Planetary health
BIO-413 / 4 credits
Teacher(s): Banwell Nicola Mary, Blokesch Melanie, D'Angelo Giovanni, McKinney John
Language: English
Withdrawal: It is not allowed to withdraw from this subject after the registration deadline.
Summary
This course provides an overview of global environmental change through the perspective of the planetary boundaries and examines how human health is interlinked with social and ecological contexts.
Content
Students will explore key global problems such as climate change and biodiversity and their links to planetary health, including an in-depth examination of infectious diseases. The course will give an overview of bioengineering strategies to reduce environmental impacts, and the role of metabolic engineering in planetary health. From week three students will work on a group project based on a real-world planetary health challenge to identify potential solutions to this challenge.
The course is structured in four modules, each led by a different expert:
- Introduction to planetary health and sustainability (Lecturer: Nicola Banwell)
- Human impact for emerging infectious diseases (Lecturer: Melanie Blokesch)
- Bioengineering strategies to reduce environmental impacts (Lecturer: John McKinney)
- Metabolism and metabolic engineering (Lecturer: Giovanni D'Angelo)
Learning Prerequisites
Important concepts to start the course
Prior knowledge of basic concepts in biology and life sciences is strongly recommended.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Explain key concepts relevant to planetary health and sustainability.
- Analyze the interdependencies between human health and environmental sustainability using a systems thinking approach.
- Formulate appropriate questions, conceive sustainable solutions to these questions, and justify their choices in the context of planetary health and sustainability.
Transversal skills
- Take account of the social and human dimensions of the engineering profession.
- Take responsibility for environmental impacts of her/ his actions and decisions.
- Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
- Make an oral presentation.
Teaching methods
Lectures. Workshops. Group projects. Discussion rounds and exercises.
Expected student activities
- Group project on a real-world planetary health challenge
- Complete written exercises
- Participate in class discussions
Assessment methods
Continuous control during the semester
In the programs
- Semester: Fall
- Number of places: 40
- Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
- Subject examined: Planetary health
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Fall
- Number of places: 40
- Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
- Subject examined: Planetary health
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Fall
- Number of places: 40
- Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
- Subject examined: Planetary health
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks