The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed significant gaps in our understanding of how many respiratory diseases are transmitted through the air, leading to inconsistent and confusing transmission mitigation policies from governments and public health organisations. 

Infection from inhaled aerosols involves complex phenomena that extend well beyond virology and microbiology, requiring expertise from soft matter physics and fluid mechanics. The problem spans multiple scales, from airflow between individuals and sub-millimeter sizes of aerosol droplets to the microscopic realm of bacteria and viruses. Both the complexity of the aerosols' molecular composition and their physicochemical environmental conditions shape pathogens' final infectivity on host epithelia.

This workshop stands out by bringing together experts from diverse fields — soft matter physics, fluid mechanics, microbiology, and virology — to explore the entire transmission chain, from emission to infection. It will be a unique opportunity to discuss, share knowledge, and connect insights across disciplines, advancing research on the link between pathogen infectivity and the physicochemical conditions of their journey through the air.

Organizers:

 Dr. Manouk Abkarian (CNRS Montpellier, CBS)
 Dr. Benoît Charlot (CNRS Montpellier, IES)
 Dr. Raphael Gaudin (CNRS Montpellier, IRIM)
 Prof. Christian Ligoure (University of Montpellier, L2C)
 Dr. Simon Mendez (CNRS Montpellier, IMAG)
 Dr. Ashley Nord (CNRS Montpellier, CBS)
with the precious help of Christelle Eve (L2C, Montpellier).

Montpellier is a sunny destination between sea and mountains, enjoying 300 days of sunshine per year. It is a gateway to the natural reserve of the Camargue and the Cévennes hills, located only a few kilometers away from the Mediterranean Sea. It is surrounded by medieval towns, in the heart of the world’s top winegrowing region.