European Public Health Association

Soils are central to environmental sustainability and human well-being, yet they remain underrepresented in higher education and insufficiently addressed in societal awareness. With more than 60% of European soils affected by degradation, there is an urgent need for educational strategies to help reverse this trend. Within this context, the CURIOSOIL (URL: curiosoil.eu) project implements an integrated educational approach built on the Soil Literacy Assessment Framework (SLAF), which conceptualises soil literacy across four domains of knowledge, attitudes, and skills, operationalised through defined subdomains, descriptors, and learning outcomes. The SLAF provides a common structure for both the design of educational resources and the assessment of learning processes. Guided by this framework, a range of educational resources is being developed across different educational levels.For higher education, CURIOSOIL will implement four complementary approaches: (1) ready-to-use lesson plans for higher education teaching, including discipline-targeted materials to support integration of soil topics into non-soil standard curricula (2) a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) as a scalable learning environment designed to raise soil awareness and strengthen soil knowledge in higher education; (3) challenge-based learning activities that engage learners in authentic, societally relevant soil-health challenges; and (4) short online micro-credentials designed to deepen soil health knowledge. Together, these approaches address complementary dimensions of science communication, spanning soil knowledge acquisition, reflection, participation, and action-oriented learning. These activities are guided by CURIOSOIL’s Theory of Change (ToC), which defines long-term goals for assessing change in soil literacy and articulates how targeted educational resources and learning activities are expected to contribute to societal changes towards caring for soil and produce impact.The main goal of this study is to analyse how different higher education learning environments, designed under the Soil Literacy Assessment Framework and CURIOSOIL’s Theory of Change, contribute to improving soil literacy and fostering responsible soil stewardship among higher education students. In this presentation we will discuss the impact of the four complementary educational approaches of CURIOSOIL to identify which approaches are most effective for specific dimensions of soil literacy. We will investigate how scalable (MOOCs), immersive (CBL), and modular (micro-credentials) learning environments support distinct but complementary soil literacy processes and discuss how these could facilitate the integration of soil topics into non-soil-focused degree programmes. This study is expected to generate data-driven insights into how soil literacy can be designed, measured, and scaled in higher education.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe authors acknowledge co-funding from the European Union under the Horizon Europe Programme, through the project CURIOSOIL Grant Agreement No. 101112875 and the financial support of CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020+LA/P/0094/2020) by FCT/MCTES, through national funds. We also thank project partners for their contributions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed critical vulnerabilities in Europe’s public health infrastructure, highlighting significant challenges faced in the European Union (EU’s) mission to strengthen health systems, and to increase security and preparedness. Key obstacles such as fragmented data systems, unequal access to care across EU Member States (MS), limited trauma system capacity, and the lack of real-time health surveillance and intelligence, hamper timely detection, assessment, and the deployment of coordinated response to cross-border health threats. These gaps have already been highlighted in the EU’s health preparedness agenda, yet its scope ought to widen beyond infectious disease outbreaks so as to address a wider spectrum of preventable non-communicable harms, incl. injury, violence, and occupational trauma. Moreover, evolving and interconnected pressures such as climate change, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), urbanization, and an extremely intense pace of technological advancement, demand a more integrated, agile, and forward-thinking approach to safeguard health systems and security across the Continent.As the EU seeks to align public health systems and security with environmental sustainability and digital transformation, it becomes clear that siloed preparedness strategies are insufficient. Instead, interoperability, cross-sector collaboration and data integration, and citizen empowerment, must form the foundation of future-proof health systems, and also health surveillance systems. A comprehensive approach ought to consider all levels of care and adopt an intersectoral prism, to ensure patient and citizen safety whilst safeguarding the interests of public health and a robust innovation ecosystem.This panel will convene representatives from the patient community together with public health experts to explore how Europe can enhance its capacity to anticipate, absorb, and adapt to health crises. The discussion will focus on integrating risk intelligence, cutting-edge technologies, and inclusive governance models to safeguard public health and promote safety throughout the life course. Additionally, particular emphasis will be given to access and accessibility, including the creation of inclusive environments for individuals living with disabilities or experiencing compromised access for other reasons. Key themes include the strategic opportunities emerging at the nexus of digital transformation, the potential of data integration across sectors, citizen engagement, risk intelligence, and multisectoral governance. The panel will examine how the next generation of European health systems can be co-created to be anticipatory, inclusive, interoperable and resilient.The session will explore how whole-of-society (WoS) approaches can drive comprehensive safety and prevention strategies across all levels of health systems, involving all stakeholders, from the local community to national and European institutions. Emphasizing the critical need for harmonized and interoperable data streams across sectors, including health, environment, transportation, education, and social services, the discussion will highlight how integrated data can be used to enhance reporting on short- and long-term health and societal outcomes, reduce system burdens, and support robust, evidence-informed policymaking in both high- and low-resource contexts.Resilient infrastructures must not only provide efficient emergency responses but also ensure equitable access, support mental health, adequately address trauma and injury, and reduce inequalities. The session will thus discuss how spaces that are designed inclusively, integrating accessibility, dignity, and psychological safety, can foster trust in health systems, improve patient and worker wellbeing, and support recovery and reintegration.A special focus will be placed on the transformative role of digital innovation in health governance. This includes the expanding use of real-time analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI-) powered predictive modelling, and interoperable surveillance platforms that enable rapid, precise, and proactive decision-making. The panel will examine how the potential of these technologies can be responsibly harnessed to anticipate and identify emerging risks in real-time, how they ought to be evaluated so as to optimize resource allocation, and strengthen system responsiveness.Moreover, the panel will delve into the practical integration of One Health principles, promoting a holistic, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach to health security. Central to this approach is embedding citizen and patient voices in the design and governance of health systems and of AI technologies to ensure that policies are grounded in lived experiences, foster public trust, and reflect community needs.Finally, the session will critically assess frameworks for evaluating the effectiveness, safety, and equitable value of emerging health technologies in detail. It will underscore the importance of ensuring that innovations translate into accessible, affordable, and timely tools that meet the diverse needs of populations, particularly in vulnerable or underserved communities, thereby advancing health equity alongside technological progress.Through moderated discussions and practical case studies, this panel aims to foster a shared understanding among European institutions, civil society, and scientific stakeholders on how to co-create health systems that are not only crisis-responsive but also sustainable, trusted, and safe for all populations.

Despite significant progress, occupational injuries and work-related illnesses remain a pressing public health and policy challenge globally. In the European Union (EU), in 2022, 3,286 workplace fatalities and nearly 3 million non-fatal injuries were recorded, demonstrating the magnitude of this issue for the region. High-risk sectors, such as construction, agriculture, and transport, bear a disproportionate burden, while heat stress and hazardous exposures are rising, with workers in Europe and Central Asia reporting a 17% increase in heat-related injury rates. The economic cost is equally profound, i.e., work-related accidents and illnesses account for an estimated 3.3% of the EU GDP annually.Existing and emerging risks are reshaping the occupational landscape. Climate-related hazards, precarious employment arrangements, and psychosocial stressors linked to digitalization and shift work are generating complex health challenges in terms of prevention and response, as well as managerial and organizational challenges. Mental health is now progressively more formally recognized as a core dimension of occupational safety, with burnout, depression, and anxiety impacting a growing share of the workforce. In addition to the challenges of protecting those working in workplaces that may not be considered to be healthy, safe, or, with low quality of working-life conditions; the added importance of addressing psychological safety compounds these issues. This adversely impacts individuals, but also places public health at risk.Furthermore, given preventive and rehabilitative services largely remain fragmented, the EU’s collective resilience is compromised. Rehabilitation and work reintegration strategies are inconsistently applied across the EU, leading to long-term exclusion, economic hardship, and increased health inequalities, where injury-related disabilities grow in number, where effective and timely rehabilitation would have mitigated this. Chronic, comorbid, injury-related disability predisposes individuals to substance use and mental health disorders.The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed systemic vulnerabilities, from workforce shortages to supply chain fragility, prompting the European Court of Auditors (CoA, 2024) to conclude that the EU is still “not fully prepared” for future crises, and look at modalities such as rehabilitation and workplace (re-)design in relation to increased resilience and preparedness.This workshop directly supports the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work (2021–2027) and the Global Plan of Action on Workers’ Health of the World Health Organization (WHO), both of which call for stronger prevention, integrated and timely surveillance, mental health promotion, and resilient workforces working in workplaces that meet or exceed quality of working-life standards. The session will address preparedness and work design not only as emergency planning but as future proofing. We strive to build the foundation of a healthy, trained, and adaptable workforce capable of responding to crises in a proactive and planned manner, to mitigate system collapse.This panel will bring together public health epidemiologists/data scientists, legal specialists, academics, researchers, and EU bodies’ representatives to exchange evidence, share practical insights, and co-develop strategies for strengthening occupational safety, mental health, and workforce preparedness across Europe.The session will draw on the latest findings from the European Working Conditions Survey 2024, offering robust, pan-European insights into job quality, health and safety at work, and emerging risks. These results will frame debate systemic challenges, such as workforce shortages, the rise of precarious employment, psychosocial risks, and the increasing complexity of work, while also identifying opportunities to increase resilience and enhance protection for workers across sectors.The discussion will further address surveillance gaps and the urgent need for integrated European data systems capable of capturing injuries, mental health exposures and outcomes, and emerging risks. Legal and regulatory frameworks will also be explored to establish the extent to which workforce resilience can be reinforced through cross-sectoral approaches that connect key elements, such as workplace design, health, environment, and urban planning policies. Complementing this, frontline perspectives will focus on managing burnout, depression, and trauma, and the training needs required for both prevention and recovery-oriented care in diverse occupational and workplace settings.By integrating insights from surveillance, law, clinical practice, sociotechnical practice, and policy innovation, this panel will map actionable pathways towards a future-ready workforce and supportive workplaces. Particular emphasis will be placed on aligning prevention, rehabilitation, and reintegration strategies with EU and WHO priorities, thus, reducing long-term disability, promoting social and economic inclusion, and strengthening a culture of safety across Europe’s labor market.Through moderated discussion and practical case studies, the panel will contribute towards establishing shared understanding among stakeholders, i.e., European institutions, policymakers, civil society and academia on how to advance evidence-informed policies that enhance workforce resilience and protection for all workers.

Europe is experiencing a significant demographic shift, with aging populations posing economic and social challenges due to increased healthcare costs and a higher prevalence of age-related diseases. Hungary, in particular, faces these challenges acutely due to higher morbidity and mortality rates from a range of chronic age-related diseases and behavioral risk factors. Addressing these issues requires innovative approaches to promote healthy aging. Semmelweis University, the largest healthcare provider and leading health sciences university in the region, is developing a comprehensive healthy aging program. A critical pillar of this program is the Semmelweis-EUniWell Workplace Health Promotion Model Program, a pioneering initiative aimed at tackling unhealthy aging within Hungary’s workforce by leveraging the workplace as a platform for health promotion. Central to this program’s goal of combating sedentary lifestyles—a significant contributor to age-related health issues—is the innovative use of micro-gyms and motivational interviewing. Micro-gyms, with their compact size and accessibility, provide convenient exercise opportunities, while motivational interviewing fosters intrinsic motivation and personalized counseling to encourage sustained physical activity. Through concerted efforts and innovative approaches, including the implementation of micro-gyms, the Semmelweis-EUniWell Workplace Health Promotion Model Program aims to set a benchmark for workplace health promotion, fostering a healthier and more resilient aging population in Hungary. This program not only enhances the well-being of employees at Semmelweis University and its EUniWell partner institutions but also catalyzes broader transformations in workplace health promotion and healthy aging nationwide.

BackgroundPublic health is under pressure from rising populism, disinformation, and weakened global institutions, threatening cooperation, equity, and trust in science.AnalysisPopulism politicises health, suppresses evidence, and marginalises vulnerable groups. Public health diplomacy must adapt, becoming more politically aware, ethically grounded, and resilient.Policy OptionsWe propose nine ways forward: create diplomacy labs for crisis simulation; empower non-state actors like cities and NGOs; strengthen ethical communication and listening; protect health workers; build alternative accountability systems; reframe health as a diplomatic priority; decentralise and diversify funding; develop a new diplomacy curriculum; reinvent and defend multilateralism.ConclusionPublic health diplomacy must evolve into a bold, inclusive, and strategic force. By defending evidence, empowering diverse actors, and reforming institutions, it can safeguard health as a foundation for peace and global progress.

Abstract According to the “Urban Health Rome Declaration” at European meeting “G7 Health” that defines the strategic aspects and actions to improve Public Health into the cities, and referring to the Agenda 2030 in which the 11th SDG argue about “Sustainable Cities and Communities. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, one of the most expressive syntheses of the challenging relationship between urban planning and Public Health is stated by WHO (2016): “Health is the precondition of urban sustainable development and the first priority for urban planners”. Referring to the Healthy Cities & Urban Health definitions, we can consider Public Health not merely an aspect of health protection and promotion, but an individual and collective condition, strongly influenced by the environmental context and by the strategies implemented by local Governments. The “Health in All Policies” strategy, clearly underlines how health doesn’t depend only on the supply of healthcare services, but also, on the quality of outdoor and indoor living environments. Aim of the Presentation 3 is the share the findings of a literature review about the link between the urban contexts’ morphological and functional features; the results are divided into: 14 Health Outcomes, representing the main Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) whose come from the urban environment’s quality and by the adoption of healthy lifestyles; 8 types of Environmental Risk Factors (Urban Heat Island Effect; soil/air/acoustic/light pollution; vehicular traffic; Safety & Security; weak attractiveness of places); and 14 Healthy Urban Planning Strategies (green/blue/grey infrastructures; biodiversity protection; adverse meteoric events management; public transport systems; vehicular traffic reduction; pedestrian and cycling paths; social and functional mix; urban solid waste’s management; renewable energy and efficiency; outdoor spaces lighting; Design for All).