Dates: 10 - 11 September 2026
Location: Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen
Environmental risk factors account for approximately one quarter of global deaths, yet accurately measuring environmental exposures remains a major methodological challenge in global public health and climate research. Recent advances in satellite-based Earth observation and geospatial technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to assess air pollution, heat, greenness, urbanization, flooding, and other environmental stressors at high spatial and temporal resolution. However, important challenges remain regarding validation, uncertainty quantification, data integration, analytical complexity, and translation into policy-relevant evidence.
This interdisciplinary workshop will bring together researchers from public health, epidemiology, environmental and climate sciences, engineering, data science, and social sciences to discuss innovative geospatial measurement and analytical methods for global public health research and policy.
Key objectives:
- To critically examine current challenges and limitations in environmental exposure assignment using satellite-based geospatial data, including issues related to spatial–temporal resolution, uncertainty, validation, and contextual applicability across diverse settings.
- To explore opportunities and best practices in advanced analytical methods, including spatial modelling and machine learning, for deriving, validating, and applying satellite-based environmental exposure metrics in global health research.
- To discuss equity, ethical, and contextual considerations in the measurement and use of satellite-derived environmental and climate data, particularly across low- and middle-income and high-income country contexts.
- To co-develop a roadmap for translating satellite-based environmental and climate data into actionable evidence for global public health research, intervention evaluation, and policy-relevant decision-making.
The two-day hybrid workshop will combine short expert inputs, interactive methods clinics, and breakout discussions designed to foster interdisciplinary exchange and future collaboration.
We warmly welcome and encourage participation from both early-career and mid-career researchers, and we particularly value exchange across disciplines, perspectives, and global contexts. The workshop offers a unique opportunity to connect, collaborate, and shape a rapidly evolving research field with high relevance for global and planetary health.
Information about the workshop and registration
The workshop is limited to 25 participants. Interested individuals are therefore kindly asked to register by July 5 2026.
Participation in the workshop, including catering during the event, is free of charge. A limited number of travel and accommodation grants are available. Before applying for the grant, please consider whether you can obtain travel support from your institution.