Original publishing date: Mar 7, 2022

Following the February SPARK project application deadline 2 new projects have been funded. The ‘Better waive than worry’ and the ‘Tackling future workforce challenges’ projects. We are very excited to have these projects on-board and curious to see what these unusual collaborations will bring. Want to learn what these projects are about? Read their abstracts below:

Better waive than worry: An exploration of tools, strategies and cultures of early detection across various contexts

There is hardly any cross-over on the motivations, (data connection) strategies and efficacy of applying these tools. We aim to connect the worlds in which early detection plays a key role, and stimulate exchange of experiences, challenges, insights and solutions. Starting from a core team of experts in genetics, neuroimaging, epidemiology and migration, we plan to explore a wide variety of early detection contexts, in unusual and inspirational settings (e.g. dinner in the dark, stock exchange market, weather station). In this process we continuously identify missing connections and expand the network with unusual collaborators, culminating in a consortium that is ready for a full CUCo grant application. The vision for this grant application is to have an inclusive and diverse platform for sharing approaches, data, pipelines and applications for early detection of rare but “terribly” forceful (in the good or bad sense) events.

Working on this project:

Ripalta Stabile (TUe) Meghann Ormond (WUR) Terry Vrijenhoek (UMCU) Sanne Peters (UMCU)

Tackling Future Workforce Challenges

What we deem both striking and problematic is that contemporary  challenges to work are generally studied independently from each  other. In addition, each challenge’s academic inquiry is often limited to the perspective of one single discipline. However, many  of these challenges do not exist independently, but are entwined in  complex ways that require multi-disciplinary engagement. To support employees, employers or those otherwise positioned in  the labor market in their dealings with these challenges, and to  promote the wellbeing and sustainability of workforces, we therefore propose to combine scholarly expertise from the fields of  health, geography, anthropology, macro sociology, and technology.  By doing so, we aim to combine expertise on the key challenges, in  order to contribute to future sustainable workforces.  

Working on this project:

Karin Smolders (TUe), Leander van der Meij (TUe), Chih-Chen Trista Lin (WUR), Alexandra Rijke (WUR), Jelle Wiering (UU), Luuk Mandemakers (UU), Helena Pennings (UMCU)