Last Thursday 21 May we held our Lunch & Learn Session: How can we develop digital health solutions that are not only innovative, but also meaningful in everyday life? In this session we explored how co-creation and participatory research help connect technological opportunities with people’s real needs, contexts, and lived experiences.

The session drew on insights from the LIFTS project, which promotes a sustainable healthy lifestyle among young people with lower literacy levels in practical education. A distinctive element of LIFTS is its use of four living labs where students, parents, teachers, caregivers, designers, policymakers, and researchers work together.

Four PhD candidates shared their work: Daniëlla van Uden (WUR) looks at how students can be meaningfully involved in research and how innovations can be sustainably embedded in schools. Madelief Engels (WUR) studies how technology can support healthier and more sustainable eating behavior. Maria Inês Ribeiro (TU/e) explores how personalized, AI-supported tools can encourage physical activity. Simone Ooms (UU) focuses on mental health and how technology can contribute to effective interventions.

Watch the session below: