Environment and Health

Program Description

This concentration explores the influence of our environment on our health, from toxins we are exposed to in our daily lives to the effect of climate change on global patterns of infectious disease. Students will learn about the chemistry of environmental toxins, their effect on our cells and DNA, and our immune responses to them, including how multiple factors can make individuals either more vulnerable or more resilient to illness. Students will also study issues related to the prevention and treatment of environmentally linked illnesses such as cancer, asthma, and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease and dementia.