We are excited to announce the workshop “Epidemics Past and Present: Historical Lessons, Contemporary Challenges,” which will take place at the Open University of Catalonia – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in Barcelona from 8-9 February, 2024.

Inspired by the renewed urgency for understanding epidemic dynamics in the wake of COVID-19, this event will bring together historians, demographers, epidemiologists, geographers, and other scholars to explore how past and present experiences of infectious disease can inform each other.

Through interdisciplinary debate, the workshop will examine themes such as the socioeconomic and environmental drivers of epidemics, the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions, the long-term impact of outbreaks on health and society, and the vulnerabilities of marginalized groups.

Organized within the EPI-PREDICT project and supported by the BBVA Foundation, the HiDo Network, and ADEH, this workshop offers not only rich academic exchange but also the opportunity to connect across disciplines in the vibrant city of Barcelona.

Read the full programme of the workshop here.