12 3 / 2021 // LEOPOLDINA / NEWS
International discussion series
Are distancing and masks changing us ?
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed our health-related behaviour and which behaviours will continue beyond the pandemic ? The Leopoldina and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences organised the interdisciplinary “ COVID-19 and Human Health Behavior : Impacts and Trends ” virtual panel discussion to give international experts the chance to discuss this topic . The panel also examined efforts by governments and society to control human health behaviour . Psychologist Ralph Hertwig ML was the expert representing the Leopoldina . The panel discussion was part of the Leopoldina International Virtual Panel Series .
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Western Balkans – 10 Point Plan to control COVID-19
Recommendations from the Berlin Process Joint Science Conference
At the conference , President of the Leopoldina Gerald Haug ( top left ) called for improved pandemic preparedness and crisis resilience .
Screenshot : Stefanie Kirsch | Leopoldina
COVID-19 and human health behaviour
International discussion series
Data – a means of controlling COVID-19
In July , the Leopoldina organised an international virtual panel discussion on the role of data in the COVID-19 pandemic . The experts came from France , the United Kingdom , Italy and Germany and included Gerd Gigerenzer ML . They discussed the benefits and limitations of data as a means of informing public health responses as well as opportunities for using data to increase preparedness for international health emergencies in the future . 110 guests from 13 countries watched the 6th International Virtual Panel . The series is organised by the Leopoldina in cooperation with its international partners .
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Data in the COVID-19 pandemic
The 6th Berlin Process Joint Science Conference prepared recommendations on combatting the pandemic for the virtual meeting of the heads of state and government at the Western Balkans Berlin Summit .
The sixth annual conference of the national stakeholders of the education and science systems in the framework of the Berlin Process focused on CO- VID-19 . The virtual meeting was held in early July and was attended by around 60 high-level representatives of national academies , universities and research organisations from the 16 countries involved in the Berlin Process .
It was jointly organised by the Polish Academy of Sciences and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina under the 2021 German Presidency of the Berlin Process . “ We need to draw lessons from the pandemic without delay . The first logical step is to improve pandemic preparedness and crisis resilience ,” advised the President of the Leopoldina Gerald Haug ML .
Ivan Đikić ML , Goethe University Frankfurt , reminded participants of the need to remain vigilant : “ The European continent should be treated as a single epidemiological area . More vaccinations and unitary travel regulations are necessary .”
The discussions resulted in a “ 10 Point Plan ”, which outlines short-term , mid-term and long-term measures for the next two years to curb the spread of the pandemic in South East Europe and Europe as a whole . The short-term measures include increasing the supply of vaccines to Western Balkan countries and setting uniform regulations for travel within Europe which cover standards on vaccinations , tests and the use of the forgery-proof EU Digital COVID Certificate .
The “ 10 Point Plan ” also recommends prioritising the EU investments earmarked for the recovery of the Western Balkans for the following : creating an efficient healthcare system , meeting the objective of climate neutrality with a particular focus on the urgent need to reduce air and water pollution , the digitalisation of education , public administration , the economy and the health system . ■ LB
Berlin Process “ 10 Point Plan ”