Interdisciplinary simulation exercise: integrated scientific advice during pandemics
1
Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
2
Interdisciplinary Academy of Competence & Education for Global Health, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3143
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Ongoing biological threats, such as avian influenza and climate-related disease outbreaks, highlight the need for strong emergency preparedness and response mechanisms. However, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated a lack of interdisciplinary collaboration bridging the biomedical, social, and economic domains, which is essential for effective policy measures.1 To address these gaps, the Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Center (PDPC) has developed a series of scenario-based simulation exercises designed to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and integrated scientific advice during pandemics and disasters. During this organised session, PDPC, in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Academy of Competence & Education for Global Health (iACE Global Health) at Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), aims to raise awareness among participants in identifying and integrating diverse disciplinary perspectives into collaborative intelligence and integrated advice during pandemics.2-3
METHODS:
Participants of the simulation exercise are confronted with an international and zoonotic disease outbreak scenario. In the first round, participants formulate scientific advice in domain-specific groups, either biomedical or social/economic. In the second round, they are brought together to develop interdisciplinary advice. The exercise concludes with a plenary reflection and evaluation session, during which participants discuss their experiences and challenges in producing interdisciplinary advice.
RESULTS:
The PDPC and iACE Global Health have extensive experience in organising simulation exercises for both students and professional experts. Drawing on these experiences, the proposed simulation is designed to a) support participants in recognising and integrating diverse disciplinary perspectives into coherent and balanced policy advice; b) foster interdisciplinary teamwork, critical thinking, and decision-making under conditions of uncertainty; and c) encourage reflection on the values and trade-offs underlying pandemic response, including social and ethical considerations.
CONCLUSIONS:
Simulation exercises are effective tools for building skills essential for pandemic preparedness, as they help prevent fragmented decision-making.
Ongoing biological threats, such as avian influenza and climate-related disease outbreaks, highlight the need for strong emergency preparedness and response mechanisms. However, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated a lack of interdisciplinary collaboration bridging the biomedical, social, and economic domains, which is essential for effective policy measures.1 To address these gaps, the Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Center (PDPC) has developed a series of scenario-based simulation exercises designed to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and integrated scientific advice during pandemics and disasters. During this organised session, PDPC, in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Academy of Competence & Education for Global Health (iACE Global Health) at Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), aims to raise awareness among participants in identifying and integrating diverse disciplinary perspectives into collaborative intelligence and integrated advice during pandemics.2-3
METHODS:
Participants of the simulation exercise are confronted with an international and zoonotic disease outbreak scenario. In the first round, participants formulate scientific advice in domain-specific groups, either biomedical or social/economic. In the second round, they are brought together to develop interdisciplinary advice. The exercise concludes with a plenary reflection and evaluation session, during which participants discuss their experiences and challenges in producing interdisciplinary advice.
RESULTS:
The PDPC and iACE Global Health have extensive experience in organising simulation exercises for both students and professional experts. Drawing on these experiences, the proposed simulation is designed to a) support participants in recognising and integrating diverse disciplinary perspectives into coherent and balanced policy advice; b) foster interdisciplinary teamwork, critical thinking, and decision-making under conditions of uncertainty; and c) encourage reflection on the values and trade-offs underlying pandemic response, including social and ethical considerations.
CONCLUSIONS:
Simulation exercises are effective tools for building skills essential for pandemic preparedness, as they help prevent fragmented decision-making.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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