Oceans and Human Health
The marine environment contributes significantly to human health through the provision and quality of the air that we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and in offering health enhancing, economic and recreational opportunities. For millennia, humans have been dependent on seas and oceans as a source of food and a means of transportation. Yet, the oceans and coastal seas are like a double-edged sword when it comes to interactions with human health. Natural events such as hurricanes, severe storms and tsunamis can have devastating impacts on coastal populations, while pathogens and toxic waste can cause illness and death. In terms of productivity (lost working days), the overall global burden of human disease caused by sewage pollution of coastal waters has been estimated at 4 million lost person-years annually. On the positive side, the oceans provide humans with many benefits including food for around a third of the global population, the air that we breathe and our climate system which enables habitation of much of the planet. The marine environment can also be the source of potential health benefits through the provision of healthy food, novel pharmaceuticals and related products derived from marine organisms, as well as through a contribution to general well-being from a close association with the coastal environment (i.e. recreational and psychological benefits, or the Blue Gym effect). The marine environment is also under pressure from human activities such as transport, industrial processes, agricultural and waste management practices. Evaluation and management of the resultant impacts, on both marine ecosystems themselves, and on human health, have largely been undertaken as separate activities, under the auspices of different disciplines with no obvious interaction. Hence, many relationships between the marine environment and human health are still relatively unexplored, leaving critical knowledge gaps for those seeking to develop effective policies for the sustainable use of marine resources and environmental and human health protection.
About the course
Content
This course aims at describing and illustrating the fundamental and applied concepts of the emerging research and development field of Oceans and Human Health (OHH). This includes insights, fundamental science and applications to elucidate and understand how marine ecosystems impact human health and vice versa. This course aims at mobilizing interdisciplinary competencies and ensuring that the necessary scientific and technical capabilities are transferred. The complex and causal interconnections between the marine environment and ecosystem and human health require a systems approach addressing all levels of organization from genes to ecosystems. Such an integrated systems approach - which will be presented applied in this course - will draw on the skills and expertise of many scientific disciplines including the social and economic sciences. Topics will focus on both threats and benefits of marine ecosystems for human health, including biodiscovery of natural products, Blue Gym Effect, sea spray, offshore wind, deepsea mining and pollution in a broader context.
LECTURES (1.5 ECTS): Part of the knowledge will be conveyed through lectures, including principles and basics of oceans & Human health and introduction to threats and opportunities within oceans and human health.
BLENDED LEARNING SESSIONS (INTEGRATION SEMINAR) (1 ECTS): Students will be divided into groups to work on specific topics related to the course. Students can choose a specific project topic within a fixed theme that changes each academic year. The theme will be announced at the start of the course. This will focus on new ground-breaking topics relevant to Oceans & Human Health. Each blended learning session will provide knowledge and discussion on a critical part that students need to develop for their project (e.g. legislation, valorization). Part of the knowledge will be made available via free online available material (such as video’s from lecturers, presentations at conferences, publications, reports). During the blended learning sessions this material will be discussed and argued in small groups to increase the insight and understanding and apply this to their topic. In the final session, students will summarize their main findings in a short written report and group presentation where the other students will question them based on an assigned perspective (e.g. industry, politician, citizen perspective)
CRITICAL REFLECTION (0.5 ECTS): Students will then reflect on the project in a group report. The content of the report will be discussed and evaluated individually during the oral exam to assess the contribution and knowledge for each group member separately.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the main processes driving the relationship between marine ecosystem health and human health
- Discuss consequences of human activities in marine ecosystems
- Discuss how changes in marine ecosystems lead to consequences for human health
- Identify threats and opportunities of blue economy activities to oceans and human health interactions
- Develop strategies to further strengthen the positive human health impact of oceans
Teaching methods
Lecture, Independent work
Assessment mehod(s)
Assessment moments: end-of-term and continuous assessment
Examination methods in case of end-of-term assessment during the first examination period: Oral assessment, Written assessment
Examination methods in case of end-of-term assessment during the resit examination period: Oral assessment, Written assessment
Examination methods in case of continuous assessment: Participation, Presentation, Assignment
Possibilities of retake in case of continuous assessment: not applicable
Extra information on the examination methods:
- End of term assessment: Written examination on content of the lectures.
- Continuous assessment: participation of the student in the blended learning, project reports per session, presention at the end of the final session, final report, oral examination related to project.
Calculation of the examination mark:
- End of term assessment: 50%; continous assessment: 50%
- Students who eschew continuous or end of term assessment may be failed by the examiner.
Lecturers
Asselman, Jana: lecturer-in-charge
Course dates
This course takes place in the first semester of academic year 2026-2027:
- Educational activities: September 21 to December 12, 2026
- Catch-up activities: December 14 to December 19, 2026
- Christmas Recess: December 21, 2026 to January 2, 2027
- Examination period: January 4 to January 30, 2027
- Resit Examination period: August 16 to September 18, 2027
How to apply?
Entry requirements: General and basis knowledge of biology, ecology, physics and chemistry. This course builds on the content of Applied marine ecology if you did not follow this course or an equivalent course, you can still follow Oceans and Human Health but an additional effort (reading some background material) might be required. Only students from the University of the Basque Country, University of Tartu, Comenius University Bratislava and Uppsala University are eligible to participate.
How to apply
- Check whether you meet the entry requirements listed above. You cannot apply if you don’t meet the entry requirements.
- Check with your home faculty or study programme to confirm whether this course can be included in your curriculum, so the ECTS credits will be recognized. If you are unsure who to contact, reach out to your home university’s ENLIGHT office (contact details below).
- Apply by completing the Ghent University form by August 17th. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Register at Ghent university. Registration instructions will follow after application.
Information per university
- University of the Basque Country:
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Contact
For information regarding the procedure to take part in this course:
For information regarding the course content: