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Description
Description
Evolutionary thinking provides useful new insights into the origins of diseases and contemporary health problems. This course will explore the applications of the tools and concepts of evolutionary biology to human health and health related behaviour. Incorporating examples from the lecturer鈥檚 ongoing research on BaYakahunter-gatherers living in the Northern rainforests of Congo and current health problems, we will cover a range of topics including:
- Evolution and human-microbe interactions
- Hunter-gatherers as models in public health
- Diet, exercise, evolutionary mismatches and non-communicable diseases
- Life-history theory and reproductive health
- Evolutionary perspectives on mental health and wellbeing
- Cultural evolution and health-related behaviour
- Applied evolutionary medicine: future of medicine and how evolutionary thinking can be applied to current health problems (preventative medicine for mental health and NCDs, individualized medicine, slowing aging, hormonal contraception design, cancer therapy, infectious outbreaks (e.g. COVID-19), evolutionary behaviour change (e.g. vaccine hesitancy) etc.).
The course will encourage students to gather and combine information from disciplines as diverse as evolutionary biology, anthropology, immunobiology, public health, psychology, and psychiatry, actively participate in discussions, and develop their own ideas.
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Learning Outcomes
After taking this module you should be able to:
- describe key evolutionary concepts and theories;
- apply these concepts and theories to answer questions on our physical and mental health, and health related behaviour;
- be familiar with biological anthropology research on the health of small-scale populations, especially modern hunter-gatherers;
- gather, combine and critically assess information from disciplines as diverse as evolutionary biology; anthropology, immunobiology, public health and psychology;
In addition, PG students will have the following learning outcomes:
- actively participate in discussions, and develop your own research questions and hypotheses; have experience in giving a presentation of your chosen topic;
- get a hands-on experience in writing a research proposal for a potential PhD project.
- develop group communication skills by discussing complex topics with peers
- develop time management skills and ability to learn independently
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Delivery Method
UG: One 2 Hour Lecture and 1 Hour tutorial per week
PG: One 2 hour lecture听and 2 hour seminar discussion per week.
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Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 8th April 2024.
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