PhD Supervisor Talk: Lessons from COVID's communication frontlines
During global emergencies, public health communication can be challenging for scientific experts. Drawing from his experiences as a virologist and government advisor during the 2009 H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics, Marc Van Ranst will address the complex interplay between scientific accuracy, public messaging, disinformation and political pressures in crisis communication.
The talk will present some of the unintended consequences of high-profile science communication. These include escalating threats against experts, maintaining consistency across communication channels, managing uncertainty in rapidly evolving understanding, balancing transparency with safety concerns, and the need for protective protocols for scientists in public discourse.
About the speaker
Born June 20, 1965, in Bornem, Belgium, Van Ranst obtained his medical degree from KU Leuven in 1990, worked at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York (1990-1993), and received his PhD in virology in 1994. He became professor of virology, specializing in the molecular evolution of viruses. Over the years, he has published over 450 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, he was the crisis manager for the Belgian government during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and was part of the outbreak management team during the covid crisis. Since 2014, he has been the head of the department of laboratory medicine at the University Hospitals Leuven.
Time and date: Tuesday 25 November 2025, 15:30-17:00
Registration: Please register no later than 17 November 2025 through the course catalogue
Venue: Panum, Blegdamsvej 3b, 2200 Copenhagen N, 1.st floor, building 8, Room: Lundsgaard Auditorium