Tuesday, June 30, 2026
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This autumn, the sixth edition of the Thesis Lab ‘Green Care’ will start, organised by Medical Delta and the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities. In a Thesis Lab, the most talented and motivated students work on a research question originating from professional practice.
Healthcare organisations can submit their sustainability-related research question via this link until 17 August 2026 (12:00). Through this, they can gain new insights and recommendations on their specific sustainability challenge. At the beginning of September, Medical Delta and the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities will announce which assignments have been selected; in November 2026, the matching between students and projects will take place.
Effects of climate change on health and healthcare
In this sixth edition of the Thesis Lab, the central question is: “How can the Dutch healthcare and health sector contribute to planetary health?”
The call invites questions relating, for example, to:
- Effects of climate change on public health;
- Developing and implementing effective mitigation and adaptation measures for healthcare;
- Behavioural change in relation to preventing climate change.
Why participate?
There are several good reasons to submit a question as a case owner, including:
- Easy matchmaking to help you find the best student for your organisation and research question. Students have a broad range of expertise: healthcare, environment, business, technology, management, psychology, law, philosophy, and anthropology
- Enrichment of your knowledge and network through (voluntary) participation in masterclasses and seminars.
- New, fresh research insights that you can apply directly in practice.
The counter-presentation
Expect approximately 1–2 hours per month of practical supervision for the student in the period February to July 2027, mainly for interviews, data collection, documents, and refining the research question. In addition, you are asked to attend the roundtable session in April 2027 and the final meeting at the beginning of July 2027, contributing to the growing network on greening healthcare.
Interested? Submit your project here
What is a Thesis Lab?
A team of 12–15 wo-master’s or hbo graduating students from various programs in South Holland work on a sustainability challenge from healthcare practice. The students work on their own graduation projects (within their programs) and follow a six-month joint program from January to July 2027, consisting of 12 sessions that explore the question: “How can the Dutch healthcare and health sector contribute to planetary health?” The program includes site visits, roundtable meetings, and workshops. During the final session, students present their (joint) results.
Previous results
To make the entire healthcare sector more sustainable, a drastic transition is needed. In recent years, an increasing number of healthcare professionals have become aware of the environmental impact of healthcare. Through previous Thesis Labs, Medical Delta and the LDE Centre for Sustainability have contributed to raising this awareness and exploring solutions. Case owners have included LUMC, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Van Straten Medical, Alrijne, Reinier de Graaf, Haga Hospital, Zilveren Kruis, RAVHM, Johnson & Johnson, and Geboortecentrum Sophia.
Students have investigated more than forty practical research questions, such as criteria for procuring less polluting medicines, user experiences with reusable underpads, and the redesign of oxygen sensors.
Outcomes of previous Thesis Lab Sustainable Healthcare research (in Dutch)
2025: Click here for the results and a detailed report of the roundtable discussion and the Medical Delta Café on the research outcomes.
2024: Click here for the results and a detailed report of the roundtable discussion and the Medical Delta Café on the research outcomes.
2023: Click here for the results and a detailed report of the roundtable discussion and the Medical Delta Café on the research outcomes.
2022: Click here for the results and a detailed report of the roundtable discussion and the Medical Delta Café on the research outcomes.
Download the overview flyer here as a PDF.
