Students: Join ASPPH’s 2026 Public Health Innovation Lab

Are you ready to turn your creative ideas into real-world public health solutions? We invite undergraduate and graduate students to register for the Public Health Innovation Lab held March 15-20, before and during the 2026 ASPPH Annual Meeting. The ASPPH Innovation Lab is a team-based public health design experience that equips students with tools and methods to address pressing public health challenges through human-centered design. Registration closes Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

Over the course of several days, teams will:

• Identify and map a significant public health issue
• Generate and prototype creative solutions
• Conduct user testing and iteration
• Prepare and deliver a compelling pitch to expert judges
• Participants receive training in design thinking and innovation strategy, enriching their professional skillsets while tackling real-world problems alongside peers from diverse academic backgrounds.

Why Participate?

Participating in the Innovation Lab offers students:

• Real-world experience applying human-centered design in public health
• Expert feedback and mentorship
• Opportunity to win $1,500 ($500 per team member)
• Recognition in ASPPH communications, including the Friday Letter and social media
• A certificate of completion for professional development portfolios
• Access to collaborative tools and in-person sprint sessions
• A platform to turn ideas into impact

Building on the strong momentum of past years, the Innovation Lab offers meaningful professional development and mentorship. I encourage you to apply and/or share this opportunity broadly with students eager to apply innovation and design thinking to pressing public health issues.