BlueAdapt launches free online course on climate change, coastal waters and health
How is climate change affecting coastal waters and human health? And what can we do to understand and adapt to these changing risks?
The BlueAdapt project has launched a free seven-week online course, Climate Change, Coastal Waters and Health: Risks and Solutions, bringing together research and expertise from across the project to explore these important and interconnected challenges.
The course provides an accessible introduction to the links between climate change, coastal waters and human health. It explores how changing environmental conditions can influence health risks, and looks at approaches that can help communities, professionals and decision-makers understand and respond to these challenges.
Exploring climate-health risks and solutions
Across seven weeks, learners will explore key topics including:
- Climate change and climate modelling
- Waterborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance
- The One Health approach
- Health Impact Assessment and modelling
- Valuing changes in health
- Climate adaptation tools and approaches
- Reflections on the future of climate, coastal waters and health
The course combines expert videos, research insights, practical examples, activities and opportunities for learners to reflect on how climate-related health risks relate to their own contexts.
As the course progresses, learners move from understanding the science and health impacts to exploring approaches for adaptation in practice, including tools and methods that can support decision-making.
Learning from experts across BlueAdapt
The course brings together contributions from researchers and experts across the 11-partner BlueAdapt consortium, reflecting the project’s interdisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing climate-related health risks in coastal waters.
Contributors share perspectives from areas including climate modelling, microbiology, epidemiology, public health, economics and climate adaptation. Together, these perspectives demonstrate how different areas of research can contribute to understanding complex climate-health challenges and developing responses.
Who can take the course?
The course is open to anyone interested in the relationship between climate change, coastal environments and human health. It may be particularly relevant to professionals and students working in public health, environmental science, climate adaptation, water management, policy, research and related fields.
No specialist background is required, making the course accessible to learners who are new to the topic while also offering an opportunity to explore different perspectives for those already working in related areas.
Join the course
Climate Change, Coastal Waters and Health: Risks and Solutions is available free of charge and can be completed at the learner’s own pace over seven weeks.
The course has been developed by BlueAdapt in partnership with FutureLearn, an online learning platform that brings together courses from universities, organisations and experts around the world.
Explore the course on FutureLearn
The course is part of BlueAdapt’s wider work to understand climate-related health risks in coastal waters and support adaptation to a changing climate.
