Urban Public Health

As the world becomes increasingly urbanised and more people live in cities and peri-urban areas, addressing health needs and health inequities in urban populations is vital. Urban Public Health is a multidisciplinary field aiming to create healthier, more sustainable, and equitable urban environments. The Urban Public Health Unit conducts inter- and transdisciplinary research to contribute directly to promoting sustainable development in urban contexts, both in Switzerland and internationally.

Solution- and impact-oriented research

The UPH Unit conducts translational research specifically focused on the health challenges and opportunities associated with urban and peri-urban environments. Current projects aim to integrate public health into urban planning, civil engineering and architectural design by, for example, using health impact assessment as a central approach. Another key interest of the unit is to investigate the health co-benefits of promoting sustainable cities and communities through mixed-methods intervention studies, big data analysis and modelling. Whenever possible and appropriate, the UPH Unit aims to promote collaboration between public health professionals, epidemiologists, urban planners, architects, engineers, policy-makers and, last but not least, community members throughout the project implementation cycle. Overall, the Urban Public Health Unit is part of the evolving discipline of Sustainability Science, which seeks to provide data and evidence-based support for projects and policies, thereby contributing to positive social change.