ReAct Europe at the 2026 Nobel Prize Teacher Summit: Global health in focus

2026-03-26

On 20 March, nearly 400 teachers from 30 countries gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, for this year’s Nobel Prize Teacher Summit, an international forum where educators meet to explore pressing global challenges. The 2026 theme, Health - A global Concern , brought together a rich mix of perspectives on issues ranging from mental well being and importance of vaccinations to humanitarian crises and the crucial role of education in bridging science and society. The urgent issue of antibiotic resistance featured prominently across the day’s discussions. ReAct Europe participated in the summit by delivering a plenary speech and hosting a breakout session.

Each year, the summit highlights a theme of global importance – previous editions have covered migration, climate, democracy, brain science, and how to foster engagement in learning. Over the years, the summit has grown into a significant and highly sought‑after event within the Nobel Prize Museum’s educational programs, bringing together teachers from different countries to engage with Nobel Prize laureates, leading scientists, and global thought leaders. This time, the summit was held at Münchenbryggeriet in Stockholm, Sweden, to accommodate its expanding international audience.

ReAct Europe’s contribution: Bringing antibiotic resistance to the forefront

ReAct was honored to participate in this year’s program.

Otto Cars, founder of ReAct, delivered a powerful talk on the global threat of antibiotic resistance within the broader context of global health. During his presentation, he asked the audience of hundreds of teachers to raise their hand if they had never taken antibiotics – and not a single hand went up. The moment illustrated just how indispensable antibiotics have become, and why their preservation is a global responsibility.

Following the plenary session, Maria Pränting and Oskar Nyberg, ReAct Europe, led a breakout discussion with around 35 teachers. The session focused on practical ways to strengthen health literacy and understanding of antibiotic resistance, and discussing and learning from the educators how to bring these issues into the classroom and education for children and youth.

Maria and Oskar also presented the ReAct Toolbox as a useful source for learning and information. In the ReAct Toolbox there is a specific section for youth.

Teacher perspectives: Connecting antibiotic resistance to everyday teaching

Among the participants of the day were Frida Hansen and Fanny Engkvist, both teachers at the Swedish upper secondary Social Science Program. Fanny teaches Natural Science, while Frida teaches Swedish and German. Both emphasized that antibiotic resistance is not only relevant but already embedded in their teaching.

Fanny shared how naturally the topic fits into her curriculum:

“Antibiotic resistance has a given place in the course Natural Science 2, which I teach to year three students on the Social Science Program. I often use the educational material ‘Save antibiotics’ from Uppsala University, which was mentioned during ReAct’s breakout session. It offers many useful tips and exercises.”

They also highlighted the potential for interdisciplinary work, given how antibiotic resistance connects to global challenges:

“Since antibiotic resistance links to several courses within the Social Science Program, it would work well as a cross curricular project – for example, tied to the Sustainable Development Goals. An approach like this has great potential to spark students’ interest and deepen their understanding.”

Their reflections reinforce a key message of the summit: strengthening awareness of global health issues requires collaboration not only across borders but also across subjects and learning environments.

Celebrating and supporting global educators

The Nobel Prize Teacher Summit provides a unique platform for teachers to exchange experiences, build new knowledge, and gain inspiration from leading researchers and practitioners. This year’s focus on global health highlighted the essential role educators play in strengthening public understanding of complex issues – from pandemics to antibiotic resistance – and preparing students to think critically about the world’s most urgent challenges.

ReAct is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this year’s summit and to engage with educators from around the world. We will continue working alongside educators and partners to advance global understanding and action on antibiotic resistance and global health.