Harvard's Undergraduate Global Health Forum (HUGHF) will host the "Global Health Challenge: Consequences of Climate Change" case study competition for high school students this Saturday. Working in groups, students will analyze a Boston-specific impact of climate change on public health and will propose a solution to a panel of judges.

HUGHF conference co-direct Do Hyun Kim '19 said he looks forward to working with high school students to address pressing challenges at the intersection between global health and climate change that affect life in Boston.

"By offering these kinds of opportunities, we're able to expose [high school students] to serious concerns our world is facing and help them understand that only with their passion and with their cooperation will our world be able to change," Kim said.

Participating students will work with collegiate HUGHF members and graduate students at Harvard's Chan School of Public Health to develop their proposals.

"We want to foster an environment where people can communicate freely between high school students, college students, and graduate students and to help prepare these high school students to make a difference in their communities," Kim said.

Students will also hear from keynote speaker and head judge Dr. Ramon Guinto, whose public advocacy work focuses on the role public health experts can play in improving planetary health.

The event will take place Sat. April 15 in Harvard Hall 201 from 9am-5:30pm. Students are encouraged to register here in advance but are also permitted to join the morning of the event. Visit our website for more information. Please email co-conference directors Do Hyun Kim '19 (dohyunkim@college.harvard.edu) or Cameron Comrie '19 (comrie01@college.harvard.edu) with any questions.

Wonder what we talk about at HUGHF? Here is a peak into our discussions from this semester.

• Members of HUGHF have discussed how climate change affects global health. Our co-president Charlie Lee’s time in China spurred his interest in the detrimental effects of pollution on respiratory health.
  
  Changing patterns of natural disasters and migration due to global warming also impact global health.
  
  The canceling of a Centers for Disease Control conference about climate change has prompted questions about the future of environmental health research under the Trump administration.   
  
  We encourage high school students interested in global warming and global health to register for our case study Global Health Challenge on April 15.
  
  
• We discussed the discovery of antibiotic-resistant malaria in the UK. In 2015, over 400,000 people died from malaria. Eradication efforts include distributing mosquito nets to prevent transmission and increasing access to treatment. Understanding malaria’s antibiotic resistance will require further research.
  
  
• We discussed this opinion piece calling on the president to support Americans with disabilities. Journalist and disability rights advocate Melissa Blake calls attention to the silencing effect she has experienced due to President Trump’s mockery of a disabled reporter and his administration’s removal of the Disability section from the White House website.
  
  Our group came away from the discussion inspired by Blake’s courage. Blake’s piece also reminded us that improving global health begins with improving local health.

Welcome back, all! We hope you've had a great first week back at school. 

EVENTS: SEPTEMBER
We have a few events this month that we hope to see you at:

• Sun, Sep 4th from 3-4pm in Boylston Hall, Room 105: Get Involved Weekend Meeting! Drop by to welcome freshmen and play some global health trivia games. Refreshments will be served.

• Sun, Sep 18th from 8-9pm in Ticknor Lounge, Boylston Hall: First Official Meeting! Come by to meet our officers, get involved with a committee, and have a good time.

Hope to see you at these events, and welcome to all freshmen joining us!

Dear HUGHF,

We hope you are enjoying your winter break! We are excited to work with you and hear your ideas for the upcoming year.

As a reminder:

• Board applications are due on January 20th, 2016 by 11:59pm EST. Applications can be found attached to this post as well as in an email sent earlier this month.
• Our annual Oxfam Hunger Banquet will be on Friday, January 22nd, 2016 from 6-7:30pm in Ticknor Lounge. Please RSVP to the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/867785526652631/
  • ​We are in need of volunteers! Please contact our point person Hannah (hannahsmati@college.harvard.edu) if you are interested.
• Our first meeting will be January 31st, 2016 at 9pm (location TBA).

Please feel free to contact Melanie (mfu@college.harvard.edu) and Eda (edaalgur@college.harvard.edu) with any questions, suggestions, or concerns.

We look forward to seeing you on campus soon!

Best,
Melanie and Eda
2016 HUGHF Co-Presidents