07/30/2026
Thirty Florida high school students from 18 communities spent five days at the front lines of pandemic preparedness through the Global Virus Network's Global Guardians for Pandemic Preparedness Program, hosted with the support of University of South Florida
From research laboratories and hospitals to public health agencies, students explored virology, epidemiology, vaccine science, outbreak response, and science communication while learning directly from leading scientists and public health professionals.
"The world will always face new viruses. The question is whether enough people understand them," said GVN Co-Founder Dr. Robert C. Gallo. "If this program inspires even a few students to pursue science or public health, we've accomplished something important."
Building on the success of this year's program, GVN plans to expand Global Guardians nationally next year and internationally the following year to inspire the next generation of scientists, physicians, public health leaders, and science communicators.
Read more: https://gvn.org/globalguardians2026/
USF Youth Experiences, USF Health-University of South Florida
