Online course

The WHO Bonn School on Environment and Health announces the 2025 course on Nature and Health (13 October–10 November 2025)

Call for applications

The online capacity-building course on nature and health will feature technical lectures as well as practical sessions with applied project work.

It will take place every Monday and Thursday from 13 October to

10 November 2025, from 9:00 to 14:30 CEST/CET. Additional time will be required for reading and course work before the course and between the

sessions. Total time commitment for the course is a minimum of 54 hours.

Pre-course information sessions will be held 22 and 25 September from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST: participants must attend one of these sessions.

Course objectives The Bonn School on Environment and Health supports the establishment of leadership in environment and health at the national level by offering interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral, inter-professional and international perspectives. The nature and health course aims to

• strengthen the conceptual understanding, knowledge, and technical skills of the interlinkages between natural environments and human health through lectures on latest scientific evidence; and

• strengthen knowledge of the current risks that environmental change and nature degradation can pose on health and what can be done to mitigate those risks.

Target group and course language The nature and health course is tailored towards staff of national public authorities in Member States in the WHO European Region, with up to 10 years’ relevant work experience. Participants should come from national ministries, institutions and decision- making entities covering environmental affairs, spatial planning, nature/nature conservation, and health. The course can take up to 30 participants. The course will be held only in English. Course content and lecturers The course will investigate a variety of aspects and provide evidence related to

- concepts, frameworks and approaches on nature and health - risks of the triple crisis (climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss) to

nature and health - health benefits of nature - applying nature for health promotion.

For further details and a provisional curriculum, see Annex 1.

Lecturers will be international experts from WHO and other international organizations, the University of Exeter, and a variety of European universities and academic research centres. Course certificates1

- Certificate of Attendance A certificate of attendance will be granted to participants who actively attend at least 12 out of 15 lecture sessions and 10 out of 12 group practice sessions, plus one pre-course information session.

- Certificate of Training (Optional) Only participants who qualify for a certificate of attendance can elect to take the exam on 10 November. A score of at least 80% is required to obtain a certificate of training.

Active attendance requires full-time participation in sessions, an open camera and active contribution to course discussions.

The exam will be an online multiple-choice test of 20–25 questions and take 45 minutes. Course application and related requirements Interested individuals are requested to apply for one of the 30 places in the course through the online application at https://extranet.who.int/dataformv6/index.php/383213?lang=en . Application deadline is 5 September. Applicants will be informed by latest 12 September whether they have received a place on the course. Applicants should come from national ministries or national institutions of Member States in the WHO European Region and have no more than 10 years’ work experience in environment and health. A minimum level of familiarity with basic public health or environmental concepts is recommended, as is a basic command of conventional tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel, Teams and also Zoom. Participants must have adequate English skills to follow lectures, actively engage in discussion and conversation, and work on individual and working group assignments Please note that the application process requires:

a) a short summary of your interest and motivation for attending the course, and b) a form to be signed by your supervisor to support the respective time commitment

of minimum 54 hours (see Annex 2). Course coordination This course will be jointly coordinated by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health and the WHO Collaborating Centre on Natural Environments and Health, at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. For any information on the WHO Bonn School on Environment and Health and the upcoming course on nature and health, please contact the Bonn School secretariat at [email protected]

1 This course is not credit-bearing, and does not count toward university qualifications, the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, or equivalent academic credit systems.

ANNEX 1: Provisional course curriculum – please reserve dates in your calendars.

Pre-course sessions (2 options) Lecture sessions (15 total) Group/practice sessions (12 total)

Pre-course information sessions (attending one session is mandatory) Option 1:

22 September 10.00-11.30 CEST Option 2:

25 September 10.00-11.30 CEST

Week 1: Introduction, key terms

13 Oct – Day 1

9.00-10.30 CEST Introduction to health and nature and their interlinkage

11.00-12.30 CEST Introduction to key concepts and approaches

13.00-14.30 CEST Group session - Introduction to group exercise

16 Oct - Day 2

9.00-10.30 CEST Introduction to key policy frameworks

11.00-12.30 CEST Introduction to systems thinking

13.00-14.30 CEST Group session: Systems mapping

Week 2: Risks

20 Oct - Day 3

9.00-10.30 CEST Environmental pollution

11.00-12.30 CEST Climate change and biodiversity loss

13.00-14.30 CEST Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

23 Oct - Day 4

9.00-10.30 CEST Climate change and pandemics / zoonotics

11.00-12.30 CEST Degradation of natural resources

13.00-14.30 CEST Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

Week 3: Benefits

27 Oct - Day 5

9.00-10.30 CET Nature health mechanisms and benefits

11.00-12.30 CET Nature in healthcare

13.00-14.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

30 Oct - Day 6

9.00-10.30 CET Nature-based solutions

11.00-12.30 CET Protecting biodiversity for health

13.00-14.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

Week 4: Applications

3 Nov - Day 7

9.00-10.30 CET Valuing nature

11.00-12.30 CET Behavioural insights

13.00-14.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning with country scenario

6 Nov - Day 8

9.00-10.30 CET Future directions

11.00-12.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

13.00-14.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

Week 5: Course presentations and exam

10 Nov - Day 9

9.00-10.30 CET Group session – Problem- based learning on country scenario

11.00-12.30 CET Group session - Group project presentation

13.00-14.30 CET Group session

• Course feedback • Exam (optional)

Annex 2: Supervisor support statement

Please have this document signed by your supervisor and upload it as part of the application process at https://extranet.who.int/dataformv6/index.php/383213?lang=en . To the secretariat of the WHO Bonn School on Environment and Health: I hereby confirm my support of the course application by ___________________________________________________________ [Mr/Ms/Dr/Prof] [Name of applicant] for the capacity building course “Nature and health”. I am aware that participation in the course

• will require attendance over 9 course days, every Monday and Thursday from 13 October to 10 November 2025 from 9.00 to 14.30 CEST/CET;

• includes participation in a pre-course information session on either 22 or 25 September from 10.00-11.30 CEST;

• needs additional time for reading and course work between the course days; • means a total time commitment of minimum 54 hours across the course.

__________________________________________________________ [Mr/Ms/Dr/Prof] [Name of supervisor] __________________________________________________________ Position/title of supervisor __________________________________________________________ Signature of supervisor __________________________________________________________ Date and stamp of institution/organization

The WHO Bonn School on Environment and Health announces the 2025 course on Nature and Health (13 October–10 November 2025)

Call for applications

The online capacity-building course on nature and health will feature technical lectures as well as practical sessions with applied project work.

It will take place every Monday and Thursday from 13 October to

10 November 2025, from 9:00 to 14:30 CEST/CET. Additional time will be required for reading and course work before the course and between the

sessions. Total time commitment for the course is a minimum of 54 hours.

Pre-course information sessions will be held 22 and 25 September from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST: participants must attend one of these sessions.

Course objectives The Bonn School on Environment and Health supports the establishment of leadership in environment and health at the national level by offering interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral, inter-professional and international perspectives. The nature and health course aims to

• strengthen the conceptual understanding, knowledge, and technical skills of the interlinkages between natural environments and human health through lectures on latest scientific evidence; and

• strengthen knowledge of the current risks that environmental change and nature degradation can pose on health and what can be done to mitigate those risks.

Target group and course language The nature and health course is tailored towards staff of national public authorities in Member States in the WHO European Region, with up to 10 years’ relevant work experience. Participants should come from national ministries, institutions and decision- making entities covering environmental affairs, spatial planning, nature/nature conservation, and health. The course can take up to 30 participants. The course will be held only in English. Course content and lecturers The course will investigate a variety of aspects and provide evidence related to

- concepts, frameworks and approaches on nature and health - risks of the triple crisis (climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss) to

nature and health - health benefits of nature - applying nature for health promotion.

For further details and a provisional curriculum, see Annex 1.

Lecturers will be international experts from WHO and other international organizations, the University of Exeter, and a variety of European universities and academic research centres. Course certificates1

- Certificate of Attendance A certificate of attendance will be granted to participants who actively attend at least 12 out of 15 lecture sessions and 10 out of 12 group practice sessions, plus one pre-course information session.

- Certificate of Training (Optional) Only participants who qualify for a certificate of attendance can elect to take the exam on 10 November. A score of at least 80% is required to obtain a certificate of training.

Active attendance requires full-time participation in sessions, an open camera and active contribution to course discussions.

The exam will be an online multiple-choice test of 20–25 questions and take 45 minutes. Course application and related requirements Interested individuals are requested to apply for one of the 30 places in the course through the online application at https://extranet.who.int/dataformv6/index.php/383213?lang=en . Application deadline is 5 September. Applicants will be informed by latest 12 September whether they have received a place on the course. Applicants should come from national ministries or national institutions of Member States in the WHO European Region and have no more than 10 years’ work experience in environment and health. A minimum level of familiarity with basic public health or environmental concepts is recommended, as is a basic command of conventional tools such as MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel, Teams and also Zoom. Participants must have adequate English skills to follow lectures, actively engage in discussion and conversation, and work on individual and working group assignments Please note that the application process requires:

a) a short summary of your interest and motivation for attending the course, and b) a form to be signed by your supervisor to support the respective time commitment

of minimum 54 hours (see Annex 2). Course coordination This course will be jointly coordinated by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health and the WHO Collaborating Centre on Natural Environments and Health, at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. For any information on the WHO Bonn School on Environment and Health and the upcoming course on nature and health, please contact the Bonn School secretariat at [email protected]

1 This course is not credit-bearing, and does not count toward university qualifications, the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, or equivalent academic credit systems.

ANNEX 1: Provisional course curriculum – please reserve dates in your calendars.

Pre-course sessions (2 options) Lecture sessions (15 total) Group/practice sessions (12 total)

Pre-course information sessions (attending one session is mandatory) Option 1:

22 September 10.00-11.30 CEST Option 2:

25 September 10.00-11.30 CEST

Week 1: Introduction, key terms

13 Oct – Day 1

9.00-10.30 CEST Introduction to health and nature and their interlinkage

11.00-12.30 CEST Introduction to key concepts and approaches

13.00-14.30 CEST Group session - Introduction to group exercise

16 Oct - Day 2

9.00-10.30 CEST Introduction to key policy frameworks

11.00-12.30 CEST Introduction to systems thinking

13.00-14.30 CEST Group session: Systems mapping

Week 2: Risks

20 Oct - Day 3

9.00-10.30 CEST Environmental pollution

11.00-12.30 CEST Climate change and biodiversity loss

13.00-14.30 CEST Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

23 Oct - Day 4

9.00-10.30 CEST Climate change and pandemics / zoonotics

11.00-12.30 CEST Degradation of natural resources

13.00-14.30 CEST Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

Week 3: Benefits

27 Oct - Day 5

9.00-10.30 CET Nature health mechanisms and benefits

11.00-12.30 CET Nature in healthcare

13.00-14.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

30 Oct - Day 6

9.00-10.30 CET Nature-based solutions

11.00-12.30 CET Protecting biodiversity for health

13.00-14.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

Week 4: Applications

3 Nov - Day 7

9.00-10.30 CET Valuing nature

11.00-12.30 CET Behavioural insights

13.00-14.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning with country scenario

6 Nov - Day 8

9.00-10.30 CET Future directions

11.00-12.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

13.00-14.30 CET Group session – Problem-based learning on country scenario

Week 5: Course presentations and exam

10 Nov - Day 9

9.00-10.30 CET Group session – Problem- based learning on country scenario

11.00-12.30 CET Group session - Group project presentation

13.00-14.30 CET Group session

• Course feedback • Exam (optional)

Annex 2: Supervisor support statement

Please have this document signed by your supervisor and upload it as part of the application process at https://extranet.who.int/dataformv6/index.php/383213?lang=en . To the secretariat of the WHO Bonn School on Environment and Health: I hereby confirm my support of the course application by ___________________________________________________________ [Mr/Ms/Dr/Prof] [Name of applicant] for the capacity building course “Nature and health”. I am aware that participation in the course

• will require attendance over 9 course days, every Monday and Thursday from 13 October to 10 November 2025 from 9.00 to 14.30 CEST/CET;

• includes participation in a pre-course information session on either 22 or 25 September from 10.00-11.30 CEST;

• needs additional time for reading and course work between the course days; • means a total time commitment of minimum 54 hours across the course.

__________________________________________________________ [Mr/Ms/Dr/Prof] [Name of supervisor] __________________________________________________________ Position/title of supervisor __________________________________________________________ Signature of supervisor __________________________________________________________ Date and stamp of institution/organization