This module will explore the biomedical and social scientific core elements of applied one health science. It will focus on the interdisciplinarity required in One Health, using a range of illustrative topic areas to demonstrate how approaches that not only span disciplines but actively integrate multiple disciplinary perspectives are essential for advancing our understanding of complex global challenges. Students will be trained by breaking down the science behind one health into human-animal-environment components and how different disciplines can tackle these together. The students will complete the module equipped to challenge the often-shallow understanding of one health approaches and armed with the tools to develop their own interdisciplinary thinking. Key focus areas will include zoonoses, AMR, food safety, epidemic preparedness and vector borne diseases, and key areas of qualitative study design, quantitative study design, mixed methods, ethics and cross sectoral communication. The material will be taught using lectures and seminars with specialist external speakers where appropriate, and through the writing of documents targeting multiple audiences, with practical opportunities for skills development during the module workshops.
The module has two summative assessments, designed to develop systems thinking and critical analysis and evaluation skills:
1. A collaborative/groupwork task designed to foster multidisciplinary discussion and problem-solving around a one health topic
2. An individual end-of-module assignment requiring critical reflection and application of learning to real-world or simulated scenarios.
Students will be encouraged to bring examples of their own professional work, where appropriate, to the table.