UMB held its first annual symposium on "The Effects of Climate Change on Global Health – Implications for Maryland" on April 24. The gathering, aimed at unraveling the complexities of climate change and its effects on health, was hosted by UMB's Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, in partnership with the UMB Office of Sustainability.

Opening remarks by outgoing CVD Director Kathleen Neuzil and UMB Provost Roger Ward laid the groundwork for a series of enriching discussions. Shiladitya DasSarma, PhD, offered an in-depth look at the environmental role of Archaea microorganisms; Andrea Buchwald, PhD, highlighted the interplay between climate change and infectious diseases; and Christopher Beck brought a policy lens to Maryland's climate response. With a successful debut marked by stimulating discourse and community engagement, the symposium affirmed its future as an annual Earth Day hallmark event, focusing on global health challenges exacerbated by climate change and their particular impact on Marylanders.