Hello Everyone!  

This past Saturday Mehmet and I went on our first true safari! I was in awe seeing such a wide variety of wildlife, but it was the elephants that captivated me most. As the largest land animals, their sheer size and graceful movements were mesmerizing, it was definitely an unforgettable experience. What fascinates me even more is their complexity, from rich social bonds and communication methods to their complex memories and emotional depth. Elephants are often seen as symbols of wisdom, and after this week, I find myself reflecting on how much I’ve learned and perhaps became a little wiser, too.

This week was a whirlwind of many events. First, our program coordinator for Rice 360, Michelle, came to visit us! It was nice to see such a familiar face and we really appreciated her coming to see our progress. We also spent time with other expats staying at our lodge whether going on the safari together or conversing during breakfast and dinner. It was interesting comparing and contrasting our countries, cultures, and experiences as these exchanges opened my eyes to global issues and ideas I hadn’t considered before, and I feel more inspired and eager to continue exploring this world. I even learned how to make nsima, a staple food in Malawi which we all ate together during dinner! Whether through cooking, conversation, or shared adventures, I felt like I was constantly learning,  gaining wisdom from many different perspectives. I’m excited to continue meeting people from around the world and to stay open to the many ways of seeing and experiencing life.

I’ve also learned a lot through my project this week. Throughout the week, we began developing 3D CAD models and developing a low fidelity prototype of our nebulizer project. Bright and I had to get creative, and it was both challenging yet fun having to figure out how to repurpose materials from a junk pile to construct a model with a functional mechanism. In the end, we were able to build a tangible vision of our project and I can’t wait to continue developing it further. 

We also decided on a couple of changes for our model from our initial design. For the multi-user interface, our original idea was to have two nozzles connected to the same air jet. However, after observing a jet nebulizer (used at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital), we noticed it operates using a push-pull mechanism. The motor turns a fan, which in turn rotates a gear that drives a pump. This pump generates the compressed air needed to aerosolize liquid medication.

Seeing how the gears and pumps interact through this push-pull motion inspired us to think about how we could harness opposing forces in our design. We started exploring the idea of adding a second air jet on the opposite side of the first one to use the reverse motion to generate additional air compression, hopefully devising a method to reuse mechanical motion more effectively and conserve energy. Another change is incorporating a corrugated tube into the design, allowing nebulizer use in multiple orientations to improve comfortability and usability for patients.  

However, these concepts are still in the early stages, and we’ve received valuable feedback emphasizing the importance of grounding our ideas in proven theory to ensure practical achievability. In the coming weeks we will conduct further research and consider possible limitations, as well as continue developing the tourniquet trainer arm model for technology feedback. Overall, this phase of development has deepened my appreciation for the engineering design process and allowed me to think creatively and wisely to problem solve through the challenges we’ve faced. 

It’s hard to believe we only have one more week before we are halfway done, but I am excited to continue learning and growing, maybe one day becoming as wise as the elephants that inspired me this week. 

Catch y’all next time!