Dr. Josh Firth holds a PhD in Biology from the Oxford University and is currently a NERC Independent Research Fellow and an Associate Professor at the University of Leeds, and Visiting Research Fellow at Oxford University. His research integrates behavioural science, computational biology, and ecology to unravel how individuals interact with one another, their environments and their societies. His work also extends into the digital realm, particularly in the context of considering this as a novel environment where individuals across the life course can engage in social interactions while avoiding social costs such as increased disease risk. Dr Josh Firth’s research is recognised for contributions to both applied and theoretical science, and aims to pioneer interdisciplinary approaches across ecology, epidemiology, conservation, and health science. He has a proven track record in translating fundamental research into real-world impact, such as through computational approaches for to assessing how social networks shape COVID19 spread and mitigation, and through industry work in nutritional health science. Recently, Josh Firth led the Royal Society’s workshop and special issue on the interplay between age and society, reflecting his research interests in understanding social ageing, and harnessing fundamental science and digital innovations for considering social connections. Josh Firth’s research includes a diverse publication record in social networks, computational biology, epidemiology, and health, positioning this agenda at the forefront of research that bridges natural social dynamics with digital approaches and solutions for individual health across the life course.