ISGlobal’s XI Doctoral Symposium Focuses on Conducting Research in the New World Order

The Eleventh Edition of ISGlobal's PhD Symposium took place on October 8th at the PRBB Auditorium, bringing together dozens of PhD students for a full day of exchange, reflection and community building. Under the theme “Global Health and the New World Order,”  the event provided a platform for early-career scientists to present their work, discuss pressing global health challenges, and strengthen collaborations across disciplines.

The day opened with a welcome from the PhD Symposium Organising Committee (Camila Awad, Guilherme Queiroz and Angeline Cruz), Núria Casamitjana, Chair of the Predoctoral Committee, and Quique Bassat, General Director of ISGlobal.

Núria Casamitjana highlighted the importance of the event, noting that ISGlobal currently hosts 145 PhD students from 44 countries, representing 25% of the institute’s staff. Meanwhile, Quique Bassat encouraged participants to make the most of the day: “I wish all of you a successful day and an even more successful PhD — a PhD with a sense of purpose, with the exciting perspective of working for a better, healthier, and more global world.”

Inspiring Keynotes on Global Health and Scientific Responsibility

Two keynote lectures set the tone for the symposium’s central theme.

Dr. Robert Newman opened the programme with “Repositioning the Value of Global Health in an Age of Polarisation”, reflecting on the challenges of maintaining optimism and engagement amid growing distrust in science.

“We are living in complicated times,” he said. “We need to put ourselves in the place of those who are sceptical of research, maintain empathy, stay engaged, and be present at the table to shape the future of global health. With passion, optimism, vision, and collective leadership, we can transform even a seemingly polarised world.”

In the second keynote, Dr. Charlie Gardner addressed the role of the scientific community in facing the planetary emergency and the importance of taking an active stance on social and environmental challenges. His talk, “From Publications to Public Actions? The Roles and Responsibilities of Scientists in a Planetary Emergency”, urged researchers to bridge science and advocacy.

“We do research to generate knowledge, but not only that,” he noted. “We generate knowledge to make the world a better place. Our contribution is to provide information that policymakers can use. But we must remember that it’s a battle of interests, and our voice must be strong.”

Debating Research in a Changing World

A highlight of the day was the roundtable discussion featuring Carolyn Daher, Silvia de Sanjosé, Silvia Gómez Araujo, and Isabelle Munyangaju. The panel analysed how the rise of authoritarianism is affecting research freedom, funding, and international collaboration, prompting a lively and thoughtful exchange among participants.

Throughout the day, PhD students presented their ongoing research through oral and mini-presentations covering a wide range of topics in global health. The sessions encouraged dialogue, constructive feedback, and the exchange of ideas across ISGlobal’s research community.

The symposium concluded with closing remarks from Denise Naniche, ISGlobal’s Scientific Director, who reflected on the broader purpose of scientific research: “We are all here because we want to make the world a better place. Keeping that motivation can be hard — when analyses take too long, experiments fail, or data collection goes wrong. But those micro-steps are part of a bigger picture. Your work matters; it is the foundation of tomorrow’s scientific evidence and societal change.”

Career Perspectives Take Centre Stage at the Postdoctoral Symposium

Also at the PRBB, six days later, ISGlobal held its Postdoctoral Symposium. The event opened with a welcome address by Manolis Kogevinas, who shared thoughtful reflections on the role of science in today’s complex and challenging
global context.

The programme combined participatory activities, discussions, and networking opportunities. The professional development workshop, led by TPM Science, invited participants to reflect on what drives them to pursue research, explore their future career prospects, and to identify the key values they seek in a supportive and fulfilling work environment.

During the Career Panel, three speakers shared their diverse professional journeys and insights: Dr. Santi F. Gómez, Gavin Lucas, and Alicia Santamaría Orleans. The first speaker discussed his experience in community-based interventions to prevent childhood obesity, while the others highlighted the importance of science communication and building bridges between academia and industry.

The symposium — organised by Elisa Gallo, Nicola Palma, Sarah Warkentin, and Iris Lopes — concluded with a collective discussion on organisational topics and future perspectives for ISGlobal’s postdoctoral community.