A very warm welcome to the Preventing Pandemics and Battling Biorisks programme!

🌿 Over the course of the next five weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to independently explore a variety of ideas and opportunities related to pandemic prevention and preparedness, from the work of social scientists examining the economic conditions conducive to pathogenic transmission to the strategies policymakers are considering to prevent the devastation which could be caused by the theoretical ‘Disease X’. You might find yourself fascinated by reports of invisible biolabs in California’s Central Valley, or spend your time tracing the history of pandemic response strategies (and discovering why the pressing of live chickens to open sores might not have been the most effective cure for the Bubonic Plague). Perhaps you’d rather explore the concepts of ‘pandemic prevention’ and ‘biorisk’ from a more molecular perspective, and analyse the traits which might make a particular pathogen a likely candidate for a future pandemic. For the most part, you’re free to explore whatever floats your metaphorical boat!

🌩️ Whilst the core content of the course is mandatory, providing background information intended to support further exploration, many of the resources you’ll find are optional - allowing you to research the impactful ideas relevant to your interests and the cause areas you find to be the most meaningful. The primary required component of each week’s content includes fifteen resources, of which five are mandatory and ten are optional, whereas each page of additional content will only include ten resources, of which five are mandatory and five are optional. Optional resources which are recommended for further exploration, but are not necessary to work through as they might be a little more challenging or time-intensive than the selected mandatory resources, are denoted with the 🌟 emoji.

🍂 As this webpage is currently in development, please take the time to check this ‘Welcome’ page frequently, as new information will be added gradually to support your undertaking of this online programme. In the coming days, a ‘Guide’ to this Notion website will be provided below - and you will be notified as and when each new week’s content becomes available to review. If you have any questions about the course content, suggestions for improvement, queries about the website structure or issues with the weekly activities please contact Beth Burke, either via the LEAF Discord server or by email ([email protected]).

❓Additionally, please feel free to utilise any additional resources provided on the community Discord server, or to reach out to other Fellows (or Facilitators) for support as needed. While ‘many hands’ make ‘light work’, it’s important to remember that ‘many brains’ can be quite helpful too!

🎉 Good luck to everyone and remember to watch this space!

Course Content 📔

Week 1: The Interdisciplinary Kaleidoscope of Pandemic Prevention

Week 2: The Potential Energy of a Pandemic

Week 3: The Role of International Cooperation in Global Biosecurity

Week 4: The Ever-Changing Notion of Biorisk

Week 5: The Future of the Battle Against Biorisk (And How You Can Get Involved)