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Connecting the Dots Between Climate Change & Our Health

This presentation will describe some of the ways that climate change is already impacting and harming people’s health. These climate-health impacts also impose a cost burden that totals in the billions, yet health is almost never included among the costs of climate change that society is expected to bear.  People can take positive steps to protect their health from climate change’s harmful effect, avoiding the related costs and preserving community well-being. Besides individual-level protection, being informed and active in demanding policies that create healthier, more equitable, secure communities is essential. 

Learning Objectives: 

Following this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe three ways that climate change is already affecting the environment in ways that can harm human health.

2. Name three types of health-related costs from climate-sensitive extreme weather and other climate change-fueled events.

3. List two strategies that can help individuals, families, or communities limit the health harms and related costs they experience under a changing climate.

Speaker 

Kim Knowlton, DrPH, is assistant clinical professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, and a member of Third Act, a national organization mobilizing people over 60 to safeguard the climate and uplift democracy. She was senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in New York from 2007-2024, specializing in the human health impacts of climate change. She served as co-convening lead author for the human health chapter of the U.S. Third National Climate Assessment; as a member of the 2nd and 4th New York City Panels on Climate Change; and participated in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 2007 Fourth and 2013 Fifth Assessment Reports. Her work at NRDC with community partners in India helped to develop and launch South Asia’s first heat early warning system and action plan. She holds a doctorate in Public Health from Columbia University, a master’s in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences from CUNY/Hunter College, and a BA in Geological Sciences from Cornell University.

AI Basics for Public Health

During this webinar we will discuss common concerns and controversies about how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact our climate, culture, and the future of public health.

Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere. But how much do you really know about generative AI? We will provide an accessible, beginner-level overview of basic machine learning principles, which serve as the foundation for large language models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. By developing a better understanding of how machine learning works, you will be more prepared to use, evaluate, and plan for disruptions and opportunities created by AI.

Learning Objectives: 

Following this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand basic principles of machine learning and generative AI
2. Become familiar with common critiques of AI and their origins, including issues related to privacy, bias, and the environmental impact of AI

3. Learn proper use cases for generative AI within the public health field

4. Understand the principles of human-centered AI and explore how AI implementation can recenter humans in public health

   
   

Speakers 

Dr. Claire Han

Dr. Han is passionate about using quantitative and qualitative methods to inform public policy decisions. She received her Ph.D. in Education from Johns Hopkins University where she specialized in applied statistics, including standard regression methods in addition to causal inference methods, social network analysis, and meta-analysis. During her time as a Senior Researcher at American Institutes for Research, Dr. Han developed a toolkit for integrating AI into meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Dr. Han has extensive experience developing and facilitating workshops, and is passionate about mentorship in the field of AI.

Heather Duncan, MPH, PhD

Dr. Duncan received her Ph.D. in English from SUNY Buffalo and has served as faculty at various institutions of higher learning, where she taught research writing, literature, and media studies. After over a decade of teaching and scholarship in the humanities, she transitioned to a career in public health. She received her MPH in 2024 from SUNY Albany and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in epidemiology, where her doctoral work focuses on building AI agents for local health departments. Dr. Duncan is a strong advocate for making science more accessible and improving the strategic communications of public health organizations. She is also co-owner of M&D Science Consulting and Communications, where she specializes in science and medical communications, data analysis and interpretation for the health sciences, and public health education.