Across APH, work at the intersection of sustainability and public health is growing. To strengthen exchange and collaboration around this strategic theme, APH is exploring the launch of a new Special Interest Group (SIG) on Environmental Sustainability.
APH has several SIGs covering various overarching research program topics, aiming to foster knowledge exchange, collaboration, sharing of expertise, and connection with existing platforms such as the Center for Sustainable Healthcare (Amsterdam UMC) and the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (VU). As environmental sustainability is one of APH’s strategic themes, the new APH SIG would bring together experts and anyone interested in this field. The initiative is currently in development, and colleagues are warmly invited to join and help shape its focus and activities from the start. In this article, we spoke with Lisanne Kouwenberg, one of the researchers engaged in sustainability within APH.
Sustainability in public health research
Lisanne Kouwenberg is dedicated to promote sustainability in research and healthcare. Her interest in sustainability began during the pandemic, when she worked as a junior doctor in the lung department, where she was struck by the amount of disposable gowns used. “During the pandemic, I noticed how many isolation gowns we went through for each patient. That made me realize things should be done differently,” she explains. Her research focuses on measuring and reducing the environmental impact of care pathways. She is also involved in her department’s Green Team and participates in Amsterdam UMC Center for Sustainable Healthcare. Now, she looks forward to exchanging ideas with other researchers interested in this theme through the APH Environmental Sustainability SIG.
Why join the APH Environmental Sustainability SIG?
The APH Environmental Sustainability SIG could create a central meeting place for researchers interested in sustainability, a space that does not exist yet within APH. It enables knowledge sharing, collaboration, and inspiration on this important topic. After last year’s successful Annual Meeting on sustainability, we are eager to give even more attention and space to sustainability in public health. As the SIG is still taking shape, members will have the chance to help define its direction and activities, including how it will be organized.
Contributing to the position paper on Sustainability
As a member of the APH Environmental Sustainability SIG, you also contribute to the goals outlined in the recently released position paper from the Center for Sustainable Healthcare. This paper describes three ways sustainability can be integrated into research: conducting research in a sustainable way, researching sustainability topics, and research where sustainability is a by-product. While Amsterdam UMC Green Teams already focus on the first approach, the APH Environmental Sustainability SIG offers a platform to contribute more directly to sustainability as a research topic or as a by-product.
Get involved!
Are you interested in sustainability, or perhaps an expert in this field? Do you recognize the importance of knowledge exchange, sharing expertise, and promoting collaboration on this theme? If so, this is your opportunity to join APH’s new Environmental Sustainability SIG. Together with a group of motivated researchers, you will help shape and advance sustainability in research.
Contact Lisanne Kouwenberg to help shaping the APH Environmental Sustainability SIG