricultural and industrial practices in the host country 5. Environmental sustainability and relationship to public health 6. Environmental justice issues and outcomes in indigenous populations a. Poverty; security issues (e.g., food, violence prevention); land tenure b. Health disparities 7. Freshwater, estuarine and marine systems a. Impacts of pollution on fisheries, natural resources, food security b. Best management practices related to water quality Ecotourism 8. Ecotourism including benefits versus environmental and public health costs 9. Other topics specific to the host country 10. Wrap up: One Health in the host country. How to integrate environmental, human, and animal health concepts to promote healthy populations and effective disease prevention and mitigation Site visits (examples—will vary with the host country): 1. Public and environment health issues in urban environments and small remote villages (e.g., water, sanitation, municipal waste handling/treatment) a. Lectures/demonstrations at a School of Public Health in an urban environment b. Site visit and local interactions at a small village 2. Demonstrations of sustainable agriculture practices a. Organic farm b. Animal production/waste management (e.g., biodigestion facility) c. Best management practices to control erosion; maintain soil fertility d. Sustainable fish/shellfish farming practices 3. Environmental and public health justice a. Tour and interact with indigenous population b. Environmental and public health issues unique to the population 4. Sustainable fisheries, aquatic/estuarine/marine pollution a. Visit “pristine” and impacted sites; collect debris and water quality samples b. Discuss and assess local health indicators such as coral and biodiversity 5. Local ecotourism sites a. Impacts of ecotourism b. Sustainability issues 6. Other sites, depending on the host country 7. Regional research institution a. Role of research b. Sample analysis; analyze data c. Wrap up discussions integrating human, animal and environmental observations into the One Health framework