e-Bulletin February 2026

Wishing and hoping are at their annual high preparing for a new year. Nothing can replace the human heart for its ability to hope. No other mammal (or robot) is known to have the capacity to mentally represent and emotionally imprint plans and desires for the next 12 months the way a person can.

Our work in public health unifies the humanity of hoping with the science of prediction. These two tools work better together. Hence, our profession combines understanding what is likely to happen with a social and political understanding of what we are collectively hoping for. Collectively creating the conditions in which people can be healthy is an act of hopeful shared willpower. Let’s realize hopes and sincere wishes for good health, long lives and prosperity. Let’s work together to understand the science of how to bring to reality the future that we want to see.

Professor David Bishai
Director and Clinical Professor
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong