Tackling Justice with Science: The Environmental Health Crisis (Year 12 and 13 Masterclass)

This masterclass will begin with an introduction to the field of environmental health. The introduction will explore the association between pollution and its negative impacts on human health. To get the students engaged with a real-life case study, there will then be a short summary of the DuPont scandal.

Following this, the class will be split into four research teams - each given the title of an environmental health case study. The groups will work together to research this case study and formulate a poster answering a set of predefined questions about the case study. They will then present their findings to the rest of the class.

Once all groups have presented, the facilitator will continue with an exploration of the modern science methodologies that could change the way these environmental health injustices are handled (eg, precision toxicology and metabolomics). These are methodologies being pursued here at the University of Birmingham. The masterclass will conclude with a look into the world of environmental justice and advocacy, stressing that science can only go so far in the fight for justice for those impacted by pollution.

Schools will be limited to 4 places for this class. Individual bookings can be made by students in Year 12 or 13.