UCL INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SOCIETY AND HEALTH

2008 IISH PUBLIC SEMINAR SERIES

You are invited to attend on:

27 May 2008, Tuesday 5pm – 6pm

Global Health Inequity and Environmental Change

Speaker: Dr. Sharon Friel, Principal Research Fellow, WHO Commission on
Social Determinants of Health

Abstract
Growing differences in life expectancy between the countries in the world
since around 1985- 90 signal that the global system of human activities is
not sustainable. Human actions are changing many of the world’s natural
environmental systems, including the climate system. These systems are
intrinsic to life processes and fundamental to human health, and their
disruption and depletion are exacerbating health inequities between and
within countries. Ecological damage is affecting the lives of everyone in
society but it impacts most on the most vulnerable groups. We will not
achieve the UN millennium development health goals if environmental
destruction continues. There is still much research needed on the type of
action most likely to improve social factors, environmental change and
health equity. But there is sufficient evidence to act now. This seminar
will explore the relationship between environmental change, the social
determinants of health and health equity and outline potential policy options.

Dr Friel is a social and nutritional epidemiologist and has worked in the
area of health inequity and public health nutrition since 1992. She is
currently the Principal Research Fellow for the WHO Commission on Social
Determinants of Health, based at UCL. She is also a Fellow at the National
Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National
University. Prior to this she worked as a lecturer and Assistant Academic
Director in the Department of Health Promotion, National University of
Ireland, Galway. Her work is concerned with global health equity, health
equity through a social determinants framework and in particular equity in
relation to food and nutrition.

This seminar will be held at UCL, it is free, but space is limited (75
SEATS). NO NEED TO RSVP.  Arrive promptly to secure a seat. Please contact
us if you have any special needs. The seminar will be held at UCL in the:

Basement Lecture Theatre, UCL, 1 – 19 Torrington Place, London WC1E  7HB
Entrance opposite Planet Organic.
Nearest Underground station Goodge St.
Email: [log in to unmask]  
Refreshments at 6pm after the seminar.


You may access  audio recording of our some past seminars at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/iish/seminars.htm

NEW *
UCL Health and Society Summer School.
Mon 30 Jun – Fri 4 Jul 2008
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/healthandsociety