We have launched!

On February 26th, we officially launched the process to establish the Global Society for Infectious Disease Dynamics (GSIDD), and we could not be more energized by the response! We hosted two sessions to reach participants across time zones, and together they drew 230 attendees! We thank everyone who joined us to celebrate the beginning. If you missed it, the slides and recording are available.

A global and diverse field

One of the things we hoped to demonstrate at the launch was just how broad and scientifically diverse the infectious disease dynamics community really is. The live polling data bore this out in striking fashion.

Participants came from 33 countries, and across the spectrum of our field, spanning different diseases, methodological traditions, career stages, and sectors.

This diversity is something we want GSIDD to reflect, celebrate and grow even more.

A community full of ideas

We asked attendees to share their thoughts on how GSIDD could empower the community and help people feel more connected. The ideas came quickly and enthusiastically. From building mentorship pathways to facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration, from supporting early-career researchers to bridging the gap between modeling and public health policy, our community clearly has a rich vision for what this society can become. You can read more about the input we've received so far.

On belonging

We also asked attendees what it would mean to have a professional community built specifically for infectious disease dynamics:

"Many of us have found homes in other disciplines. What will it mean to you to have a community built specifically for infectious disease dynamics?"

The word cloud below reflects what we heard. Themes of connection, belonging, and validation came through strongly, alongside a sense that this field has long needed a dedicated professional home.

What Comes Next

The launch was a beginning, not an endpoint. We are grateful to everyone who attended, asked questions, shared ideas, and brought their enthusiasm to this effort. There is a lot of work ahead, and we are doing it together.

Stay tuned for updates, and if you have not yet joined the GSIDD mailing list, please do so here.