Presentation Explores Interconnectedness of Climate Change and Health Equity
Last week, Grier students attended a Zoom presentation on the intertwined issues of climate change and health equity by Harvard Medical School instructor Dr. Gaurab Basu. Grier alumna, Nora Van Horn ‘18 reached out to Grier’s science teachers to invite Grier to attend the virtual event.
Nora holds the position of Executive Director of Penn State’s Council of Sustainable Leaders, which works with the Penn State Sustainability Institute to facilitate collaborative advocacy efforts. Nora is currently a student at Penn State, double majoring in community, environment and development and Chinese. The presentation by Dr. Gaurab Basu is part of the organization’s weekly Showcase Series, which is open to the public and aims to broaden discourse around sustainability.
The presentation from Dr. Gaurab Basu was titled “Climate Change: An Ecological and Health Equity Crisis.” Dr. Basu is an instructor at Harvard Medical School and the Co-Director of Harvard's Center for Health Equity Education & Advocacy. In the presentation, Dr. Basu focused on how socio-economic and racial inequities, climate change, and COVID intersect.
Dr. Basu’s recent writings include:
- Want to prevent the next pandemic? This doctor is prescribing climate action. (Grist, May 2020)
- A clean transportation system is the prescription my patients need. (Boston Globe, May 2020)
- The Mass. Legislature's Climate Bills Are Important. But They Wouldn't Do Enough For My Most Vulnerable Patients. (Boston Public Radio WBUR, August 2020)
Grier students appreciated the opportunity to connect with Dr. Basu while he discussed these important issues. They found the topics very relevant to their academic work and personal interests. Thanks, Nora, for bringing this important, timely message to our attention and to teachers Mrs. Forest and Mrs. Brubaker for hosting the after school event.
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Grier School
2522 Grier School Rd. | P.O. Box 308; Birmingham, PA 16686-0308
Phone: 814-684-3000 | Fax: 814-684-2177
Phone: 814-684-3000 | Fax: 814-684-2177
