Unit of study_

OLET2503: Global challenges: Planetary Health

info This unit of study is no longer offered. Refer to your handbook for alternative units available in your course.

2020 unit information

Climate change, loss of biodiversity and toxic pollution of ecosystems pose serious threats to the lives and livelihoods of future generations. We cannot tackle these critical global challenges by solely understanding narrow disciplinary issues; the challenge the global community faces requires a broader, multidisciplinary lens. Planetary Health builds on the University of Sydney's commitment to multidisciplinary research and education. It drives research, education and leadership on the relationships between ecological, economic and social change and the health and wellbeing of future generations. Put simply, planetary health is the health of human civilisation and the state of the natural systems on which it depends. This unit will introduce undergraduate students to global challenges and the wide range of perspectives needed to understand and act given the complexity of global systems. This will be done using a case study approach to explore a variety of issues that challenge student thinking and force them to go beyond their disciplinary lenses. For example, a case study on urban waste brings in issues such as soil pollution, human health, consumption, economics, the food system and urban development. This OLE will bring together academics from across the University in a collaborative model of education.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Medicine and Health

Study level Undergraduate
Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 2
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. define “planetary health” and explain the context of the Anthropocene
  • LO2. understand how planetary health provides a framework for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
  • LO3. identify relevant topics of global concern within the context of planetary health
  • LO4. understand the history of planetary thinking to address global issues
  • LO5. identify ways in which planetary health and planetary thinking can be applied to your own area of interest and expertise.

Unit availability

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There are no availabilities for this year.
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2a 2020
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

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