Environment and sustainable development in bachelor’s and master’s programmes
Sustainable development is an important aspect of KI core values. Activities should be characterised by strong social responsibility and contribute to sustainable development within and outside of Sweden's borders through our education and research. All education conducted at KI aims to contribute to improving human health, which is an important prerequisite for sustainable social development. Education that highlights the link between health,
Some examples of subject areas that are of relevance to the environment and sustainable development at KI are:
The impact of healthcare
All prospective healthcare professionals need to have knowledge of the impact that their work has on sustainable environmental and social development in order to make informed decisions that benefit the patient. This may include knowledge about diversity and non-discrimination within healthcare, as well as the impact that medicines, technology and chemicals have on the environment and health.
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of how factors in the environment, living habits and genetic factors affect health and how diseases occur. Large strides have been made in relation to factors that play a role in the occurrence of diseases. This includes studies of causal factors in the environment, such as socioeconomic conditions, lifestyle and genetic factors.
Public health and global health
KI’s public health programmes include links between health and our living, working, school and built environment. The programme in international and global health deals with health problems that are often related to poverty in low-income countries.
Infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance
Fighting infectious diseases is one of the cornerstones of development towards a sustainable future. Global warming, population growth, migration and deforestation are changing the spread of pathogens (parasites, bacteria and viruses) and creating new challenges. KI’s programmes deal with these aspects on many levels.
Climate and health
The health effects of the ongoing climate change is a new area of knowledge at KI within global health and environmental medicine. The goal is to build KI’s capacity in areas such as climate change, natural disasters and healthcare, climate change and infectious diseases, as well as climate change and health effects in at-risk areas.
Environmental medicine
KI’s environmental medicine programme deals with, among other things, air pollution’s contribution to cardiovascular disease, long-term organic pollution’s impact on hormone balance, metals’ contribution to cancer, and the potentially harmful health effects of new materials such as nano-materials.