Creative Inquiry@Lehigh University

Are social media connections truly bringing teens closer together, or are they subtly shaping their friendships and well-being? A team of NextGen Impact Fellows, “An Integrative Approach to Studying Adolescents’ Online and Offline Social Lives”, is exploring this question by blending psychology and digital communication research. Under the mentorship of Sarah Borowski, assistant professor of psychology, the 2025 IF team - Kaya Meler '28, Mina Zare '29G, and Gabriel Perez '26, along with Mountaintop Summer 2024 students Reese Keveanos '25 and Radha Kautavarapu from Ashoka University, is studying how online and offline interactions influence emotional well-being, stress levels, and peer support. They’re developing a social media simulator to analyze how adolescents respond to digital interactions—both positive and negative—and how these experiences translate into real-world relationships. This spring, the team will begin testing with 50 adolescents, forming 25 friend pairs, to observe emotional and physiological responses to social media interactions. They’ll also present findings at the Association for Psychological Science Conference in Washington, D.C., contributing to a deeper understanding of how digital interactions shape youth development.

Back home from an excellent visit to Brazil as an “American Specialist” for the Programa de Moderniza??o do Ensino de Gradua??o – Engenharia EUA (PMG) funded by Fulbright Brazil. The PMG program is focused on transforming engineering education in Brazil, and I was honored to collaborate with visionary colleagues in shaping its future. Over the course of an intense week, I exchanged ideas with some of the brightest minds in higher education and social innovation (Fernanda Pacheco, Priscila Lora, Elisa Schoenell, André Canal Marques, Mellanie Fontes-Dutra MSc, PhD, Amanda Kieling,) GUSTAVO S., Guilherme Trez, Sandro José Rigo, Tatiana Avila, Denise Jaffari, Cristiane Schnack), delivered talks and facilitated workshops on Creative Inquiry@Lehigh University and social enterprise, and sparred with incredible startups such as Biosens, led by the remarkable Willyan Hasenkamp, Muriel Schiling Krohn, Mariana Rost Meireles and team! One of my most memorable experiences was an afternoon spent with Padre Vicente and Prof. Fernanda Pacheco walking through the favela (urban slum) of Fé e Alegria where we had candid conversations with the resilient residents who overcame the devastating floods last year to rebuild their community, support one another, and foster hope in the face of adversity. Beyond the professional connections, I was fortunate to immerse myself in the rich culture of Brazil—sipping chimarr?o, savoring local coffee, and enjoying cacha?a—while experiencing the warmth and generosity of the most thoughtful academics I’ve ever met. A heartfelt Obrigado! to my wonderful colleagues at Unisinos for being such gracious hosts, as well as the incredible team at Fulbright Brazil, especially Taynara Barros, for making this visit possible. Your support and collaboration made my first visit to the land of two of my greatest role models, Paulo Freire and Paulo Coelho, truly unforgettable. Valeu Par?a! ?? ???? ???? ??

Imagine a world where mosquitoes no longer spread devastating diseases. That's the potential of #Wolbachia, a rapidly spreading bacterium being deployed as a groundbreaking biological control. By infecting mosquitoes, Wolbachia disrupts their ability to transmit viruses like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, providing a powerful and environmentally friendly strategy for disease control. A team of NextGen Impact Fellows is uncovering how Wolbachia spreads within and across species. Using flies as a model system, they are investigating colonization patterns and transmission pathways. Led by Joyce Li ’26, Josh Mirsky ’27, Nora Ronan ’26, and Arushi Tewari ’27—and mentored by J. Dylan Shropshire, PhD, assistant professor of biological sciences—the team is bridging the gap between fundamental science and real-world applications. “Through Creative Inquiry, I realized our lab work could have a real global impact,” said Mirsky, a molecular biology major. “Even in the early stages, understanding the bigger picture is key.” Li, a behavioral neuroscience major, added: “It’s easy to get lost in the details of research. This program reminds me that even small contributions can lead to meaningful change.” Department of Biological Sciences at Lehigh University

Our Office of Creative Inquiry is featured in Duke’s case study compilation on Collaborative Project-Based Learning! A big thank you to Duke University, Bass Connections, Laura Howes, Dr. Edward Balleisen, Sarah Grace Thompson, and Meghan O'Neil for putting this together and including us in this important work. This innovative approach empowers students to roll up their sleeves, apply their knowledge in real-world settings, and tackle meaningful challenges. The open-source compilation showcases how 17 higher education programs, including ours, are implementing this high-impact educational practice. Read our case study: https://lnkd.in/ePVAkQit Explore all featured programs: https://lnkd.in/enFZJTDX

Happy International Women's Day! Women are driving innovation, impact, and change through our Creative Inquiry programs—leading projects that span maternal health care, childhood malnutrition, gender equity, education, and more. In the 2025 Impact Fellowships, nearly 70% of student participants and a majority of faculty mentors are women, working to create meaningful solutions both locally and globally. While National Women's Day has passed, we believe in celebrating and honoring women's contributions every day. Today, we recognize and celebrate the power of women in research, leadership, and social impact. Your work is shaping a better world. #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInSTEM #WomenInResearch

In this month's "Notables," we extend appreciation to Phil Holcombe for his impactful design insights and feedback that improved various projects, and to Julia Killar and Lehigh University's Creative Inquiry program for inspiring community-focused initiatives. These contributions significantly enrich NOVA Lab's pursuit of social innovation and meaningful impact. Phil Holcombe Creative Inquiry@Lehigh University Julia Killar https://lnkd.in/eU2cnX7A

Lehigh's new Robotics Studio, the Freed Family Robotics Design Studio in Wilbur Powerhouse, is designed to propel us into the future of innovation and engineering. This space is not just about technology; it's about creating ideas that move and inspire, like Willy the robotic monkey. Read more about Willy and the complex work being done in the new studio at the link below.

What if Lehigh students could increase solar panel efficiency by 10-15%, maximizing energy output and reducing waste? Under the mentorship of Carlos Romero, research full professor and director of the Energy Research Center, and Julio Bravo, research scientist, NextGen Impact Fellows Kayla Quan '26, Mathurion Rajendrackumaar '27, and Dmitry Ulyakhin '28 are working to make this a reality. The team is optimizing Phase Change Material (PCM) using advanced algorithms to enhance its ability to regulate solar panel temperatures. Placed at the back of the panels, PCM helps prevent overheating, ensuring they operate efficiently - crucial since solar panels lose performance above 77°F. With summer approaching, the team will begin outdoor testing on small-scale solar panels to evaluate PCM’s impact in real-world conditions. Stay tuned as they advance sustainable energy solutions! Lehigh University Energy Research Center

Yesterday, the 2025 Impact Fellows took the stage for their first mid-semester presentations, and the energy was incredible! In two dynamic sessions, we witnessed incredible progress from 11 NextGen project teams and 38 GSIF, LVSIF, CSIF, and SVSIF projects, nearly 200 participating students in all. These students are tackling real-world challenges with creativity, passion, and purpose. A massive thank you to our 28 expert referees, including: Lehigh faculty, staff, community members, and alumni - who challenged, inspired, and propelled these projects forward. Your invaluable insights are shaping the next generation of change makers! Adam Ercolani, Simone A. James Alexander, Jennifer Marangos, Yu Xie, Jennifer Winikus, PhD, E.J. Rovella, MBA, MHA, John Paul Balmonte, Akansha Gavade, Spencer Smith, Ash Bhatnagar, Jennifer Maxwell, Avery Nudell-Cook, Armando Quiroz, Rick Morrissey, Quan Le, Bishop Pikinini, Garrik Hoyt, Sikhulisiwe Ncube (FIISA , AIRMSA), Abror Kamolov, Malik Normuradov, Jackson Kramp, Lawrence Tartaglia, Thaksheel Alleck, Matt Trust, MS, Garreth Heidt, Joseph Semafara, Umidjon Saidkhujaev, MBA, Jiin Jung, Ranni Torrez

Srinivas Rangarajan is part of the 2025 Impact Fellowship which brings together students from the five Impact Fellowships. It's the largest Creative Inquiry@Lehigh University cohort yet with more than 200 students working in 50 different projects. Rangarajan will lead STEM Visualizations. https://lnkd.in/esx5m5Vj #chemicalengineering #bioengineering #chemicalengineer #chemicalengineers #cheme #chem #STEM #research P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science at Lehigh University