Recent pandemics and the ongoing climate emergency are urgent reminders of the interconnections between human and planetary health. A human-centred approach limits our ability to understand, prevent, and address emerging health challenges at local, national, and global levels. Planetary Health offers a critical framework to analyse health threats vis-a-vis non-human animal subjectivities, growing technology, and changing environmental circumstances. As such, it offers Master in Public Health students the possibility to expand the scope of their studies to explore the interdependence of planetary life and human health.
Throughout the module, post-humanist theories and case studies of Planetary Health emergencies and interventions will be the focus of analysis. Students will develop critical thinking and applied skills to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, and ethical implications of various Planetary Health interventions. They will learn new frameworks to appraise and analyse health challenges at global, national, and local levels, understanding their implications for public health outcomes.
The module will be delivered through lectures, tutorials, and self-directed learning. A formative assessment in the form of an individual, 15-minute presentation; the summative assessment will consist of an individually produced 5-minute video-esssay on a selected Planetary Health issue accompanied by a 1,000-word commentary.