News
Latest news and information from the Centre for Planetary Health and the Master Global Urban Health
WS 25/26 Lecture series "Healing, Repair, and Ecological Restoration" starts on Monday, 20 October 2025
Healing, Repair, and Ecological Restoration: Interdisciplinary Dialogues on Planetary Health
The Centre for Planetary Health at the University of Freiburg invites you to the lecture series where various internationally renowned scientists will discuss current problems of Planetary Health focused on Healing, Repair, and Ecological Restoration.
The lecture series brings together voices from different disciplines to explore the deep interconnections between the health of our planet and the health of human populations, particularly in LMICs.
You are all cordially invited! Feel free to forward the invitation to your colleagues and networks.
The lectures start on 20 October 2025 and comprises seven events (see programme below).
The venue is the Max-Kade-Auditorium I (Bertholdstr. 17, 79098 Freiburg).
Each lecture starts at 6.00 PM on Monday.
Lecture language: English.
Admission is free, registration is not necessary.
09/2025 International Symposium on Planetary Aspects of Urban Health (10th Anniversary of Master GUH)
UPDATE: Report from the symposium is available here!
The Master of Global Urban Health (MSc GUH) programme, in collaboration with the Centre for Planetary Health (CPH), is organising an International Symposium on Planetary Aspects of Urban Health, to be held on September 25 – 26, 2025, at the University of Freiburg.
You are cordially invited!
The event will explore the intersections of planetary health, including the environment, climate, urban health and global sustainability, featuring expert discussions and offering valuable networking opportunities with health professionals, master alumni and students from around the world.
Have a look at the agenda, our speakers and their profiles here!
We look forward to your response and to welcoming you in Freiburg this September!
Master Global Urban Health / Centre for Planetary Health
University of Freiburg
08/2025 Remembering Mónica Alejandra Pérez Méndez
The Master Global Urban Health, staff and classmates of Dr. Mónica Alejandra Pérez Méndez, a medical doctor from Yucatán, México and our alumna from the cohort 2017-18, express deep sorrow at her passing on August 1st in Offenburg, Germany.
Mónica will be remembered for her passion and expertise dedicated to contributing to societies and vulnerable populations. As a physician, she saw the importance of focusing not only on the pathological conditions of individuals, but even more on what is beyond, the impact of prevention, accurate diagnosis and, of course, the best possible care for the population.
Beyond her professional background, Mónica will be missed as a friend, a devoted cat lover, and a loyal person. Her leadership (strong beautiful voice), her lovely smile, her deep soul and her sincere support still echo in our minds.
May Mónica rest in peace, she deserves it as our friend and public health colleague. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to her husband Dominic, her family in México, in Germany, her classmates and her friends.
05/2025 Annual Report 2024/25
We are happy to share the latest annual report of the Master of Science Global Urban Health programme!
Read about the various activities and achievements in the academic year 2024/2025 and find out more about the cooperations and partnership events in the report below.
Here’s to another year of succes!
03/2025 Happy Hour with Roundtable Discussion
Join Us for a Happy Hour & Roundtable Discussion!
The Master GUH, on behalf of the ZMG, warmly invites you to an engaging Happy Hour with a roundtable discussion on:
Topic: The Power of Global Health Youth Ambassadors to Shape Resilient and Healthy LMICs Countries and Societies
Speaker: Dr. Nicole Webster, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Faculty Affairs at the College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Webster is a cherished collaborator of our Master and ZMG research and capacity-building initiatives.
Where: Master House, Bismarckallee 22, 3rd floor
When: Tuesday, 11th March at 15:00
We will provide small refreshments, but more importantly, this is a wonderful chance to connect, exchange ideas!
We look forward to seeing you!
For planning purposes, please let us know if you can join (email to mscguh@zmg.uni-freiburg.de).
12/2024 New Accreditation for CAS
We are happy to inform you that EVALAG (Evaluation Agency of Baden-Württemberg in Germany) has issued a new accreditation for our Certificates of Studies (CAS) valid until 2032.
You can find the individual accreditation certificates below:
WS 24/25 Lecture series "Planetary Health" starts on Monday, 11 November 2024
Lecture series on “Planetary Health” starts on Monday, November 11, 2024
Extreme weather events, migration, new zoonoses: human health is inextricably linked to the state of our ecosystems and societies. A precise understanding of the complex regional and global interrelationships and of the current methods for analyzing them is an absolute prerequisite for developing strategies to prevent the depletion of our planet. In line with this notion internationally renowned scientists will shed light on current problems, model projects and overarching concepts in the “Planetary Health” lecture series organized by the Center for Planetary Health at the University of Freiburg and the Institute for Infection Prevention and Control at the Freiburg University Medical Center.
The lectures start on November 11, 2024 and comprises six events.
The venue is the large seminar room (first floor on the right) in the Center for Translational Cell Research, Breisacher Straße 115 in Freiburg.
Each lecture starts at 18:00 on Monday.
Lecture language: English.
Admission is free, registration is not necessary.
09/2024 Annual Report 2023/24
The latest annual report is here!
The Master of Science in Global Urban Health programme published the annual report for the academic year 2023/2024.
You can read about the highlights and activities of the programme, as well as various cooperation and partnership events in the report below.
Congratulations on another successful year!
WS 23/24 Lecture series "Planetary Health"
ZMG has once again prepared a series of lecturers (Ringvorlesung): „Interdisciplinary – Integrative – International“ perspectives on Planetary Health. Starting on 23rd October 2023 with the lecture of Dr. med. Karin Geffert, various topics will be discussed: planetary health, urban health, diseases, climate change. The lectures will always take place on Mondays at 18:15 in Frauenklinik (Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106 Freiburg, großer Hörsaal).
The ZMG Freiburg understands a planetary health approach as the synopsis and recovery processes of all life on Earth. Issues of health and illness (and everything in between) are therefore not only to be considered in relation to humans and their socio-cultural contexts, but also to be embedded in diverse relationships to other beings. The lecture series aims to investigate fundamental questions of a comprehensive, relational health concept from the perspective of various disciplines.
You can find the programme below.
01/2023 DAAD Special Grants for Refugees from Ukraine
The DAAD offers scholarships for students from Ukraine as well as students from countries of the DAC list fleeing the war in Ukraine to continue/complete their studies in Development-Related Postgraduate Courses in Germany. Application deadline: 30.03.2023. Find out more here!
06/2022 DAAD Special Grants for Refugees from Ukraine
The DAAD offers scholarships for students from Ukraine as well as students from countries of the DAC list fleeing the war in Ukraine to continue/complete their studies in Development-Related Postgraduate Courses in Germany. Application deadline: 30.06.2022. Find out more here!
06/2022 Happy Hour with Roundtable Discussion
The Master GUH on behalf of ZMG would like to invite you to our Happy Hour with roundtable discussion on the cross cutting topic „From Obamacare to Trumpcare: Where does the US stand now on Health Care with Biden?„. The speaker, Prof. Dr. Caprice Knapp, is our longtime USA collaborator involved in our Master and ZMG research and capacity building activities for many years.
Theme: A cross cutting topic so that everyone will feel included in the discussion: From Obamacare to Trumpcare: Where does the US stand now with Biden?
Speaker: Our longtime USA collaborator Prof. Dr. Caprice Knapp involved in our Master and ZMG research and capacity building activities for many years.
Short bio from our talented speaker: Experience in Health Economics, Health Policy, Health Administration at Penn State, University of Florida, Department Health Colorado and US Senate. Studies in economics, organizational management, and population management.
Where: Our Master house at Bismarckallee 22, 3rd floor
When: Wednesday, 22nd June at 17:00
We will offer refreshments with the main intention to see you personally and say Cheers!
We hope to see you! For planning purposes, please let us know if you can join.
05/2022 Early Warning Tools for Neglected Tropical Diseases
TUESDAY | 17 MAY | 12:00 – 1:30 PM (CEST) We would like to present the Early Warning and Response System and discuss with you Germany’s approach to end Neglected Tropical Diseases. Our scientific advisor Prof. Kroeger will be part of it!
The Sustainable Development Goals aim to end Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and water-borne diseases by 2030. Yet climate change is altering their spread and intensity. Because they mostly affect disadvantaged communities in tropical and sub-tropical areas where health systems are often weak, outbreaks are frequently detected late.
The Global Health Hub Germany Community on “Neglected Tropical Diseases – Outbreak, Warning and Response” and the WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO-TDR) have worked on improving the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS). EWARS uses digital surveillance systems and weather information to predict imminent disease outbreaks and improves collaboration among stakeholders.
Together with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the German Network against NTDs, we would like to present EWARS and discuss with you Germany’s approach to end NTDs and the obstacles on the way towards eliminating NTDs by 2030. You can register here.
Speakers:
- Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb (Senior University Lecturer at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg)
- Corinne Simone Collette Merle (WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases)
- Axel Kroeger (Professor, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg – Centre for Medicine and Society)
- Dr. Daniel Eibach (Division 101 on Pandemic Prevention and One Health, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ)
- Christian Griebenow (Member of the Board, German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases, DNTDs)
Moderation: Kristina Knispel (Managing Director of the Global Health Hub Germany)
After registration you will receive a confirmation email with the dial-in link. The discussion will be recorded.
We are looking forward to your participation and an inspiring discussion!
