Plenaries at ESCAIDE 2025

Plenary A: High stakes, low certainty: post-normal science in public health governance

Day 1 - Wednesday 19 November, 9:30-10:30

Traditional science-based policy approaches often prove inadequate during health emergencies, when facts are uncertain, values are plural, stakes are high, and decisions are urgent. In such situations, the usual separation of facts from values becomes untenable.

This session features philosopher of science Silvio Funtowicz, who will explore Post-Normal Science perspectives on decision-making when conventional scientific approaches reach their limits. He will illustrate how in real-life scenarios, the pursuit of absolute truth gives way to the notion as fitness for purpose, fostered through dialogue between experts and extended peer communities. Funtowicz will argue that in high-stakes public crises and emergencies—marked by complexity, uncertainty, and value conflicts—science should help create just, responsible, and anticipatory knowledge, rather than strive for perfect predictions and impossible total control over policy actions.

Chairs: Agnes Hajdu (National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy, Hungary), Henriette de Valk (Santé Publique France)

Speaker: Silvio Funtowicz (University of Bergen, Norway)

Plenary B: Science-based leadership in public health: decisions under pressure

Day 1 - Wednesday 19 November 17:00-18:30

Science-based public health leadership during infectious disease emergencies involves complex decision-making where scientific knowledge provides important but incomplete answers. Leaders must make urgent decisions to protect population health when evidence is emerging, uncertain, or disputed, while managing competing demands, cultural values, and limited resources. In an era of populism and misinformation, promoting evidence-based policy requires balancing scientific accuracy with governance realities.

This session features a moderated debate with panellists from healthcare, policymaking, and public health backgrounds. Following brief opening reflections based on personal experiences, the discussion will explore key challenges at the intersection of science, policy, and leadership. The debate will address decision-making during health emergencies, including setting priorities under pressure and maintaining evidence-based approaches when scientific facts compete with political and social pressures for public attention and trust.

Chairs: Bruno Ciancio (ECDC), Jacobo Mendioroz Peña (Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Spain)

Speakers: Alemka Markotić (University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Croatia), Tanja Kuchenmüller (WHO, Switzerland), Karin Maria Nygård (Norwegian Institute of Public Health) 

Plenary C: The third pillar of One Health: why environment can't be an afterthought

Day 2 - Thursday 20 November 9:00-10:30

The One Health approach recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, yet the environmental dimension is frequently overlooked in public health planning. This represents a missed opportunity as environmental systems crucially influence health risks and disease emergence, particularly for threats like climate change and antimicrobial resistance.

Drawing on EU Member States’ experiences, speakers will explore how environmental systems influence health risks and examine the potential of environmental surveillance, including wastewater monitoring, for early warning. Through case studies and practical examples, the discussion will address how integrated surveillance and preparedness planning can be strengthened, offering policy recommendations and lessons learned to guide further action.

Chairs: Carlos das Neves (EFSA), Tyra Grove Krause (Statens Serum Institut, Denmark), Angeliki Melidou (ECDC)

Speakers: Jan Semenza (Umeå University, Sweden), Frank Møller Aarestrup (Danish Technical University), Heike Schmitt (RIVM and Technical University of Delft, Netherlands), Boudewijn Catry (Sciensano, Belgium)

Plenary D: One bird, two stones: veterinary and human health collaboration in action

Day 2 - Thursday 20 November 17:00-18:30

Effective outbreak response to zoonoses depends on close coordination between veterinary and human health sectors, yet achieving seamless collaboration between these traditionally separate domains remains a significant operational challenge. Recent outbreaks, particularly of avian influenza, have highlighted both the potential for successful cross-sector collaboration and persistent gaps in communication, surveillance systems, and response protocols.

Through real-world case studies from recent outbreaks, speakers will share examples of cross-sector collaboration, highlighting successes and challenges in surveillance and response. The discussion will focus on practical lessons for strengthening operational collaboration, presenting recommendations for joint surveillance systems, outbreak investigation protocols, and integrated risk assessment approaches.

Chairs: Angeliki Melidou (ECDC), Carlos das Neves (EFSA), Tyra Grove Krause (Statens Serum Institut, Denmark)

Speakers: Richard Webby (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, US), Alice Fusaro (European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Italy), Ramona Trebbien (Statens Serum Institut, Denmark) 

Plenary E: Health for all: equity challenges in accessing essential health services

Day 3 - Friday 21 November 9:20-10:45

Access to preventive and essential healthcare remains unequal across Europe, with some populations facing persistent barriers due to stigma, policy inconsistencies, financial constraints, and structural obstacles. These disparities are particularly visible in key public health areas where certain communities experience systematic exclusion from services.

This session features presentations from panellists who will examine how health inequities manifest, and explore how data, research, and practice can address them. The discussion will focus on three areas: combination prevention and PrEP access, vaccination inequities, and healthcare for migrant and displaced populations affected by re-emerging infectious diseases like tuberculosis and diphtheria. Speakers will present practical examples of inclusive approaches, targeted services, and people-centred systems that support health for everyone.

Chairs: Miłosz Parczewski (Pomeranian Medical University, Poland), Nadine Zeitlmann (Robert Koch Institute, Germany

Speakers: Viviane Bremer (Robert Koch Institute, Germany), Susan Hahné (RIVM, Netherlands), Adrian Stoica (Arges County Directorate of Public Health, Romania)

Plenary F: Beyond numbers: humanising public health to address health inequities

Day 3 - Thursday 20 November 15:45-16:30

Moving beyond traditional approaches, public health systems need to become more resilient and inclusive by recognising that meaningful evidence extends beyond statistics to include lived experiences and community voices.

This session features Grazia Caleo and Elburg van Boetzelaer, bringing together experiences from EU and humanitarian settings. The discussion will explore how evidence can be communicated in accessible and humanising ways, demonstrating how data can be transformed into storytelling and art. Focusing on vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly, speakers will address how data-driven, inclusive strategies can help close healthcare access gaps and empower communities to co-create solutions.

Chairs: Alicia Barrasa (EAN Network, UK Health Security Agency), Piotr Kramarz (ECDC)

Speakers: Grazia Caleo (UK), Elburg van Boetzelaer (Médecins Sans Frontières, Netherlands)