Ensuring a healthier humanity in the age of climate change: an interivew with Han Seon-young

In an era of worsening climate change, life in global communities have been affected in every possible way, including the overlooked impact on humanity's health. With the rising public health concerns of the changing climate, the study of environmental health science has evolved to address the impact of climate change on health systems. In this interview, Han Seon-young, an educator of the Environmental Health Center at the University of Seoul, discussed the unique interdisciplinary aspect of environmental health sciences and her experiences educating citizens on environmental issues.

Could you briefly introduce the field of environmental health research you are currently engaged in and your main research topics?

I began my master's degree in environmental health around 2010 and have since conducted research in that related field. Initially, I worked in ecotoxicology—a field within environmental health science that encompasses both human toxicology and ecotoxicology. I spent nearly seven years in ecotoxicology before transitioning to environmental policy research. So I conducted policy research in the environmental health science field, and policy research covers a very diverse range of topics. Since policy research addresses newly emerging issues, I dealt extensively with microplastics, plastic pollution, and primarily chemical-related safety concerns. I also worked on issues like fine dust. Environmental health science is a field that studies how environmental problems can impact human and ecosystem health, so its scope is incredibly broad.

During COVID, we studied how viruses like COVID could be influenced by environmental factors. For instance, rising temperatures can make such viruses more active. So, we researched whether there were any such effects. And now, it's actually a bit different from when I was completely immersed in research in that field. In 2023, I obtained certification as an Environmental Educator. So I also worked in the field of environmental education, where I conducted educational activities on topics like carbon neutrality and resource circulation, which my friends were interested in. Currently, I'm working at the Environmental Toxicology Laboratory at the University of Seoul, running a project called the Environmental Health Center, which focuses on environmental education.

What do you think are the differences or key points that distinguish environmental health science from general environmental issues?

Generally, those of us who major in environmental studies tend to specialize in one specific field, such as water quality, air, waste, and noise pollution. This is the kind of environmental engineering field we usually associate with what people study in university. Environmental health science, however, is a convergent discipline.

So, as I mentioned earlier, you need an understanding of the environment, but also an understanding of health. You also need to know a bit about the human body and biology. And, especially since we deal a lot with chemical substances, you also need to know chemistry. Because we deal with chemical substances a lot, it's a bit like this interdisciplinary field, so it's a little different from other environmental fields. That's why we tend to do a lot of collaborative research. For example, a representative issue in waste management is solar panels. After using them, they need to be disposed of, right?

If there are many problems in that process, we research together whether this could have environmental or health impacts—conducting risk assessments like that. So, our truly independent field is probably just one specific chemical substance, while most of our work involves collaborative research. That's what makes our field somewhat unique.

In your research, what do you feel is the aspect where climate change or environmental pollution most significantly impacts our daily health?

I consider the most dangerous aspect to be large-scale disease outbreaks like the COVID pandemic. As the climate continues to warm, animal habitats shift, right? The diseases arising from this will likely have the most significant impact. Because diseases caused by viruses or such pathogens can drastically increase mortality rates, they have a decisive impact. So, from my perspective, the most dangerous aspect from an environmental health standpoint seems to be that. 

The second thing I perceive as quite dangerous is the microplastics problem. Right now, it's actually not very visible to the naked eye. Even after years of research, there are still aspects we haven't fully clarified. What concerns me is that the massive increase in microplastics in the oceans is likely having a significant impact on plankton, which is the foundation of the marine ecosystem. While we can't yet make a definitive judgment or see it clearly, it's a difficult problem. I do think it could become a significant issue in the future.

You mentioned you're currently involved in environmental education. I'm curious about what prompted you to shift roles from researcher to educator.

Research is certainly fascinating, but the research field itself seems to lack opportunities for direct communication with the public and citizens. Researchers typically operate within a structure where they collaborate and advance their work among themselves in laboratories. I came to realize that sharing this work with citizens and fostering mutual communication is also incredibly important.

When I was solely focused on ecotoxicology research, I spent most of my time in the lab. But after moving into environmental policy, I gradually felt a connection between this research and the public and citizens, which was very rewarding. But going further, I found fulfillment in conveying that information more easily, helping people understand it, and working together to show citizens that environmental protection is necessary and that they should participate. So, I guess you could say this kind of outreach research gradually became more interesting to me. That's why I became interested in environmental education and have now shifted significantly into that field.

How do you feel citizens and students you meet in environmental education settings perceive environmental issues?

Well, if I first describe the scenes from the field I encountered up until last year, I've conducted education in a very diverse range of settings. I've taught everyone from young children, starting with kindergarteners, all the way up to elderly citizens, and they really enjoy it. I think it's because what we see on the news or YouTube often comes across as extremely dangerous. In a way, it seems to instill a lot of fear or anxiety. But after the education, even with that fear, people start wondering if things can change if they do what they can. They develop a desire to participate and take action. I always emphasize during the sessions that just instilling fear accomplishes nothing.

I find satisfaction in the fact that we can gradually shift our awareness together, that there are people working together, people thinking together, and that we can communicate with each other. But I also see that the participants themselves gain strength from the education in this regard.

So, environmental education isn't just about conveying knowledge or ensuring accurate understanding. More than that, I realized that the time spent empathizing with the fact that there is a current of people working together, that there are people out there, is also incredibly significant. And now this year, we have this place called the Seoul City University Environmental Health Center. It's a center established for environmental health policy to run educational programs. There, we're continuously doing programs with the Seoul Science Museum and researchers to share the results of that research with citizens. I've been observing what they're doing this year, and the citizens are really enjoying it.

Reading academic papers isn't easy for the general public, but they simplify it, making it accessible for not just students but also adult citizens. They explain papers in an easy-to-understand way, use posters for explanations, and show what kind of experiments are done in the lab. They collaborate with the science museum to hold these events, and people really enjoy them. So, citizens seem to enjoy having opportunities to experience things firsthand. They also seem to find it enjoyable realizing that this is part of the realm of research. I've come to understand that, in terms of knowledge transfer, there's a lot of interest from the general public. So, I'm planning to create another fun program next year and run it with the city science museum.

I'd definitely like to visit if I get the chance to. You mentioned receiving a lot of positive feedback through environmental education. If there was a moment when you felt participants' awareness or behavior actually changed, what would it be?

When I first started environmental education about three years ago, it was during the COVID years, so it was a time when people's interest was just starting to rise. Initially, even when I went out to teach, there was a lot of knowledge to convey. People didn't know much back then. But over the past few years, education has become incredibly active in Korea, especially in elementary schools. They're doing a lot of education there. Then, after about two or three years, when I went back, there wasn't much left to teach.

People really know so much now. Schools are teaching a lot through the curriculum, and since people are so interested, they seem to research a lot on their own. They read a lot of books, and as a result, everyone is now incredibly knowledgeable. They know so much that it makes me feel more pressure, so I prepare thoroughly for my lectures. Because everyone is so well-informed, as an educator, I have to study extensively to ensure I don't provide incorrect information.

It seems to have so many positive effects. Looking ahead to the future, what role do you think environmental health research and environmental education can play in advancing towards carbon neutrality and a sustainable society?

Environmental health science is about that. It's an area emphasizing health – the health of ecosystems, the health of the human body. But what's a bit disappointing is that now, with all the focus on carbon neutrality and energy, our ministry changed from just the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment. As a result, there's been a significant shift towards energy and climate, and interest in this area has actually diminished quite a bit.

But ultimately, protecting the environment is about ensuring we all live healthy, sustainable lives. That's why we're driving policies like climate and carbon neutrality, and why energy policies exist. So, I believe that once these efforts achieve some tangible results, the focus will naturally shift back to health. And I think we're starting to emphasize the developmental aspects of climate, energy, and sustainable development more now.