Led by the International and Global Health Office (IGHO) at the Faculty of Medicine, the week featured a series of engaging events, including a Planetary Health Research Lab meeting, a hands-on Climate Fresk workshop, and a community clean-up. These activities sparked important conversations about environmental health and encouraged collective action for a more sustainable future. Here's a look at the key moments from Earth Week 2025.
Planetary Health Research Lab (PHRL)
As part of the Earth Week celebrations, the Planetary Health Research Lab (PHRL) hosted one of its quarterly meetings, uniting a diverse group of researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and staff passionate about the intersection of human health, environmental sustainability, and ecological systems. The PHRL provides a dynamic platform for ongoing research, offering a space where projects鈥攔anging from early-stage development to knowledge translation鈥攁re presented, discussed, and refined.
This meeting featured a series of impactful presentations that highlighted sustainability in healthcare and research. Anastasia MacDougall, a research specialist, discussed carbon footprinting at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), while second-year medical students Alex Sy and Stephanie Howe shared their work on the Planetary Health Report Card and its influence on institutional action. Carole Dore, Laboratory Manager at the Cancer Center and Chair of the OHRI Green Committee, focused on reducing the carbon footprint in research labs. Along with PHRL co-founder and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Critical Care at TOH, Salmaan Kanji's presentation on Carbon Economics: A Case for Pantoprazole, these presentations underscored the essential role of healthcare systems and research environments in promoting sustainability.
Through these mini-presentations and discussions, the PHRL raised awareness about the importance of planetary health within the healthcare context and encouraged the integration of sustainable practices into healthcare systems鈥攂oth locally and globally. The lab fosters collaboration across disciplines, promotes sustainable healthcare practices, and supports the next generation of researchers.
Climate Fresk
The IGHO also hosted a highly engaging Climate Fresk Workshop, an interactive event designed to raise awareness about climate change and inspire action. This workshop provided participants with a hands-on opportunity to explore the science behind climate change through a unique and collaborative format.
What sets the Climate Fresk apart is its emphasis on collective learning. Rather than a traditional lecture-style format, participants actively engage with one another, linking causes and effects of climate change. Lea El-Korh, Intermediate Advisor of International Programs at the IGHO, facilitated the event. Reflecting on her experience, she said, 鈥淔acilitating the Climate Fresk is always rewarding. It鈥檚 inspiring to see participants connect the dots and leave motivated to take action. Each session, I walk away learning something new myself.鈥 This collaborative approach deepens participants' understanding of the systemic nature of climate issues and empowers them to take ownership of the problem and seek solutions.
Earth Week Bingo
In an effort to engage even more of the community in fun, sustainable activities, the Planetary Health Student Ambassadors created an interactive Earth Week Bingo card. The card included a variety of activities designed to promote sustainability, such as adhering to a vegetarian diet, taking public transportation, and picking up waste.
The aim of this activity was to make sustainability practices both fun and accessible, encouraging participants to reflect on their role as global citizens. The event鈥檚 flexibility allowed participants to play Earth Week Bingo throughout the week. This thoughtful combination of sustainability challenges and reflection helped build awareness and foster a sense of collective responsibility for the planet.
Cleaning Up the Captial
One of our incredible hospital partners, TOH also organized a 鈥淐leaning the Capital鈥 event for Earth Day, inviting the 91精品黑料吃瓜 team to join in making the community cleaner.
This initiative was part of the ongoing effort to clean the community and promote environmental sustainability. Participants helped pick up litter by the General Hospital and surrounding green spaces. The event not only contributed to a cleaner environment but also served as a reminder of the impact individuals can have when working together toward a shared goal. By taking part in this cleanup effort, our shared community demonstrated its commitment to preserving the environment and fostering sustainable practices in the local community.
Together, we can make a lasting impact on the planet and inspire others to join us in this effort. Stay connected with our planetary health initiatives by visiting our planetary health webpage and following for updates and ways to get involved. Let鈥檚 work toward a sustainable future, one action at a time!