In the early phase of the COVID pandemic, a very fast spread of the virus was observed in regions also known for their high ambient air pollution, e.g. Wuhan in China or Northern Italy. Thus, discussions about the role of ambient air pollution in this pandemic emerged early on, in a variety of channels and settings (e.g., social media and academia). Moreover, the identification of so-called “COVID-19-risk groups” such as people with a range of chronic diseases also raised the questions of the relevance of air pollution given its known effects on some of these same diseases. Last but not least, the societal actions taken to flatten the COVID-19-epidemic also affected air quality, thus public health. The lecture will present the potential pathways linking ambient air pollution and the pandemic. The state of evidence and open questions will be discussed.

The fields of design, architecture and communication are all playing an evermore important role in the healthcare sector. If we are to attain a comprehensive understanding of “health”, we need processes, tools, and infrastructures to enable us to utilise these fields actively and to cater for the special needs of people in the healthcare sector.

Evidence-based design takes psychological, social and physical aspects into account when designing healthcare facilities. This reduces patient stress, promotes well-being and supports the healing process. In addition, relatives and employees of healthcare facilities also benefit from such an environment.

In this plenary, participants will gain an insight into evidence-based design in the healthcare sector. In the first part, members of the interdisciplinary working group Health Care Communication Design (HCCD) of the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH and the newly founded Swiss Center for Design and Helath, will provide participants with some theoretical background. In the second part of their presentation, they use concrete examples to show what effects design measures can have in the context of healthcare. This will be followed by an open discussion.

Eat more vegetables and fruit. Drink more water. Wear your seat belt. Quit smoking. These are the kinds of actions that can improve an individual’s health and benefit an entire community. But if these things are ever going to happen, individuals must change their behaviour and human behaviour is complex and often unpredictable.  In this lecture, international examples will be presented, exploring how behavioural science and social marketing is being used to address such public health outcomes and create demand for healthier products and behaviours.