Call for abstracts: Extreme heat and health in the context of climate change

About the symposium 

The goal of this 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 working with climate change, heatwaves and health 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.

Date: 10-12 December 2025 (to be confirmed)
Venue: University of Copenhagen and Online 
Deadline for abstract submission: 15 September 2025 

Symposium conveners: 

• Nick Baumgart, PhD student, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen 
• Emmanuel Raju, Associate Professor, Director of Copenhagen Center for Disaster Research, University of Copenhagen
• Lena Skovgaard Andersen, Associate Professor, Director of School of Global Health, University of Copenhagen 

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. 

Programme 

Three keynote speakers will present their research and experiences and unpack the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 14 selected researchers will present their own research on the topic through short presentations, and several researchers will be selected for poster presentations. 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. 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 rapid-fire presentations, a live podcasting panel will take place.  

Abstracts submission 

We invite abstract submissions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes: 

• Health impacts of extreme heat across populations and regions 
• Vulnerability, equity, and determinants of heat-related health outcomes
• Preparedness and responsiveness of healthcare systems
• Interdisciplinary approaches to adaptation and mitigation
• Environmental justice
• Policy frameworks, governance, and international collaboration
• Community-based responses and knowledge sharing related to heat
• Data-driven tools, early warning systems, and spatial modelling
• Urban heat planning/urban heat islands 

Selected abstracts will be invited to present during a 15-minute rapid-fire session. Additional high-quality submissions will be offered a poster presentation slot.  

Why submit an abstract? 

• Present to a global, interdisciplinary audience
• Collaborate in shaping research priorities
• Contribute to an emerging field of critical relevance
• Engage in a mini case challenge with real-world scenarios
• Network with NGOs, institutions, and researchers across sectors 

Submission Guidelines

Submit an abstract of up to 300 words including title of your study, and the names and affiliations of investigators. Please include information about the research’s background, method, results, conclusion. 

Submit by sending the above information to sgh@sund.ku.dk before 15 September 2025. 

Eligibility 

Researchers at all career stages are encouraged to apply. Early career scholars are especially welcome. 

Travel grants 

Selected presenters can apply for travel grants from the organisers if they need support for travel and accommodation. People from low- and middle-income settings are prioritised for the grants. We encourage low-emission travels, e.g. trains, busses, car sharing etc. 

PhD/Postdoc workshop and Commentary 

To ensure greater impact of the symposium, a PhD/Postdoc workshop will be organised on Day 1. Invited presenters and early career researchers will spend half a day workshopping themes and ideas for a commentary to be published after the symposium in an academic journal, highlighting some of the research priorities and steps needed to elevate this field. The workshop will be led by the symposium convenors, who will also take on the role of co-editors of the commentary. If you are interested in joining the workshop, please indicate this in the abstract submission e-mail. 

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 

Interested in joining the symposium as a guest? 

You can join the symposium free of charge. Registrations will open later.