Syllabus
1. What is the relationship between health and the climate and ecological crises?
2. Fossil fuels, climate, water, and health
3. Health impact of heatwaves; vulnerable groups and how to protect them in extreme weather
4. Nutrition and the environment
5. Genes vs. the environment: how the perinatal environment impacts health
6. Endocrine disruptors, reproduction, and in/fertility
7. The impact of 'eternal chemicals' (PFAS) on health; regulation of chemicals in the EU
8. Active transport, urban planning, and health
9. Climate and infectious diseases in a global context
10. The organism and its environment - immunity, neuroendocrinology, and the microbes within us
11. The relationship between biodiversity, nutrition, and health
12. Humans as animals: on the ecological context of health
13. The impact of the climate and ecological crises on mental health
14. Healthcare as a source of pollution and emissions: what can we do?
15. Social responsibility of medical doctors and healthcare professionals
Annotation
This course offers an introduction to the ecological context of health, with a focus on the interrelated climate, biodiversity and pollution crises, while providing an opportunity to strengthen critical thinking and gain understanding of the social, historical, political, cultural and ethical dimensions of health.
Our teaching is informed by experiential and dialogical pedagogy, and grounded in interdisciplinary approaches.
The core of the course consists of student-led discussions of case studies, good practice examples, and diverse texts, as well as team work and interviews with guest experts. This content will be complemented by a voluntary field trip to a coal mine and film evenings.
Lecturers
MUDr. Marie Bourne, M.Sc.
MUDr. Anna Kšírová
MUDr. Kateřina Maděryčová
MUDr. Klára Matoušková, Ph.D.
MUDr. Lydie Stokes Fialová, Ph.D.
Guest lecturers
Prof. MUDr. Michal Anděl, CSc.
MUDr. Michaela Andělová, Ph.D.
Ing. Julie Mokrá, Ph.D.
Mgr. Alžběta Procházková, Ph.D.