Voices of the Emerging Climate-Health Leaders: Communicating Ideas for Climate Justice and a Sustainable World

With the world witnessing devastating impacts of climate change from the destruction of Hurricane Helene in the United States, to flooding in Nepal and wildfires in Portugal, the necessity of climate education could not be more urgent. Ans Irfan, MD, EdD, DrPH, ScD, MPH, MRPL, associate professor of population and public health sciences and director of digital learning and innovation at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, is committed to training the next generation of climate-health practitioners by integrating climate communication in the Master of Public Health online course ‘Social Dimensions of Climate Change in a Sustainable World.’

“Year after year, we see the relevance and understanding of climate education and communications become more crucial. This is why we intentionally focus on ensuring that our students — current and future climate and public health scholars—get a chance to hone these transferable skills in climate communications and improve proficiency in digital communications,” says Irfan.

Irfan offers learners an in-depth exploration of various climate-health topics, such as the fundamentals of climate science, the role of climate justice and coloniality, vulnerabilities tied to climate change, the political landscape, geoengineering, ethical considerations, and effective climate communication. The course aims to equip students with the tools to actively participate in social movements by developing strong communication skills in climate and science, ultimately fostering public scholarship that raises awareness to inspire meaningful climate action.

The student’s thought leadership projects, in the form of op-eds and podcasts, focused on a wide range of pressing issues, from hurricanes on the East Coast to wildfires on the West Coast. They touch on all sorts of social and structural dimensions of climate change and health ranging from American football, transportation, and labor-climate intersection to climate anxiety, and even dentistry.

“Climate justice education is a vocational calling and moral conviction for me,” affirms Irfan. “So, I must highlight my enormous sense of pride and fulfillment from engaging with these students. Their deep commitment and joy are exuded across the topical spectrum of their projects. I invite our USC community and future employers to check out these assignments that capture the spirit of USC’s commitment to sustainability from our online public health students who are leading by example.”

1. Podcast: The Displaced Lives of Californian Wildfires by Alicia Thoe
2. Podcast: Let’s Make Football Games a Mindful Legacy! by Apoorva S. Vishwanath
3. Podcast: Climate & Chaos: An Account of Climate Impacts from Iranian Immigrants by Ariana Khayamian
4. Podcast: When East Coast hurricanes hit, the wealthy can afford to split by Christy Sidhu & Katarina Conces
5. Op-Ed: Climate Justice is Health Justice: How Labor and Mental Health are on the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis by Clarice Ariciaga
6. Podcast: Climate Change: Transportation and Health are the Key by John Bader & Eden Ayele
7. Podcast: Too Hot to Handle: The Urban Heat Island Survival Guide by Janet Ngallo
8. Podcast: Let’s Talk About Your Gas! by Jocelyn Dominguez
9. Podcast: Anima Mundi: Psyche in a time of Climate Crisis, Wounded Healers, & Hope Remembered by Stephanie Kim
10. Op-Ed/Podcast: Water Pollution & Climate Change by Juan Troy
11. Op-Ed: Toxic Air: The Unseen Impact of Air Pollution on Cardiovascular Health in India by Kirandeep Chhokar
12. Op-Ed: Climate Change, Health, and Labor: Bridging the Gaps for Equity by Liana Stepanyan
13. Podcast: Youth & Anxiety Today by Lindsey Crozier
14. Op-Ed: Climate, Health and Labor Day – Things we don’t think about when it comes to Dentistry by Mariam Khachatrian
15. Op-Ed: The Overlooked Intersection: Climate Change and Gender-Based Violence by Maya Makarem
16. Op-Ed: Climate Anxiety by Megan Makepeace