Updates and Events
18.11.2024 | Leo Loprieno started as a PhD student within CoSynHealth
We are happy to welcome our new group member Leo Loprieno. He will pursue his PhD by developing methods to determine the current and future heat stress using the high-resolution urban climate model PALM-4U, which enables CoSynHealth to investigate the impact of adaptation and mitigation measures on potential health outcomes.
6.11.2024 | CoSynHealth contributed to publication of the WCRP CORDEX Flagship Pilot Study URB-RCC
The interplay between urban climate and regional climate is currently investigated in the WCRP CORDEX flagship pilot study URB-RCC, using coordinated model experiments with regional climate models using state-of-the-art urban parameterizations. The resulting downscaled information from the FPS URB-RCC can support the development of climate services for cities, in particular for health and well-being. Hence, it is beneficial for CoSynHealth to be involved in the FPS URB-RCC. Peter Hoffmann contributed to a publication of the FPS URB-RCC, which introduces the employed methods and planned experiments.
5.-7.11.2024 | Sabine Fritz contributed to the Urban Transitions Conference
CoSynHealth, was represented at the “Urban Transitions” conference with a poster titled “Climate Actions for a Healthy and Carbon-Neutral City - A Case Study of Hamburg, Germany.” This poster showcased the diverse climate actions discussed by stakeholders in Hamburg, focusing on climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. The variety of strategies for addressing both climate mitigation and adaptation highlights significant opportunities for co-benefits. However, it also underscores the potential for conflicts if these actions are not considered within a wider perspective and shared responsibilities. The conclusions highlighted the importance of prioritizing human health in decision-making processes to enhance urban neighborhoods and reduce heat stress. Our project results offer valuable climate services, providing actionable options and support for prioritization and decision-making. Unfortunately, Sabine Fritz was unable to attend the conference in person due to the airport closure and inaccessible roads caused by heavy rainfall.
30.10.2024 | Publication on impact of urban parameterization on diurnal cycle in a global climate model
The interactions between urban climate and global and regional climate are complex and may have a significant impact on future heat stress. However, only a few global models represent urban areas in their simulations. Jointly, with scientist from the University of Hamburg and CSIRO in Australia, Peter Hoffmann investigated the impact of urban areas on high-resolution global climate simulations. The results, which are published in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, show that urban areas have a significant impact on the diurnal cycle of the temperature and, to some extent, on the diurnal cycle of rainfall simulated with a global climate model.
24.10.2024 | Publication on Heat stress and health outcomes in Germany
Routine data from health insurance companies has rarely been used to analyze the relationship between heat and health consequences. CoSynHealth scientists Dr Peter Hoffmann and Dante Castro Garro co-authored a study led by PD. Dr Jobst Augustin from the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, which investigated the influence of heat stress on various diseases such as heat stroke, volume deficiency and renal insufficiency. They found correlations between meteorological variables such as the number of hot days (maximum daily temperatures above 30 °C) and the 11 million health insurance data of BKK-Nord-West on heat-related illnesses.
16.-20.09.2024 | Deniz Sirin at Social Simulation Conference (SSC 2024)
Deniz Sirin showed his project results during a poster session on the 19th annual Social Simulation Conference (SSC 2024) in Cracow, Poland. He presented his agent-based modelling framework and the decision-making process for mode- and activity choices of urban dwellers.
19.09.2024 | Peter Hoffmann at the Climateurope2 Webstival
At the deep dive workshop “Building a health shield” of the Climateeurope2 Webstival, Peter Hoffmann led a discussion about closing the gap between mitigation, adaptation and health by creating integrative climate services.
16.09.2024 | Peter Hoffmann at the Woche der Klimaanpassung (Climate adaptation week)
Together with his colleague Laurens Bouwer, Peter Hoffmann gave a public online presentation on climate change and health as part of the Germany-wide [urll=https://www.gerics.de/about/news_and_events/news/114826/index.php.de]“Woche der Klimaanpassung”[/url] (Climate adaptation week).
18.-21.06.2024 | CoSynHealth at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
During their research stay at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Peter Hoffmann, Sabine Fritz, and Deniz Sirin discussed current results regarding health and modelling aspects of CoSynHealth with their project partners. Further, they presented their results in the seminar of LSHTM’s Centre for Climate Change and Planetary Health Group as well as in a joint LSHTM/University College London seminar.
23.04.2024 | CoSynHealth at 2nd workshop of Hamburg’s Heat Action Plan
Sabine Fritz and Peter Hoffmann took part in the 2nd Stakeholder Workshop on Hamburg's Heat Action Plan and discussed the proposed measures with stakeholders and experts.
19.-21.03.2024 | CoSynHealth at the BIOMET conference
Dante T. Garro Castro and Peter Hoffmann attended the 10. BIOMET-Tagung in Offenbach / Main. They presented their work on current and future heat waves in German cities and climate services for urban health. They engaged in discussions with experts in the field of biometeorology and with stakeholders in the field of climate adaptation.
05.-06.03.2024 | Sabine Fritz at the Kongress Armut und Gesundheit. Sozial gerecht: Gesundheit – Umwelt – Klima
Sabine Fritz attended a congress on poverty and health. It took place in person in Berlin for 2 days and additionally a digital day. The focus was to connect stakeholders working in science, practice, and politics, the exchange of experiences in application of measures, as well as the connection of the topics of poverty, health to climate.
06.12.2023 | Peter Hoffmann at the COP28
Peter Hoffmann presented CoSynHealth online in a WHO side event at COP28 organized by the BMBF. Together with other experts from IPCC, AWI, GIZ and Instituto Regenera, he discussed conflicts and synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in cities. Peter also gave an interview on 5 December that was published on the Helmholtz Klima Initiative website.
30.11.2023 | CoSynHealth at the kick-off event of Hamburg’s Heat Action Plan
Sabine Fritz and Peter Hoffmann took part in the kick-off event for Hamburg’s Heat Action Plan. They participated in various workshops relating to short and long-term adaptation to heat stress in the areas of urban planning, infrastructure, recreation, and labour. Many contacts were made with stakeholders in the Hamburg area.
29.11-1.12.2023 | Peter Hoffmann at the EcoDesign2023
Peter Hoffmann attended the 13th International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing (EcoDesign2023) virtually. He contributed with a study on the integration of climate services and Future Design methods into urban planning processes, which was jointly prepared with our partners from the Osaka University and Universität Hamburg.
8.-9.11.2023 | First hybrid meeting of CoSynHealth
CoSynHealth held its first hybrid project meeting on 8 and 9 November, 2023. On the first day, group members and project partners from the University of Hamburg, Osaka University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine gave presentations on the topics of climate change and health, agent-based modelling, and future design. Additional workshops on agent-based modelling, health impact assessment, and future design took place on both days. The whole event was a big step towards intensifying collaboration with project partners and external experts.
5.10.2023 | Sabine Fritz at the "CityClimate meets CreativeCoding" festival in Hamburg
GERICS scientist Sabine Fritz attended the CityClimate meets CreativeCoding festival in Hamburg. The event included interactive city walks, workshops, and discussions regarding climate change and city planning. Short films and gaming approaches provided new impulses and invited visitors to think about the connection of climate and cities from different perspectives. Some of the festival's participation approaches are also an option for the CoSynHealth project.
28.9.2023 | Sabine Fritz at the congress "Pakt für Prävention 2023" in Hamburg
Under the slogan "The Pact for Prevention is committed - working together for climate adaptation and climate protection!", the Sozialbehörde Hamburg in cooperation with Hamburgische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Gesundheitsförderung e.V. (HAG) hosted a discussion on a healthy Hamburg. GERICS scientist Sabine Fritz attended the event. One of the topics discussed was the heat action plan for Hamburg, which is currently being prepared.
25.-29.09.2023 | CoSynHealth at the "International Conference on Regional Climate 2023" in Trieste (Italy)
Peter Hoffmann and Dante Castro Garro participated in the International Conference on Regional Climate Modelling (ICRC2023, abstract book). They presented the CoSynHealth project and the results of an analysis of future heat stress in German cities based on high-resolution regional climate modelling data (poster). Additionally, they discussed with international experts of the WCRP CORDEX Flagship Pilot Study "URBan environments and Regional Climate Change (URB-RCC)" (URB-RCC-Link) about the methods to analyse the future urban climate.
11.-22.09.2023 | Deniz Sirin at the "BEHAVE Summer School 2023" in Brescia, Italy
CoSynHealth PhD student Deniz Sirin attended the BEHAVE Summer School 2023 on Agent-Based Modelling for Social Scientists. This summer school aims to train students on theoretical and practical aspects of agent-based modeling (ABM). The knowledge and experience gathered at the Summer School is helping Deniz to develop the ABM framework for exposure modeling.
30.08.2023 | Virtual CoSynHealth meeting
The CoSynHealth project held its 2nd virtual meeting on 30 August. It was the first meeting with the full project team. All team members presented their research plans and first results to partners from LSHTM, Osaka University, Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) and the University of Hamburg.
14.08.-18.08.2023 | Dante Castro Garro at the PALM-4U seminar in Hanover
CoSynHealth PhD Dante Castro Garro participated in the PALM-4U Seminar 2023 in Hannover, Germany. The course is about learning the basics of the PALM-4U model and its diverse components, such as the urban topography implementation. Further, the seminar gave an insight to the various application possibilities of the PALM-4U model, such as urban heat stress.
29.06.2023 | Interview Spiegel Online
GERICS scientist Peter Hoffmann gave an interview to the German online newspaper Spiegel Online. He talked about health issues in cities and how we can adapt (GERICS news).
14.-17.05.2023 | Peter Hoffmann at "International Congress on Biometeorology"
Peter Hoffmann attended the 23rd International Congress on Biometeorology (ICB23), the largest conference on biometeorology, where he presented the CoSynHealth junior research group and discussed topics related to climate change and health with international experts.
19.-20.04.2023 | CoSynHealth at Kick-Off of BMBF junior research groups in Bonn
Peter Hoffmann, Dante Garro Castro, and Deniz Sirin joined the Kick-Off event for the BMBF founded junior research groups within the new BMBF funding initiative "Junior Research Groups Climate, Environment and Health". Peter Hoffmann presented the plans for the CoSynHealth group and all group members engaged in fruitful discussions with the other groups.
13.01.2023 | Virtual Kick-Off Meeting
The CoSynHealth project held its virtual kick-off meeting on 13 January, 2023. Dr Peter Hoffmann and project partners from LSHTM, Osaka University and the University of Hamburg were present. The project plan, possible common topics and future steps were discussed.