Where Curiosity Met Action: InnovateDx Workshop Reflections
On 20 February 2026, the Malawi Liverpool Welcome Programme hosted the InnovateDx Workshop under the theme “Where Curiosity Meets Hands-on Innovation,” featuring innovators from the MUST Design Studio and led by Prof. Manu Prakash of Stanford University. The workshop highlighted how frugal science and AI can advance healthcare, showcasing tools such as the Foldscope and an AI-powered microscope. Prof. Prakash emphasized curiosity, persistence, and structured problem-solving through the FRADPARC framework. MUST Design Studio teams demonstrated this approach through projects addressing healthcare and nutrition challenges, including immunization tracking and locally sourced solutions to malnutrition. Overall, the workshop encouraged critical thinking and practical action, demonstrating that impactful, locally driven innovation is possible when students are equipped with the right mindset, tools, and mentorship.