ULisboa welcomes new students for the 2nd edition of the PhD Programme in Planetary Health

Under the motto “Two Cohorts, One Planetary Health”, the programme brings together scientific presentations, meetings with faculty members and researchers, visits to different University facilities and an immersive experience in the city, giving new PhD students a first opportunity to connect with the academic and scientific community they will be joining.

Launched in 2025, the PhD Programme in Planetary Health was created to train researchers capable of addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time, bringing together fields such as health, the environment, technology, society and public policy. The programme involves the 19 Schools of the University of Lisbon and is organised into six specialisations: Climate Change and Health; Global Health; Health in Extreme Environment; Policies and Governance in Planetary Health; Tropical Health; and Urban Health. 

The Welcome & Orientation Days 2026 programme begins on the morning of 24 September at the Technology Transfer Centre (TTC), with an introductory session on the PhD Programme in Planetary Health, led by Cecília Rodrigues.

This will be followed by the “Two Degrees, Two Minds” session, a conversation between climatologist Ricardo Trigo and physician Paulo Nicola, moderated by Andrea Valente, strategic analyst and international relations consultant. The session brings together different fields of knowledge, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the PhD Programme in Planetary Health.

After lunch, shared with PhD students, faculty members and guests, the new students will have the opportunity to discover different University facilities and infrastructures. The route includes the University Stadium, the Medical Centre and the Main Building of the University of Lisbon, followed by visits to Schools, namely the Faculty of Medicine, the Institute of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Sciences.

On 25 September, the programme continues at ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management, at the Quelhas Campus, with a welcome workshop and an opportunity for new students to meet faculty members. The “Meet & Greet”will be led by Sofia Bento, Oriana Brás, Adam Standring and Reza Barzegar, creating a space to get to know the community, exchange experiences and begin building new academic connections.

The afternoon will be dedicated to an immersive experience in Lisbon, led by Teresa Melo, with a visit to different places across the city, including the Mãe d’Água das Amoreiras Reservoir. The programme concludes with a social gathering, including dinner at Fábrica Braço de Prata and 8 Marvila.

The organisation of the Welcome & Orientation Days reflects the very identity of the PhD Programme in Planetary Health: an interdisciplinary, international and collaborative programme that brings students into contact with different scientific fields and perspectives.

During the first semester, PhD students have the opportunity to explore different areas of Planetary Health and progressively shape their academic and scientific pathway. The curriculum provides a broad foundation in Planetary Health, allowing students to explore potential research topics and supervisors before defining their PhD project. At the end of the semester, students begin developing their dissertation projects under the guidance of their chosen supervisors.

The Welcome & Orientation Days therefore represent the first step in integrating new students into a community that brings together research, interdisciplinarity, collaboration and innovation, within a university with a strong international dimension and a wide range of scientific and academic resources.