Bridging Networks for a Healthier Planet: Reflections on 2025 ASTMH Annual Meeting in Toronto from a CSID Researcher and Community Member Perspective

Muhammad Asaduzzaman

Joining the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) in Toronto was special for me in more ways than one. It was my first time attending as a newly elected ASTMH Board Member, my first time chairing a high-stakes symposium on Arctic climate change and One Health (OH), and another step in my ongoing journey with the CSID network to strengthen global collaboration around infectious diseases.

ASTMH, founded in 1903, is the largest international scientific organization of experts dedicated to reducing the worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and improving global health. CSIDNet, on the other hand, is a member-led and collectively governed network connecting a global community to collaborate on the co-design, development, and maintenance of Climate Sensitive Infectious Disease (CSID) tools that are relevant, accessible, and impactful.

In this blog post, I want to share not just what I did at the meeting, but why it matters—for CSIDNet, for ASTMH, and for early-career researchers who will shape the future of global health.

My active role in the ASTMH 2025 meeting, connected to CSID

Currently, I am a Board Member of ASTMH, a member of the ASTMH Committee on Global Health (ACGH) and Green Task Force (GTF). At the CSIDNet, I am an active member of the communications committee, the Scientific engagement council, as well as the early warning system (EWS) working group. All the roles highlighted,convene precisely at the intersection of these two ecosystems. The Toronto meeting was an opportunity to bring these worlds closer to each other. My major activities at the 2025 ASTMH annual meeting were as follows-

A. Chairing a Symposium on “The Melting Frontier: Climate Change in the Arctic and Its Global One Health Implications”

Chairing the symposium organized on behalf of the ACGH and the GTF was one of the central moments of my participation.,. The symposium aimed to challenge a common misconception that the Arctic is distant, insulated, and somehow safe from the CSID. For decades, the Arctic has been viewed as a low-population region with limited industrial activity  and fewer pathogens but  a space with rich biodiversity and indigenous knowledge 

The idea that what happens in the Arctic stays in the Arctic is a dangerous illusion. Unfortunately, this picture is rapidly changing and the Arctic is now one of the most climate vulnerable regions, with global consequences. Accelerated warming has resulted in rapid glacial and permafrost melt. Eventually,  dormant pathogens, including potentially unknown and resistant ones, will be released from melting ice and soil. Increased anthropogenic activity—resource extraction, shipping, military activity, migration—all contribute to the impending  risk.  The Arctic is an emerging ‘Frontline for One Health’. It is where climate change, infectious diseases, geopolitics, and social justice collide, thus becoming an equally important area for ASTMH and CSIDNet to focus on.

The symposium was intentionally structured around systems thinking and One Health, with presentations highlighting:

• The interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in the Arctic 

• The disproportionate risks faced by indigenous populations, who contribute least to climate change but often bear its worst impacts 

• The links between Arctic climate disruptions and global infectious disease threat, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

• Gender perspectives and climate justice, recognizing that climate and health impacts are not evenly distributed within communities 

In addition to chairing the session, my presentation title was “From Climate Change to Arctic Superbugs: Why Should We Feel Threatened?” I focused on the intersection between climate change in the Arctic and AMR. The key messages were that  melting permafrost is not just a geological event but  a microbiological shock, and that climate change acts as a threat multiplier for infectious diseases, particularly multidrug resistant ones. 

From my perspective, this is exactly where CSIDNet’s systems-based thinking and ASTMH’s global health mandate overlap. We cannot talk about infectious disease threats in isolation from climate, geopolitics, or social inequity—especially in fragile ecosystems like the Arctic. The Arctic is a warning signal—a visible, rapidly changing system revealing how closely intertwined climate, ecosystems, and infectious risk really are. Both ASTMH and CSIDNet should therefore work actively in this setting.

My presentation in the symposium

B. ASTMH Board Meetings – My first experience as a Board Member was learning and contributing to strategic discussions on the society’s direction, priorities, and how to better integrate global health policy issues into the core agenda. It was  exciting (and still  an ongoing process for me to participate in policy discussions with many of the world’s best global health leaders and intellectuals. I will serve on the board until 2027.

ASTMH Board members and leadership

C. Working Behind the Scenes: Committees, Early Career Events, and Networks

Beyond the symposium, the Toronto meeting was also intense at the engagement level. In addition to many scientific sessions I participated in, I contributed to several aspects of the event, many of which were directly relevant to CSIDNet’s mission of building the next generation of global health leaders.

Green Task Force (GTF) Meeting – Being an active member of this task force, I am so delighted to observe GTF aligning on how ASTMH can reduce its environmental footprint as a society and scientific meeting. GTF is also working on amplifying climate-health research and advocacy. What made this undertaking even more memorable was seeing our article based on members’ survey from GTF published during the annual meeting. The article titled ‘How the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Can Play a Leadership Role in Climate Action: Results from the 2022 ASTMH Green Task Force Survey’ explains our role in the society and beyond. CSIDNet as a global network can also replicate this idea to understand the network and members’ view and commitment on climate change.

Members of Green Task Force (GTF)

ACGH General Meeting – Among all subgroups and committees,  ASTMH Committee on Global Health (ACGH) is the largest one. As an active member (and its regional representative for Europe), I joined discussions on how to strengthen global health representation, equity, and cross-regional collaboration. ACGH has its whatsapp community and LinkedIn page which can be a great collaboration and knowledge hub for CSIDNet members, particularly younger researchers.

Early Career Events and Career Chats 

For me,  these are always  among the most energizing parts of  ASTMH annual meetings. I  joined some of these events such as-

• Career chats and mentoring activities including industry focused job searching workshop

• Meet the Editors sessions with editors from AJTMH and Lancet Infectious diseases

• Networking events focused on young and early-career researchers

 Why ASTMH and CSIDNet Matter Together

From my perspective as a global OH researcher with more than 18 years experience, both ASTMH and CSIDNet operate in different but complementary spaces within global health. ASTMH is one of the world’s leading professional societies focusing on tropical medicine, global health, and infectious diseases. It brings together researchers, clinicians, policy makers, and implementers from around the world, and influences agendas ranging from malaria elimination to pandemic preparedness and climate-health intersections. As a global interdisciplinary community, CSIDNet  focuses on complex dynamics in climate sensitive infectious diseases—from pathogen dynamics and modelling to systems thinking and leadership, One Health, and the socio-ecological drivers of epidemics and pandemics.

In many ways, ASTMH is a large and influential platform, while CSIDNet is a deeply networked community with democratic governance for climate affected infectious disease networking, community of practice and policy development. The synergy between these two organisations can be useful in various contexts. Both platforms are essential for connecting early-career scientists, senior researchers, program leaders, and networks, where their careers can be nurtured in a supportive, interdisciplinary environment.

 ASTMH–CSIDNet Synergy: What’s Next?

The question is not whether ASTMH and CSIDNet should collaborate, but it is ‘How’ they can do so in meaningful, sustained ways.

Here are few ideas for synergy from my perspective:

1. Joint events, symposia, sessions and webinars

• Co-branded sessions at ASTMH, CSIDNet events, or partner conferences on topics related to climate change and infectious diseases 

• Periodic collaborative webinars on CSID issues

• Common networking events on One Health and planetary health in fragile ecosystems

• Collaborative regional activities (ACGH and CSIDNet can be an excellent duo in this)

• Small gathering of CSIDNet members in ASTMH annual meeting (who join) and vice versa

Feasibility: It is important to note that many of the CSIDNet members are involved in tropical disease research and modeling such as Dengue, Malaria, Cholera, zoonoses which are the central topics in ASTMH as well.

2. Bridging Early-Career Communities 

 Creating joint early-career forums (online and in-person) where ASTMH trainees and CSIDNet early-career members can:

• Present work 

• Receive mentoring 

• Learn about interdisciplinary careers 

• Encourage dual engagement: ASTMH members to join CSIDNet working groups; CSIDNet members to join ASTMH committees, subgroups, and interest sections like ACGH.

Feasibility: ASTMH–CSIDNet are already mutually inclusive to a larger extent. Many members are part of both networks, specially from Asia and Africa.

3. Shared Focus on Climate, infectious diseases, and One Health

 Launch collaborative initiatives, such as:

• A joint thematic series in journals (e.g. AJTMH) or blogs on CSID issues

• Cross-network working groups on specific “grand challenges” (e.g., Arctic and polar health, EWS in LMICs, complex systems in outbreak prediction).

• Discussion to initiate joint or reduced priced membership opportunity for CSIDNet members in ASTMH

Feasibility: CSIDNet members can contribute systems modeling, network analysis, and complex systems perspectives to ASTMH’s disease-focused discussions.

Take-Home Messages for Young Researchers

Many early-career scientists I met in Toronto asked: How can I position myself at the intersection of these big topics—climate, infectious diseases, One Health, and complex systems—without getting lost? Here are a few reflections:

1. Think in systems, act in communities 

It is not enough to specialize in a pathogen or a method. Try to understand the systems—social, ecological, political—in which your pathogen or problem exists. Networks like ASTMH and CSIDNet are designed exactly for this but be focused on your topics and learning new related skills.

2. Use professional societies strategically

Organizations like CSIDNet and ASTMH will assist with: Showcasing your research and skills; mentorship; leadership roles (committees, task forces, working groups); advocacy platforms; cross-disciplinary collaborations; communication skills; community of practice

3. Climate change, infectious diseases and One Health are not side topics anymore

Whether you study malaria, AMR, emerging viruses, or health systems, climate and One Health are now core parts of the global health landscape. Integrating them early into your thinking will future proof your work.

4. Beyond your discipline, expertise and regions

Join conversations that feel slightly outside your comfort zone: mathematics, social science, ecology, indigenous knowledge, mathematical modeling, policy. This is where the most interesting and impactful work is happening.

5. Do not underestimate the value of communication

Being able to translate complex concepts into understandable narratives—for policy makers, communities, and cross-disciplinary peers—is a critical skill. Communication committees (like in CSIDNet) and events like “Meet the Editors” are excellent training grounds.

My final comments

ASTMH offers a broad, global stage and convening power while CSIDNet offers dedicated networked collaboration on complex climate sensitive disease mitigation. My experience at the 2025 ASTMH Annual Meeting in Toronto was both humbling and motivating. It reaffirmed that:

• Global health is inseparable from climate change, health equity and global health diplomacy. 

• We need networks like CSIDNet and societies like ASTMH to work together if we are serious about preventing and containing infectious disease threats in a rapidly changing world.

As I continue in my roles within ASTMH and CSIDNet, I see my responsibility as building bridges—between disciplines, between regions, and between organizations. I hope that more young researchers will join and strengthen these bridges, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and courage to confront the complex challenges ahead.

If you are an early-career researcher or practitioner interested in climate change, Planetary health, One Health—consider engaging actively with both CSIDNet (the promising & emerging field) and ASTMH (largest society). The future of global health will not be built in silos, and your voice is needed in these conversations.

And finally do not forget to join CSIDNet working groups and 2026 ASTMH annual meeting with individual abstracts (Deadline: April 1st) along with various travel grants and mentorship opportunities.

Dr. Muhammad Asaduzzaman
Planetary Health Researcher, University of Oslo, Norway
Board Member, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH)
Member, Scientific Engagement Council (SEC) & Communications Committee, CSID Network