This is an introductory and overview-and-update course for researchers and policy-makers. The topic has assumed great and rapidly growing importance over the past year. It has become clear that we face, in climate change, a human-induced global environmental change that poses many risks to human health – now and, increasingly, in future.

This course will run for three full days. It will review the current (evolving) science of climate change, and explore the methods of risk assessment (epidemiological and modelling studies) and of risk management (adaptive strategies to lessen impacts). The assessment of community vulnerability (eg rural Australia), health co-benefits of mitigation (emissions reduction) strategies, and issues in public and policy communication will also be considered.

The role and methods of three core categories of epidemiological research will be explored:

• improved understanding of baseline climate-health relationships
• issues in detecting and attributing health impacts
• scenario-based modeling of future health risks due to projected climate change.

Who should attend?

The course is particularly relevant for:

• Existing and prospective researchers wishing to engage (more) in this topic area
• National and State government policy-makers, advisors, health risk managers
• Specialist government agencies responsible for national/international environmental, social, and health policies and programs
• Scientists in cognate disciplines interested in research collaboration: CSIRO, CRCs, etc.
• Non-government research and policy-advice organisations.

Program

Topics include:
Climate change – the science : Where's it at, where's it going?

The IPCC WG1 Fourth Assessment: insights, issues

Epidemiological research I. Learning from the recent past

Temperature and food-poisoning: time-series modeling

Climate, climate change and asthma

Heat extremes, deaths and hospitalisations: Melbourne study

Vulnerability and Adaptation : introduction and discussion

Epidemiological research II. Detecting current impacts; estimating future risks

Climate change and malaria: controversies over attribution (present impacts) and modeling (future risks) – Pascual et al, etc.

Deforestation, climate and malaria resurgence: the multivariate challenge

Geo-coded (Aust) meteorological data: sources, content, uses

Scenario-based modelling of future health risks: methods, uses, pitfalls?

Health Impact Assessment ( HIA) framework: key to risk management

Wider significance: climate change and the Anthropocene

Epidemiological research III : Assessing adaptive strategies;

Health co-benefits from mitigation

Discussion PMSEIC (Australia , 2007) recommendations on adaptation; US CDC (2007) policy framework on health-risk adaptation

Asia-Pacific regional research and policy needs

Coping with increased risks of infectious disease

Can we (will we) adapt to avoid the health consequences of climate change?

Communicating to policy makers and media

Discussion of above: research and risk assessment as policy

Duration:
Three days

Number of Participants:
This course is limited to 25 people

Location:
University House
The Australian National University
Canberra
http://www.anu.edu.au/unihouse/

Cost:
Earlybird registration: $1,350
Full registration: $1,500
Student registration: $1,200

How to register
Complete registration form and mail or fax to:
Climate Change & Health short course
National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200
F: 02 6125 0740

Earlybird registration and payment must be received by no later than
COB 19 October 2007.
Registrations close 16 November 2007

Inquiries
E: nceph.shortcourse@anu.edu.au
T: +61 2 6125 5627 (Ros Hales)

Accommodation
http://accom.anu.edu.au/UAS/1042.html