Public health has always been a very dynamic and interdisciplinary area that includes both natural and social and cultural sciences. According to the scientific perspective, today it is an area strongly oriented towards social and human sciences with the aim of improving the physical and mental state of health of the population in order to do justice to the further development of the health system in terms of increasing quality of care and economic efficiency. Multidisciplinary work is all the more crucial when it comes to reducing the effects of epidemics and pandemics. Exchanging information between sectors (e.g. animal health, veterinary, transport, food, water and sanitation) is key to preventing the spread of infection and assessing the evolving risk.

Since infectious diseases do not adhere to national borders, close cooperation and coordination between national and international structures is of fundamental importance in order to limit morbidity, mortality and social disturbances. The challenges of planning preparedness for a pandemic such as the one we are experiencing with Covid-19 are diverse and reflect the uncertainties about how such an event could manifest and its possible effects.

A comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of public health issues can also make the transition from disaster to restoring everyday social life more effective. The working group is dedicated to the impact of health and disease on society in the context of disasters and major disasters, as well as the development of measures for prevention, health promotion, improved medical care and control of environmental conditions. Its core disciplines or central areas of expertise include disaster medicine, disaster psychology, epidemiology, health sociology and health psychology, health economics and the sub-areas of political science, law, philosophy and health-related issues that deal with health issues in the context of disasters Ethics. Important application-oriented specialist areas are sub-areas of business administration and organizational sciences, environmental and occupational medicine and, above all, social medicine.

Coordination

	ao. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Barbara Juen Institut für Psychologie Universität Innsbruck (mehr)
	Ass.-Prof. Amélie Desvars-Larrive Infectious Disease Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna; Faculty Member Complexity Science Hub Vienna