Health and Environment

Research Group Summary

Health and Environment group focuses upon the ways in which the social and physical environment interacts to influence personal health outcomes and health behaviours. Examples include the health effects of air pollution, contextual and compositional explanations of health related behaviours such as smoking patterns, spatial and socio-economic variations in lung cancer, and a comparison of rates of hospitalisation with deprivation levels.

The group has a particular interest in the health effects of exposure to air pollution, funded through a three year project on Air Pollution and Health in New Zealand (HAPiNZ) by the Health Research Council. This project also involves atmospheric researchers from the Earth-Atmosphere group.

The use of GIS applications is another area of strength, leading to epidemiological studies and research on the contextual influences on health and health behaviours. This is attracting a range of new external funding arrangements with agencies such as the Ministry of Health.

Key Contact

• Ross Barnett: Member; School of Earth and Environment

Members - UC Staff

• Ross Barnett: Member; School of Earth and Environment
• Peter Lindsay Day: Member; School of Earth and Environment
• Jeannette Christina Gunston: Member; School of Earth and Environment
• Rosemary Esther Hiscock: Member; School of Earth and Environment
• Simon Paul Kingham: Member; School of Earth and Environment
• Kylie Michelle Mason: Member; School of Earth and Environment
• James Robert Pearce: Member
• Virgi Virgiyanti: Member

• Environmental Studies: Air Pollution; Environmental Studies
• Health and Health Sciences: Public Health
• Human Geography: GIS/Health; Human Geography

• Health and Environment website