The Workshop on Public Health Policy, Risk Perception, and Infectious Disease focused on bridging the gap between public health professionals, policymakers, and disease modelers, held Aug. 10-12, 2026, at the Essex Resort & Spa in Essex, VT.
The meeting successfully brought together about 30 practitioners and researchers to address the disconnect between epidemiological modeling and policy implementation for infectious diseases. The event’s primary objectives were to support public health professionals in effectively utilizing mathematical models to guide their practical work and to inform modelers on how public health policies, real-world interventions, and official guidelines are actually formed and implemented.
Designed to foster a deeper understanding and stronger relationships between the fields, the meeting focused on identifying the practical challenges and mutual benefits of using epidemiological models to support public health decision-making.
Participants addressed the following key operational and systemic issues:
The workshop featured two performing artists from Event Rap who composed and performed rap songs about the days’ discussions. The world’s first ever rap music video sponsored by the National Science Foundation to fulfill the research grant’s Broader Impacts mandate was premiered.
Following the workshop, participants plan to continue the discussion and extend it to include international collaborators and other nonacademic groups.
To learn more about the research project that spurred the workshop, visit https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2436120