We are pleased to invite you to the 4th edition of the Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Congress, which will take place at De Doelen in Rotterdam on Thursday, 8 October 2026.

Science for a prepared world
Preparedness is not a destination; it is an ongoing practice. A virus outbreak or extreme weather events, like a flood or heatwave, are unfortunately not distant possibilities – they are foreseeable realities.

A prepared world is built on science. Scientific research provides the knowledge, innovations and evidence needed to anticipate and mitigate risks, and inform effective response and recovery strategies. Which lessons from previous crises can guide new and innovative prevention, early warning and response efforts? How do we connect different fields of science with policy, public health and education? What groundbreaking research is shaping the future of preparedness?

Join fellow researchers, policymakers and professionals in preparedness to explore how science for a prepared world can help us meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Program

Program is subject to changes.

Chair: Anja Schreijer

09:00 | Welcome and opening

09:05 | Opening lecture

 

Session 1: Preparedness futures: Across scales and systems

09:20 | Keynote – Preparedness futures across scales and systems: Where One Water meets One Health

09:40 | Frontrunner 1 – Climate-change-induced salinisation and mosquito-borne disease risks

10:10 | Panel + Q&A

 

10:30 | Coffee break with posters and demonstrations

 

Session 2: Evidence to action at the science-policy interface

11:00 | Keynote – Looking ahead: Improving decision making for pandemic preparedness and response

11:20 | Presentation – Integrated advice for preparedness and response: Why, how, when (not)?

11:30 | Presentation – Key questions for pandemic response: learnings from the UNITY project

11:45 | Q&A: Strengthening the science-policy interface, reflections in UNITY

11:55 | Presentation – Modeling for Preparedness: Readiness for uncertain futures

12:20 | Panel + Q&A: Decision-first modeling

 

12:30 | Lunch break with posters and demonstrations

 

Session 3: Advances in surveillance and early detection

13:30 | Keynote – Digital pandemic preparedness & response: Advances in surveillance, detection and guidance + Q&A

13:55 | Frontrunner 5 – Planes, Ports, Pipes, and Posts: Tracking a virus from import to detection + Q&A

14:30 | Presentation – Populations we cannot share: Synthetic Data and the data portability problem in outbreak detection + Q&A

 

14:50 | Tea break

 

Session 4: Science for a prepared society

15:30 | Perspectives on preparedness science: A cross-disciplinary conversation

16:05 | Keynote – The time is now? The role of time and lived experiences in disasters and crisis

16:25 | Reflection and Panel discussion

 

16:45 | Closing & Poster Awards

 

17:15 | Drinks

 

Registration

Registration is now closed. Please Send an email to pdpc@erasmusmc.nl if you have any questions about attendance!

Poster abstract submission

Abstract submission for poster presentations is closed.

 

We look forward to your participation.

On behalf of the PDPC Academic Board,