The Chair of Model-Based Environmental Exposure Science (MBEES) had a busy summer semester with everyone involved in various teaching activities. For the first time, in collaboration with the Department of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine we presented a scientific block course to the medical students in the sixth and eighth semester. ?The aim of the course was for the students to investigate their exposure to various environmental stressors in their everyday environment. The students used various measurement techniques investigated parameters such has pollen, surface bacteria, mould, water quality, temperature and air quality. Once the data had been collected, the students analysed pollen, water, bacteria and mould samples in the laboratory and further analysed numerical data using Python. The students compared and interpreted the data to determine what factors influence their exposure. We hope to continue this collaboration with the Department of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine and present the course again next year.

In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Sabine Timpf from Geoinformatics, a Hackthon was held again in Sion. Master students in Geoinformatics and Medical information Science spent the week in Sion further developing aspects of our agent-based model. This included developing the decision-making abilities of agents in the model using the belief-desire-intention (BDI) structure.

Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Christoph Knote held a public lecture on the “Influences of the environment on the health of people in Augsburg” as part of the University’s lecture series: Close to people: University medicine in Augsburg.

Lastly, to end the semester we joined up with the Regional Climate change and health team and celebrated the end of the semester in relaxed environment in a local beer garden.

Should you have any questions about the activities MBEES, please feel free to contact us.?