Now in its eighth year, the University of Saskatchewan's (USask) People Around the World (PAW) international congress will bring together community members, researchers, industry partners and students for data-driven discussions about global challenges.
This year's theme, Healthy people, healthy planet: driving innovation with data, highlights creative collaboration, data-informed decision making, and accessible solutions for a healthier world.
The 2025 PAW Congress runs October 22-24 and features well-known Canadian health and policy experts who will come together to discuss a diverse set of topics ranging from AI for health, to air quality and the importance of healthy communities.
Co-chair of PAW2025 Dr. Steven Rayan (PhD) is excited for the exchange of ideas on cutting-edge topics like AI for health. (Photo: Erin Matthews/USask)
Dr. Steven Rayan (PhD), interim vice-dean of Research, Scholarly and Artistic Work, director of the Centre for Quantum Topology and Its Applications (quanTA) and professor of mathematics and statistics in the College of Arts and Science, is a co-chair of this year's congress. He said that these cutting-edge topics help foster dynamic discussions, engaging scholars to think about collaborative approaches to global health challenges.
"The PAW Congress is not only an important venue for the exchange of ideas this year's conference, about the inter-connectivity of the health of people and the planet they inhabit, and also about the data driving our approaches to both but is also a clear rallying call around USask's international mission. This is not just a conference for USask. It is a conference for the world," said Rayan.
Dr. Sarah Forgie (MD), Dean of USask's College of Medicine, professor of pediatrics and co-chair of PAW2025 is looking forward the three-day gathering of experts (Photo: Submitted)
Dr. Sarah Forgie (MD), dean of USask's College of Medicine, professor of pediatrics and fellow co-chair, is excited for the three-day gathering of experts across disciplines. She said it's an opportunity for researchers, students and the public to come together to share their knowledge and experience with the USask community.
"PAW2025 is a great venue for our faculty and our students to not only engage in these very important discussions around global health but also to share their research and their knowledge with world-class experts, other researchers, other students and the global community," said Forgie.
Along with hearing from world-class keynote speakers, Timothy Caulfield, professor of health law and science policy and bestselling author, and André Picard, award-winning national health writer and author, there are many other exciting opportunities for those attending PAW. Attendees from out-of-town are encouraged to check out the various tours of the USask campus. Students are invited to participate in the 2025 Student Poster Competition, which highlights and uplifts student researchers who are conducting work in health, environmental sciences, sustainability and other areas that explore and sport planetary health.
"PAW 2025 is a unique platform for learning, sharing and collaborating and we're excited for attendees from around the world to experience this dynamic conference," said Forgie. "It is wonderful opportunity that supports community and problem solving, inviting people from all disciplines to collaborate and discover new ways to tackle important issues that have wide ranging impacts."
For more information
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