Does your work require IRB approvals? If Yes, articulate your detailed IRB strategy. If No, explain why you don’t need IRB approval and identify situations when you might need IRB approval.

While we are not doing research directly on the women in the Philippines, part of our research in figuring out what the machines can make is making sure those products can in fact be produced by these women. We are using machines whose function is to produce products, but not necessarily in the easiest way. The idea of these machines is most likely to maximize output, and we definitely have to consider the well-being of these women and if they’re strong enough to either use the machine repetitively, or making sure to include in the plan a system of switches to make sure these repetitive motions aren’t hurting anyone. In a proposal, we would need to state that part of our research in making sure this could be a successful venture is observing the capabilities of these women in the co-op. Since the machines we are making will be produced at Lehigh, we will not understand the effect of the machines until we arrive in the Philippines. Only once we arrive in the Philippines and watch these women work hands-on with the machines during the workshop can we try to minimize possible harms and maximize benefit. That being said, since we are not doing research directly on these women, I am unsure if we will need to have IRB approval since our project is mostly focused on specifically plastics research, and we will be simply providing these women with tools and helping them interact with these tools. In order to need IRB approval, a project must meet the definition of research, involve human subjects, and involve any interaction with these subjects and or access to their private information. First, in terms of research, it is any way of gathering data (quantitative or qualitative), conducting clinical trials, or observing behavior. It also means taking this collected information with the expectation of sharing this information past the body being studied by use of presentations, publications, or other bodies benefitting from this information being contributed by the group. Since we are planning to publicize this information, but not conduct a systematic investigation, it is unclear. It also must involve the use of human subjects. It must be direct interaction with the groups in question that can involve personal information that will affect the outcome of the study. For us, this might be when we are designing the setup of these machines, gathering user feedback, or input on the products and what these women can afford or are physically able to make. Luckily, none of this would be personally identifiable information, and we would not expect them to surrender any sort of records. Many groups in the GSIF program would be examples of projects that would require IRB approval. Since many of them are medical or food-based based groups, they will be working closely with participants to study what they do or don’t like about the product, how they use it, or how it personally fits into their lives where they will be learning personal information. They are receiving data about participants which can be identifiable personal information, such as medical records.

Develop a Logic Model for your venture.

Purpose: We are looking to employ this women’s co-op in the Philippines, and use recycled plastic as a sustainable choice to make products that they can sell wholesale or in local markets.

Context: There are several companies taking on this challenge of creating products sustainably with recycled plastics, and we are taking it a step further to help these women specifically. We have local government support in this venture and the means to create the machines to produce these products.

Inputs: Our inputs are agreements with local governments, the machines we are building at Lehigh, the sustainable development class working on ecosystem mapping, partnerships with University of the Philippines-Diliman, and agreements with the women’s co-op and various teams working on the machines and overall projects.

Activities: We will lead these women in a 3-day workshop over the summer to familiarize them with the machines and the design thinking process to unlock their creative potential. We will also lead a similar workshop at Lehigh to familiarize ourselves with the machines and to prepare the process to minimize risk and maximize reward during our lucrative time in the Philippines.

Outputs: Our outputs would be the number of products produced, the quality of products produced, and the satisfaction of the women with the machines, their setup, configuration, and confidence in repairing the machines and designing for themselves.

Effects: Women will make a profit which they can either put back into this venture or spend on their own needs or needs of the co-op.