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The Climate and Health Research Lab is an initiative of the Oath for Sustainability Network (OFSN), a registered nonprofit headquartered in Arizona, USA, committed to collaborative efforts for planetary action in low income settings through systems thinking.
The Lab was established to bridge the gap in climate and health scientific literature between HICs and LMICs by training youth specific research skills. According to the WHO 2021 Discussion paper Climate change and health research: Current trends, gaps and perspectives for the future, there is an uneven research distribution between high-income countries (50.88%) and low- and middle-income countries (31.61%) and the rest is global research.
The program aims to contribute to bridging this knowledge gap by training and mentoring young people (18–35 years old) from various disciplines to build their capacity in research. The cohort-based approach is conducted bi-annually (Spring and Fall) and in two phases;
The first phase is the structured online training in climate and health research delivered to at least 100 young people (18–35 years old) over a period of 4 weeks.
The second phase selects eligible participants to be mentored for 16 weeks to conduct solution-centered research on urgent climate and health risks in LMICs based on key research priorities
While the participants can come from any country, priority is given to applicants from low- and middle-income countries.
At the end of the program, findings will be shared on our website and at our annual virtual summit and manuscripts will be prepared for publication in scientific journals.
The Launch
The program was launched in August 2023, after a call for applications garnered the interest of 400 people. 100 young people from 23 countries across various disciplines were selected with the main focus of contributing to solution-centered climate and health research in LMICS. Experienced researchers were appointed from among the participants to lead each team under the guidance of the Steering Committee. Experts and mentors from organizations such as the Global Health Focus, Northern Illinois University USA, etc were among the trainers involved in the first cohort. Check out the video training sessions for the last cohort here.
The program was restructured in June 2024 to accommodate the resources available at the lab and enhance the program's outcome.
Snapshot for program Launch in September 2023
Goals and Objectives
Provide educational programs, workshops, and training to build the capacity of young people interested in climate and health research, fostering the next generation of leaders in the field.
Raise awareness about the health implications of climate change within communities, particularly among youth, and promote sustainable and health-conscious practices.
Mentor young people to conduct innovative and interdisciplinary research that explores the complex relationships between climate change and health, with a focus on the unique perspectives and challenges faced by LMIC regions.
Contribute to the existing body of knowledge addressing the intersection of climate change and health for science, policy and practice.
Establish partnerships with other research institutions, non-profits, and organizations to amplify the impact of research and leverage collective efforts to address climate and health challenges.
Foster a multi-disciplinary community of young researchers committed to addressing global health inequities exacerbated by climate change.
Impacts
Impacts
During the first cohort, the teams were able to complete 10 manuscripts, and participants were inducted into the research fellow community to foster further collaborations and interests.
Our Participants
Where do our participants come from?
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