The advent of exposure science and the exposome concept has caused a shift in our thinking and imagining of contemporary environmental and occupational health, and occupational hygiene. A revolutionary way to think of exposure and primary prevention is total exposure health (TEH), a strategy that evaluates individuals’ exposures to work, environmental and residential hazards. TEH integrates these evaluations with health promotion initiatives. We welcome abstracts that cover topics of exposure science, occupational health, environmental health, and consumer exposures. The abstracts may include current and future occupational and non-occupational health hazards and exposures in vulnerable groups such as informal workers and communities, and rural communities.  

Social and commercial determinants are drivers of ill-health. The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age shape their health. These influence behaviours related to diet, physical inactivity, alcohol abuse, and tobacco use, among others. These socially constructed conditions are also heavily influenced by commercial interests, leading to various ‘industrial epidemics’ also termed as ‘corporate-driven diseases’. An innovative holistic approach, aimed at promoting research and action on these determinants, as structural drivers of health inequities, is needed for restoring equity in human and planetary health and wellbeing. We invite abstracts on research considering the prominent influence of social and commercial matters to population health.  

This theme invites comprises research that seeks to improve population health in relation to both communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We welcome a range of studies from descriptive to trials, and quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed methods approaches. Suitable abstracts include studies addressing population research areas such as health transitions and patterns, and health and well-being outcomes of communicable and NCDs, – including mental health. 

Health systems are overburdened due to numerous factors, including new epidemics, population ageing, multi-morbidity, and the increasing number of chronic conditions. New and innovative ideas are needed to make existing health systems resilient to such pressures and technically prepared for future burdens. We invite abstracts on research relating to different aspects of health, focusing on health system resilience to universal health coverage, effective and quality health service delivery, and population health outcomes. In re-imagining resilient health systems, we particularly welcome quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. Topics may include access to services, quality of care, financing, human resources, efficiency, cost containment, health technology and innovation, leadership, accountability and governance, and priority setting.

Innovative public health methodologies in research, teaching and learning is an evolving field led by technological advances. The sub-theme will cover topics in data science applications, innovative topics in biostatistics and epidemiology, including the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in addressing public health problems.