After completing the course students:

• will have insight in the relations between aquatic ecosystems, water-related diseases and sustainable development
• will understand the socio-cultural processes and mechanisms that underlie present day water and health problems
• will be able to explore possible solutions to water and health problems in which different knowledge domains are integrated.

Many countries in the world experience difficulties in developing and implementing a sound strategy for the integration of water resource management, consolidation or improvement of public health and economic development. The strong links between human health, and the health of the broader environment are an emerging topic in science. Human activities have an increasing impact on our living environment, including the water quality of our lakes, rivers and seas. As a result waters get polluted, causing serious health problems.
The Water, Health & Development course provides insight in the correlations between Water, Health and Development knowledge domains. Illustrated by (inter)national cases these correlations will be analyzed and discussed. Next we will focus on the socio-cultural processes and mechanism that led to current problems. Based on the analyses of these processes we will explore sustainable solutions. Finally insights will be integrated in a framework to explore problem situations and find strategies to deal with these.

Instructional modes