Team science

We strongly believe in and support team science. Combining different research perspectives is key for understanding youth development on an individual, social and societal level and for optimizing the influence of our research on society. This means we connect insights from neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, family studies, and sociology based on respectful collaboration and learning from each other’s insights. One of our most important ambitions is to train a new generation of scientists who will become the leaders of the future as interdisciplinary scientists.

Blue sky research

Our research program aims to answer fundamental scientific questions in a bottom-up, curiosity driven manner to answer the most urgent and challenging scientific and societal questions. GUTS scientists work on high stake societal issues based on bottom-up researcher-driven innovation. With the knowledge generated by the GUTS program, we strive to provide knowledge for interventions and innovation, with the ultimate aim to provide a safe and stimulating environment that allows all adolescents to grow into adults that can find their personally meaningful place in society and who are provided with the means to contribute according to their needs and values.

Open science

Our ambition is to be as transparent about our scientific process and outputs as possible. We embrace the practices that are often placed under the umbrella of Open Science. For us, open science means supporting good research practices, improving reproducibility of research findings, making our outputs (eg., articles, codes) accessible for all, and aiming for FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) research data. On the data page you find more examples on how we put this in practice.

Engage with society 

We believe that science becomes better when combining knowledge from universities with knowledge from society. GUTS researchers insist upon creating youth platforms and manifestos for policy and politics to translate our science to society and learn from society to inform our science. We believe that creating a mutual language will facilitate a breeding ground for teamwork, including co-creation of science with target groups (e.g. living labs and academic workplaces).

Our youth professionals, youths participating in our panels and advisory boards are all part of the GUTS community. With this community we aim to create a basis in which everyone is equally valuable in achieving our mission: to get closer to equal chances for all youth in society.

Responsible research and innovation

There are societal and ethical consequences of doing research, especially with respect to how new knowledge is used in society. The ambiguity and uncertainty of science and method development invite different legitimate perspectives and continuously give rise to new questions and (societal) dilemmas. We find it highly important that the ethical and societal consequences of our research are well understood and communicated. As such, there is a need for ongoing reflection and dialogue with the stakeholders involved, for example societal partners and policy makers. By employing a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach, we manage realistic public understanding and expectation of the gained knowledge and constantly monitor ethical sensitivities.

Diversity and inclusion

We celebrate diversity and want to create opportunities for the talents of all people. We pay special attention to providing opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups to achieve a better representation of all talents in academia. We value and honor the unique contributions that all GUTS members of different ages, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities and expressions of religions, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status bring to the program.

 

 

First photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash.