Empathize
Empathize
Students will collaboratively conduct field research at the beach cleanup to observe pollution types and engage with community partners in empathy interviews, documenting diverse impacts and perspectives on environmental and social inequality in detailed reflective journals.
Days 1 - 9
Define
Define
Students will synthesize research on pollution and its societal impacts into a precise problem statement by collaborating with community partners, analyzing case studies, and defining specific environmental and social inequalities to address in their redesign of clean-up efforts.
Days 10 - 18
24 min over capacity (666 min available across 9 days)
Test/Present
Test/Present
Students will present their refined clean-up kits to community partners and stakeholders, incorporating feedback through live virtual presentations, and showcase their digital portfolios, highlighting their solutions to combat pollution and its effects on diverse communities, followed by engaging Q&A sessions with experts.
Days 46 - 60
405 min over capacity (1110 min available across 15 days)
Empathize
Days 1–9
Day 4
Define
Days 10–18
Ideate
Days 19–30
Prototype
Days 31–45
July 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
28
Day 2
Case Study Analysis for Problem Framing
Case Study Analysis for Problem Framing
29
Day 3
Stakeholder Mapping of Local Pollution
Stakeholder Mapping of Local Pollution
30
Day 4
Empathy Research Artifacts
Empathy Research Artifacts
Drafting a Community-Sourced Problem Statement
Drafting a Community-Sourced Problem Statement
31
Day 5
Misinformation, Inequality, and Policy Debrief
Misinformation, Inequality, and Policy Debrief
August 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
3
Day 6
Synthesize Findings into Problem Statement
Synthesize Findings into Problem Statement
4
Day 7
Synthesize Pollution Research and Framing
Synthesize Pollution Research and Framing
5
Day 8
Design & Conduct Partner Interviews
Design & Conduct Partner Interviews
6
Day 9
Inequality Lens: Pollution and Society
Inequality Lens: Pollution and Society
10
Day 11
Draft Problem Statement with Stakeholders
Draft Problem Statement with Stakeholders
11
Day 12
Define Pollution Problem
Define Pollution Problem
12
Day 13
Empathy Interview Planning for Pollution Impact
Empathy Interview Planning for Pollution Impact
13
Day 14
Pollution Data Categorization and Storytelling
Pollution Data Categorization and Storytelling
14
Day 15
Low-Cost Clean-Up Kit Concept Sketching
Low-Cost Clean-Up Kit Concept Sketching
17
Day 16
Prototype Mockups for Area-Specific Kits
Prototype Mockups for Area-Specific Kits
18
Day 17
Partner Feedback Workshop and Reflection
Partner Feedback Workshop and Reflection
19
Day 18
Analyzing Pollution Patterns for Kit Design
Analyzing Pollution Patterns for Kit Design
20
Day 19
Ideate
Empathy Interviews to Understand Pollution Impacts
Empathy Interviews to Understand Pollution Impacts
21
Day 20
Prototype and Evaluate DIY Clean-Up Kit
Prototype and Evaluate DIY Clean-Up Kit
24
Day 21
Brainstorm Clean-Up Concepts
Brainstorm Clean-Up Concepts
25
Day 22
Prototype Ideation: Kit Component Design
Prototype Ideation: Kit Component Design
26
Day 23
Partner Feedback Forum: Iterate with Experts
Partner Feedback Forum: Iterate with Experts
27
Day 24
Data Literacy: Classifying Pollution & Social Signals
Data Literacy: Classifying Pollution & Social Signals
28
Day 25
Empathy Interviews & Misinformation Reflection
Empathy Interviews & Misinformation Reflection
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
31
Day 26
Refinement Sprint & Journal Update
Refinement Sprint & Journal Update
1
Day 27
Prototype Kit Blueprint and Safety Plans
Prototype Kit Blueprint and Safety Plans
2
Day 28
Sourcing Affordable Materials for Clean-Up Kit
Sourcing Affordable Materials for Clean-Up Kit
3
Day 29
Field Test Kit in Classroom Scenario
Field Test Kit in Classroom Scenario
4
Day 30
Synthesis of Feedback with UCONN Partners
Synthesis of Feedback with UCONN Partners
7
Day 31
Prototype
Iterative Redesign and Reflective Journals
Iterative Redesign and Reflective Journals
8
Day 32
Prototype Iteration Sprint
Prototype Iteration Sprint
9
Day 33
Beach Pollutant Data Analysis Workshop
Beach Pollutant Data Analysis Workshop
10
Day 34
Wastewater Insight and Local Inequality
Wastewater Insight and Local Inequality
11
Day 35
Jars to Journal: Water Quality
Jars to Journal: Water Quality