Translating Health Research into Global Impact

This webinar will give the opportunity to a viewing audience to learn about how research, policy and action can support each other from Tore Godal, an experienced health bureaucrat and lobbyist of international reknown. The seminar aims at stimulating and engaging the European university community into effective research-to-action efforts both globally and locally.

The main speaker is Tore Godal. He has been described by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as “surely, after Fridtjof Nansen, the Norwegian who has saved most lives in the world.” He is now featured in a new book, Tore Godal and the Evolution of Global Health, by the author Conrad Keating. Godal has made his mark in establishing and reinforcing a wide range of global alliances aimed at improving health and equity in the world’s poorest communities. In this seminar, Godal, Keating and members of the UiT faculty will discuss how research, policy and action work to support each other, with relevant examples from his own life and career.

UiT Faculty panel:

• Anne Husebekk is former Chancellor of UiT and Professor of Immunology. She is vice-president of the International Science Council and has conducted extensive international research and higher education collaboration.
• Silje C. Wangberg is Pro-dean of Research Education and Clinical Training at the Faculty of Health Sciences at UiT and Professor of Public Health. She is a board member of Global Health Norway and Co-lead of WP3 Research-Based Learning in EUGLOH.
• Arnfinn Sundsfjord is former Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Medical Microbiology. He works extensively on issues of antimicrobial resistance and stewardship with international collaborators.

Syllable and programme

Seminar/Webinar, 11:15-12:00 with light lunch, student reception and informal dialogue to follow 12:00-1:00

Webinar programme:

11:15-11:18 Seminar chair (Husebekk) introduces topic and speakers

11:18-11:30 Tore Godal: Three personal examples of research to impact in global health

11:30-11:40 Conrad Keating: How Godal harnessed the power of networks

11:40-11:55 UiT faculty panel (Silje Wangberg and Arnfinn Sundsfjord) and Tore Godal; Anne Husebekk as moderator: Dialogue on making research networks work for global impact

11:55-12:00 Chair: Summary and closing remarks

12:00-13:00 Light lunch and informal dialogue between Tore Godal and students and faculty of UiT, chaired by Nils Daulaire and facilitated by UiT students Oscar Vassmyr and Claire Degaile (not webcast)

Following the webinar, Godal will meet informally with UiT students and faculty to discuss things they might do to make a difference in the world.

About the speaker

Tore Godal has been the architect behind several groundbreaking initiatives: to control river blindness and malaria, to a global initiative to bring modern vaccinations to every child in the world, to an innovative partnership to prevent pandemics several years before COVID, Godal has shown that effective action begins with good research carried out in wide networks linking North and South. He has become Norway’s leading health diplomat and a health research leader on the global stage.

Learning objectives

Participants are expected to learn about how international networks and scientific collaboration across disciplines can shape health policies and can find answers for global health challenges.

Competences

• Knowledge into action
• Creativity & problem solving
• Communication & collaboration
• Leadership & social impact

Requirements

• Selection strategy: Participants must be enrolled as a student at bachelor, master or Ph.D. level at one of the nine EUGLOH partner universities. Researchers and employees at said universities are also welcome to participate.
• Number of participants: 1200.
• Certificate/ECTS: Not given.
• Language: English.

This activity is part of Work Package 8.