6/5-6/9

The first day of Mountaintop we started the day with an introductory session, providing us with a glimpse of what is ahead in this extraordinary program. Our session began with a round of introductions, facilitated by Bill’s engaging icebreakers. As we took turns sharing our backgrounds and origins, to create a more welcoming space. 

One of the highlights of the day was the opportunity to see the incredible projects underway within each group. It helped us all see new perspectives on the diverse ideas and initiatives being pursued. Each presentation offered a unique glimpse into the creative minds of our fellow participants and their ambition for the next ten weeks.

To summarize the activities over the next couple of days at Mountaintop, we made comprehensive plans for the week. Our top three priorities included assigning specific roles to interested Halieybury students for our project, which we discussed during our previous meeting with them during fieldwork. We successfully scheduled a meeting with these students for this coming Monday, where we will introduce the projects and clarify their tasks based on their preferred roles (such as cognitive function, air monitors, air filters, or targeted public outreach).

The second area of focus was the implementation of air monitors. While we had already built a few for Almaty, we needed to create monitors for Lehigh as well. To accomplish this, we utilized the Wilbur Electronic Design Room to assemble the necessary components. This week, we managed to construct approximately six monitors. However, they are not yet fully functional, as we are currently awaiting a missing piece that the professor will be sending us shortly. Once we receive it, we will have a complete set of six monitors.

Lastly, we dedicated attention to the development of our Institutional Review Board (IRB) proposals. These proposals are crucial for obtaining approval to conduct our natural experiment in schools across Almaty. We are actively working on these proposals to ensure we meet all the necessary requirements and receive the green light for our research.

In summary, the key accomplishments of the past few days at Mountain Top involved assigning roles to Halieybury students, organizing a meeting with them, constructing air monitors for Lehigh, and progressing with the IRB proposals for our project in Almaty.