Virtual Event Series
To complement Swiss TPH symposia, we are happy to also offer a Virtual Event Series. Each 1-1/2 hour session will address current and relevant global public health, research, and/or higher education issues to a broad range of audiences. Specialists and non-specialists are invited to join us for this exciting new virtual series.
All sessions will be recorded and later made available on the event web page.
Note: For each individual session, registration will close at 12:00 the day before the event, at which time all registered participants will receive the link to the respective virtual session.
Information

Are COVID-19 Vaccines the Way Out of the Pandemic?
11 March 2021, 10:30-12:00 CET
COVID-19 vaccines are currently the most heavily discussed topic. In this virtual session we will review the basics behind it all: immunology and the differences between the presently available COVID-19 vaccines, efficacy data from clinical trials, ways to reach ‘herd immunity,’ the situation in low- and middle-income countries, and the perfect vaccine of the future.
Programme | |
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10:30 | Pitfalls and Obstacles to the COVID-19 Vaccine, Daniel Paris, Swiss TPH |
11:30 | Q&A |
12:00 | End of Session |

The Science Behind COVID-19: Interpreting Epidemiological Trends and Models
14 April 2021, 12:00-13:30 CET
What is mathematical epidemiology and how has it traditionally been used? What can epidemiological trends tell us and what is the importance of genomic surveillance? How can mathematical modelling support planning of COVID-19 interventions? Join us to review the history of mathematical epidemiology and modelling, its world-wide prominence over the last 12 months, and why we are discussing the science behind COVID-19 modelling and epidemiology data today. We will look at monitoring of genetic variants, communication beyond the science to decision makers, COVID-19 vaccine and intervention modelling, and how to interpret scenarios (not forecasts) for decision making.
Preliminary Programme | |
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12:00 | Setting the Scene and Interpreting Epidemiologicial Trends, Melissa Penny and Nakul Chitnis, Swiss TPH |
12:25 | Genomic Surveillance and Epidemiological Trends, Sarah Nadeau, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich) |
12:50 | Understanding Intervention Scenarios, Andrew Shattock, Swiss TPH |
13:15 | Q&A |
13:30 | End of Session |

How Can Health Systems Promote Social Protection?
7 May 2021, 13:00-14:30 CET
The "Systems Thinking for District Health Systems (ST-DHS) initiative" has brought disruptive approaches and methodologies to districts in three very different countries (Botswana, Pakistan and Timor-Leste), including fragile and post-conflict settings. The driving force in the current situation for the ongoing innovation process is an online community of practice across these three countries. Representatives from research institutions, district health management teams from the three countries, as well as from the technical support centre hosted at Swiss TPH will present the approaches and tools used to bring systems thinking closer to district health systems. Finally, we will introduce the ongoing design and launch of a global community of systems thinkers, the Systems Thinking Accelerator.
PROGRAMME TBA

Climate Change and COVID-19: What’s the Connection?
3 June 2021, 10:30-12:00 CET
The COVID-19 crisis has shown how a large shock can rapidly pull millions of people back into poverty and health insecurity. There are increasing discussions on what COVID-19 and the responses it entailed from the health systems could mean for adaptation to climate change effects on health. This session will address the need to understand the complex interlinkages between these twin planetary challenges and how the global community could move beyond sector-specific crisis reactions.
Programme | |
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10:30 | COVID-19 and Climate Change Interlinkages: What We Know and Emerging Questions, Guéladio Cissé, Swiss TPH |
10:40 | Quiz |
10:50 | Climate Change and Heat in Switzerland, Martina Raggetli, Swiss TPH |
11:00 | “One Health” Approach to Climate Change and COVID-19, Jakob Zinsstag, Swiss TPH |
11:10 | Break |
11:20 | Health System Thinking to Face Dual Global Threats, Daniel Cobos Munos, Swiss TPH |
11:30 | Break-Out Sessions - Next Steps for Collaborations |
11:45 | Discussion |
12:00 | End of Session |

Happiness in COVID-19 Times?
8 July 2021, 10:30-12:00 CET
The COVCO-Basel study is investigating the impact of the pandemic on the living conditions of the population in the Basel region. How has the happiness and well-being of the population changed during the pandemic and what are the long-term effects on mental and physical health? What role does the urban and living environment play in this context? In this virtual session, study results will be reviewed and discussed.
PROGRAMME TBA