About the Course
Overview
Students will explore a global health problem that you view as currently being ineffectively addressed. You and your team will construct an argument to explain why the existing approach is not working, and then develop a solution for approaching the problem through an alternative strategy. Together, you will build your argument and solution through short structured work sessions, receive rounds of feedback from fellow students and tutors, and present your findings through any medium of your choice – this includes, but is not limited to: websites, videos, pamphlets/infographics, apps, maps, visual newsletter, product launch or rebranding campaigns, podcasts, magazines etc.
Project Experience
Students in all projects will work with 2 or more undergraduate tutors. Students will meet via zoom 3 x week in the late afternoon for 45-60 minutes. At other times students will work asynchronously with their tutors and each other via slack.
Sample Problems
Water, Sanitation, Hygiene
WASH reviews the benefits of having access to an improved water source can only be fully realized when there is also access to improved sanitation and adherence to good hygiene products.
Question: How can we ensure sustainable and equitable access to improved water sources, sanitation facilities, and hygiene products for vulnerable populations, while also addressing underlying systemic issues such as poverty, inequality, and lack of political will?
Planetary Health
This concept encourages evidence-based policies that promote human health and prosperity while preserving the environment that allow us to thrive.
Question: How can we develop and implement evidence-based policies and interventions that effectively address the interconnected challenges of promoting human health and prosperity while preserving the natural systems and resources that sustain us, particularly in the face of ongoing environmental degradation and climate change?
Pandemics
Pandemics are defined as prevalent global disease outbreaks; for example, influenza outbreaks, the Flu of 1918, COVID-19, or viral threats that are reflective of our vulnerability to widespread diseases
Question: What measures can be taken at the global, national, and community levels to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to pandemics, while also addressing the underlying social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to their emergence and spread? How can we ensure equitable access to healthcare and resources for vulnerable populations?
Sample Resources
Developing a good theory of change: 10 steps for evaluation success in early intervention, step 1
Our Global Health System Is Inefficient - We Need An Alternative! | Charlie Easmon | TEDxHeidelberg
The global goals we've made progress on -- and the ones we haven't | Michael Green
Sample Output
Project Schedule
The week by week schedule will vary somewhat as students are engaged in real world problem solving. Therefore it is never possible to predict exactly what will happen each week. It all depends on where explorations lead the work. But generally the project will look something like this:
Weeks 1-3: Research leading to selecting a problem, forming teams and developing a project proposal.
Weeks 4-8: Forming solutions, deciding on the final project format, and working with tutors to meet project milestones and solicit feedback from tutors and peers.
Week 9: Project presentations.