Dr Suparna Mitra, SB64 Delegate

What is your area of work and how does it relate to SB64?

My work focuses on generating genomic, microbiome, and environmental evidence to better understand antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in resource-limited settings, particularly in Bangladesh and India. Through a One Health approach, I investigate how human behaviour, environmental exposures, and microbial ecosystems contribute to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. As AMR is increasingly recognised as a challenge linked to environmental sustainability, climate change, water quality, and global health security, participation in SB64 will provide valuable insight into how scientific evidence is translated into international policy processes. It will also help me strengthen the policy relevance and impact of my future research, ensuring that findings from LMIC settings can better inform evidence-based decision-making at national and global levels.

What are the big issues that SB64 needs to address?

SB64 must address several major challenges, including climate adaptation, implementation of mitigation commitments, climate finance, and support for vulnerable countries facing disproportionate climate impacts. An increasingly important issue is how climate change interacts with environmental and public health challenges, including water quality, infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and ecosystem resilience. Ensuring that policy decisions are informed by high-quality scientific evidence, while remaining equitable and responsive to the needs of low- and middle-income countries, will be critical to achieving sustainable and effective climate action.

What are your hopes for the conference?

I hope the conference will provide valuable insight into the mechanisms through which scientific evidence informs international climate policy and implementation. As my research increasingly focuses on the interconnected challenges of antimicrobial resistance, environmental change, and health in LMICs, I am keen to learn from policymakers and experts working across disciplines and sectors. I also hope to develop networks and skills that will help me translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations, ensuring that evidence from Bangladesh, India, and other LMIC settings can contribute more effectively to global discussions on sustainability, resilience, and health.