The CHILI Hub Scientific Symposium 2026 welcomed researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and partners for a day of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and discussion on the impact of indoor environments on child and adolescent health.The event showcased innovative research from across the CHILI programme and the wider research community, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to creating healthier learning environments and supporting the transition to net zero.
Inspiring Keynote Speakers
Attendees heard from three distinguished keynote speakers who shared insights from their respective fields.
Professor Lizzie Rushton (University of Stirling) delivered a keynote on Climate Change and Sustainability Education. As Professor of Education at the University of Stirling and Deputy Chair of the Scottish Council of Deans of Education, Professor Rushton reflected on her extensive work across the UK and internationally. She also discussed recent initiatives, including Scotland’s first national framework for Learning for Sustainability in Initial Teacher Education and a national survey of teachers’ practices related to Climate Change and Sustainability Education.
Professor Rosie McEachan, Director of Born in Bradford, presented her work on environmental determinants of health, healthy urban places, and population health improvement. Drawing on her experience as an applied health researcher, she highlighted the importance of understanding how environments shape health outcomes and the role of collaborative research in addressing health inequalities.
Dr Trystan Leng (Lancaster University) explored school-based approaches to infectious disease control. He shared insights from his research evaluating interventions in educational settings and discussed how mathematical modelling can support the development of effective and sustainable public health policies.
Showcasing Interdisciplinary CHILI Research
The symposium also featured presentations from researchers across the CHILI programme, demonstrating the breadth and depth of work taking place across the partnership.
Presentations were delivered by:
- Dr Samuel Wood (Imperial College London)
- Cedric Burden (Swansea University)
- Dr Smriti Safaya (University of York)
- Dr Niloofar Shoari (UCL)
- Professor Dejan Mumovic (UCL)
Together, these presentations showcased interdisciplinary research spanning building engineering, environmental exposures, population data science, and child health, illustrating how diverse expertise can be brought together to address complex public health challenges.
Poster Session Highlights
An extended poster session ran throughout the day, providing attendees with opportunities to explore emerging research and engage directly with presenters.
The session featured a range of projects from across the research community, with strong participation from both established researchers and early-career academics. The dedicated viewing period encouraged discussion, networking, and the exchange of ideas across disciplines.
Looking Ahead
The CHILI Hub Scientific Symposium 2026 demonstrated the value of bringing together researchers and stakeholders from different disciplines to share knowledge and develop new collaborations.
CHILI Hub would like to thank all speakers, presenters, poster contributors, and attendees for making the event such a success. The discussions and connections established throughout the day will help shape future research aimed at improving child health and creating healthier, more sustainable learning environments.