Peter Furu

Peter Furu serves as Associate Professor and Head of Studies in the Global Health Section at the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. With a career spanning since 1983 across 25+ countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Central America, his work integrates global health research, education, and policy development.

His educational background includes:

• Master of Public Health (MPH, 2003) from Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg
• Diploma of Public Health (DPH, 1997) from Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg
• Master of Science in Biology (1984) from University of Copenhagen

Furu's research focuses on the intersection of environmental systems and human health, particularly planetary health dynamics, health impact assessment methodologies, and climate change health implications. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in sustainable development, emphasizing integrated approaches to water resource management, disease control, and sustainable tourism. He has pioneered capacity-building initiatives across Southeast Asia and Africa, developing frameworks for health impact assessment in developing contexts.

As an educator, he leads multiple graduate programs including the Master of Disaster Management and Master of Science in Global Health, with specialized courses on planetary health and climate change. His teaching philosophy incorporates problem-based learning and e-learning innovations, reflected in his Coursera MOOC on climate change health impacts.

Professional engagements include:

• Member of University of Copenhagen's Climate Panel (Faculty of Science)
• Expert panel member for climate change and health initiatives
• Referee for international scientific journals
• Former Head of WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Environment in Sustainable Development (1998-2012)
• External Examiner for Danish universities (2002-2022)

Furu has supervised over 40 bachelor's, master's, and PhD students while directing comprehensive training programs across 25+ international courses. His research management expertise includes principal investigator roles for projects in Tanzania and Malawi, alongside consultancies for WHO, World Bank, and Danida. Current collaborative networks span climate change adaptation, planetary health education, and sustainable development across global institutions.