Biodiversity and One Health are closely linked
The United Nations celebrates Biodiversity Day on 22 May each year. Sweden is probably the country that celebrates the day the most. Biodiversity and health are closely linked, and at SLU we hold a wealth of knowledge about the critical role biodiversity plays in our existence. To celebrate the day, SLU Future One Health and SLU Swedish Biodiversity Centre invite you to a panel discussion between authorities and other actors – on Sweden's way forward to increase biodiversity for our health and well-being (more details below). As usual, we present a selection of One Health research, spotlighting two young researchers – one recently defended her thesis and became a doctor and one new postdoc position in One Health. Additionally, you get some tips on upcoming events and more. Enjoy your reading! | Image description: From left, Göran Enander, Frida Johnson, Torbjörn Ebenhard, Karin Ljung Björklund and Claes Svedlindh are discussing biodiversity and One Health in SLU's Studio. Photo: Eva-Stina Lindell | | | | | One new dissertations within One Health Congrats to Jennifer Nyström-Kandola! | What is your research about? "I focus on environmental epidemiology and toxicology. More specifically, I work with evaluating exposure patterns of highly fluorinated substances (PFAS) in Swedish adolescents. The focus has been on exposure predominantly from food and drinking water. I work also on evaluating how these chemicals, along with other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), affect child- and adolescent health". | | | | | | Panel discussion: Biodiversity loss – a threat to our health
The links between biodiversity and health are important issues for many parts of society. But who takes responsibility for the governance of health and biodiversity linkages? (Watch our trailer above for some inspiration)
SLU Future One Health and SLU Centre for Biodiversity
invited the chair of the Environmental Council (Miljömålsrådet), Tierp Municipality, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Public Health Agency to discuss Sweden's way forward: What is the role of authorities, municipalities and other actors? Who is responsible for the protection of biodiversity from a social and health perspective?
Watch the panel discussion on 22 May at 12:00 – or later at your convenience (in Swedish).
| | | | | Meet Chaymae Fennine– one of the two new postdocs in One Health! | Earlier this year, SLU Future One Health announced a call for partial funding for two postdoc salaries. Chaymae Fennine was given the postdoc position, and the title of her project is Mining for a One Health Solution for Sustainable Tomato Production in Low and Middle Income Countries. We were curious to hear more about Chaymae and her project and asked her some questions. | | | | | | Climate Conversations across disciplinesResearchers’ roles, activism, and transformative science are some of the topics discussed in the Climate Conversations at SLU - a webinar series for SLU staff to increase the scientific dialogue about climate change across disciplines. What impact has the Climate Conversations had on the transdisciplinary dialogue within SLU? “The impact is difficult to assess, but I think it has helped establish SLU as an actor in climate research and it has allowed good internal dialogues that might not have taken place otherwise”, says Susanna Sternberg Lewerin. The article is based on presentations and discussions from the Climate Conversations at SLU’s internal dialogue Towards a Transformative Science? – responsibilities, credibility and value systems arranged on 12 February 2024.
| Photo: Filmbetrachter from Pixabay | | | | | Creating cool islands in the city – how microclimates and urban greenery can reduce the dangers of heatTrees, parks and water bodies are vital to reduce heat for the health and wellbeing of city-dwellers. In the second article in our Urban Heat series, researchers Robert Brown, Johanna Deak Sjöman and Maria Ignatieva share their knowledge on how we can tackle the heat in cities by designing cooling microclimates and green-blue infrastructures ‒ with examples from across the globe.
(This article is part of the Urban Heat series from SLU Urban Futures) | | | | | One Health: A joint framework for action published by five EU agencies
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Recently, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published a joint framework to strengthen cooperation to support the implementation of the One Health agenda in the European Union (EU). | | | | | Project FIDO – Cancer treatment from dogs to peopleMeet Mia Hedlund: During her PhD at SLU, she will investigate whether, by offering privately owned dogs with cancer a last chance for treatment, it may be possible to develop cancer treatment for both dogs and humans while healthy experimental dogs do not have to be harmed in the process. | | | | | KSLA lecture: Healthy animals for sustainable agriculture and One Health
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Professor Andrea Doeschl-Wilson from the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, was appointed as Wallenberg Professor in genetic-epidemiology in 2021. She is currently a guest professor at the Department of Animal Biosciences at SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences). In Scotland, Professor Doeschl-Wilson leads a research program on the prevention and control of infectious diseases. | | | | |
A selection of One Health researchSLU conducts interdisciplinary research in the One Health area. Here we present a selection of research projects, publications as well as research results in the field. Highlights this time:
| | | | | The One Health Breakfast Club |
Our aim with The One Health Breakfast Club is to stimulate interdisciplinary and cross-faculty collaborations. We meet and greet on a regular basis, to hopefully gain some new insights and inspiration while having breakfast together. |
Join us next time when Ildikó Asztalos Morell, Associate professor, Department of Urban and Rural Development, SLU and Monalisha Sahu, Associate Professor, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India – talks about Healthy Aging, food security and culturally adequate food for indigenous older persons in Sweden and India.
The last sign-up day is 29 May. See you there!
| The picture is from the breakfast in May at Green Innovation Park, Campus Ultuna.
Most welcome to eat waffles and network with colleagues! Photo: Eva-Stina Lindell | | | | | | Upcoming events- related to One Health | Save the date! | Onsite event on all CampusesOne Health Day (more information will be available soon) | | | | | | | | |
