SCC0938 - GLOBAL CHANGES AND HEALTH

courses

ID:

SCC0938

Duration (hours):

48

CFU:

SSD:

MEDICINA DEL LAVORO

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 29/05/2026)

Course Objectives

TRAINING OBJECTIVES The general objective of the teaching activity is to provide the student with the knowledge of the main environmental stressors, such as the climate change, the current trends and perspectives of some key environmental stressors of anthropic and natural origin. The teaching activity will be focused on the global trends and patterns of the most important factors of environmental criticality worldwide, in relation to their ability to alter the health status of populations and susceptible individuals. LEARNING OUTCOMES Once the course will be completed, students will be able to analyse and assess, based on scientific evidence, the main challenges represented by the impacts of global changes on human health in current scenario.

Course Prerequisites

For a good understanding of the course, it will be useful to know the basics of climate changes and toxicology. Basics of general biology and environmental chemistry are also very useful. Understanding of the written and oral English language is taken for granted.

Teaching Methods

Frontal teaching via teleconference, alternating the presence in the classroom between Como and Varese and with slide support. Case studies, scientific papers and reports from the grey literature will be also presented for most of the topics. Web-based interactive tools will be also used as methodological approaches of teaching for a more effective learning

Assessment Methods

Oral exam based on the content of the teaching material provided on the e-learning platform. To pass the test, the student should demonstrate an adequate theoretical knowledge of the topics covered by the course and the ability to properly master this knowledge. The terminological correctness and the skill to propose a correct methodological approach for assessing risk and impacts in hypothetical scenarios (living and working environments) will be positively evaluated. Passing the exam requires a positive result (minimum grade of 18/30). More in detail, the assessment of knowledge and skills gained during the course will be verified through an oral test aimed at ascertaining: 1) the ability to fully present a topic (or part of a topic) covered in the course; 2) the ability to respond concisely and precisely to a specific request; 3) the ability to use the knowledge and skills acquired in order to analyse problems explicitly addressed in the course and propose appropriate methodologies for their resolution. The exam will focus on at least 3 questions related to the teaching program with the aim of assessing the learning level and the critical evaluation of topics, the correctness of terminology, the ability to make connections between the covered topics and to correctly apply the acquired knowledge to real cases.

- Global Megatrends - Global environmental challenges and EU policies - Global burden of disease - Risk factors and impacts on mortality and disability - Worldwide air pollution trends, sources and cross-country comparisons - Climate change and health - Global pandemics - The transport sector: environment and health

Course Language

Italian. English whenever foreign students will attend the course.

More information

The teacher is available in the classroom after the lessons and in his office (DiSAT, via Valleggio 11, Como), by appointment requested by e-mail (andrea.cattaneo@uninsubria.it)