Public Health

The environment factors into public health on multiple fronts. To address them, Woods brings Stanford’s world-class medical scholars together with experts on environmental health and other disciplines to solve complex challenges in areas where resources are scarce. Scholars with our Water, Health and Development program are working with partners in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean to deliver affordable water supply and sanitation services in a way that enhances human health through safer, more sustainable water and wastewater management. In Haiti, an initiative run by Stanford graduate students is reducing water contamination from human waste while creating jobs and compost. In Bangladesh, a team led by Woods researchers is developing low-cost chlorination devices that treat water at the point of collection for thousands living in urban slums. In Senegal, researchers funded by Woods’ Environmental Venture Projects program are pioneering natural – and effective – approaches to curb the spread of schistosomiasis, a deadly neglected tropical disease. Read on to learn more about these projects and other work Stanford researchers are doing to sustain the health and well-being of people around the world.

In The News

Climate Change: Carbon Soot in Wildfires Contributing to Global Warming

Describes study by Woods Senior Fellow Mark Jacobson on study that found burning biomass is playing bigger role in climate change and human health...
August 4, 2014 - By Jayalakshmi K, International Business Times

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The 50-Cent Invention That Could Change the World

Describes inexpensive paper microscope created by Manu Prakash, an assistant professor of bioengineering affiliated with the Stanford Woods Institute
July 21, 2014 - By , Yahoo News

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Foldscope, a Paper Microscope to Help Diagnose Disease

Profiles Manu Prakash, an assistant professor of bioengineering affiliated with the Stafnord Woods Institute, on the Foldscope, an inexpensive pocket...
July 17, 2014 - By Belinda Lanks, Bloomberg Businessweek

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Maps From Google and Green Group Make Pavement-Level Pollution More Concrete

Quotes Woods Senior Fellow Rob Jackson, professor of environmental earth system science, on results from a pilot project by the Environmental Defense...
July 16, 2014 - By Eric Roston, Bloomberg

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