Initiative for One Health and the Environment

Initiative for One Health and the Environment


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Why “One Health and the Environment”?

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Initiative for ONE HEALTH and the ENVIRONMENT at UMaine

A new interdisciplinary Initiative for One Health & the Environment at the University of Maine builds on current strengths, and is focused on climate change and emerging issues in animal, plant, and human health.

Our natural and managed ecosystems are and will increasingly be subject to regional and global pressures of climate and ecosystem change, which have serious consequences for public and ecosystem health and the health of the animals and plants that our social and economic systems depend on. Climate change already affects all major sectors and constituencies within the state of Maine with resulting economic consequences of animal, plant, and human health issues that are far-reaching in scale and scope.

Expected impacts:

  • Strongly synergize research activities in climate and ecosystem change, infectious diseases, and public health between existing and new faculty, creating a productive, nationally competitive, interdisciplinary team addressing local and global concerns.
  • Expand current service to Maine agencies, healthcare facilities, and industries with collaborative projects and outreach (Maine CDC, Board of Pesticide Control, Vector Mgmt. Programs, Maine Public Health Assoc., Maine Hospital Association, Maine Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation, Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
  • Strengthen existing high-demand undergraduate and graduate programs in health sciences and policy (zoology, pre-med, pre-vet, & other pre-professional health programs, nursing, microbiology, GSBSE, SPIA-Internat’l Development)
  • Establish new undergraduate and graduate programs in conservation medicine, and health policy and management allowing the University of Maine to evolve to meet the interests and needs of society and students into the future.
  • Provide students with internships in public policy, infectious disease methods, zoonotic disease investigational methods, control/prevention techniques, etc.
  • Expand Maine’s strength in applied research in zoonotic diseases and their public health implications.