GHE FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE
GHBDC
Empowering young minds to explore global health challenges through data, science, and innovation.
WHY GHBDC?
Health challenges around the world are increasingly understood through data. From infectious diseases and climate change to mental health, health equity, and population wellbeing, data can help us understand complex problems and identify opportunities for action.
The Global Health Big Data Challenge introduces young people to this world of discovery by connecting global health questions with data literacy, scientific reasoning, technology, creativity, and collaboration.
GHBDC is designed to help learners move beyond simply consuming information. Participants learn to ask meaningful questions, examine evidence, identify patterns, communicate findings, and consider how evidence can contribute to better decisions.
WHY NOW?
The rapid growth of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and health information is changing how societies understand and respond to health challenges.
Young people will increasingly encounter data in their education, workplaces, communities, and everyday lives. Developing the ability to interpret evidence critically and use technology responsibly is therefore an essential component of future global health leadership.
Understanding, interpreting, questioning, and communicating data.
Moving from information to evidence-based questions and conclusions.
Exploring technology and AI with ethics, responsibility, and equity in mind.
THE GHBDC JOURNEY
GHBDC guides learners through a progressive journey that combines global health exploration, data, scientific reasoning, creativity, and communication.
Explore a real-world global health question and understand why it matters to people and communities.
Learn where data come from, what they represent, and how data can help us understand health challenges.
Identify patterns, compare information, ask questions, and develop evidence-informed interpretations.
Think creatively about possible solutions, using science, technology, collaboration, and responsible innovation.
Present findings clearly through visualizations, stories, presentations, or other appropriate forms of scientific communication.
CHALLENGE DOMAINS
GHBDC can evolve with emerging global health priorities, allowing learners to investigate diverse questions through data and evidence.
Exploring differences in health outcomes and the social, economic, and environmental factors that shape them.
Investigating how climate change and environmental conditions influence human health and wellbeing.
Understanding infectious disease patterns, preparedness, prevention, and the importance of timely evidence.
Exploring population mental health, wellbeing, resilience, and the factors that influence healthy communities.
Examining how communities, environments, policies, and health systems contribute to wellbeing.
Connecting health with the Sustainable Development Goals and the broader determinants of human development.
DATA, AI & ETHICS
GHE recognizes that data and artificial intelligence can create extraordinary opportunities for discovery, but also raise important questions about privacy, fairness, bias, representation, accountability, and equity.
GHBDC therefore aims to introduce responsible data
and AI thinking from the beginning: learners are
encouraged not only to ask what the data show, but
also to ask how the data were generated, whose voices
may be missing, what assumptions
WHAT LEARNERS DEVELOP
GHBDC is designed to develop transferable skills that
extend beyond the challenge itself and support lifelong
learning, scientific inquiry, and responsible leadership.
Reading, interpreting, questioning, and communicating
information from data.
Evaluating evidence, identifying assumptions,
and developing thoughtful conclusions.
Asking meaningful questions, finding evidence,
and exploring complex health problems.
Working across disciplines, backgrounds,
communities, and perspectives.
Turning evidence and analysis into clear,
accessible, and compelling communication.
Considering equity, responsibility, and potential
consequences when developing new ideas.
RECOGNITION & ACHIEVEMENT
GHE believes that recognition should encourage curiosity,
persistence, collaboration, and continued learning rather
than simply reward competition.
GHBDC can provide opportunities for learners and teams
to showcase their work, receive feedback, celebrate
achievement, and build a portfolio of meaningful
experiences.
BUILDING TOGETHER
GHBDC is envisioned as a collaborative initiative
connecting young people with educators, scientists,
universities, public health institutions, technology
partners, and organizations committed to youth
development.
Through partnerships, GHBDC can bring authentic
datasets, mentorship, expertise, learning opportunities,
and new pathways for young people to contribute to
global health.
LOOKING AHEAD
The long-term vision of GHBDC is to create a growing
community of young people who are comfortable asking
difficult questions, working with evidence, embracing
diverse perspectives, and imagining better solutions
for the health of people and the planet.
As the initiative grows, GHBDC can evolve into a
global platform for youth learning, collaboration,
mentorship, innovation, and leadership.
Think Global. Act Local. Do It Now.
Explore the evidence.
Skills for the Next Generation
Data Literacy
Critical Thinking
Research Skills
Collaboration
Scientific Communication
Ethical Innovation
Learning That Leads to Recognition
A Collaborative Platform for Youth Innovation
From Data Literacy to Global Health Leadership
Ask better questions.
Build a healthier future.