April 25-26, 2018, University of Waterloo
In April 2018, we hosted a workshop for faculty and trainees, funded by the Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI), on enhancing capacity to apply systems approaches to improve human and planetary health.
WORKSHOP BACKGROUND
Human and planetary health are inextricably linked. For example, relationships between dietary patterns and environmental sustainability, undernutrition and soil degradation, and sanitation and extreme weather conditions are increasingly recognized. As a result, although public health has traditionally focused on the health and wellness of human populations, it is evolving to advocate for the protection of planetary health. For example, in 2015, the Canadian Public Health Association identified nine categories of recommended actions for public health researchers and stakeholders to promote ecological health. Simultaneously, those working on issues such as climate from an environmental perspective are integrating considerations related to human health. For instance, one line of inquiry concerns capacity to produce sufficient food to support a growing population without devastating our natural resources.
To better understand and address complex challenges related to health and the environment, systems science represents a promising avenue. Systems thinking and methods allow researchers and policymakers to simultaneously consider multiple drivers that interact in complex ways to influence multi-scale, systems-level global problems, such as climate change, and to predict the outcomes of interventions to begin to resolve such problems and improve the health of humans and ecosystems. Further, systems approaches can facilitate transdisciplinary teams, which are essential to addressing these complex challenges. However, methods for implementing systems approaches can be daunting and remain underutilized. Linkages and collaborations across campus can help to enhance understanding and appropriate application of these approaches to advance the identification of solutions to complex health and environmental challenges. This workshop was meant to facilitate and leverage such linkages and collaborations.
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES AND ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES
The objectives of this workshop were to:
Anticipated outcomes included supporting:
Learn about the workshop planning committee.
PROGRAM
Please see the full program (PDF) for abstracts, presenter biographies, and other details.
April 25, 2018
The challenge: How do we leverage systems thinking and methods to bring together researchers working on human and planetary health?--Dr. Madhur Anand, Director, Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI)
The potential of systems methods to advance our capacity to identify solutions to human health and environmental challenges--Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, Global Obesity Prevention Center, Johns Hopkins
Case study: A complex-systems approach to managing the dynamics of shallow lakes: a case study with Lake Erie--Dr. Brad Bass, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Case study: A seamless partnership in ways of knowing: systems thinking as a transcendent ordering paradigm for meeting “the other”--Dr. William Sutherland, Institute of Complexity Medicine
Discussant: Integrating human and planetary health using systems thinking and methods--Katharine Zywert, Social and Ecological Sustainability, University of Waterloo
Oral presentations (moderated by Kirsten Lee, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo)
The complex nature of cultural systems in the context of the climate crisis - Sophia Sanniti & Katie Kish, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Safeguarding health and wellbeing in small island states in the Caribbean: Exploring pathways of climate change impacts on non-communicable diseases in Barbados - Roxanne. A. Springer, Department of Geography and Environmental Management
Trends in nutrition and climate change impacts of Ontarians' dietary choices - Basak Topcu, School of Environment, Enterprise & Development
A social-ecological systems approach to govern coastal ecosystems under conditions of rapid change - Ana Carolina Esteves Dias, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
System level enablers and barriers to a basic income guarantee: Lessons from Speenhamland - Brian Hyndman, Sessional Instructor, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Relational hierarchies in global sustainability and resilience - Perin Ruttonsha, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Systems thinking as a tool to promote human health and sustainable behaviour change - Katharine Zywert, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Discussants--Threads connecting projects and initiatives across campus--Dr. Steffanie Scott and Jodi Koberinski, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
Building intersectoral teams--facilitated group discussion--Dr. Warren Dodd, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto & School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
How researchers from across disciplines can effectively work together to address complex challenges using systems thinking and methods--Dr. Vanessa Schweizer, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
Panel discussion--moving forward (moderated by Dr. Sharon Kirkpatrick, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo):
Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, Global Obesity Prevention Center, Johns Hopkins
Amanda Raffoul, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
Dr. Vanessa Schweizer, Department of Knowledge Integration, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
Mat Thijssen, Office of Sustainability, University of Waterloo
Posters
Dietary quality and health care utilization among Canadian adults - Stephanie Aboueid, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Examining the impact of food insecurity on disordered eating behaviours and attitudes in urban dwelling adolescent and young adult Canadians - Lesley Andrade, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
A social-ecological systems approach to govern coastal ecosystems under conditions of rapid change - Ana Carolina Esteves Dias, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Integrating nutritional and environmental security metrics for healthy people and planet - Goretty Dias, School of Environment, Enterprise & Development
A complex systems approach for understanding the transformative potential of connectedness with nature - Norman M. Kearney, School of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability
A scoping review of food-related interventions on post-secondary campuses - Kirsten M. Lee, School of Public Health and Health Systems
From simple to complex solutions to undernutrition: Assessing the impact of agricultural biodiversity on child nutrition in Guatemala - Diana V. Luna-Gonzalez, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Human biomonitoring to complement risk assessments of environmental contaminants in traditional food systems - Sara R. Packull-McCormick, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Exploring potential consequences of obesity prevention on psychological health - Amanda Raffoul, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Reforming healthcare systems using a cognitive systems framework - Braden K. Tompke, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Water Balance: A sculpture - Adrienne Mason, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
April 26, 2018
WORKSHOP BACKGROUND
Human and planetary health are inextricably linked. For example, relationships between dietary patterns and environmental sustainability, undernutrition and soil degradation, and sanitation and extreme weather conditions are increasingly recognized. As a result, although public health has traditionally focused on the health and wellness of human populations, it is evolving to advocate for the protection of planetary health. For example, in 2015, the Canadian Public Health Association identified nine categories of recommended actions for public health researchers and stakeholders to promote ecological health. Simultaneously, those working on issues such as climate from an environmental perspective are integrating considerations related to human health. For instance, one line of inquiry concerns capacity to produce sufficient food to support a growing population without devastating our natural resources.
To better understand and address complex challenges related to health and the environment, systems science represents a promising avenue. Systems thinking and methods allow researchers and policymakers to simultaneously consider multiple drivers that interact in complex ways to influence multi-scale, systems-level global problems, such as climate change, and to predict the outcomes of interventions to begin to resolve such problems and improve the health of humans and ecosystems. Further, systems approaches can facilitate transdisciplinary teams, which are essential to addressing these complex challenges. However, methods for implementing systems approaches can be daunting and remain underutilized. Linkages and collaborations across campus can help to enhance understanding and appropriate application of these approaches to advance the identification of solutions to complex health and environmental challenges. This workshop was meant to facilitate and leverage such linkages and collaborations.
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES AND ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES
The objectives of this workshop were to:
- expose faculty and trainees from various disciplines with relevance to human and planetary health (e.g., public health, environment, engineering, anthropology) to systems thinking,
- provide hands-on training in systems methods with relevance to challenges encompassing both domains.
Anticipated outcomes included supporting:
- enhanced capacity among Faculty members and trainees in the application of systems thinking and methods,
- university-wide networks of researchers, including trainees, across Faculties,
- increased likelihood of successful funding applications involving systems approaches as a means of better understanding and addressing complex issues relevant to human and planetary health.
Learn about the workshop planning committee.
PROGRAM
Please see the full program (PDF) for abstracts, presenter biographies, and other details.
April 25, 2018
The challenge: How do we leverage systems thinking and methods to bring together researchers working on human and planetary health?--Dr. Madhur Anand, Director, Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI)
The potential of systems methods to advance our capacity to identify solutions to human health and environmental challenges--Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, Global Obesity Prevention Center, Johns Hopkins
Case study: A complex-systems approach to managing the dynamics of shallow lakes: a case study with Lake Erie--Dr. Brad Bass, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Case study: A seamless partnership in ways of knowing: systems thinking as a transcendent ordering paradigm for meeting “the other”--Dr. William Sutherland, Institute of Complexity Medicine
Discussant: Integrating human and planetary health using systems thinking and methods--Katharine Zywert, Social and Ecological Sustainability, University of Waterloo
Oral presentations (moderated by Kirsten Lee, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo)
The complex nature of cultural systems in the context of the climate crisis - Sophia Sanniti & Katie Kish, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Safeguarding health and wellbeing in small island states in the Caribbean: Exploring pathways of climate change impacts on non-communicable diseases in Barbados - Roxanne. A. Springer, Department of Geography and Environmental Management
Trends in nutrition and climate change impacts of Ontarians' dietary choices - Basak Topcu, School of Environment, Enterprise & Development
A social-ecological systems approach to govern coastal ecosystems under conditions of rapid change - Ana Carolina Esteves Dias, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
System level enablers and barriers to a basic income guarantee: Lessons from Speenhamland - Brian Hyndman, Sessional Instructor, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Relational hierarchies in global sustainability and resilience - Perin Ruttonsha, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Systems thinking as a tool to promote human health and sustainable behaviour change - Katharine Zywert, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Discussants--Threads connecting projects and initiatives across campus--Dr. Steffanie Scott and Jodi Koberinski, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
Building intersectoral teams--facilitated group discussion--Dr. Warren Dodd, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto & School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
How researchers from across disciplines can effectively work together to address complex challenges using systems thinking and methods--Dr. Vanessa Schweizer, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
Panel discussion--moving forward (moderated by Dr. Sharon Kirkpatrick, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo):
Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, Global Obesity Prevention Center, Johns Hopkins
Amanda Raffoul, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
Dr. Vanessa Schweizer, Department of Knowledge Integration, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
Mat Thijssen, Office of Sustainability, University of Waterloo
Posters
Dietary quality and health care utilization among Canadian adults - Stephanie Aboueid, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Examining the impact of food insecurity on disordered eating behaviours and attitudes in urban dwelling adolescent and young adult Canadians - Lesley Andrade, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
A social-ecological systems approach to govern coastal ecosystems under conditions of rapid change - Ana Carolina Esteves Dias, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Integrating nutritional and environmental security metrics for healthy people and planet - Goretty Dias, School of Environment, Enterprise & Development
A complex systems approach for understanding the transformative potential of connectedness with nature - Norman M. Kearney, School of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability
A scoping review of food-related interventions on post-secondary campuses - Kirsten M. Lee, School of Public Health and Health Systems
From simple to complex solutions to undernutrition: Assessing the impact of agricultural biodiversity on child nutrition in Guatemala - Diana V. Luna-Gonzalez, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Human biomonitoring to complement risk assessments of environmental contaminants in traditional food systems - Sara R. Packull-McCormick, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Exploring potential consequences of obesity prevention on psychological health - Amanda Raffoul, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Reforming healthcare systems using a cognitive systems framework - Braden K. Tompke, School of Public Health and Health Systems
Water Balance: A sculpture - Adrienne Mason, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
April 26, 2018
- Qualitative methods as tools in enacting a systems approach (find out more)--Dr. Vanessa Schweizer, Dr. Steven J. Mock, Kirsten Lee, Amanda Raffoul
- An introduction to mathematical modelling (quantitative methods) (find out more)--Thomas Bury and Brendon Phillips
- The science of team science (read the workshop description and objectives)--Dr. Katie Plaisance