Talya has previously worked on decision support systems to help GPs diagnose patients in the UK, but the Digital Diagnostics for Africa Network project has taken her work in a new direction. In the course of her work Talya has visited Ghana and the Gambia, and she is about to go on a trip to Rwanda. These are valuable opportunities to meet partners face-to-face, strengthen collaborations, and gain deeper insights through fieldwork.

“Our work combines engineering and behavioural science to create impactful digital interventions, and often involves field research: conducting interviews, observations, and focus groups with doctors, nurses and community health workers. We sometimes ask clinicians to ‘think aloud’ during diagnosis, allowing us to capture their reasoning and use this to design more effective tools.”

“In the UK, diagnosis is carried out by doctors. In Africa, particularly in rural areas, community health workers play a vital role”, Talya says. “Our aim is to support these workers in making informed decisions, helping improve care at the community level, ease pressure on hospitals, and ultimately save lives.”

The Dyson School of Design Engineering is home to a vibrant research and teaching community that blends design, engineering, and human-centred thinking to tackle societal challenges. It recently launched new postgraduate courses offering students the opportunity to engage directly with real-world impact projects.