Health, Wellbeing, and The Environment

3.0 credits · Graduate

Understanding concepts connecting health, wellbeing, and the environment is critical to identifying the causes of planetary health issues and proposing efficient solutions. The course covers key concepts governing planetary health issues, including ecological interactions connecting health to the environment, sustainable development and urban design, and scales at which planetary health phenomena occur. We consider perspectives, data, methods, and health-promoting strategies for real-world planetary health issues. We discuss how to use key concepts to identify causes, leverage points, and trade-offs for planetary health issues, with the objective of developing fair and sustainable solutions. The course draws on diverse case studies, including infectious diseases, urbanization, and nature connectedness, offering practical insights into the complexities of planetary health challenges.