On 10 November 2025, SmartCHANGE will be represented at the Amsterdam Public Health Symposium “Co-creation in Global Public Health: Insights from Theory and Practice”, an event bringing together academics and practitioners to explore how co-creation can advance equity, inclusion, and sustainability in global health research.
The symposium aims to explore co-creation not merely as a research method, but as a transformative mindset capable of reshaping how health challenges are understood and addressed.
The programme features a mix of presentations, workshops, and discussions exploring co-creation from multiple perspectives, including its theoretical foundations, methodological challenges, and real-world applications. Topics span participatory approaches with marginalised communities, creative methods for empowerment and transparency in interdisciplinary collaborations, co-design with adolescents, and ethical dilemmas in engaging people living with dementia. The day will conclude with a fishbowl discussion to synthesise key insights and guide future research.
SmartCHANGE's Role
SmartCHANGE will be represented by partners from Amsterdam University Medical Centre (VUMC), including Claudia Dictus, Mariëtte Hoogsteder, and Teatske Altenburg. During the event, Claudia Dictus will present "Comparative reflections on co-design with adolescents in Finland and the Netherlands" sharing the process and findings from co-designing the SmartCHANGE app with young people across both countries. This 15-minute presentation, followed by a panel discussion, will highlight how participatory approaches can meaningfully engage adolescents in developing health interventions that meet their needs and contexts.
Learn more about the event at the link below.