Obituary for David Lätsch
Prof. Dr. Lätsch, * September 20, 1981, † August 21, 2024
It is with great sadness that we commemorate the unexpected and tragic passing of David Lätsch, an outstanding scholar and admired colleague.
David’s career as a compassionate researcher in the field of child protection started at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) after completing his PhD in Psychology at the University of Zurich. Most recently, he led a research team on child protection at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).
David’s innovative research has provided a lasting impetus for child protection in Switzerland and has contributed to the field internationally. His zeal for the subject and his capability to convey complex content accessibly inspired and motivated numerous students and child protection professionals. His work has sharpened our understanding of the complex interplay of risks and protective factors in child endangerment. Moving beyond scholarly debates, he translated his findings into actionable recommendations to improve structures and processes supporting and protecting the vulnerable. David successfully bridged gaps between science, practice, and policy-makers. His research on prevention (e.g., Gautschi & Lätsch, 2024), on screening, assessment, and decision-making (e.g., Lätsch et al., 2023; Lätsch et al., 2021), or on the epidemiology of child maltreatment (e.g., Lätsch et al., 2017) extended beyond publications and scientific discussions, inspiring initiatives to strengthen child protection at the institutional, individual and legislative level. David ardently advanced the development of innovative approaches, exploring how technology such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality could provide impactful responses to major issues in child protection (e.g., Stoll, Wehrli & Lätsch, 2024).
As a mentor of students, a supervisor of doctoral candidates and post-docs, David was a role model who inspired many to pursue their own academic and professional goals ambitiously. His collegial personality and commitment to sharing knowledge will be sorely missed by his co-investigators and colleagues.
In David, the scientific community has lost a visionary intellectual, a critical thinker and a warm-hearted person. His legacy in child protection will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of collaborating with him. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who were close to him.
References
- Gautschi, J., & Lätsch, D. (2024). The effectiveness of interventions to prevent and reduce child maltreatment in high-income countries: An umbrella review. Child Abuse & Neglect, 153, 106845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106845
- Lätsch, D., Nett, J., & Hümbelin, O. (2017). Poly-victimization and its relationship with emotional and social adjustment in adolescence: Evidence from a national survey in Switzerland. Psychology of Violence, 7(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039993
- Lätsch, D., Quehenberger, J., Portmann, R., & Jud, A. (2023). Children’s participation in the child protection system: Are young people from poor families less likely to be heard? Children and Youth Services Review, 145, 106762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106762.
- Lätsch, D., Voll, P., Jung, R. & Jud, A. (2021). Evaluating assessment tools in child protection: A conceptual framework of internal and ecological requirements. Child Abuse Review, 30, 508–519. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2728
- Stoll, D., Wehrli, S., & Lätsch, D. (2024). Case reports unlocked: Harnessing large language models to advance research on child maltreatment. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4928223