John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Stanford University has announced the establishment of the Stanford Center for Human and Planetary Health, an initiative aimed at addressing the interconnected challenges of global health, climate change, and environmental sustainability. The center is based at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and collaborates with the Center for Innovation in Global Health (CIGH) at the School of Medicine.
Stephen Luby, faculty director of the new center and Lucy Becker Professor of Medicine at Stanford School of Medicine, stated, “Our understanding of how human and planetary health are intertwined has deepened significantly over the years. Without a healthy planet, humans cannot thrive. This center will help us find solutions to the environmental stressors affecting people worldwide.”
The center builds on previous efforts that began in 2015 with Stanford's Program for Disease, Ecology, Health, and the Environment. It evolved into a community comprising over 130 scholars following significant events like hosting a conference by the Planetary Health Alliance.
Research areas at the center include Climate and Health, Pollution and Health, Disease Ecology in a Changing World (DECO), led by Erin Mordecai and Giulio De Leo, as well as Food Systems, Health, and Environment. DECO recently initiated research projects focused on disease transmission impacted by global environmental changes.
Michele Barry from CIGH emphasized their commitment to addressing global health challenges such as climate change: “We’re thrilled to join our colleagues at Woods to support this center and address the greatest global health challenge to human health and vulnerable populations of our lifetime – climate change and other environmental threats.”
A key objective is to prepare future leaders through educational programs that offer real-world problem-solving experiences. Chris Field from Stanford Woods Institute noted that “the new center fills an important gap,” enhancing Stanford's capacity to impact issues between medicine and sustainability.
Lloyd Minor expressed pride in supporting this launch: “Through research, advocacy, and education, this center promises to stand as a leader in developing life-saving technologies.” Similarly, Arun Majumdar highlighted its role in fostering essential partnerships for impactful outcomes.
The center will also focus on public engagement through events that unite experts across various fields. Its influence aims to extend beyond academic boundaries into broader societal impacts.
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