Global Health Symposium: Extreme heat and health in the context of climate change
About the symposium
The goal of the annual UCPH Global Health Symposium is to highlight a global health emergency: The impact of extreme heat on public health due to climate change. In the next decade or so, heat is anticipated to emerge as one of the foremost consequences of climate change impacting public health. Although the deleterious effects of heat on health have been documented in different fields of study, we are still not adequately prepared to address this challenge on a global scale. The aim of this symposium is to bring together leading scientific experts and practitioners, young researchers, students, and the public to share and discuss the current state of research and practice globally, to promote transdisciplinary collaboration, and to identify steps needed to advance the field.
The symposium will target researchers within the field, students at universities, organisations working with health and climate change, and the public.
It is free and open to everyone. We particularly invite students and early-career researchers to join us.
The symposium is co-hosted by Copenhagen Center for Disaster Research and the School of Global Health, University of Copenhagen. The event is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Abstract submission
Would you like to present your research at the symposium? Then submit your abstract for consideration before 15 September 2025. Read more about abstract submission here.
Registration
Please register for the symposium before 10 November here.
Programme
Three keynote speakers will present their research and experiences and unpack the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 14 abstracts are selected for lightning talks, and several will be selected for poster presentations. In the afternoon on day 2, participants work in teams to analyse a real-world heat and health challenge provided by the World Weather Attribution, and the day will end with a networking session with students, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and organisations working in the field. On day 3, besides keynotes and lightning talks, a panel with invited experts will take place. Furthermore, on day 1, a PhD/Postdoc workshop with the presenters will take place, informing a journal commentary on the topic, and in the evening, a public free-to-attend social film screening including a panel will be organised. Check out the detailed programme below (continuously updated).
Detailed programme
Wednesday 10 December
Venues:
PhD and Postdoc workshop: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 CPH N
Filmscreening: Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, 1123 CPH K
|
Time |
Activity |
|
11:00 – 16.00 |
PhD & Postdoc workshop |
|
16:30 – 17:00 |
Meet & Greet at Cinemateket |
|
17:00 – 18:15 |
Film screening |
|
18.15 - 19.00 |
Post-film panel |
|
19:00 – 20:00 |
Networking with snacks and drinks |
Thursday 11 December
Venue: Auditorium Henrik Dam, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 CPH N
|
Time |
Activity |
|
08:30 – 09:00 |
Registration and morning coffee |
|
09:00 – 09:10 |
Welcome Address by Bente Merete Stallknecht, Dean, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen |
|
09:10 – 09:20 |
Welcome by the organisers w/ Nick Baumgart, PhD, Copenhagen Center for Disaster Research, University of Copenhagen Lena Skovgaard Andersen, Associate Professor, School of Global Health, University of Copenhagen Emmanuel Raju, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Center for Disaster Research, University of Copenhagen |
|
09.20 - 09.30 |
Ice breaker |
|
09:30 –10:30 |
Keynote + Q&A |
|
10:30 – 10:45 |
Coffee break, poster session, networking with NGOs |
|
10:45 – 12:15 |
Rapid fire presentations: 5 researchers x 15 min., followed by 15 min. Q&A |
|
12:15 – 13:00 |
Lunch, poster session, networking with NGOs |
|
13:00 – 14:00 |
Rapid fire presentations: 4 researchers x 15 min., followed by 15 min. Q&A |
|
14.15 - 14.30 |
Coffee break, poster session, networking with NGOs |
|
14:30 – 16:30 |
Mini-case challenge: Participants work in teams to analyse a real-world heat and health challenge |
|
16:30 – 17:00 |
Networking reception |
Friday
Venue: Auditorium Nielsine Nielsen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 CPH N
|
Time |
Activity |
|
09:00 – 09:15 |
Registration and morning coffee |
|
09:15 – 09:30 |
Welcome by the organisers |
|
09:30 – 10:30 |
Keynote + Q&A |
|
10:30 - 10.45 |
Coffee break, poster session, networking with NGOs |
|
10:45 –12:15 |
Rapid fire presentations: 5 researchers x 15 min., followed by 15 min. Q&A |
|
12:15 – 13:00 |
Lunch, poster session, networking with NGOs |
|
13:00 – 14:00 |
Keynote + Q&A |
|
14:00 – 14:15 |
Coffee break, poster session, networking with NGOs |
|
14:15 – 15:15 |
Panel and live podcasting |
|
15.15 - 15.30 |
Wrap-up |
|
15:30 – 16:00 |
Networking reception |
Networking sessions with organisations working within heath and health
Several organisations working within the field will be invited to network. They will be tabling throughout the symposium days, ready to interact with guests and researchers. If your organisation would like a table at the symposium, please indicate your interest on sgh@sund.ku.dk
Supported by
