Consortium for Health and Ecology
The Consortium for Health and Ecology (CHE) has a central focus on the two-way connection between human/public health and ecology, particularly the connection that links the biophysical condition of the landscape, cityscape or waterscape with people's health and socioeconomic well-being.
Research expertise at the Consortium covers:
- The relationships between the built environment and people's health and socio-economic well-being
- Ecosystem health indicators of recovery in water resource catchments
- Health effects of fire and exposure to acid sulphate soils
- Participatory approaches to catchment health and natural resource management
- The relationships between biodiversity and human well-being.
CHE researchers seek to broaden the recognition that the health, economy and biophysical properties of ecosystems are inter-related. Underpinning the work is the recognition that ecosystem health requires a broad community participatory approach that is inclusive of a range of skills and experiences and ways of gaining knowledge, incorporating both specialist knowledge and historical, local and experiential community knowledge.
The Consortium draws on the experiences and skills of contributing researchers from a variety of disciplines in the Faculty and across the University to undertake particular tasks (publications, consultancies, conferences, assisting government, non-government, industry and/ or communities).
CHE is a teaching and research unit that crosses many academic areas to tackle societal issues requiring a trans-disciplinary approach.
Contact
Associate Professor Pierre Horwitz
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 5558
Email: p.horwitz@ecu.edu.au