One Health: Connections and Collaborations

President's Dream Colloquium

Spring 2024

Human health isn鈥檛 just about humans. Our health is intimately and inextricably interconnected with the health of our local and global ecosystems and our planet. By mapping connections among people, animals, and environments, 鈥淥ne Health鈥� reveals opportunities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emerging and ongoing health threats. This concept isn鈥檛 new. It is rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, and recognizes that health threats such as infectious diseases, environmental pollution, and climate change are shared across species, geographies, and generations.

The World Health Organization says, 鈥�'One Health' is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. It is particularly important to prevent, predict, detect, and respond to global health threats such as the COVID- 19 pandemic.鈥�

At a time of simultaneous crises, 鈥淥ne Health鈥� has been identified as a research priority by . Given that urbanization, globalization, deforestation, and agricultural intensification are increasing and exacerbating health harms, now more than ever, we need innovative 鈥淥ne Health鈥� approaches.

The Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society (PIPPS) is a new SFU research institute, approved by Senate in December 2022. Our mission is to strengthen BC鈥檚 capability to prepare for and respond to major infectious disease events. This President鈥檚 Dream Colloquium explores interconnected global health through a One Health lens. We have chosen topics that reflect PIPPS鈥� Vision and Mission to 鈥減revent, prepare for, and respond to major infectious disease events鈥�, and have extended this focus to encompass intersecting and urgent health risks such as pollution and climate change.

Seminars for Graduates & Undergraduates

SFU students may gain course credits towards their degree for attending and participating in colloquium seminars and completing supervised research papers relating to the colloquium鈥檚 subject or theme.

Applications accepted until November 24, 2023.

Learn More!

One Health: Connections and Collaborations

All President's Dream Colloquiums

Public Lecture Schedule

Public lectures are free and open to everyone including the general public. Please RSVP to the event as space is limited. A recording of each lecture will be made available after the event.