First-ever HEEP-focused course delivered at the University of Zurich

December 2025 saw the very first course built entirely around HEEP research delivered at the University of Zurich's Department of Evolutionary Anthropology.

The course, "Human Evolutionary EcoPhysiology," was a 4-week intensive block course created and run by Colin and HEEP Research Assistant (and former UZH Masters student) Zora van der Bie, taken by 18 undergraduate students. It introduced students to the Environmental Mismatch Hypothesis and guided them through the full arc of a research project, from foundational lectures on human evolution and industrialisation through to hands-on data collection and a final capstone presentation.

Students explored natural and industrialised environments directly, with outings to Zurich's Waldlabor forest site, the zoo and the city centre, alongside a guest lecture from Danny on environmental and evolutionary mismatch. Working in teams, students designed, piloted and ran their own original research projects examining how exposure to natural versus industrialised environments affects human biological health and function, before presenting their findings at the end of the course.

A brilliant first outing for HEEP-inspired teaching, and a great sign of things to come.