This workshop provided participants with a unique opportunity to take a plunge into the challenges and opporunities for innovation in the field of global health by partnering with an organization that serves the poor. Students committed to three intensive, back-to-back days of research and collaboration focusing on Sangath, an India-based NGO dedicated to health across the life span.
Each day’s plans, activities and assignments are outlined on the following pages:
Looking ahead: Class discussion on how to assess, appreciate, and design assistance for a global health delivery organization.
Read the following:
Watch this TED talk:
Come to class with at least one question for Sangath mapped out in writing. We kick off at 8AM with a joint call to all seven experts assigned to work with us.
Note: On Tuesday, after the call you’ll spend the rest of the day scouting the MIT and Boston–area ecosystem and meeting experts to generate what you think may be interesting ideas, technologies, and innovations that meet Sangath’s needs. You’ll have a chance to review their applicability and learn more in team calls to your assigned experts on Wednesday morning.
In teams, talk with your assigned NGO contact on Skype or Google Hangout (or by phone, messaging, or email, if necessary) to get answers to your questions posed the night before.
You will have time after your early morning call with Sangath to finalize the deck, which is due at 10:45AM by email.
Refine presentation, following up with any experts or conducting online research as needed. Anjali Sastry will be available for consultation during this time (from 8AM to 10:45AM). Use these times, and have her put you in touch with more people if needed.
Submit updated presentations by 10:45AM.
Meet in the classroom from 11AM to 1:30PM.
Class presentation: Students present to entire group, then panelists offer feedback and reflection to all (11:30AM to 12:30PM).
Every team presented their ideas and findings to the class. A distinguished guest, Deputy Director of the MIT Energy Initiative and Director of the Tata Center for Technology and Design, Robert Stoner offered feedback and joined in a classwide discussion of the mini projects. To set context, a student presented a quicke selection of contextual materials about Sangath (see lecture notes (PDF)__).
Students will spend all of day two gathering ideas and meeting experts to generate what they think may be interesting ideas.
In the afternoon each team will sign up for a 30-minute slot to check in with Anjali Sastry for feedback, advice, and discussion.
By the end of day two (before 5PM), each team will:
