Pediatric disaster science is critical to provide data and discovery to guide evidence-based preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery to best serve children, families and society. With the increasing frequency, severity and global scope of disasters, there is now an unprecedented imperative and opportunity to build a sustained pediatric disaster science workforce and infrastructure. The expertise, perspective and collaboration of the international, multidisciplinary community, including WADEM members, is integral to supporting effective, efficient, ethical, high quality pediatric disaster science and its implementation.

A landmark Pediatric Disaster Science Symposium was convened in-person/virtually by the US National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine in August 2022. Forty-eight pediatric disaster focused invited speakers, collectively representing government, non-governmental organizations, academia and community attended, and online. Attendees were polled during the two-day meeting to assign priority ratings to the topics discussed.

Symposium topics included the importance, history and scope of pediatric disaster science, and research across the disaster management cycle. Research considerations specific to children included medical and psychosocial vulnerabilities and manifestations; ethics and protections; protocol development and deployment; research tools; and data collection/integration. Scientific methodology topics addressed pediatric considerations for basic science, surveillance, clinical trials, applied sciences, community-engaged research, dissemination and implementation. Infrastructure needs described leveraging disaster centers, research networks, disaster response teams, government agencies and professional societies integratively across disciplines. Building a sustainable workforce, including training and engaging pediatric scientists with disaster-focused/disaster-relevant research, funding streams, regulation and advocacy were also discussed. Research priority ratings yielded preliminary data to inform pediatric disaster science priorities.

The meeting provided insights that can further guide discussions among global disaster experts and scientists, including WADEM members, to prioritize, build and scale sustainable pediatric disaster science that yields evidence-based strategies, plans, resources, and actions that improve disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery for children, families and societies worldwide.