As societies face accelerating environmental change, geopolitical tensions, and increasing uncertainty, the role of the social sciences in understanding and navigating global transformations becomes increasingly important. This seminar explores how interdisciplinary research communities can contribute to resilience, governance, and societal adaptation in a rapidly changing world.

The seminar will address challenges and opportunities for the social sciences in the Anthropocene, including the role of global collaboration, the balance between scientific neutrality and advocacy, and the contribution of interdisciplinary approaches to policy and societal decision-making. Particular attention will be given to how social sciences can support understanding of climate risks, sustainability transitions, and governance under conditions of rapid global change.

Key topics

• The role of the social sciences in the Anthropocene
• Interdisciplinary research and global collaboration
• Science, policy, and societal decision-making
• Scientific neutrality, advocacy, and public engagement
• Governance and resilience under rapid global change
• Climate risks, sustainability transitions, and adaptation

Speaker

Frank Biermann, Research Professor of Global Sustainability Governance, Utrecht University

Frank Biermann is a political scientist and sustainability scholar specializing in global environmental governance and Earth system governance. His research focuses on institutions, policy, and the societal dimensions of global environmental change, with particular emphasis on sustainability transformations and governance in the Anthropocene.

Panel discussion featuring:

Robert Blasiak, Stockholm Resilience Centre

Emily Boyd, Lund University

Anna Sjöström Douagi, Nobel Foundation

Moderator: Victor Galaz, Stockholm Resilience Centre and Beijer Institute

Highlights

• Expert perspectives on global environmental governance and societal resilience
• Panel discussion on science, policy, and rapid global change
• Networking and refreshments following the seminar
• Hybrid participation options available

Bioacoustics, the study of nature’s sounds, has long been a powerful tool for studying wildlife. With the rise of artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning, the potential of this field has expanded dramatically. By applying advanced AI algorithms to bioacoustic data, researchers can now identify and monitor species with greater accuracy, even in environments where visual observation is difficult, such as dense forests or deep oceans.

This capability is especially critical as we face the sixth mass extinction. AI-enhanced monitoring offers new hope for conservation by providing deeper insights into the presence, behavior, and well-being of endangered species. Beyond detection, AI also opens doors to understanding animal communication and emotional states, thanks to its ability to autonomously identify and prioritize key acoustic features.

In this talk, I will present a series of case studies spanning multiple species and ecosystems to illustrate how cutting‑edge AI research can meaningfully advance our understanding of the living, complex world around us—and how these methods can help mitigate the biodiversity crisis we face and discover the surprisingly rich inner life of the animals surrounding us.

Speaker

Jeppe Have Rasmussen received his PhD in bioacoustics from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in 2018 and has since worked at the intersection of bioacoustics and artificial intelligence in Germany, the USA, and Norway.

His research spans a wide range of species—from farm animals such as pigs to marine mammals like whales—and he was featured in the documentary “If Pigs Could Talk,” recently broadcast across Europe, including Sweden.

2024 he published an article in Science exploring how AI and bioacoustics can revolutionize the monitoring of animal populations. He is currently based at the University of Copenhagen working on detecting and classifying vocalizations from narwhales in Greenland.

Highlights

– Expert perspective

– Interactive Q&A: Engage directly with the speaker during the live session

– Hybrid format: Lindholmsallén 10, Gothenburg, or online using Zoom.

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are narrow corridors of intense water‑vapor transport in the atmosphere. It is well known that ARs are critical drivers of regional precipitation and water supply in many parts of North America and East Asia. However, their role in Scandinavian hydroclimate is less well understood.

In this seminar, I will present a climatology of ARs making landfall in Scandinavia during 1980–2019 using AR detections from the Atmospheric River Tracking Method Intercomparison Project. Combined with ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data, we show that ARs occur up to 5.9% of the time in the most active regions, yet deliver up to 40.7% of annual precipitation in some locations. Through cluster analysis, we identify four distinct AR pathways associated with different precipitation patterns across Scandinavia. Finally, we relate AR variability to the large-scale circulation pattern of the North Atlantic Oscillation. Our results show that although Scandinavian ARs are relatively infrequent, they contribute a disproportionate share of the total annual precipitation.

Key topics

– Climate variability and extremes in the form of atmospheric rivers

– Impacts on precipitation in Scandinavia

– Methodological challenges and uncertainty quantification

Speaker

Hans Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Chalmers University of Technology.

Hans Chen is an Earth system scientist with a background in atmospheric and climate science. His research examines the Earth-system linkages that drive climate variability and change, with a particular emphasis on Arctic–mid-latitude connections and the terrestrial carbon cycle. He also develops new approaches to quantify fossil fuel emissions by integrating in situ and satellite observations with models using advanced data fusion techniques. At Chalmers, he leads the Climate Dynamics Group (https://climatedynamics.group), which studies topics including atmospheric rivers, atmospheric moisture dynamics, and the impacts of weather extremes on ecosystems, human health, and society

Highlights

– Expert perspective: Emerging methodologies and new findings on precipitation dynamics in Scandinavia

– Interactive Q&A: Engage directly with the speaker during the live session

– Hybrid format: Attend at Geocentrum or online via Zoom

About

Extreme weather and environmental exposures are key drivers of disease burden in populations worldwide. In this seminar, Dr. Alexandra Schneider — Deputy Director of the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Zentrum München — will explore how weather extremes (heat, cold, heavy rain) and environmental factors like air pollution, noise, and urban built environments affect human health, with an emphasis on cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory outcomes. Drawing on her work leading the Environmental Risks research group, the talk will highlight evidence on temperature–health relationships, exposure–response functions, vulnerable subgroups, and synergistic effects of pollutants with heat. The seminar will discuss both acute (short‑term) and chronic (long‑term) health impacts, and implications for adaptation and public health strategies in a changing climate. 

Key Topics

• Weather extremes and health: heat, cold, heavy rainfall risks
• Air pollution, noise, and urban climate influences on disease
• Cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes linked to environmental exposures
• Exposure–response relationships and susceptible populations
• Synergies between climate, air quality, and social determinants of health
• Implications for adaptation, early warning and public health protections

Speaker

Alexandra Schneider, MPH, PhD
Deputy Director, Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München — German Research Center for Environmental Health. 

Alexandra Schneider is a senior epidemiologist and Deputy Director of the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Zentrum München. Since 2010 she has led the Environmental Risks research group, investigating how weather, climate change, air pollution, noise and urban environments influence population health — particularly cardiovascular, metabolic and other chronic diseases. Her interdisciplinary work combines environmental science, meteorology and epidemiological methods to generate evidence for interventions and public health protection in the face of climate and environmental stressors. Schneider holds a Diploma in Meteorology, a Master’s in Public Health and a PhD in Human Biology and is active in international collaborations on environmental health. 

View bio: https://www.helmholtz-munich.de/en/epi/alexandra-schneider

Highlights

• Insights into health impacts of climate and environmental stressors
• Evidence on interactions between air pollution, heat and disease
• Discussion of vulnerable groups and adaptation strategies
• Q&A dialogue with participants

• A session with Professor Carlo Torti from the Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, as he explores the critical intersections between climate change and vector-borne diseases in Europe. 
• This webinar is co-organized by climes and the Karolinska Institute’s Department of Global Public Health.

Key Topics

• Impact of climate change on disease vectors
• Emerging trends in vector-borne diseases in Europe
• Adaptive strategies for public health

Speakers

• Carlo Torti, Professor of Infectious Diseases. View Bio
• Carlo Torti is currently working on molecular surveillance of tropical and neglected infectious diseases, focusing on host pathogen interactions and on evolutionary mechanisms underlying the pandemic potentials of emerging pathogens.
• Moderators:
  Elena Raffetti from climes, Karolinska Institutet, Uppsala University and University of Cambridge.
  Maurizio Mazzoleni from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Karolinska Institutet

Highlights

• Discussions: Gain insights from leading experts about the challenges and solutions at the intersection of climate change and health.
• Interactive Q&A: Engage with our speakers through a live Q&A session.
• Networking Opportunity: Connect with like-minded professionals and academics interested in climate impacts and public health.

Summary

• This webinar will be exploring the impact of climate change on vector-borne diseases in Europe. Hosted by climes in collaboration with the Karolinska Institute’s Department of Global Public Health, this event features renowned infectious disease expert, Professor Carlo Torti.
• As climate patterns shift, so too do the behaviors and distribution of disease vectors like mosquitoes and ticks, leading to new health challenges. In this session, Professor Torti will discuss the latest research findings on how changing climates are influencing the spread of infectious diseases across Europe. He will delve into emerging trends, the resulting public health implications, and the strategies needed to adapt to these changes.
• Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with Professor Torti during a live Q&A session, gaining deeper insights into the intersection of climate change and public health.
• Whether you’re a researcher, healthcare professional, or simply keen on understanding the nexus between our environment and health, this webinar will equip you with essential knowledge and perspectives to better understand and address the challenges posed by climate-induced changes in disease patterns.

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About

• A session with Dr. Maria Rusca from the University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute, exploring how societal responses to intensifying climate extremes are shaped by political, economic, and social forces. Dr. Rusca will introduce the Plural Climate Storylines Framework, which highlights how politics and power shape responses to future socio-climatic risks.

Key Topics

• The concept of climate storylines and their application to societal responses.
• Multiscale societal responses to climate extremes and their uneven impacts.
• Political and economic drivers in climate risk management.

Insights

• The key contribution, “Scenarios of Human Responses to Unprecedented Social-Environmental Extreme Events” (co-authored with Gabriele Messori and Giuliano Di Baldassarre), tackles the increasingly urgent need to understand how different societal groups might respond to future climate extremes, offering an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing the socio-environmental impacts of unprecedented events.
   Link to the publication 
  
• For a deeper understanding of the ideas in this paper, we also recommend her recent work “Speculative Political Ecologies: (re)imagining urban futures of climate extremes” (co-authored with Maurizio Mazzoleni, Alejandro Barcena, Elisa Savelli, Gabriele Messori) . This paper explores how climate extremes shape urban futures, drawing on political ecology to critically engage with social and environmental inequalities.
  Link to the publication 

Speaker

• Dr. Maria Rusca, Presidential Fellow, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester.
  View Bio

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About

• A seminar with Professor Antonio Gasparrini, a world leading researcher in climate and health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Gasparrini will present insights from the Multi-Country Multi-City (MCC) Collaborative Research Network, an international initiative exploring the intersections between environmental stressors, climate change, and health.The session will focus on the collaborative framework of the MCC Network, showcasing its global research database, innovative methodologies, and key findings on the health impacts of environmental and climatic factors..
• A joint event by climes and Karolinska Institutet/Department of Global Public Health
• 6 February 2025, 15.00-16.00​

Key Topics

• Global-scale research on climate and health.
• The MCC Network’s collaborative model for data and method sharing.
• Health risks associated with climate extremes, air pollution, and temperature changes.
• Advantages and challenges of multi-center epidemiological studies.

Insights

• Gasparrini’s work demonstrates how collaborative networks like MCC are critical for generating global evidence on health risks posed by environmental and climate-related stressors. His research provides essential guidance for policymakers and practitioners aiming to mitigate these risks.
• Click here to read an overview of the consortium

Speaker

• Professor Antonio Gasparrini, Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
  View Bio
  
  Moderators
• Elena Raffetti (Karolinska Institutet/Uppsala Universitet)
• Isabel Walter (Karolinska Institutet)

Registration

• Register using the form latest the day before the event.

About

• This webinar brings together two early career researchers presenting cutting-edge work on how rising temperatures affect human health across socio-economic divides in Europe.
• Results from the Formas project, ADATES (National program on climate), and the ERC EARLY-ADAPT project will also be presented.
• This webinar is co-organized by climes and the Karolinska Institute’s Department of Global Public Health.

Key Topics

• Socio-economic inequalities and temperature-related mortality
• Cardiovascular risk and air temperature
• Climate justice and health outcomes

Speakers

• Blanca Paniello Castillo, ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health
  Title: “Uneven Burdens: Socio-economic inequalities and temperature-related mortality differences in Europe”
  Blanca Paniello Castillo investigates how socio-economic status influences vulnerability to temperature-related mortality across European contexts, focusing on disparities in climate-related health risks.Isabel Walter, Karolinska Institutet
  Title: “Air temperature and thrombotic cardiovascular disease in England: a case time series using whole-population electronic health records”
  Isabel Walter uses large-scale health data to explore associations between air temperature and thrombotic cardiovascular events, providing critical insights into temperature sensitivity in population health.
• Moderators:
  Elena Raffetti from climes, Karolinska Institutet, Uppsala University and University of Cambridge.
  Edoardo Pavoni, Project Coordinator at Karolinska Institutet

Highlights

• Discussions: Two high-impact studies illustrating how temperature extremes intersect with health and inequality in Europe.
• Interactive Q&A: Ask your questions directly during the live session.
• Early Career Perspectives: Hear from emerging voices in the field of climate and health.

Summary

• As Europe faces more frequent and intense temperature extremes, understanding their health impacts—especially across different social groups—is vital. This climes webinar presents two timely research perspectives: one exploring socio-economic inequalities in temperature-related mortality, and the other analyzing links between air temperature and cardiovascular disease.Together, these talks shed light on the urgent need to address climate justice in public health responses. Join us for a moderated session featuring in-depth discussion, live Q&A, and actionable insights from two researchers working at the forefront of climate-health intersections.

Register

• Register latest the day before the event using the registration form.

About

• This seminar presents key findings from the 2024 Europe Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, highlighting the growing health risks of a rapidly warming Europe. With updated data across 42 indicators, the report reveals sharp increases in heat-related mortality, the spread of climate-sensitive diseases, and food insecurity—while exposing delays in climate action and missed opportunities to protect public health.
• The report also calls attention to regional inequalities, the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, and the need for health-responsive climate policy grounded in justice and equity.
• This event is co-organized by the Swedish Centre for Impacts of Climate Extremes and the Department of Global Public Health at Karolinska Institutet.
• Online event (Zoom). Time: 15.00–16.00 CEST / 14.00–15.00 UK time

Key Topics

• Health impacts of climate extremes – Heat, disease, food insecurity, and their compounding effects on health
• Inequality and vulnerability – How climate change affects populations differently, within and across countries
• Climate justice and responsibility – Europe’s emissions footprint and its implications for fair transition
• Governance gaps – The role of science, media, and policy in driving action—or maintaining inertia

Speakers

• Dr. Kim van Daalen, Research Associate, University of Cambridge and contributing author to the 2024 Lancet Countdown Europe Report.
• Dr. Kim van Daalen is a Research Associate in Global Public Health at the University of Cambridge and a core member of the Lancet Countdown in Europe. Her interdisciplinary work focuses on the connections between climate change, health, gender, and global inequality. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where she examined the health impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. Dr. van Daalen has contributed to multiple high-impact reports and is actively engaged in science-policy dialogue to advance health-informed climate action.

Highlights

• Expert Perspective: A critical and timely analysis from a leader in planetary governance.
• Interactive Q&A: Engage directly with the speaker during the live session.
• Online Format: Join online via Zoom.

Register

• Register latest the day before the event, using the registration form.