This module will introduce students to the key concepts of digital public health. It will cover the underlying computer science principles including knowledge management, semantic modelling, international disaster surveillance IT systems; early warning and response to disease outbreaks and emergencies, social media and serious games for public health interventions and behaviour change. Students will become familiar with the fundamental principles of public health, global health, disease surveillance, epidemic intelligence, emergencies, public health behaviour change interventions, and risk communication. This module is aimed at postgraduate students with a computer science degree, a science degree or a medical sciences degree with interests in technology for public/global health and big data challenges. This will enable students to apply for jobs and placements at international public health agencies and NGOs (e.g., European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, MSF, Save the Children, Joint Research Centre, WHO, etc).

This module will introduce students to the key concepts of digital public health. It will cover the underlying computer science principles including knowledge management, semantic modelling, international disaster surveillance IT systems; early warning and response to disease outbreaks and emergencies, social media and serious games for public health interventions and behaviour change. Students will become familiar with the fundamental principles of public health, global health, disease surveillance, epidemic intelligence, emergencies, public health behaviour change interventions, and risk communication. This module is aimed at postgraduate students with a science degree or medical sciences degree with interests in new technologies for public and global health, emergencies and big data challenges. This will enable students to apply for jobs and placements at international public health agencies and NGOs (e.g., European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, MSF, Save the Children, Joint Research Centre, WHO, etc).

This module is expected to feature senior guest lecturers from international public health and disaster organisations.

This module is suitable for students from all backgrounds, however, students with CS/IT, science, GIS backgrounds would find it particularity appropriate. The module does not require programming skills as a prerequisite and assumes very basic statistical skills. The assessment projects will be allocated to students drawing from their skills and backgrounds. Please see me if you want to discuss the skills needed to take this module.

It will apply problem-orientated learning methods (POL) to:

introduce public health, field epidemiology, and global health concepts
	present the key technological systems underpinning public health surveillance, early warning, and response to outbreaks and epidemics
	understanding challenges and opportunities created by new technologies, social media, mobile systems
	apply the principles in the practice on case studies and on technologies and/or try interactive hands-on approaches
	apply new knowledge on an interdisciplinary project of choice gaining in-depth practical experience with the subject. The project should form a substantial part of a student's application for a placement in the host public health institution.