Epidemiology: Understanding Global Health

What does epidemiology study? How does a pandemic start? How does mathematics allow us to calculate the risk of such an occurrence? How do vaccines provide protection and how safe are they? Is it possible to predict and prevent future epidemics?

During the course, students take on multiple roles. They become epidemiologists, researchers, microbiologists and even public health policy-makers, in order to investigate scientific data, examine cases of pandemics that have occurred in the past, study the epidemiological course of infectious diseases, learn about the most dangerous microorganisms for our health, and seek new ways to prevent and treat, always based on science and technology.

The purpose of such activities is to offer students a holistic understanding of the concept of health and how it connects to social and environmental factors. In addition, students become familiar with different research tools that are being used in the above areas and have the opportunity to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills on important issues concerning public and individual health.