United NationsOffice for Outer Space Affairs

Registration
    -  Registration link (the deadline for registration is 11 September 2024)

Introduction

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the World Health Organization are co-organizing, in collaboration with the Space and Global Health Network hosted by the  Geneva Digital Health Hub, the Regional Conference on Space Technology for Advancing Global Health to raise awareness, build capacity and increase collaboration between the space domain and the global health domain, by inviting decision-makers and practitioners from both domains to share their experiences in the Americas region . Additional co-organizers and co-sponsors are welcome.

The Conference will be held in Vienna, Austria, from 23 to 25 October 2024.

For more information about the Space for Health Global Network and the Geneva Digital Hub click  here

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

The Conference will provide a forum for discussion around the different aspects of how space can contribute to global health, in a holistic manner, seeking to contribute to the implementation of the United Nations General Assembly resolution on Space and Global Health  A/RES/70/120 ,support  Sustainable Development Goal 3 "Good Health and Well-Being" and build on the recommendations of the UN/WHO International Conference on Space and Global Health

The Conference will focus on the areas identified by the  Working Group of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on Space and Global Health and will seek to increase awareness and build capacity among the attendees in three distinct areas of interest:

1. Geospatial Information / Space Applications for Health Use Cases;
2. Space and Health Data;
3. Capacity-Building for Space and Global Health;

In addition, the objectives are to present use cases of space technologies applied to the areas of interest, identify the existing institutional arrangements and mechanisms linking health and space authorities in the above domains that could be used to develop recommendations to better connect health authorities and space authorities at regional and domestic level. Importantly, the aim is also to promote collaboration between the different stakeholders during the event and increase networking opportunities through the Space and Global Health Network and its online community platform ( Implementome).

It is expected that the conference contributes to the advancement of  SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing regionally, including Target 3.3. "Fight communicable diseases" and with direct impact on indicator 3.3.3. "Malaria incidence per 1,000 population" as well as Target 3.9 "Reduce illnesses and deaths from hazardous chemicals and pollution" in particular, indicators 3.9.1 "Mortality rate attributed to […] air pollution" and 3.9.2 "Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water"..

Preliminary Program of the Conference

The program of the Conference will include plenary sessions and sufficient time for discussions among participants to identify the priority areas where pilot projects should be launched and examine possible partnerships that could be established. The program might be subject to modifications depending on the applications and abstracts received.

Thematic Sessions

Day 1: Geospatial Information/Space Applications for Health Use Cases

• Use Cases: Geospatial Information Systems in Regional HealthCare
• Innovative Regional Applications of Space-Based Health Monitoring
• Future Directions for Space Applications in Regional Health

Day 2: The Importance of Data

• Challenges for the Use of Space Data in the Health Context
• Bridging the Gap Between Space and Health Information  Systems
• Space Data Availability
• Policy, Regulation, Norms and International Standards and Ethics for Data Accessibility

Day 3: Capacity-Building

• Development of Space and Global Health Curriculum
• Essential Space-Based Health Variables

Discussion Sessions, Roundtables and Brainstorming sessions will be planned during the three days

• Issues, concerns and approaches for pilot projects/initiatives, requirements of implementing, mechanisms and resources of implementing
• Possible follow-up projects and initiatives and proposals for future workshops/training courses/technical seminars

Working Language

The working language of the Conference will be English. All participants are required to have good English language skills.

Expected Participants

The profile of participants includes health practitioners, policy- and decision-makers and senior experts from the following groups: space agencies, health professionals, international, regional, national and local institutions, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, research and development institutions, and also from industry. Participants should be in senior managerial or decision-making responsibility at governmental agencies, national and regional institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations or industry.

The Office for Outer Space Affairs is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its programs and ensuring a balanced representation from different perspectives. Women are encouraged to apply.

Life and Health Insurance

Life/major health insurance for each of the selected participants is necessary and is the responsibility of the candidate or his/her institution or Government. The co-sponsors will not assume any responsibility for life and major health insurance, nor for expenses related to medical treatment or accidents. Please pay attention to the online application form when registering for the Conference.