First-Year Interest Groups Program
enroll in themed interdisciplinary clusters of UW-Madison classes • small class sizes • dedicated instructors

2024 First-Year Interest Groups

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all previous next random 38 One Health: Connecting Human, Animal, and Environmental Health Susan Paskewitz, Lyric Bartholomay, and Chinonyelum Linda Oforka 9 or 10 Choose Chemistry 103 or 109.
Students must have the appropriate Math placement to enroll in Chemistry 103 or 109.		 Entomology 375 One Health LEC 3: W 1:20–3:30 2 35634 Entomology 205 Our Planet, Our Health LEC 1: M 1:20–2:10 Biological Science Elementary 3 23655 Chemistry 103 General Chemistry I LEC 2: MWF 11:00–11:50 + DIS 333: TR 1:20–2:10 + LAB 633: T 5:40–8:40 Physical Science Elementary 4 14343 Chemistry 109 Advanced General Chemistry various sections available:
contact the FIGs Program during SOAR or figs@wisc.edu		 Quantitative Reasoning Part B Physical Science Elementary 5
description

This FIG is designed to bring together students with an interest in veterinary and/or human health and infectious diseases, to explore the central theme of One Health: a concept making the connections between human health and the health of animals and the environment. Topics of interest include:

  • connections between animals and humans that lead to outbreaks of infectious diseases;
  • impact of human- or livestock-derived microbes on the health of endangered species;
  • roles of sentinel animals for emerging infectious disease;
  • impact of a changing environment on animal communities resulting in higher disease risk;
  • predicted impacts of global climate change on many aspects of human and animal health; and
  • role of the built environment in disease risks.

This FIG will highlight the relationship between human and animal health and the natural world using examples and case studies. We will focus on how animal and ecosystem health are inextricably connected with human health and well-being. This FIG will contribute to intercultural knowledge and competence and to ethical reasoning and actions. The instructors are scientists with expertise in global health, parasitology, and vector biology. Part of the FIG will focus on diseases and environmental risks that have disproportionate impacts on low and middle income countries and will include discussions of the ethical issues associated with addressing some of these problems.

Entomology 205: Our Planet, Our Health — An introduction to the multiple determinants of health, global disease burden and disparities, foundational global health principles, and the overlap between ecosystem stability, planetary boundaries, and human health. Explore the core fundamentals of global health scholarship, including but not limited to infectious disease, sanitation, and mental health, and also consider ecological perspectives on these issues through the lens of planetary boundaries. Attention is placed on how human-mediated global change (e.g. climate change, biodiversity loss, land-use patterns, geochemical cycling, agricultural practice) impacts human health and the ecosystem services we depend on. An overview of pertinent issues in sustainability science and planetary health discourse, including the Anthropocene and resilience to understand and critically assess global trends.

Choose one of the following:

Chemistry 103: General Chemistry I — Introduction to stoichiometry and the mole concept; the behavior of gases, liquids, and solids; thermochemistry; electronic structure of atoms and chemical bonding; descriptive chemistry of selected elements and compounds; and intermolecular forces.

OR

Chemistry 109: Advanced General Chemistry — A modern introduction to chemical principles that draws on current research themes. For students with good chemistry and mathematics background preparation who desire a one-semester coverage of general chemistry. Recommended for students intending majors in chemistry or allied fields.