Planetary Health has recently emerged as a new area of knowledge focused on characterizing the impacts on human health of the disruption of the Earth's natural systems due to anthropic causes, as well as studying the political, economic, and social systems that mediate such interactions. In that sense, the aims of this line of research are: (i) to study the impacts on human health of the current environmental and climate crisis with a special focus on vulnerable populations and (ii) to explore solutions to overcome the challenges that this crisis poses for our health using an interdisciplinary approach. In particular, we are interested in the following areas:
Specific thesis projects offered inside of this line of research include the following:
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Thesis Proposals |
Researchers |
Research Group |
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Natural spaces, biodiversity and human health
Relationship between natural spaces and biodiversity and human health, with special emphasis on non-communicable diseases, mental health and well-being. Above all, we focus on inequality in health, exploring different areas of inequality with an intersectional and gender perspective.
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mtrigueroma@uoc.edu
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Climate change and human health
Relationship between climate change and human health, with special emphasis on the effect of high temperatures. We are currently focusing on the health of particularly vulnerable groups, such as workers and the elderly.
In this vein, our research aims to study stress and burnout processes in the workplace, examining different work stressors and burnout factors (i.e. job insecurity, mobbing or work emotion) as well as their potential determinants, consequences and coping strategies.
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co_callaghang@uoc.edu
mtrigueroma@uoc.edu
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Environmental pollution and human health
Relationship between environmental pollution and human health, with special emphasis on the health of vulnerable populations. We are currently focusing on heavy metal pollution among indigenous communities in the Global South.
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co_callaghang@uoc.edu
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BITAL |
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Capacity building in planetary health education
We focus on the incorporation of Planetary Health as a cross-cutting theme in other university bachelor’s degrees and on supporting the development of new postgraduate programmes in Planetary Health.
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co_callaghang@uoc.edu
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BITAL |
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Perinatal exposures, molecular mechanisms, and health across the lifespan
This research line focuses on understanding how environmental factors (air pollution, temperature, noise, natural spaces, and sustainable diets) during pregnancy and early childhood influence child health and health across the lifespan through epigenetic and transcriptomic mechanisms. In addition, the research explores these mechanisms as potential biomarkers of exposure and risk, as well as their possible intergenerational and multigenerational transmission.
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mcosint@uoc.edu
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BITAL |