Thursday, July 2, 2026
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This week, the 'Sustainable Healthcare' and 'Global Women’s Health' Thesis Labs came to a close. Graduating students presented their findings to their partner organizations and shared the collective conclusions of their projects.
Both the Sustainable Healthcare and Global Women’s Health Thesis Labs are part of the broader LDE Thesis Labs program. The two labs were developed and delivered in collaboration with Medical Delta.
Sustainable Healthcare Thesis Lab results brought together in a comic book
The Sustainable Healthcare Thesis Lab was held for the fifth time. Over the years, the lab has grown into a community of sustainability-minded healthcare professionals, students, and researchers. This year’s group of eleven students, coming from Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, spent the past months working on individual thesis projects commissioned by healthcare organizations, alongside a joint program of masterclasses, workshops, and site visits.
The closing event took place at Zilveren Kruis in Leiden, where they presented their thesis research along with a series of concrete, actionable recommendations based on the so-called 'R-strategies.'
The students translated their individual graduation research into a joint comic book, an approach inspired by a storytelling workshop delivered within the program by Christiana Strava.
You can read the full magazine with the results of the research here: https://www.leiden-delft-erasmus.nl/nl/groene-zorg
Art objects visualise women’s health
The Global Women’s Health Thesis Lab, which was held for the first time this year, explores how women’s health can be improved across all stages of life on a global scale.
Healthcare has historically been developed around the male body, which has resulted in a persistent knowledge gap in women’s health — a gap with significant consequences for women’s quality of life and for society more broadly, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Nine students, representing seven different degree programs, worked on individual thesis projects commissioned by organisations such as Leiden University Medical Center, Erasmus MC, Pharm Access Foundation, Layco Medical Devices, and the Female Cancer Foundation, addressing topics including postpartum haemorrhage and cervical cancer. The program placed particular emphasis on digitalisation, technological innovation, and sustainability, as well as on how such improvements can be effectively implemented in healthcare settings with limited resources.
During their closing event in Leiden, the students chose to present their findings not only through conventional academic formats, but also through artistic works, including a documentary and a sculpture.
This offered attendees a memorable, interactive way to engage with topics that often receive insufficient attention.
Call for new edition
The Sustainable Healthcare Thesis Lab is already preparing for its sixth edition with a new call for project proposals. The deadline is 17 August. Read more about how to submit a sustainability challenge from the healthcare sector here:Call for projects Thesis Lab Green Care | Medical Delta
Wat zijn Thesis Labs?
Master’s and HBO graduation students from various programs across South Holland write their individual theses within the Thesis Labs, based on real-world challenges provided by external organisations. In addition to their individual research, students participate in an extracurricular program featuring workshops, in-depth sessions, and field visits, where they connect with professionals, academic experts, and societal partners. Together, participants learn, share knowledge, and contribute to a collective, interdisciplinary outcome with real-world impact.
