Organizers announce the workshop Understanding and Responding to Global Health Security Risks from Microbial Threats in the Arctic and invite nominations for the workshop planning committee. This workshop will convene 6-7 November 2019 in Hanover, Germany.

This workshop will bring together an international, interdisciplinary group of experts to explore what is known, and what critical knowledge gaps remain, regarding existing and possible future risks of harmful infectious agents emerging from thawing Arctic environments.

Discussions will include topics such as:

The workshop may also consider broader “One Health” perspectives on the changing Arctic environment and infectious disease dynamics, and questions about whether research on particular pathogens raises new biosafety/biosecurity concerns. Organizers hope to convene active researchers from numerous disciplines, public health officials, and representatives from key Arctic-region Indigenous communities (such as reindeer herders).

This workshop will be planned and facilitated by a small appointed committee with expertise in areas such as Arctic climate change and terrestrial ecology (soil, plants, animals), permafrost monitoring and modeling, emerging and re-emerging microbial threats, human and zoonotic infectious disease dynamics, and public health surveillance and response systems. Nominations for people to serve on this planning committee are invited. Self-nominations are welcome.

Organizers also invite suggestions for people to consider as workshop speakers. Speaker suggestions can be submitted online.

Deadline to submit nominations for workshop planning committee members: 5 April 2019

To view the full Call for Nominations, submit a nomination, and for more information about the workshop go to:
Call for Nominations webpage

For questions, contact:
Lauren Everett
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.