The subject areas and challenges of global health include climate change, increasing human-animal interaction (One Health), the development of antimicrobial resistance, the global advance of digitalisation, and new types of stress tests for health systems – for example, due to social inequality or personal shortages. To address these global challenges, transnational perspectives and strategies, as well as transnational cooperation, are essential.
Over the past three weeks, the Department of Health Sciences at HAW Hamburg hosted a summer school on 'Global Health and Science Communication', funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), which tackled precisely these issues. A total of 14 Bachelor's and Master's students from Egypt, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa and Thailand took part in the online programme, which was organised by Professor Amena Ahmad and Preeti Vishnani. Speakers from HAW Hamburg and the Robert Koch Institute, as well as experts from Namibia and Tanzania, gave inspiring lectures and shared their practical experiences. In addition, science communication skills were taught in application-oriented workshops held over several days. The focus was on learning presentation techniques and the use of storytelling to present scientific content. As the highlight of the summer school, participants presented selected global health challenges as seen from the perspective of their country in a 'Science Slam'.
Despite the online format, intercultural activities helped the participants get to know one another. For example, they prepared chicken schnitzel and pancakes together in the online exchange, took a virtual city tour of Berlin, and completed a digital picture quiz on cultural curiosities using pictures they had all submitted. ‘In addition to the stimulating exchange on many serious topics, there were also lots of moments when we had a good laugh. This is also important for good cooperation,’ says Preeti Vishnani.
The summer school was a complete success. In future it could serve as a model for other courses and international teaching activities and further expand the internationalisation of HAW Hamburg, says Amena Ahmad. In view of the global challenges ahead, collaborative learning and research across national borders and cultures is more important than ever.
Authors: Prof. Amena Ahmad and Preeti Vishnani
Further information:Summer School Global Health programme
