Ateneo - UPO

The course addresses epidemiological evidence on the relationship between climate and health. It also examines the impacts of climate change on health, the role of health emergencies, and the importance of considering vulnerabilities and inequalities in the assessment and management of climate-related health risks.

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Knowledge and understanding:Understand scientific evidence on the relationship between climate change and health, and be familiar with key epidemiological measures and study designs;Be able to describe the main health impacts of climate change, including the relationship between climate change and health emergencies;Be able to identify the main population groups vulnerable to the negative health impacts of climate change.Applying knowledge and understanding:Be able to read, understand, and interpret scientific articles related to climate change and health;Be able to identify and interpret the health impacts of climate change.

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Lectures and participatory learning methods.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via reference office consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam assesses the ability to apply the acquired knowledge.
The final grade is expressed out of thirty (passing threshold: 18) and is calculated as a weighted average of two components:
1. Common component: standard exam (70% of the final grade); valid for all students (attending and non-attending). This consists of a multiple-choice test (only one correct option) to be taken in the computer lab on the content covered during the course;
2. Supplementary component (30% of the final grade), differing based on attendance:
2.1. Attending students: evaluation of a group work carried out directly in class during the course;
2.2. Non-attending students (or those who do not participate in the group work): evaluation of an additional open-ended question, to be completed during the exam session.

Health status, determinants and epidemiological measures; Epidemiological evidence on climate change and health; Impacts of climate change on health; Vulnerability and inequalities; Climate change and emergencies; Climate–health co-benefits.

Integration of the gender dimension:
- The gender dimension is considered in the analysis of concepts and in the case studies addressed throughout the course.

At the end of the course, students will have acquired a solid understanding of the scientific evidence linking climate change to human health, with a basic knowledge of the main study designs and reference epidemiological measures. They will be able to describe global health impacts, including health emergencies, and to identify the population groups most vulnerable. Furthermore, they will have developed the ability to read and interpret articles from the scientific literature of the sector, applying these skills to independently recognize and analyze the public health risks deriving from the climate crisis.