One of the themes students discuss in DEA 6610 Environments and Health is the gap between research and action – be it practice, policy, or design. The assignment provides students with an opportunity to “bridge the gap” by creating a useable product or tool aimed at policy makers, designers, educators, or “lay people” in the community. The assignment is to create a research evidence-based product. If possible, students are strongly encouraged to connect with a real agency or organization partner on this project to produce a research evidence-based “product” to address a real health or healthy environment issue in the local community. The product might be some kind of tool or device, a 5-minute video, a website, or a poster, for example.
Examining the Effects of the Built and Natural Environment on Health and Health Behaviors