NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health Initiates Programme to Drive Research on Climate Change’s Impact on Public Health
A main focus would be to strengthen partnerships between the School and environmental science groups within Singapore and the region, to monitor and raise awareness of the links between climate change and public health, in order for governments and communities to better adapt and respond to impending risks.
Singapore, 1 December, 2023 — Much has been said about the effects of climate change on our living environment, from its potential disruption of the natural ecosystem to rising sea levels and unpredictable weather conditions. Singapore, as with the rest of the world, is no stranger to the potential risks. We are also increasingly aware of the public health threats posed by the climate crisis, such as through poor air quality, food and water insecurity and changes to infectious disease transmission.
With its extensive expertise in data analysis, infectious disease modelling and technology development, the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Heath (SSHSPH) is launching a Climate, Environment and Health Programme led by Dr Kimberly Fornace, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, and Associate Professor Yann Felix Boucher at the 28th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 28) Singapore Pavilion to be held at Expo City Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December 2023. A key focus of the programme is to establish strong links with environmental science groups and develop interdisciplinary research within Singapore and the region, on climate and health.
Driving climate change research through data and technology
The new programme will investigate, monitor, and assess the impact of climate on public health and well-being in Southeast Asia, using data-driven methods and technology. The primary objectives of the programme are to: -
Increase the production and impact of research on climate, environment and health at SSHSPH, with a focus on leveraging data and technology;
Facilitate collaborations with partners across Southeast Asia to identify opportunities to monitor climate impacts on health and develop integrated environmental and health solutions;
Support and mentor early career scientists and students working on climate, environment and health; and
Engage with policymakers, the public and other stakeholders to increase awareness of climate impacts on health and disseminate research findings.
Dr Kimberly Fornace added: “While there have been strong research programmes conducted in climate modelling and environmental science and conservation, there remains a gap in the research on climate and health in Singapore. As such, what the programme aims for is to generate robust research findings, and to engage policymakers, the public and other stakeholders to disseminate and raise awareness of these findings. We want to be the enabler in mobilising communities and policymakers, to facilitate greater collaborations in the development of climate change strategies and interventions that prioritise public health protection."
Associate Professor Yann Felix Boucher explained: “Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia remain one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to climate and environmental change with severe health impact projected. With the currently heightened interest and commitments to address climate change nationally and globally, we want to develop a programme that can capitalise on this and at the same time, build and develop collaborative networks with partners across the region to identify opportunities to monitor climate impact on health and develop integrated environmental and health solutions.”
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About NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
Building upon decades of experience in research, training and practice in epidemiology and public health, the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), under the National University of Singapore (NUS), was established in October 2011 as Singapore’s national school of public health. The School is also a member of the National University Health System (NUHS).
The School aims to continually foster healthier communities in Singapore and the region, and impact public health programmes and policies through its robust educational programmes and translational cross-disciplinary research work on cohort studies and life course epidemiology, infectious disease research, health technology assessments, health promotion, workplace safety and health, health systems evaluation and health services research. An interdisciplinary approach, augmented by rigorous training, applicable research and regional partnerships, places SSHSPH at the forefront of public health knowledge discovery and practice in Asia.
The School actively collaborates with many partners including the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Harvard School of Public Health and University of Michigan School of Public Health. Its flagship programme, the Master of Public Health degree, attracts students from a wide range of disciplines from within Singapore and throughout the region.
For more information, please visit https://sph.nus.edu.sg.