Workshop focuses on collaborative approaches to complex health challenges.
Researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from diverse sectors and disciplines came together at Vetmeduni, a member of the Complexity Science Hub, for the second workshop of Austria’s One Health Network. Launched earlier this year, this national initiative addresses the urgent need for transdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, and systems-oriented approaches to health risks, particularly in the face of the polycrisis encompassing climate change, pandemics, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, and social inequality. At its core, the One Health concept emphasizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health, making it essential to approach these challenges in an integrated way.
In her keynote address, Amélie Desvars-Larrive, who leads the research group “Health Across Species” at CSH, emphasized, “To tackle complex global challenges, we need a One Health workforce that mirrors the diversity of our world. This includes diversity across disciplines, sectors, and social identities such as gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, and nationality. By bringing together these varied perspectives, One Health Network Austria can develop more creative, effective, and inclusive solutions to the country’s pressing health
SYSTEMS-BASED STRATEGIES
The workshop covered several key topics, including the need for transdisciplinary research, advancing education in the One Health field, and establishing trusted communication channels and data-sharing mechanisms. These elements are crucial for developing systems-based strategies that not only enhance societal resilience but also address critical issues such as zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, and degradation of the natural environmental.
The Complexity Science Hub’s focus on data and complex systems complements the goals of the One Health Network by deepening our understanding of the intertwined medical and non-medical drivers of health. Through this collaboration, the network seeks to advance scientific progress through innovative, data-driven solutions, strengthen political engagement, and promote effective communication among public, private, and academic stakeholders at local, national, and global levels.
This text is based on the original published on the Vetmeduni website.
