In this episode we chat to Professor Lora Fleming about her work leading up to and position in the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH).
About our guest:
Professor Lora Fleming is a Physician and Epidemiologist. She is the director of the ECEHH, Chair of Oceans,Epidemiology and Human Health for the University of Exeter and also the principle investigator for the Seas, Oceans and Public Health in Europe project (SOPHIE).
BlueHealth initiatives and SOPHIE are funded by Horizon 2020, involving communities of interdisciplinary experts. After many years working in a public health department as a physician and epidemiologist, becoming increasingly interested in health interactions with the environment, Lora was key in bringing oceans and human health together as a field in America with the aim of focusing on potential benefits, rather than just risks that the natural environment can offer to human health. This then brought her to the UK with European funding presenting the opportunity to start the ECEHH within the medical school in Truro.
Research Lora has been involved in includes: harmful algal blooms, microbial pollution, big data and many emerging themes in oceans and human health. She hopes to bring the fields of public and medical health together with marine science, focusing on protecting those health enhancing natural environments for future generations. Lora is also involved in education and outreach and currently contributes to Medical School modules run through the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus.
Topics discussed:
- Lora’s background and journey to the ECEHH
- Role of the ECEHH, interdisciplinary focus, interacting with communities
- BlueHealth, getting people engaged with how blue environments can help human health
- Recognising and navigating benefits of what we do in the environment
- SOPHIE, strategic research agenda
- HEPE (Health and Environment Public Engagement group), involving communities and social science, My Blue Health project
- Interacting with blue environments being good for health, in poorer communities and developing countries, GCRF (Global Challenge Research Fund) – Blue Communities
- Evidence for health benefits and definitions of exposure
- Managing interactions sustainably
Resources:
ECEHH – Project podcast: Reflections on oceans and human health
Seas, Oceans & Public Health in Europe (SOPHIE)
ECEHH public engagement – Health and Environment Public Engagement group (HEPE)
Twitter – ECEHH, SOPHIE, BlueHealth
Episode and show notes produced by Ben Toulson and Katie Finnimore.
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