This Connected Community is concerned with issues in public health from an interdisciplinary angle, and the relationship between the local relevance of global complex problems. The recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought public health to the fore and shown that health challenges are central to modern societies and, by nature, multifaceted.
Public health, by definition, brings together multiple stakeholders, health professionals, policy organisations, government as well as the public. The CC aims to engage with these multiple audiences and develop new learning opportunities, research and evidence-based policy.
The community is led by a group of international experts who are working together on a broad range of topics related to inequalities, public health nutrition, policy development, digital learning and health, amongst others.
The community is currently developing a MOOC, as well as an academic writing programme for PhD students. The CC intends to create a virtual placement scheme and, more broadly, develop a portfolio for student connectedness beyond the traditional designs.
Connected Community Activities
Upcoming events
Global Health MOOC
Planned launch: Spring 2026.
Past events
2025 International Conference for Public Health Students (31 October-1 November 2025, hybrid)
The conference, themed Reimagining Public Health: Building Equitable, Inclusive, and Sustainable Futures, united EUTOPIA students and beyond through a dynamic hybrid format. The conference welcomed 114 in-person participants and 120 online participants. The conference featured two distinguished keynote speakers: Professor Tracy Daszkiewicz (President of the Faculty of Public Health; Executive Director of Public Health & Strategic Partnerships, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board). Talk title: From Crisis to Transformation: Embedding Equity in Public Health Preparedness and Recovery and Professor Susan Hopkins (Chief Executive Officer, UK Health Security Agency – UKHSA). Talk title: Health Security in a Changing World: Building Resilient and Inclusive Public Health Systems. These keynote lectures provided strategic insights into equity, resilience, and preparedness in public health systems. An Early Career Researcher (ECR) Panel session, titled Navigating Next Steps: Early-Career Paths in Public Health, also brought together emerging scholars to share experiences and advice. The panel provided practical guidance on PhD pathways, publishing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and balancing teaching with research. Feedback highlighted its value for master’s students considering doctoral studies.
International Conference for Public Health Students (2 November 2024, 9:00-17:00 GMT)
In November 2024, the CC hosted an inaugural student research conference at the University of Warwick and online, bringing together future leaders of public health. The theme was ‘Advancing Healthy Lives and Wellbeing for All’, and the conference was a success with 326 attendees coming from 9 different countries. More information is available on the conference website, and a second edition is planned for 2025!
How to get involved?
Students and educators: please contact the CC Lead, Prof Debbi Marais (d.marais@warwick.ac.uk) and the Warwick Local Facilitator, Dr Mélina Delmas (melina.delmas@warwick.ac.uk).