Framework for developing an exposure science curriculum as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030

Alison Connolly; Paul T.J. Scheepers; Marie A. Coggins; Theo Vermeire; Martie van Tongeren; Gerhard Heinemeyer; James W. Bridges; Susanne Bredendiek-Kämper; Yuri Bruinen de Bruin; Anne Clayson; Johannes Gerding; Josephine McCourt; Jan Urbanus; Susana Viegas; Natalie von Goetz; Maryam Zare-Jeddi; Peter Fantke

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2022.107477

Framework for developing an exposure science curriculum as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030

Alison Connolly^*, Paul T.J. Scheepers, Marie A. Coggins, Theo Vermeire, Martie van Tongeren, Gerhard Heinemeyer, James W. Bridges, Susanne Bredendiek-Kämper, Yuri Bruinen de Bruin, Anne Clayson, Johannes Gerding, Josephine McCourt, Jan Urbanus, Susana Viegas, Natalie von Goetz, Maryam Zare-Jeddi, Peter Fantke^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Background: Evaluating and managing exposures to chemical, physical and biological stressors, which frequently interplay with psychological stressors as well as social and behavioural aspects, is crucial for protecting human and environmental health and transitioning towards a sustainable future. Advances in our understanding of exposure rely on input from well-trained exposure scientists. However, no education programmes in Europe are currently explicitly dedicated to cover the broader range of exposure science approaches, applications, stressors and receptors.
Objective: To address this challenge, a curriculum is needed that yields credible, well-defined career pathways in exposure science.
Methods: Needs and conditions for advancing exposure science education in Europe were identified. As a starting point for a way forward, harmonised learning outcomes for exposure science were defined at each level of the European Qualifications Framework. The course programme coordinators were recruited for three varying courses, with respect to the course level and the proportion of the curriculum dedicated to exposure science. These courses were assessed via our systematic course review procedure. Finally, strategic objectives and actions are proposed to build exposure science education programmes.
Results: The ISES Europe ‘Education, Training and Communication’ expert working group developed a framework for creating a viable exposure science curriculum. Harmonised learning outcomes were structured under eight learning levels, categorised by knowledge, skills and competence. Illustrative case studies demonstrated how education providers integrated these learning outcomes for their educational context and aligned the overall exposure science curriculum.
Conclusions: The international recognition and adoption of exposure science education will enable advances in addressing global exposure science challenges for various stressors, from behavioural aspects from individual to population scale, and effective communication between exposure scientists and relevant stakeholders and policy makers, as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030.

Original language	English
Article number	107477
Journal	Environment International
Volume	168
Number of pages	10
ISSN	0160-4120
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107477
Publication status	Published - 2022

Keywords

Exposure assessment
Education and training
Learning outcomes
ISES Europe
Competence development

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Connolly, A., Scheepers, P. T. J., Coggins, M. A., Vermeire, T., van Tongeren, M., Heinemeyer, G., Bridges, J. W., Bredendiek-Kämper, S., Bruinen de Bruin, Y., Clayson, A., Gerding, J., McCourt, J., Urbanus, J., Viegas, S., von Goetz, N., Zare-Jeddi, M., & Fantke, P. (2022). Framework for developing an exposure science curriculum as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030. Environment International, 168, Article 107477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107477

@article{a00a93ae007f4db295f738e7b0ddc0e0,

title = "Framework for developing an exposure science curriculum as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030",

abstract = "Background: Evaluating and managing exposures to chemical, physical and biological stressors, which frequently interplay with psychological stressors as well as social and behavioural aspects, is crucial for protecting human and environmental health and transitioning towards a sustainable future. Advances in our understanding of exposure rely on input from well-trained exposure scientists. However, no education programmes in Europe are currently explicitly dedicated to cover the broader range of exposure science approaches, applications, stressors and receptors.Objective: To address this challenge, a curriculum is needed that yields credible, well-defined career pathways in exposure science.Methods: Needs and conditions for advancing exposure science education in Europe were identified. As a starting point for a way forward, harmonised learning outcomes for exposure science were defined at each level of the European Qualifications Framework. The course programme coordinators were recruited for three varying courses, with respect to the course level and the proportion of the curriculum dedicated to exposure science. These courses were assessed via our systematic course review procedure. Finally, strategic objectives and actions are proposed to build exposure science education programmes.Results: The ISES Europe {\textquoteleft}Education, Training and Communication{\textquoteright} expert working group developed a framework for creating a viable exposure science curriculum. Harmonised learning outcomes were structured under eight learning levels, categorised by knowledge, skills and competence. Illustrative case studies demonstrated how education providers integrated these learning outcomes for their educational context and aligned the overall exposure science curriculum.Conclusions: The international recognition and adoption of exposure science education will enable advances in addressing global exposure science challenges for various stressors, from behavioural aspects from individual to population scale, and effective communication between exposure scientists and relevant stakeholders and policy makers, as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030.",

keywords = "Exposure assessment, Education and training, Learning outcomes, ISES Europe, Competence development",

author = "Alison Connolly and Scheepers, {Paul T.J.} and Coggins, {Marie A.} and Theo Vermeire and {van Tongeren}, Martie and Gerhard Heinemeyer and Bridges, {James W.} and Susanne Bredendiek-K{\"a}mper and {Bruinen de Bruin}, Yuri and Anne Clayson and Johannes Gerding and Josephine McCourt and Jan Urbanus and Susana Viegas and {von Goetz}, Natalie and Maryam Zare-Jeddi and Peter Fantke",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.1016/j.envint.2022.107477",

language = "English",

volume = "168",

journal = "Environment International",

issn = "0160-4120",

publisher = "Pergamon Press",

}

Connolly, A, Scheepers, PTJ, Coggins, MA, Vermeire, T, van Tongeren, M, Heinemeyer, G, Bridges, JW, Bredendiek-Kämper, S, Bruinen de Bruin, Y, Clayson, A, Gerding, J, McCourt, J, Urbanus, J, Viegas, S, von Goetz, N, Zare-Jeddi, M & Fantke, P 2022, 'Framework for developing an exposure science curriculum as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030', Environment International, vol. 168, 107477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107477

TY - JOUR

T1 - Framework for developing an exposure science curriculum as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030

AU - Connolly, Alison

AU - Scheepers, Paul T.J.

AU - Coggins, Marie A.

AU - Vermeire, Theo

AU - van Tongeren, Martie

AU - Heinemeyer, Gerhard

AU - Bridges, James W.

AU - Bredendiek-Kämper, Susanne

AU - Bruinen de Bruin, Yuri

AU - Clayson, Anne

AU - Gerding, Johannes

AU - McCourt, Josephine

AU - Urbanus, Jan

AU - Viegas, Susana

AU - von Goetz, Natalie

AU - Zare-Jeddi, Maryam

AU - Fantke, Peter

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: Evaluating and managing exposures to chemical, physical and biological stressors, which frequently interplay with psychological stressors as well as social and behavioural aspects, is crucial for protecting human and environmental health and transitioning towards a sustainable future. Advances in our understanding of exposure rely on input from well-trained exposure scientists. However, no education programmes in Europe are currently explicitly dedicated to cover the broader range of exposure science approaches, applications, stressors and receptors.Objective: To address this challenge, a curriculum is needed that yields credible, well-defined career pathways in exposure science.Methods: Needs and conditions for advancing exposure science education in Europe were identified. As a starting point for a way forward, harmonised learning outcomes for exposure science were defined at each level of the European Qualifications Framework. The course programme coordinators were recruited for three varying courses, with respect to the course level and the proportion of the curriculum dedicated to exposure science. These courses were assessed via our systematic course review procedure. Finally, strategic objectives and actions are proposed to build exposure science education programmes.Results: The ISES Europe ‘Education, Training and Communication’ expert working group developed a framework for creating a viable exposure science curriculum. Harmonised learning outcomes were structured under eight learning levels, categorised by knowledge, skills and competence. Illustrative case studies demonstrated how education providers integrated these learning outcomes for their educational context and aligned the overall exposure science curriculum.Conclusions: The international recognition and adoption of exposure science education will enable advances in addressing global exposure science challenges for various stressors, from behavioural aspects from individual to population scale, and effective communication between exposure scientists and relevant stakeholders and policy makers, as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030.

AB - Background: Evaluating and managing exposures to chemical, physical and biological stressors, which frequently interplay with psychological stressors as well as social and behavioural aspects, is crucial for protecting human and environmental health and transitioning towards a sustainable future. Advances in our understanding of exposure rely on input from well-trained exposure scientists. However, no education programmes in Europe are currently explicitly dedicated to cover the broader range of exposure science approaches, applications, stressors and receptors.Objective: To address this challenge, a curriculum is needed that yields credible, well-defined career pathways in exposure science.Methods: Needs and conditions for advancing exposure science education in Europe were identified. As a starting point for a way forward, harmonised learning outcomes for exposure science were defined at each level of the European Qualifications Framework. The course programme coordinators were recruited for three varying courses, with respect to the course level and the proportion of the curriculum dedicated to exposure science. These courses were assessed via our systematic course review procedure. Finally, strategic objectives and actions are proposed to build exposure science education programmes.Results: The ISES Europe ‘Education, Training and Communication’ expert working group developed a framework for creating a viable exposure science curriculum. Harmonised learning outcomes were structured under eight learning levels, categorised by knowledge, skills and competence. Illustrative case studies demonstrated how education providers integrated these learning outcomes for their educational context and aligned the overall exposure science curriculum.Conclusions: The international recognition and adoption of exposure science education will enable advances in addressing global exposure science challenges for various stressors, from behavioural aspects from individual to population scale, and effective communication between exposure scientists and relevant stakeholders and policy makers, as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030.

KW - Exposure assessment

KW - Education and training

KW - Learning outcomes

KW - ISES Europe

KW - Competence development

U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107477

DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107477

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35998412

SN - 0160-4120

VL - 168

JO - Environment International

JF - Environment International

M1 - 107477

ER -

Framework for developing an exposure science curriculum as part of the European Exposure Science Strategy 2020−2030

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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