Future Collaboration Research Articles

Individual differences in information demand have a low dimensional structure predicted by some curiosity traits

To understand human learning and progress, it is crucial to understand curiosity. But how consistent is curiosity's conception and assessment across scientific research disciplines? We present the results of a large collaborative project assessing the correspondence between curiosity measures in personality psychology and cognitive science. A total of 820 participants completed 15 personality trait measures and 9 cognitive tasks that tested multiple aspects of information demand. We show that shared variance across the cognitive tasks was captured by a dimension reflecting directed (uncertainty-driven) versus random (stochasticity-driven) exploration and individual differences along this axis were significantly and consistently predicted by personality traits. However, the personality metrics that best predicted information demand were not the central curiosity traits of openness to experience, deprivation sensitivity, and joyous exploration, but instead included more peripheral curiosity traits (need for cognition, thrill seeking, and stress tolerance) and measures not traditionally associated with curiosity (extraversion and behavioral inhibition). The results suggest that the umbrella term "curiosity" reflects a constellation of cognitive and emotional processes, only some of which are shared between personality measures and cognitive tasks. The results reflect the distinct methods that are used in these fields, indicating a need for caution in comparing results across fields and for future interdisciplinary collaborations to strengthen our emerging understanding of curiosity.

Collaboration between general practice and sickness benefits office - A Scoping Review

Abstract Background Effective collaboration among stakeholders is essential in supporting return to work (RTW) processes for individuals on sick leave. Yet sickness benefits office and general practice experience a lack of collaboration. This is echoed by individuals on sick leave. This scoping review aim to map existing literature on collaboration between sickness benefits office and general practice in RTW processes to identify both collaboration activities and underlying conditions influencing the collaboration. Methods A systematic search of peer reviewed literature was conducted across five databases in March 2023. Screening and data extraction were conducted by two independent researchers. Extracted data was mapped and activities and underlying conditions were analyzed following descriptive thematic analysis. Tentative results were discussed with a reference group. Results Among the 7471 papers screened, 21 met the inclusion criteria. Certificates was the most common collaboration activity. Of underlying conditions far more barriers compared to facilitators were identified. Barriers encompassed conflicting opinions, opposing roles, communicating via certificates, and time. Facilitators included personal communication and knowledge. Conclusions The number of included papers reflects a limited emphasis on this domain within research endeavors. The prevalence of barriers outweighing facilitators underscores the challenges inherent in this collaboration. General practice is depicted as advocating for their patients while the sickness benefits office pushes for return to work. Scarcity of time induces several challenges, impacting e.g., availability for personal communication and delays. Key messages • Stereotyping and opposing roles, poor communication and time constraints are major barriers that need to be addressed to enhance future collaboration. • Meetings and mutual knowledge about working conditions including legislations and procedures benefit the collaboration.

3.N. Round table: Health inequalities over life-course between people with & without childhood social care experience

Abstract The burden of ill health is not carried equally, children and young people with experiences of childhood social care (CSC), e.g. kinship, foster, residential or ‘out-of-home’ care, are affected by multiple cumulative disadvantages and experience high inequalities in health compared to the rest of the population. CSC, and the adversities often associated with it, are linked to health problems that persist into adulthood and adversely affect education, employment, and the future European society. Public and policy interest in improving outcomes for CSC recipients has increased markedly, as has research on the association between CSC and life outcomes. But current research is siloed, with limited comparative perspective and has not led to a strong evidence base to inform policy and practice. Wider international networks to connect research, practice and policy are needed to change this. The objective of the workshop is to bring together evidence on health inequalities between people with and without CSC experience across Europe. The panel will set the scene for the discussion by raising questions that stem from their work for the audience to respond. We will ask the audience to engage with these questions based on their experience (e.g. academic, clinical or other professional). The real-time reactions will be collected via Mentimeter during presentations, moderated and fed back to the audience and panel for discussion. This will allow us to collect diverse responses across countries and from different professional perspectives, providing learning and insights for both the panel and audience. The added value of a EUPHA workshop is the high-profile European level attention on this population. A spotlight on CSC experiences bringing together evidence from topic experts and health practitioners committed to improving childhood health inequalities across Europe and will foster a strong foundation for future collaborations and comparative research. The format is interactive and will include an introductory video of lived experiences of CSC to put a human face on this topic. We will then hear 4x5 minute expert presentations from social epidemiologists, health and social care professionals (20m) followed by a moderated discussion with the audience (35m). The presentations cover research across Europe, consider how inequalities accumulate across the life course to place children in care settings and identify where gaps in services fail children. MA sets the scene by asking what the international evidence is telling us about the health of people with CSC experiences. VS explores the accumulation of disadvantage across the life-course and intergenerational experiences of CSC. HF uses the Swedish example to ask why welfare services are not meeting the health needs of children. Finally, SS will consider solutions: what additions support is required for health practitioners dealing with children in care settings and what can/cannot be achieved from within the doctor’s office? Key messages • Participants will gain new insights on the health of children with social care experience from each other by sharing evidence and discussing key questions from diverse perspectives across Europe. • The workshop provides a foundation for participants to build future international networks and comparative research that will lead to a strong evidence base to inform policy and practice.

Research capacity and culture: a survey of Australian Orthopaedic Association members

BackgroundStrong research capacity and culture (RCC) within professional groups predict engagement in high-quality research and the integration of evidence into practice. However, factors affecting RCC participation and development are currently unknown in Australian Orthopaedic Surgeons.Study designCross-sectional survey.MethodsAll Australian Orthopaedic Association members were invited to complete the individual domain of the validated Research Capacity and Culture tool.ResultsOne hundred and sixty-three Australian Orthopaedic Association members (9%) provided survey answers. Survey findings indicated that AOA members scored moderate or high for most RCC domains (14 out of 15). Barriers to the completion of research included a lack of time, other work roles taking priority, and a lack of funds for research.ConclusionThe Australian Orthopaedic Association members surveyed in this study demonstrated adequate research skills and experience, although reported they could benefit from additional support securing funding and navigating specific research tasks. Increasing future collaboration with academic institutions and clinician-researcher roles may enhance the output of high-quality orthopaedic research in Australia.

Preface: 6th International Conference on Information Science and Electronic Technology (ISET 2024)

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 6th International Conference on Information Science and Electronic Technology (ISET 2024) was successfully held in Venice, Italy during September 07-08, 2024. The objective of this conference is to provide a platform for researchers, engineers, academicians as well as industrial professionals from all over the world to present their research results and development activities in information science, computer applications, mechatronics, electrical engineering, and electronic technology. This conference provides opportunities for the delegates to exchange new ideas and application experiences face to face, to establish business or research relations, and to find global partners for future collaboration. There were over 50 participants attended ISET 2024. During the conference, the conference model was divided into three sessions, including oral presentations, keynote speeches, and Q&A discussion. Their insightful speeches had triggered heated discussion in the conference. Every participant praised this conference for disseminating useful and insightful knowledge. We would like to acknowledge all of those who have supported ISET 2024. Each individual and institutional help were very important for the success of this conference. Especially we would like to thank the organizing committee for their valuable advices in the organization and helpful peer review of the papers. The Conference Scientific Committee Venice, Italy

Game-based learning about the circular economy in building sustainable communities: a case of international and interdisciplinary university collaboration

PurposeThis study aims to enhance integration of game-based learning (GBL) as a tool for conveying intricate circular economy (CE) concepts effectively into international and interdisciplinary higher education collaborations for the development of sustainable communities.Design/methodology/approachA series of game-based workshops by the Circular EELISA Community of the EELISA European University program were examined in terms of their compliance with literature-based GBL characteristics and their international, interdisciplinary and online conduct. An online survey conducted with 17 workshop and/or challenge organizers from four participating universities in different countries revealed expert experiences and perceptions on these points.FindingsIt was found that sensory elements, rewards and game choice enhanced engagement and motivation in all gamification, serious game and storytelling experiences, and that a combination of multiple GBL approaches was more effective than a single-method challenge design. Diversity-friendly collaboration, cooperation and immersion were particularly important when involving culturally and disciplinarily diverse participants.Practical implicationsThis study offers practical recommendations to improve both the performance of GBL-based learning environments in current and future education alliances and collaborations and the potential of GBL approaches to motivate youth to contribute to more sustainable communities across and beyond Europe.Originality/valueThe findings underscore the value of innovative pedagogical methods in shaping environmentally conscious mindsets and practices across institutions of higher education. To that end, this is the first study that investigates GBL in CE education with implications for international university cooperation.

Media Narratives on China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Nepal: Impact on Nepal-China Relations

China and Nepal have signed a number of bilateral agreements aimed at expanding mutual cooperation in infrastructure, trade, investment, and cultural exchange. With Nepal currently involved in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, China's BRI has provided a foundation for future economic collaboration in the region. This paper utilizes framing theory and qualitative content analysis to explore the media narratives on China's BRI projects in Nepal by three prominent Nepalese newspapers: My Republica, The Himalayan Times, and The Kathmandu Post. Analyzing news articles, the study examines how these newspapers frame BRI projects in Nepal across economic, geopolitical, and sociocultural dimensions. The analysis contributes to a comprehensive understanding of Nepal's participation in the BRI framework by highlighting the complexities and considerations across economic, geopolitical, and sociocultural domains using framing theory and qualitative content analysis methodology. The study reflects various media narratives on Chinese BRI projects in Nepal and its impacts on public opinions in understanding about BRI.

Developing an interprofessional identity complementary to a professional identity - findings related to Extended Professional Identity Theory (EPIT).

Collaboration among various professions often faces barriers owing to divergent perspectives, priorities, and expertise shaped by distinct socialization processes. These differences can hinder effectiveness, efficiency, and workforce well-being. The Extended Professional Identity Theory (EPIT) addresses this issue by fostering an interprofessional identity without weakening professional identities. Drawing from psychological theories, EPIT explains the coexistence of interprofessional and professional identities, and predicts associated behaviors. It also emphasizes the importance of combining interprofessional identity formation with developing interprofessional competencies and adapting to environmental factors to achieve synergy in (temporary or permanent) mixed profession groups. Introduced in 2018, EPIT research initially relied on the measurement of congruent interprofessional behaviors as indirect indicators of interprofessional identity that could not yet be measured. An experiment demonstrated that enhancing social identification in mixed profession groups with interprofessional assignments reduced the social hierarchy within 6 h across three meetings. The 2020 development of the Extended Professional Identity Scale (EPIS) confirmed interprofessional identity as a three-dimensional social construct. So far, several scientific studies have supported many propositions of EPIT. These propositions are related to dimensionality and various psychometric properties, cross-cultural similarities, evidence and clues for interprofessional identity formation, and its predictive validity in interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Türkiye is among several countries (e.g., the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Lithuania, Finland, and Indonesia) where EPIT-based interprofessional identity is being investigated. To illustrate contextual differences and their potential cross-cultural implications, it is valuable to explore how interprofessional identity adds value in the Turkish context. This approach facilitates understanding the regional implications of interprofessional identity, including interprofessional education initiatives, increased university engagement, the development of measurement instruments, challenges and future directions, and national and international collaborations. This paper aims to explain and clarify EPIT propositions compared to other theories, describe current evidence, and outline future research directions, with a focus on developments within the Turkish context as a showcase.

Preface

Pursuing the successful previous seminar, it is our great honour to hold the 13th International Physics Seminar 2024 (IPS 2024). IPS is an annual meeting hosted by the Physics and Physics Education Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), supported by the Physical Society of Indonesia (PSI) Jakarta and Banten. The IPS 2024 was conducted on June 1, 2024, in Latief Hendradiningrat Hall at campus site of UNJ, Jakarta, Indonesia. The theme of the seminar is “Physics for Sustainable Future”. This seminar aims to bring together academics, scientists, students, and practitioners to share and discuss theoretical and practical knowledge of problems, new physics trends, and applications. We invited scientists, scholars, engineers, and students from universities worldwide and industry to present ongoing research activities and to support fostering research relations between the university and industry. This seminar provides an opportunity for delegates to discuss and share their experience of new applications directly, to build business or research relationships, and to find global partners for future collaboration. The scope of the conference covers a wide array of topics within the field of physics, including: 1. Material Physics 2. Instrumentation and Computational Physics 3. Medical Physics and Biophysics 4. Earth Science and Astronomy 5. Theory, Nuclear, and Particle Physics 6. Energy and Environmental Physics 7. Physics Education All submitted papers have been initially checked to meet the criteria before submitting to the system. All papers were carefully reviewed to ensure the quality for publication before being accepted. We acknowledge all authors who submitted their papers to IPS 2024. Finally, we express our gratitude to the organizing committee for ensuring the quality of the seminar and to the reviewers for investing the time to ensure the quality of the paper. We acknowledged the academic and financial support from Dean of Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and Head of Institute for Research and Community Services of Universitas Negeri Jakarta. This seminar has also been supported by the Naraya Hotel, Nutrifood, Walcoo, Mandiri Bank, Attin, and 101 Urban Hotel. We are looking forward to welcoming you in our future International Physics Seminar (IPS). Riser Fahdiran Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia Chairman of International Physics Seminar 2024 (IPS 2024) List of Editors and Organizing Committees are available in this Pdf.

Exploring the Landscape of Polymerase Chain Reaction in Indian Medical Research: A Scientometric Analysis

Background and Aims: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionised medical research in India by offering a rapid and precise method for amplifying deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences crucial for various applications in healthcare. It aims to investigate publication growth, leading authors, productive journals, collaborating countries, keywords, institutional affiliations and funding agencies involved in PCR-related research within India. Methodology: A scientometric analysis assessed India’s PCR research performance using 10,509 articles from Scopus (2013-2022). Biblioshiny and VOSviewer aided data analysis, while Microsoft Excel facilitated computations. Results: The finding reveals the continuous growth in PCR publications, with significant contributions from researchers like Aman Sharma from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Chandigarh) and journals like the Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology. Notable contributors hail from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. International collaborations, especially with the United States, underscore the global outreach of PCR research in India. Keyword analysis reveals emerging trends and research themes in PCR, reflecting its evolving role in addressing contemporary health challenges. Funding agencies such as the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Ministry of Science and Technology, India (DBT) are crucial in supporting PCR research endeavours. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of PCR research in India, highlighting areas for future investigation and collaboration to further advance medical research and healthcare outcomes.

“Understanding Dementia Together”: The Design, Delivery and Evaluation of a Collaborative Inter-professional Dementia Workshop for Healthcare Students

Abstract Background A collaborative, multi-disciplinary team input is crucial for the optimal management of a person with dementia. Interprofessional learning (IPL) has benefits at undergraduate level. Allowing students to engage in IPL pre-qualification enables them to understand the value of a collaborative approach in improving patient care, and this insight may cultivate future collaboration. The aim of this study was to develop, deliver and evaluate an IPL dementia workshop for healthcare students across a broad range of relevant disciplines. A secondary aim was to determine the extent of perceived clinical application of learned knowledge in students who completed the workshop and subsequently underwent clinical placement. Methods This study adopted a social constructivist pedagogical approach. A steering group was formed which included faculty members from 11 healthcare disciplines. Disciplines represented included medicine, nursing, dentistry, physiotherapy, radiography, radiation therapy, audiology, speech and language therapy, pharmacy, occupational therapy and paramedicine. Kern's map for the development of a curriculum in medical education informed the development of the intervention. The Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale questionnaire was used to assess students’ knowledge. Results 102 students completed the pre and post workshop surveys. There was a statistically significant increase in student's knowledge (t (11) = -5.251, p≤0.001) and communication scores (Z=-7.792, p≤0.001) post workshop. The follow up of students on clinical placement showed a perceived behavioural change in communication modification, with 79% of students stating that they have changed the way they communicate with a person with dementia. Conclusion The findings of this study provide insight into the optimum modes of design and delivery of an IPL dementia workshop, state of knowledge, confidence, and role recognition across a broad spectrum of healthcare students. The longitudinal follow up of students on clinical placement established perceived behavioural change due to the training.

Harnessing digital footprint data for population health: a discussion on collaboration, challenges and opportunities in the UK

Digital footprint data are inspiring a new era in population health and well-being research. Linking these novel data with other datasets is critical for future research wishing to use these...

Preface: 5th International Conference on Humanities, Management Engineering and Education Technology (HMEET 2024)

The 2024 5th International Conference on Humanities, Management Engineering and Education Technology (HMEET 2024) was successfully held in Seattle, USA during August 10-11, 2024. The conference program covered invited, oral, and poster presentations from scientists working in similar areas to establish platforms for collaborative research projects. There were more than 50 individuals who attended this conference, represented many countries. HMEET 2024 provides a forum for accessing to the most up-to-date and authoritative knowledge from academic worlds, sharing best practice in the fields of humanities, arts, law, history, management engineering, education technology, sustainable development, and social science. The goal of this conference is to bring together the researchers from academia and industry as well as practitioners to share ideas, problems and solutions relating to the multifaceted aspects. This allows for the free exchange of ideas and challenges faced and encourage future collaboration between members of these groups. HMEET Organizing Committee Seattle, USA

Mesoscale Brain Mapping: Bridging Scales and Modalities in Neuroimaging - A Symposium Review.

Advances in the spatiotemporal resolution and field-of-view of neuroimaging tools are driving mesoscale studies for translational neuroscience. On October 10, 2023, the Center for Mesoscale Mapping (CMM) at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Health Sciences Technology based Neuroimaging Training Program (NTP) hosted a symposium exploring the state-of-the-art in this rapidly growing area of research. "Mesoscale Brain Mapping: Bridging Scales and Modalities in Neuroimaging" brought together researchers who use a broad range of imaging techniques to study brain structure and function at the convergence of the microscopic and macroscopic scales. The day-long event centered on areas in which the CMM has established expertise, including the development of emerging technologies and their application to clinical translational needs and basic neuroscience questions. The in-person symposium welcomed more than 150 attendees, including 57 faculty members, 61 postdoctoral fellows, 35 students, and four industry professionals, who represented institutions at the local, regional, and international levels. The symposium also served the training goals of both the CMM and the NTP. The event content, organization, and format were planned collaboratively by the faculty and trainees. Many CMM faculty presented or participated in a panel discussion, thus contributing to the dissemination of both the technologies they have developed under the auspices of the CMM and the findings they have obtained using those technologies. NTP trainees who benefited from the symposium included those who helped to organize the symposium and/or presented posters and gave "flash" oral presentations. In addition to gaining experience from presenting their work, they had opportunities throughout the day to engage in one-on-one discussions with visiting scientists and other faculty, potentially opening the door to future collaborations. The symposium presentations provided a deep exploration of the many technological advances enabling progress in structural and functional mesoscale brain imaging. Finally, students worked closely with the presenting faculty to develop this report summarizing the content of the symposium and putting it in the broader context of the current state of the field to share with the scientific community. We note that the references cited here include conference abstracts corresponding to the symposium poster presentations.

ERP and the Metamorphosis of Management Control: An Innovative Bibliometric Exploration

Introduction: The aim of this article was to analyse the scientific production exploring the transformation of management control by ERP. This bibliometric review, based on Scopus data, used VOSviewer software for bibliometric analysis. By mapping the existing literature, it identified research trends, the main themes addressed, and potential gaps in the field.Methods: The methodology adopted included a bibliometric study of scientific publications on legitimacy and management control using Scopus and VOSviewer. A database was created by searching for specific keywords on Scopus, selecting the combination "management control" and "ERP".Results: The results of this bibliometric study reveal the evolution of research into ERP and management control, highlighting the importance of technological integration for better organisational performance. They also provide valuable indications for researchers and practitioners wishing to deepen their knowledge and improve the implementation of ERP in various organisational contexts.Conclusion: This synthesis of bibliometric results reveals the complex dynamics of ERP and management control research, highlighting an interconnected network of researchers and institutions with diverse and evolving themes. The results provide valuable insights, identifying influential work, emerging themes and opportunities for future collaboration, while helping to develop more effective research strategies and advance knowledge in the field.

The Collaboration between nurses in a vaccination day against COVID-19 in a meat industry in Lleida Health Region

The need for a collaboration between the public health system (PHS) nurses and the occupational nurses from occupational risk prevention services (ORPS) was made evident during the Covid-19 pandemic. In Catalonia, several examples of beforementioned necessity were seen. This document analyses the experience both PHS nurses and ORPS nurses had during the vaccination program of a meat industry workers. It was concluded that coordination and synchronization between both parts is, not only possible, but also key in bettering health markers at a community level. Planning and intervention from an occupational standpoint have proven effective and opens the door to future collaborations between occupational nurses and other nursing specialties.

Abstract B124: Driving equity: Enhancing scientific workforce diversity through mentorship and grant writing workshops

Abstract A diverse scientific workforce fosters innovation, enhances global competitiveness, contributes to robust learning environments, improves the quality of research, advances the likelihood that historically underserved, or health disparity populations participate and benefit from health research, and enhances public trust. It isn’t merely their protected status that makes underrepresented minority scholars essential to a scientific workforce, but their culture, varying perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems. The Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, in collaboration with the Oklahoma Center for Mentoring Excellence, has implemented a grant- writing-focused mentorship program, D.R.I.V.E. (Developing Research Initiatives through Versatile Oncology Exploration). This program is tailored to underrepresented scholars who are predoctoral, postdoctoral fellows, or early-stage investigators. Developed in response to the growing need for underrepresented minorities in cancer research, the program aims to provide participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the grant writing process. The primary objectives of the D.R.I.V.E. program is to 1) discover and promote talented underrepresented scholars and researchers in the fields of cancer and cancer health disparities research, 2) establish an early career investigator mentorship program with a strong emphasis on grant writing, and 3) utilize Training Navigators (TNs) to oversee and monitor the advancement and productivity of recently identified prospective pipeline scholars. The program serves ten mentees by providing a workshop series of interactive sessions, including discussions and lectures led by a professional with extensive experience in securing research funding, practical exercises, and collaborative activities. Each participant will have a grant application ready for submission by the end of the program. Participants also receive support through pairing with one of five faculty mentors (grant-funded oncology researchers) while utilizing Training Navigators to oversee and monitor the advancement and productivity of the pipeline scholars. A post-program survey was sent to all D.R.I.V.E participants (n = 10) as an effort to evaluate the program’s effectiveness. Initial results indicate significant improvements in participants' confidence and skills in the grant writing process. Of those who completed the post-program survey (n = 7), everyone (100%) indicated that the DRIVE program exceeded their expectations, and everyone (100%) found the DRIVE mentors to be highly helpful in providing guidance and support. While only 71% of participants deemed the Training Navigator to be beneficial, 85% recognized clear opportunities for future collaboration. In conclusion, the D.R.I.V.E. program offers a comprehensive and engaging approach to professional development in the field of cancer research. Future iterations of the program will explore expanded content to further enhance learning outcomes. Citation Format: J'Lecia G. Jones, Natasha Mickel. Driving equity: Enhancing scientific workforce diversity through mentorship and grant writing workshops [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B124.

“Removing the home court advantage”: A qualitative evaluation of LEGO® as an interprofessional simulation icebreaker for midwifery and medical students

AimThe study aimed to evaluate the use of LEGO® as an educational tool for midwifery and medical students. BackgroundThe concept of LEGO® SERIOUSPLAY® ® was conceived in 1996 when Swiss Professors Roos and Victor explored using LEGO® as a strategic planning tool. We adapted this concept as an icebreaker activity for interprofessional education workshops at an Australian university. MethodUsing a qualitative evaluation, we used cross-sectional pre- and post-surveys to gain midwifery and medical students’ perspectives and insights. Students were divided into mixed discipline groups at the commencement of a one-day birthing and birthing complexities workshop and asked to design and build a birthing room using LEGO®. A pre-and post-workshop survey asked students about their experiences using LEGO® as a learning tool for team communication and collaboration. ResultsPre-workshop responses demonstrated intrigue as to how LEGO® could be used for learning. Post-workshop feedback was overwhelmingly positive and students described how it helped them develop communication and collaboration skills and understand the other disciplines' priorities and values. ConclusionUsing LEGO® as an icebreaker activity enabled open discussion and connection, promoting easy-going conversation and aiding a collaborative team-building process before students worked together in an interprofessional birthing simulation workshop. The findings indicated that the icebreaker activity enhanced the students’ awareness and appreciation of learning about each other’s perspectives, values and roles for future collaboration in the clinical workplace.

Preparing Future Special Education Faculty for Service in Rural Communities

In this program description, the authors explain how a doctoral-level embedded service-learning opportunity, part of Project PURPLE (Preparing Urban and Rural Personnel as Leaders in Education), a collaborative personnel preparation training program, taught future faculty to meet the needs of urban and rural schools in high-need settings. The collaboration between two large institutions in the same state offered scholars a unique opportunity to engage in teaching, research, and service across institutions. For the service-learning project, teams of cross-institution scholars partnered with consultants from a regional special education cooperative that provides technical assistance to a large rural geographical area. Eleven scholars completed seven diverse service projects, ranging from training education professionals to engaging caregivers. This description discusses these projects, along with the benefits to the scholars and the regional cooperative. It also explores implications for practice for future personnel preparation collaborations and possible avenues for future research.

SolarPACES Task III Project: Analyze Heliostat Field:

In recent years, great efforts have been made to reach a consensus on heliostat testing best practices. A specific SolarPACES task was launched to provide a Heliostat Testing Guidelines document for single heliostat evaluation with a focus on prototype validation and qualification. Such guidelines are not well-suited for heliostat evaluation in operating commercial heliostat fields. The commercial implementation of the Central Receiver technology is burdened by the lack of a demonstrated cost-effective methodology to test solar fields, particularly during the commissioning and operation phases of the plant. To address heliostat characterization challenges, the SolarPACES funded Project “Analyze Heliostat Field” aims to set the basis towards a SolarPACES guideline for Heliostat Field Performance testing under a common framework. This is by means of a review of the existing methodologies, R&D and industrial stakeholders information sharing and preparation of a future quantitative comparison and validation plan. As part of the development of this project, several meetings and a workshop involving the SolarPACES community was organized to share knowledge and experience in the measurement and characterization of heliostat fields using a range of technologies and procedures. Research centers and companies from 5 different and distant countries have actively participated in these meetings, sharing their experiences, needs and interests. This paper summarizes the outcome of this international collaborative effort and the prospects for future close collaborations sustained over time.