MCSI GLOBAL

Kevin Bell, MCSIGlobalEngagementFellow Mexico, Jordan, & Guatemala

As a joint project with the Department of Bioengineering and School of Public Health, Dr. Kevin Bell developed a new elective course to help students gain understanding and hands-on experience of medical design in low resource environments. Throughout the semester, students receive hands-on experience and exposure to ongoing efforts to address the problems of medical device accessibility, usability, and feasibility in low resource environments; they also actively participate in regular classroom projects and discussions about low resource conditions, regulatory concerns, and engineering ethics amongst other topics. As part of course outcomes, 5 healthcare design projects were created with global partnerships in Mexico, Jordan, and Guatemala.

Sara Baumann,MCSIGlobalEngagementFellow Nepal

A new undergraduate public health course “Can Art Heal?” is co-taught by Dr. Sara Baumann and Dr. Jessica Burke. The course was developed after research conducted in Nepal on the use of human-centered design (HCD) tools to engage community members in the co-development of their own interventions to sustainably improve health outcomes for women and girls.

An MCSI faculty award supported the investigators with establishing new Nepalese community partnerships, specifically with Tribhuvan University Education faculty and the Menstrual Health & Hygiene Partner’s Alliance. The faculty members undertook significant community outreach in rural Nepal and engaged local community members in designing solutions to address harmful menstrual practices. They also provided local human-centered design workshops in communities and supported training for team members in Nepal on human-centered design.

Melissa Bilec, MCSICo-Director

Florence, Italy

For the second year, Dr. Melissa Bilec led a group of Pitt Engineering students in Florence, Italy, teaching them about the connectedness between sustainability and the Renaissance. Students explored the first sustainable farm in Italy, Renaissance cities, and structures like Piezna, the Pitti Palace, and more

Michael Glass, MCSIGlobalEngagementFellow Newcastle, United Kingdom

Through his research on how philanthropic organizations are attempting to galvanize multisectoral interest in innovation for sustainability, Dr. Michael Glass participated in an information exchange with Dr. Tom Baker (University of Auckland in New Zealand)

Later, a panel session brought together 3 professionals to discuss the roles, opportunities, and challenges associated with philanthropydriven sustainable innovation practices Emmie Calland (The Pittsburgh Foundation) discussed how the Foundation uses responsible philanthropy to shape innovative solutions to the critical needs of Pittsburgh communities. Dr Emily Rosenman (Penn State University) presented on philanthropic-led innovation in racial justice and economic development in the Detroit region. Dr. Tom Baker (University of Auckland, New Zealand) provided insight on how and why city governments around the world have turned to philanthropic organizations (such as Bloomberg Philanthropies) to enact institutional innovation.

Elizabeth Oyler, MCSIGlobalEngagementFellow Konan University, Japan

MCSI and the Student Office of Sustainability hosted students from Konan University (Kobe, Japan). The Konan students were participating in a Pitt’s “Imagining Global Cities of the Future” cultural exchange program (developed by Dr. Elizabeth Oyler and funded by MCSI and UCIS’s Global Engagement in Sustainability Grant)

The visit included a tour of Pitt’s campus highlighting its sustainable infrastructure. The group also visited Oasis Farm & Fishery, where they learned about sustainable urban agriculture practices.

Dr. David Sanchez, MCSIAssociateDirector Guam

For the second year in a row, Dr. David Sanchez led a study abroad program to Guam, Micronesia. By building strong partnerships in Micronesia, Dr. Sanchez and 8 engineering students worked on projects in Guam related to traditional medicine, sustainable economic development, water sustainability, and emerging contaminants.