Special Topics in Environmental Health: Sustainable Innovation Driven by Climate Change Preparedness and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Global crises like pandemics, climate change, and poverty eradication require immediate attention to reduce health, environmental and economic threats that hinder widespread and equitable development. For that reason, professionals in every field of knowledge should become agents of change that empower people worldwide by sharing knowledge and developing skills in sustainable practices and technologies, climate change preparedness, social entrepreneurship, and the process of creating positive startups to implement sustainable and social innovation to help in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This course will examine the relationship between Climate Change Preparedness, UN SDGs, community problems, and current sustainable and social solutions to serve as a starting point for developing new solutions that might serve as the business or social cases to conceive and fund startups in health, sustainability or social ventures. Students in this class will acquire knowledge and develop skills to create business plans and social value propositions to pitch to potential angel investors, venture capitalists, venture philanthropists, foundations, private banks, international financial institutions, etc. Some of the main topics for this course are the origins and adverse effects of climate change, assessment of community vulnerability and enhancement of regional resiliency (Climate Change Preparedness), principles for sustainable product design, intellectual property strategies, analysis of for-profit and social business models, assessment of carbon and environmental footprints, health impact assessment for energy and sustainable technologies and how to deliver an effective business pitch to potential investors. THIS CLASS HAS PRIORITY ENROLLMENT. Any student who does not meet the Wave 1 or Wave 2 criteria can add themselves to the waitlist (if enrollment requirements are met) at any time during the enrollment period. At the beginning of each priority wave, students on the waitlist who meet the Wave’s criteria will be automatically enrolled into any remaining seats in the course (pending no time conflicts). **Cross-Registrants and Non-Degree Students will be enrolled on a space available basis after the enrollment deadline for the course