Explore critically important relationships between people, planet, and health.

From air quality to infectious diseases, climate events to environmental exposures, the connections between our planet and human health are becoming increasingly clear. Around the world, communities are facing challenges like extreme weather events, food and housing insecurity, and air pollution—affecting both individuals and public health. Addressing these urgent issues requires a deep understanding of the complex relationships between environmental change and human well-being. By studying these connections, we can work toward solutions that promote healthier communities and a more sustainable future. This Ampersand program applies an interdisciplinary lens to the local and global environmental challenges that have impacted human health in St. Louis and beyond. We will explore the different methods used by public health officials, research biologists, environmental scientists, veterinarians, and doctors to address these grand challenges. You will learn from local experts, examine patient case studies, build relationships with community partners, visit research labs and field sites where groundbreaking science happens, and work towards proposing your own project.