Graduate Studies

 

First Advisor

Elizabeth VanWormer

Date of this Version

8-2021

Document Type

Article

Comments

A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science, Major: Natural Resource Sciences, Under the Supervision of Professor Elizabeth VanWormer. Lincoln, Nebraska: August 2021

Copyright © 2021 Brianne Adele Wolf

Abstract

One Health, or the holistic approach of viewing human, animal and ecosystem health as interconnected, can play an important role in developing solutions to address diverse health challenges. For young people to grasp contemporary societal and planetary challenges, this understanding is critical. Using data collected through a classroom activity and an iterative coding approach, I analyzed art and written elements developed by primary school students in a biodiverse, rural region of Tanzania to explore their understanding of links among the health of people, animals, and local environments. The students perceived human health in an expansive way, tying it to the health of domestic animals and wildlife, water sources, forests, and ecosystems. They drew varied connections, identifying both direct and indirect impacts on their health as well as the broader health of their communities. The students made connections at microscopic and landscape levels—from issues of polluted water and disease, to impacts of forests on rainfall. Learning how students understand these connections can aid the efforts of teachers and environmental and health educators in the region, as well as inform curriculum development for students in Tanzania, East Africa, and beyond.

Advisor: Elizabeth VanWormer

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