Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Lecture: Public health has rightly always had a commitment to learn from the past and to use this knowledge to look to the future. This lecture from Professor Tony McMichael not only does this but reminds us that some of the problems of the past are just as relevant today. It also reviews some of the new issues in health. Even more critically, it seeks to move forward our way of thinking and understanding the developments in science, since some of our present ways of understanding and interpreting scientific evidence, with respect to population health are limiting.
This challenging lecture covers aspects of infection, environmental hazards, genetic advances and pollution. It is designed to ensure that epidemiologists and other people whose work relates to public health do not remain complacent about public health issues.