How do we evaluate modelling work, and what does that imply about modelling responsibly?

NoteKey details
  • 24 March 2026, 10.00–16.30
  • LSHTM, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT
  • 30 participants across academia and public health

We’re inviting participants to join a one day workshop on evaluation and responsibility in infectious disease modelling. Through the day, we’ll:

  • compare perspectives on evaluation in epidemiological and public health contexts
  • collaboratively map out what this means for professional norms, values, and responsibilities
  • experiment with what this looks like in practice by co-designing training material for modellers

We intend to directly support participants by building up practical ideas, resources, and relationships. While we anticipate a UK focus, we welcome contributions from any context. We encourage participants from all career experiences and interests to join.

Draft schedule

This workshop aims to encourage participant reflection, discussion, and co-design. Each session builds from panels and a variety of formats for effective and fun group discussion1.

Time Content Lead
09:45 Arrival
10:00 Welcome activity Participants
10:15 Introduction & aims Kath Sherratt, Sebastian Funk, Erica Thompson
Evaluation & scientific responsibility
10:30 Modelling & scientific responsibility Sebastian Funk
10:40 Evaluation across epidemiological contexts Panel: Matt Keeling (Uni. Warwick), Kaitlyn Johnson (LSHTM), Jonathon Mellor (UKHSA)
11:10 Implications for scientific responsibility Participants: Nested group discussion
11:30 Coffee break
11:45 Training scientifically responsible modellers Participants: Small group co-design
12:30 Lunch
Evaluation & social responsibility
13:30 Modelling & social responsibility Erica Thompson
13:40 Evaluation across public health contexts Panel: Graham Medley (LSHTM), Juan Vesga (UKHSA), Katy Gaythorpe (Imperial/Vaccine Impact Modelling Consortium)
14:10 Implications for social responsibility Participants: Nested group discussion
14:30 Fresh air break
15:00 Review so far Kath Sherratt
15:05 Training socially responsible modellers Participants: Small group co-design
15:50 Gallery of co-designed training materials
Implementation
16:00 Crowd sourcing: big priorities and smallest next steps Participants: Rapid rating exercise
16:20 Summary and actions Kath Sherratt, Sebastian Funk, Erica Thompson
16:30 Close

This event is open to all, and we welcome anyone to register below. If you’re unable to join, let us know you’re interested and we’ll keep in touch with workshop outcomes. For more information, contact: Kath Sherratt


Organised by Kath Sherratt (LSHTM), Seb Funk (LSHTM), and Erica Thompson (UCL), and supported by LSHTM CMMID

Footnotes

  1. Workshop design motivated by principles of structured groupwork.↩︎