Academic Responsibility - Societal Change and Global Development

The World Health Summit Academic Alliance and The Lancet will announce the WHS–Lancet Commission on Academic Responsibility for Trust in Science and Societal Change, bringing together leading global experts to examine the responsibilities of academia in health research, the role of science in society, and how academic institutions can contribute to the public good.

Over two years, the Commission will develop evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the integrity, inclusivity, relevance, and societal impact of health research, promote equitable participation in the production and application of knowledge worldwide, and strengthen public trust.

This launch session will introduce the Commission, its mandate, and the questions that will guide its work. Drawing on perspectives from policy, youth, academia, public health, and healthcare delivery, it will interrogate the Commission’s central themes and explore what academic responsibility means in practice—and to whom academia is ultimately accountable.

Through a moderated panel discussion and extended audience exchange, the session will address scientific integrity, community engagement, and changing societal expectations of academia.