Assessing the effectiveness of the one paleopathology workshop

Abstract

Background and objectives One Paleopathology is a novel concept in Paleopathology that extends the One Health paradigm into the past. A workshop at the University of Durham, UK, was held prior to the 2024 International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (ISEMPH) meeting, firstly to define and expand the concept of One Paleopathology and secondly to generate transdisciplinary research and outreach under this framework. This article presents a logic model to evaluate how effectively the workshop met its goals. Methodology Two surveys were conducted, one immediately following the workshop and at the 1-year mark. These surveys assess the direct outputs from the workshop—tangible research and outreach products—as well as changes in participants’ attitudes toward One Paleopathology and the degree to which transdisciplinarity was incorporated into resulting projects. Results Both the outputs (direct products of the workshop activities) and outcomes (changes in knowledge or attitude because of the activities) of the workshop suggest that the goals are being met. The first goal, to define and expand the concept of One Paleopathology, was met, with participants expressing strong acceptance of the framework. The second goal—generating transdisciplinary research—is reflected in eight ongoing projects initiated at the workshop. Conclusions and implications The workshop structure and outcomes assessment presented here evaluate an initial effort in effecting conceptual change in the social sciences. Participants were enthusiastic about One Paleopathology, and over the following year new collaborations and research agendas aligned with the concept emerged. Importantly, participants reported integrating transdisciplinarity into their long-term research, indicating that the workshop had a sustained impact. Keywords: one paleopathology, one health, planetary health, transdisciplinary