The Public Library of Science (PLOS) and Digital Transformations for Health Lab (DTH-Lab) have announced a partnership aimed at increasing youth participation in health science. The collaboration will include mentorship programs, opportunities for young people to engage in scientific publishing and a mini-collection showcasing research from young authors.
The Public Library of Science (PLOS) and the Digital Transformations for Health Lab (DTH-Lab) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at amplifying youth voices in health sciences and fostering a strong foundation for future leaders in scientific research.
“This strategic partnership with DTH-Lab will ensure that the youth is empowered to shape the medical knowledge system. We, in the business of knowledge validation and dissemination, have failed to address the age-old issues in health care: lack of systems and design thinking training among clinicians, human biases in decision-making, power structures within legacy systems, perverse incentive structures (financing, academia),” Leo Anthony Celi, editor-in-chief of PLOS Digital Health, said in a news release.
“We have suffered from failure of collective imagination because everyone thinks alike. We, in academia, cannot see the whole picture because our blind spots overlap. We need people with different blind spots so we can begin to see the image in the jigsaw puzzle. If everyone is thinking alike, then everyone is not thinking. This is where the perspective of the youth can make a huge difference,” he added.
A major focus of the partnership is to offer mentorship opportunities from experienced academics to young people, particularly the Regional Youth Champions (RYC) of the DTH-Lab. This initiative aims to provide training in peer review and opportunities to serve as reviewers for scientific articles. The goal is to cultivate new perspectives and expertise among emerging scientists.
Aferdita Bytyqi, executive director of DTH-Lab, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration.
“We are excited to partner with PLOS to strengthen our mission to extend opportunities for young people to help shape scientific research and policymaking for improved health futures,” she said in the news release.
This partnership will feature several key components, from offering mentorship opportunities for young people to engage in scientific publishing and a mini-collection showcasing research from young authors to developing new tools and resources to help young scientists navigate the world of academic publishing, including how to review scientific papers and write impactful articles.
The DTH-Lab, a global consortium, works to implement recommendations from the Lancet and Financial Times Commission on Governing Health Futures 2030. By empowering young people to become informed digital health citizens, the organization strengthens the health care ecosystem with diverse views and innovative ideas.
This partnership holds significant promise for the future of health care research. By actively engaging the next generation of scientists and giving them the tools and guidance they need, PLOS and DTH-Lab are fostering a more inclusive and forward-thinking scientific community.
PLOS, a nonprofit open access publisher, has a history of breaking boundaries in research communication. PLOS Digital Health continues this legacy by publishing cutting-edge research that leverages digital tools and data science to advance health care.
In an era where diverse perspectives are critical to innovation, this partnership is a beacon of progress. Engaging youth in scientific discourse not only diversifies thinking but also ensures a richer, more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in health and science.