The principal aim of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the interactions between population health and the status and management of the environment. This will be examined in the context of environmental sustainability, with a focus on the changes that economic development and demographic change can bring both to the environment and to population health.

The course will also touch upon the environmental sustainability and health sustainability of human society.

The course starts with a consideration of different types of sustainability, examined in the light of human behaviour. It will then introduce basic demography and its significance to population health and national development and examine how demographic factors, environmental degradation and poor environmental management together affect population health. It will touch upon the main health issues in developing countries (specifically AIDS, nutritional deficiencies, malaria, TB, certain parasitic conditions and waterborne infections) and compare the situation to developed nations. Pollution and toxicology will be taught via a focus on air quality, which is a major issue in most cities of the developing world. The possible health effects of climate change will also be briefly examined.  

The course covers a wide field of different science-based disciplines, presented by an experienced communicator, for students who are not scientific specialists, but who have basic numeracy and an understanding of and interest in development issues.

After finishing the course, and completing the necessary study requirements associated with it, students will be able to

• Understand the key terms and concepts in sustainability
• Understand the key terms and concepts in demography
• Understand the key terms and concepts in population health.
• Understand the significance of energy to human society, and be familiar with the major issues in the debate over energy sustainability
• Appreciate the linkage between environmental management and public health
• Analyse societal nutritional requirements and the environmental factors affecting food supply, including the sustainable use of biological resources
• Identify the causes and consequences of poor air quality in cities, and possible solutions.
• Demonstrate the skills necessary to analyse complex multi-disciplinary problems pertaining to the environmental and health aspects of national development
• Contribute informed, accurate and scientifically correct input to discussions about policy options relating to population growth, public health, energy sustainability and environmental management.

Two in-class tests (20% and 25%); final exam (30%); choice of presentation or essay (25%).

A pass is awarded if the total aggregate mark for the whole course is 50% or above.

Three contact hours per teaching week. About 2-3 hours additional work per week, on average, would be necessary for reading, revising and doing required assignments. 

Students considering this course should be confident in basic numeracy and ideally should have studied a science subject to Year 12 level.

EMDV 8026 is recommended as a prior course, if possible.

No prescribed texts, but a reading list is provided, along with detailed hand-outs written by the lecturer.

Several lists will be provided during the course.