Participatory Evaluation Research Articles

Insights into professional learning for intensive Block Model: Lessons from a participatory evaluation for capacity building

We share lessons gained through supporting an institution-wide curriculum innovation via a post-graduate professional learning program. At the inception of the innovation, an intensive Block Model (BM) was unfamiliar to both the institution and its professional learning facilitators. The Graduate Certificate of Tertiary Education was re-modelled with BM as the heart of professional learning so academics would encounter BM as students. The program modelled BM principles, reinforced by meta-conversations to provide students with a reflective, immersive experience. Through a participatory evaluation, professional learning facilitators’ individual reflections were distilled to generate collaborative insights into academics’ capacity building for BM. Their lessons inform strategies to cultivate institution-wide capability-building including their own professional growth. Lessons shape the study recommendations. Recommendations originate from effectively engaging time-poor, diverse cohorts. (1) In recognition of the ease with which students can fall behind, embedding strategies to manage their time and stress helps to maintain a realistic study pace. (2) Authentic assessments provide students with useful products for their teaching. (3) Peer-feedback and examples of students’ work exposes them to how their colleagues present their work and illustrates good BM practices. (4) Modelling BM principles must be reinforced by meta-conversations to provide students with a reflective, immersive experience of the pedagogical principals. We observed that well planned efficiencies for students often provide consequent efficiencies for staff. These insights are captured in a model for scalable institutional-based professional learning practice. Capability growth flourishes at the intersection of action, reflection and evaluation. Professional collegial conversations are the catalyst for developing context-relevant professional learning.

Autonomous military systems beyond human control: putting an empirical perspective on value trade-offs for autonomous systems design in the military

AbstractThe question of human control is a key concern in autonomous military systems debates. Our research qualitatively and quantitatively investigates values and concerns of the general public, as they relate to autonomous military systems, with particular attention to the value of human control. Using participatory value evaluation (PVE), we consulted 1980 Australians about which values matter in relation to two specific technologies: an autonomous minesweeping submarine and an autonomous drone that can drop bombs. Based on value sensitive design, participants were tasked to enhance the systems with design features that can realize values. A restriction (limited budget) in each design task forced participants to make trade-offs between design options and the values that these options realize. Our results suggest that the ‘general public’ has diverse and nuanced stances on the question of human control over autonomous military systems. A third of participants that is opposed to autonomous military systems when asked directly, selected different combinations of design features realizing varying degrees of human control. Several contextual factors, technology-specific concerns, and certain values seemed to explain these different choices. Our research shows that a focus on human control might overlook other important values that the general public is concerned about, such as system reliability, verifiability, and retrievability.

Analisis Perilaku Kerja Pegawai pada Kantor Kecamatan Teluk Jambe Timur

This research aims to analyze the work behavior of employees at the East Telukjambe Sub-district Office, Karawang Regency, based on the Regulation of the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6 of 2022. This study uses a qualitative approach with a focus on seven indicators of employee behavior, namely Service Orientation, Accountability, Competence, Harmony, Loyalty, Adaptability, and Collaboration. Informants in this study consist of the Sub-district Head, staff members, and the community. Primary data were obtained through direct interviews with respondents, while secondary data were obtained from related literature and documentation. The analysis results indicate that the East Telukjambe Sub-district Office shows positive performance in all the examined indicators of employee behavior. Measures such as clear service policies, employee training, participatory performance evaluation systems, and promotion of collaboration among employees have been taken to strengthen this performance.

Staff perspectives on the successful families program model: Combining supportive housing with wraparound services for teen families

Providing support to address the systemic barriers that teen families face is a logical step toward improving their health and well-being. One area where teen families face multiple obstacles is accessing safe, secure, affordable housing. This paper describes a unique, innovative model of supportive housing developed in combination with wraparound supports, provided to teen parents in Edmonton, Canada. As part of a larger community-based participatory research and evaluation project, we draw on qualitative data to describe the supportive wraparound housing model that was developed. In particular, we conducted individual interviews and focus groups with a total of 27 staff members from the partner agencies, who provided information about the Successful Families program model. Analysis of interview data resulted in five broad categories that have resonated with our community and academic team as a way to conceptualize and share the work of the program. Categories, which are described in terms of associated subcategories, include: Community, Partnership, Program Principles and Values, Successful Families Program Structures, and Skill and Knowledge Development. Through this work, we aim to promote awareness of considerations for service providers seeking to implement similar services, and expand the limited knowledge base regarding methods for supporting the diverse needs of teen families.

Implementing patience in islam for young entrepreneurship

Self-employment is the new activity for young people. The existence of covid-19 and massive layoffs is a boon for young people who work. With these problems, young people are motivated to carry out young entrepreneurial activities. However, beginners still experience various kinds of new problems in developing it. The concept of patience is one of the supports in dealing with these problems. Where young people are directed to focus on self-organisation so that their positive energy can provide solutions that can handle these problems. This research aims to find out the entrepreneurial motivation and the problems faced and their handling. The research method involved field studies and interviews with entrepreneurs and data was collected through participatory observation, field notes, and evaluation of concept understanding. The results showed that the implementation of patience for young entrepreneurs is very effective and able to provide solutions to any problems that occur.

Struggling to resume childhood vaccination during war in Myanmar: evaluation of a pilot program

BackgroundAfter the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, the health system began to disintegrate when staff who called for the restoration of the democratic government resigned and fled to states controlled by ethnic minorities. The military retaliated by blocking the shipment of humanitarian aid, including vaccines, and attacked the ethnic states. After two years without vaccines for their children, parents urged a nurse-led civil society organization in an ethnic state to find a way to resume vaccination. The nurses developed a vaccination program, which we evaluated.MethodsA retrospective cohort study and participatory evaluation were conducted. We interviewed the healthcare workers about vaccine acquisition, transportation, and administration and assessed compliance with WHO-recommended practices. We analyzed the participating children’s characteristics. We calculated the proportion of children vaccinated before and after the program. We calculated the probability children would become up-to-date after the program using inverse survival.ResultsSince United Nations agencies could not assist, private donations were raised to purchase, smuggle into Myanmar, and administer five vaccines. Cold chain standards were maintained. Compliance with other WHO-recommended vaccination practices was 74%. Of the 184 participating children, 145 (79%, median age five months [IQR 6.5]) were previously unvaccinated, and 71 (41%) were internally displaced. During five monthly sessions, the probability that age-eligible zero-dose children would receive the recommended number of doses of MMR was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI] 83–100%), Penta 87% (95% CI 80%–94%); BCG 76% (95% CI 69%–83%); and OPV 68% (95% CI 59%–78%). Migration of internally displaced children and stockouts of vaccines were the primary factors responsible for decreased coverage.ConclusionsThis is the first study to describe the situation, barriers, and outcomes of a childhood vaccination program in one of the many conflict-affected states since the coup in Myanmar. Even though the proportion of previously unvaccinated children was large, the program was successful. While the target population was necessarily small, the program’s success led to a donor-funded expansion to 2,000 children. Without renewed efforts, the proportion of unvaccinated children in other parts of Myanmar will approach 100%.

Developing an evaluation framework for an online midwifery programme: a practical participatory approach

PurposeThis paper aims to generate knowledge about relevant evaluation topics that align with and represent the unique character of the midwifery programme for students living in the rural and remote areas of Scotland.Design/methodology/approachThe first two central concepts of Practical Participatory Evaluation (P-PE) framed the research design: the data production process and (2) the knowledge co-construction process. The data were collected using a semi-structured approach via online discussions, dialogues and email-based consultation among programme stakeholders. A structural analysis was performed: the units of meaning (what was said) were extracted, listed and quantified in units of significance (what the texts were talking about), from which the key topics for evaluation emerged.FindingsA community of 36 stakeholdersengaged in the discussions, dialogues and consultations. The stakeholders identified 58 units of significance. Fifteen subthemes were constructed in five main themes: student profile, student well-being, E-pedagogy, student journey/transition from being a nurse to becoming a midwife and learning in (an online) geographically remote and isolated area. The themes, or topics of evaluation, are dynamic functions and underlying mechanisms of the commonly used evaluation measures student progress and student evaluation.Research limitations/implicationsThis P-PE is a single-site study, focusing on a unique programme consisting of a specific group of students living and studying a specific geographic area, affecting the transferability of the findings.Originality/valueIn collaboration with stakeholders, parameters to evaluate the uniqueness of the programme in addition to higher education institution routinely collected data on student progress and satisfaction were systematically identified. The themes highlight that if student progress and satisfaction were the only evaluation parameters, knowledge and understanding of the contributing factors to (un)successfulness of this unique online midwifery programme could be missed.

Assessing Approaches to Strengthen Monitoring and Evaluation in Development Projects: Evidence from Donor-Funded Projects in Machakos County, Kenya

Monitoring and Evaluation improves the quality of programme or project management since it provides information on how results namely outcomes, outputs and impact are achieved and assesses the effectiveness, relevance, coherence, efficiency, impact and sustainability of specific development interventions. The objectives of the study were to examine the influence of participatory monitoring and evaluation among development project teams in Machakos County and to assess the influence of M & E as a learning tool on implementation of development projects in Machakos County, Kenya. The study was guided by the Theory of Change which describes how particular interventions or sets of interventions lead to specific changes. The target population of this study was 102 programme staff implementing donor-funded projects. A census was done and therefore the target group formed the sample for the study. Primary data sources used were key informant interviews and a survey questionnaire. Quantitative data was analyzed in SPSS Version 28 and qualitative data was thematically analyzed. According to the survey results, 58.2% agreed that the involvement of all relevant project stakeholders during the preliminary stages of project design strengthens M&E. The survey results showed that 49.45% of the respondents agreed that project planning reflected the various community needs and supported decision-making processes during project implementation. A majority (58.23%) agreed that feedback from various stakeholders was often incorporated and used to strengthen the delivery of various project activities informant interviews. Majority of the survey respondents (72%) indicated that learning is integral to ensuring M&E is effective and project teams can learn immensely from M & E. A majority (71%) agreed that project teams feared participating in M&E activities due to fear that it could be used against them. The findings show that the involvement of stakeholders in project design and implementation directly influenced successful project M & E. The study recommended involving relevant parties and stakeholders in a project since this influences its implementation and M & E among donor-funded development projects. Project managers need to put in place incentives for project teams to learn not just for reporting to funding agencies but for the benefit of internal learning among project teams.

Farmer’s participatory varietal evaluation for growth and yield attributing traits of sali paddy varieties in Dhemaji district of Assam

Farmer’s participatory varietal evaluation for growth and yield attributing traits of sali paddy varieties in Dhemaji district of Assam

DEVELOPING MULTILINE COWPEA VARIETIES ADAPTED TO LOCAL CROPPING SYSTEMS AND SPECIFIC FARMERS’ PRODUCTION GOALS THROUGH PARTICIPATORY BREEDING

<p><strong>Background</strong><strong>.</strong> Decentralized participatory breeding approach facilitate the development of varieties better suited for a diversity of farmers' contexts. To enhance breeding efficiency, formal methodological settings are needed to include, at early stage of selection, particular local practices and farmers’ preferences. <strong>Objective</strong><strong>.</strong> Evaluate how location, farmers’ profile and local cropping system could be taken into account to optimize selection of cowpea varieties in a decentralized context. <strong>Methodology:</strong> Twenty-two candidate multiline varieties of cowpea (<em>Vigna unguiculata L. </em>Walp) were developed from a biparental family of recombinant inbred lines. These varieties were subjected to selection under edaphic and climatic conditions of three locations and two cropping systems (intercropping <em>versus</em> sole cropping). Trials were carried out in collaboration with farmers' federations. Participatory evaluations were conducted over two years by the three groups of farmers defined by the following production goals: grains production as priority (“Grain priority profile”), fodder as priority (“Fodder priority profile”) and grain quality as priority (“Food processing priority profile”). <strong>Results</strong><strong>.</strong> The statistical analysis supported significant effects of location and cropping system on the agronomic traits, with interactions effects involving the variety. A strong correlation was observed between the varietal choices of the two farmers’ profiles which prioritized respectively grain and food processing. These farmers preferred varieties with higher grain yield and best grain quality. Farmers who prioritized fodder preferred more specific varieties, characterized by highest haulm yield. <strong>Implications.</strong> The clustering of farmers into specific profiles is an efficient method which allow expressing their diversified production goals through participatory evaluation. This led to more specific varietal choices for each of the profiles. <strong>Conclusion</strong><strong>.</strong> This study set cropping systems and farmer profiles as formal design factors at early breeding stage. These factors acted efficiently to support the process of varietal choice. The participatory approach highlighted the congruence and complementary between farmers’ and researchers’ knowledges. It helped identifying, for intercropping and sole cropping systems respectively, the most suitable varieties preferred by each of three respective farmers’ group.</p>

Participatory Evaluation of Thirty (30) New Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Lines Developed from Anther Culture under Senegal River Valley Growing Conditions

Rice is one of the most widely used staple foods in the world. However, its production is still very limited compared to the exponentially growing demand. Senegal, with an average consumption of 90 kg/habitant, is the third largest importer of rice in Africa. Aware of the impact of imports on the population, Senegal has set itself the objective of achieving food self-sufficiency by 2022 with an average yield of 5 tonnes/ha. ISRA, through its research, contributes to the achievement of this objective by developing adapted technologies. It is within this framework that a participatory evaluation of 30 new anther culture lines was conducted at the ISRA research station in Fanaye during the hot dry season of 2020. Surveys were conducted among producers through guided tours, while observations and measurements were made to collect agro-morphological parameters and characteristics preferred by producers. The agronomic results analysed and combined with the surveys made it possible to select the 10 best performing varieties. Among these 10 best performing lines, 6 were chosen by the producers. They are KF18134, KF18040, KF18068, KF18103, KF18124, KF18048, KF18005, KF18017, KF18001, KF18024. Crop yield is the first characteristic chosen by the growers. It was followed by short cycle characteristics, panicle load, low bird damage and medium height.

Enhancing Farmers Maize Productivity and Profitability in Central Ethiopia: Insights from Participatory Demonstration and Evaluation of Maize Varieties

Despite its significance for food security and income, maize production in the Guraghe zone faces challenges like low yield and susceptibility to pests and disease. Cognizant of this fact, this study aims to determine the maize variety with optimal productivity and economic feasibility through active participation of farmer’s in Abeshge district of Gurage zone and Kebena special districts. A participatory action research design was followed to demonstrate and evaluate maize technologies for two consecutive years in the study areas. A total of 124 purposively selected farmers were participated in the on-farm evaluation of the varieties. While a total of 24 demonstration has been made in both districts over the course of two years’ time 2021/22-2022/23 main cropping seasons. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected viz focus group discussion, key informant interview and formal data sheet. The analysis of collected data involved the application of descriptive statistics, including mean, median, and percentage, alongside inferential statistics like the Mann-Whitney U-test. Evaluation of demonstrated maize varieties utilized techniques such as pair-wise ranking matrix, technological gap index, and extension gap. Additionally, the economic feasibility of these varieties was assessed through partial budget analysis. BH-549 consistently outperforms BH-546 in grain yield and technological performance, with a mean grain yield advantage ranging from 4.49% to 14.6%. In addition, the Mann Whitney U-test result also reveals that BH-549 has a statistically significant (P=0.019) higher grain yield than BH-546 in 2021/22 and (P=0.026) in 2022/23. Farmers’ preferences also align with BH-549, ranking it higher across various traits. Economically, BH-549 demonstrates superior profitability, highlighted by a higher Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) and MRR percentage (770), emphasizing its economic viability for smallholder farmers. As BH-549 exhibits a consistent superiority in yield, farmers preference and economic viability, the study recommends for further dissemination of BH-549 (Ilu) maize variety than BH-546 concerned bodies such as zonal and district level agriculture offices, NGO’s and seed enterprises in the study areas.

Applying the Participatory Evaluation Measurement Instrument in the Evaluation of a Public School Program for Teachers

Although most evaluators are familiar with participatory evaluation (PE), the ability to measure stakeholder participation in an evaluation remains challenging. Based on Cousins and Whitmore’s (1998) PE theoretical model, Daigneault and Jacob (2009, 2012, 2014) developed an instrument for measuring the degree to which an evaluation can be considered participatory. The present study used Daigneault and Jacob's Participatory Evaluation Measurement Instrument (PEMI) in the evaluation of a public school district's educator mentoring program. The evaluators examined the benefits and challenges of using the instrument in public school settings. This paper details the procedure of using PEMI to explore the level of stakeholder participation in the evaluation case and uses a process similar to the mini-ethnography method to reflect on the experiences of the evaluators through the procedure. Findings show that in addition to accurately capturing the perceived level of participation, PEMI may be utilized in the planning phases of evaluation.

Participatory design of a virtual reality life review therapy system for palliative care

We present a novel Virtual Reality (VR) life review therapy system. Life review therapy is an intervention used by clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers for patients under palliative care to systematically examine various life experiences to resolve conflicts and complete life tasks. The goal of the therapy is to narrativize the patient’s life before death in order to come to terms with their mortality. Our VR life review therapy system allows therapists to perform their interventions in customized virtual spaces designed to encourage the patient to reflect and reminisce about their life experiences. Our system is also developed in response to mobility restrictions and COVID-19 pandemic-related quarantine measures that have separated patients under palliative care from family and friends, resulting in emotional and psychological distress. As VR systems related to health are increasingly being used by therapists in their interventions, it is of utmost importance that the health professionals who will be the end users of these systems are involved in the design process to create ethical healthcare technologies. In response, we initiated the participatory design and evaluation of our VR life review therapy system prototype with six clinical psychologists who have practical experience delivering life review therapy to patients in palliative care in the Hong Kong hospital system. In the study, each participant experienced the VR life review therapy system and evaluated its strengths and weaknesses through semi-structured interviews. The qualitative data gathered from these interviews was coded according to nine different categories; avatars, content design, evaluation, haptic sensations, interaction, gesturing and gaze direction, movement and navigation, non-verbal communication, soundtrack. These conceptual categories were chosen based on our analysis of common themes reported by the clinical psychologists’ experience of the system. Feedback from clinical psychologists on each of these categories was incorporated into the redesign and update of the final system. Overall, participants generally evaluated the system as feasible and effective for use with patients under palliative care, while movement and interaction were the features requiring the most improvement.

Farmers participatory evaluation of bread wheat varieties through seed producer cooperatives: evidence from Ethiopia

The limited engagement of farmers and their community agents in the process of variety development and evaluation is one of the main factors for lower rates of variety adoption, which resulted in lower crop productivity. Participatory bread wheat variety evaluation was jointly conducted by breeders, members of seed producer cooperative (SPC) and local experts with the objectives to identify farmers’ selection criteria, to assess farmers’ preferred varieties and to increase the SPC’s variety portfolios. Twelve released bread wheat varieties were evaluated during 2019 cropping season at Sekela district of Amhara region, Ethiopia. Pair-wise ranking was used to identify farmers’ selection criteria and direct matrix ranking to prioritize those selected criteria. Varieties were planted in two sets with and without lime application. Grain yield, followed by earliness, disease tolerance, and tillering capacity, was identified the first preferred criterion by farmers. The mean values showed that higher yield was recorded with the lime application compared to no lime application. Lemu (6.4 t/ha), Alidoro (6.3 t/ha), Dambal (6.3 t/ha), Obora (6.1 t/ha) and Liben (6.1 t/ha) had greater yield with lime application. The t-test results indicated that significant difference between with and without liming for the number of tillers per plant, spike length per plant, plant height, 1000 seed weight, and hectoliter weight, but non-significant difference for grain yield. The selected varieties should be included in the production plan of the cooperatives for large scale production to increase the variety portfolios and to address the demand of the farming community.

Formative Evaluation of an Interactive Personalised Learning Technology to Inform Equitable Access and Inclusive Education for Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

AbstractIn accordance with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal for Education, to promote equitable access and inclusive education for all, it is critical to explore if educational technologies can be used effectively by children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It has been argued that educational technologies need to be tailored to the individual needs of children with SEND, otherwise they can create new layers of exclusion at school. The aim of this study was to examine the suitability of an interactive, personalised, educational technology, designed to support the learning of foundational skills, that is being introduced in several countries worldwide, for use by children with SEND. A participatory formative evaluation was conducted with ten academic experts in SEND. Each expert interacted with the technology individually, then gave written feedback through a semi-structured review form, before engaging with the other experts in an online group discussion. Qualitative data were analysed by reflexive thematic analysis. Six themes emerged pertaining to the strengths of the educational technology and areas of weakness where improvements are needed to support children with vision impairment, hearing, and functional difficulties through recommended hardware, and software updates, and by considering how the technology could be used to boost children’s motivation, and the role of the teacher in supporting children with SEND to use the technology effectively. Implications for instructional design decisions, based on research evidence, are considered for promoting equitable access and inclusive education for children with SEND through technology-supported personalised learning platforms.

Practical Applications of a Participatory Science Project Evaluation Tool: Perspectives from Across Earth and Space Science

While traditional science often focuses on peer-reviewed scientific publications and citations to gauge efficacy, citizen science projects, also called participatory science projects, span a broader range of goals, methods, and products than are capturable by such means. The Science Products Inventory (SPI) is one tool to assist with participatory science evaluation that extends beyond scientific outputs such as publications. Its use cases were limited to a cohort of projects during its initial development, so here we explored its utility and flexibility for use cases across multiple US federally-funded participatory science projects. We examined the tool’s formative and longitudinal utility, accessibility, and adaptability with contributory projects spanning different sizes, scopes, and goals. We found that the tool was easily customizable, making it suitable for individual project needs, including meeting the needs of funders for evaluation. It was easy to use, making it suitable for data gathering by non-expert evaluators, and it enabled practitioners to reflect on ways to enhance a project’s impact. We also found it useful for comparing evaluation data over time and between projects. Ultimately, citizen science includes elements across various dimensions that can be examined using quantitative indicators—like those in the SPI—and qualitative means. A combination of evaluation approaches could be appropriate for individual project goals and stakeholders, but we show how the simplicity and customizability of the SPI can provide benefits across a range of projects and programs.

Genomic, climatic, and cultural diversity of maize landraces from the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan

Societal Impact StatementBhutan is an ancient kingdom in the Himalayan range and one of the most rugged, geodiverse, and mountainous agricultural countries in the world. Historically secluded and geographically isolated, Bhutan is a hotspot for Himalayan agrobiodiversity where small‐scale agriculture supports the livelihoods of a large share of the resident population. Here, Bhutanese maize agrobiodiversity is explored to unlock its adaptation potential using genomics and participatory variety selection in combination with climate research. We show that Bhutanese traditional farmers maintain a wealth of diversity that may support the sustainable intensification of maize cropping in the Himalayas and beyond.Summary Bhutan, an ancient kingdom enshrouded in the Himalayas, hosts largely untapped agrobiodiversity that may harness genetic variation useful for adaptation to local climates and user needs. Here, we genotyped‐by‐sequencing 351 pooled samples of local maize (Zea mays L.) landraces, the entire collection of the Bhutan National Gene Bank, comparing their genomic diversity with maize from other countries in the Himalayan range. We reconstructed the adaptation of Bhutanese maize to historical and projected climates, identifying areas of future maladaptation. We then run a common garden experiment involving local smallholder farmers in a participatory evaluation of landraces' performance, aiming at the identification of quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) contributing to adaptation, performance, and farmers' choice. We found that Bhutanese maize agrobiodiversity is unique in the Himalayan range, and a locus on Chromosome 5 supports the differentiation of three distinct genetic clusters. We found that a portion of current genomic diversity can be associated with the Bhutanese landscape and that maize cultivation in the southwest of the country may be negatively impacted by projected climates. We also found that Bhutanese maize agrobiodiversity is large and may contribute to adaptation and improvement. A genome‐wide association study identified 117 QTNs for climatic adaptation, agronomic performance, and farmers' preferences. Our results show that Bhutanese maize landraces are a unique source of genetic agrobiodiversity for local adaptation. We found that the integration of genomics, climate science, and participatory methods can speed up the identification of genetic factors contributing to the sustainable intensification of maize cultivation in the Himalayas and beyond.

Himalayas farmer participatory evaluation of balanced application of nutrients in rice (Oryza sativa)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) system in Kumaon hills

A study was conducted by involving 24 farmers in their fields during 2011–13 in lower Kumaon hills, to study the response of rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system to balanced nutrient application. The highest mean grain yields of rice (7.21 t/ha) and of wheat (5.14 t/ha) were recorded with the recommended doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (120, 60 and 40 kg/ha respectively, to both the crops) applied along with the sulphur @ 20 kg/ha followed by recommended NPK alone without micronutrients (7.01 and 5.01 t/ha, respec tively, for rice and wheat). During both the years, grain yields of rice and wheat under the farmers’ practice of nu trient application were significantly lower than the other treatments except control and N alone. In rice crop, appli cation of recommended doses of N, P and K provided additional mean grain yield of 1.50 t/ha over the farmers’ practice, whereas it was 1.04 t/ha in wheat. Application of sulphur @ 20 kg/ha over the recommended dose of NPK to both the crops resulted in additional grain yield of rice and wheat by 200 and 130 kg/ha, respectively, it also resulted in the highest production efficiency (45.4 kg/ha/day). The highest net returns were found under the treatment receiving recommended dose of NPK along with sulphur @ 20 kg/ha ( 150.15 × 103/ha) and it was 54.8% higher over the farmers’ practice of fertilizer application. The soil fertility status after harvesting of wheat in rice–wheat cropping system revealed that highest available nitrogen (298 kg/ha), phosphorus (16.9 kg/ha) and po tassium (200 kg/ha) were observed with recommended doses of N, P and K along with sulphur @ 20 kg/ha to rice and wheat crops in sequence.

Design of flexible partitions for physical distancing in buses in Colombia during COVID-19

The scientific community recognizes that the transport of cargo and passengers is a key factor in the spread of infectious disease pandemics. In particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic, public transport systems have been considered high-risk environments for the transmission of the virus; therefore, in many places around the world, restrictions have been imposed on passenger transport. Although different aspects of transport have been studied during the pandemic, there are still gaps in knowledge about the effect of different means of transport and specific interventions for vehicle design strategies to reduce transmission rates. In this context, this article presents the process of co-designing a flexible partition to divide seats on articulated, standard and complementary vehicles of a bus rapid transit system in a Colombian capital city as a vehicle design strategy to contain the spread of the virus and generate a physical barrier when the physical distance of one meter, as required by national regulations, was unable to be maintained. The design methodology followed an incremental and iterative process of 6 stages until reaching the final design. The process began with the identification of the need, the establishment of the design requirements and determinants, the generation of proposals framed within the requirements, the performance of functionality and cost feasibility tests and the building of the prototype with the chosen design. Additionally, a participatory evaluation was carried out based on the identification of relevant aspects, doubts, criticisms and new contributions to the prioritized prototype. Finally, the generated prototype met the design requirements in addition to a significant cost reduction of 70% compared with the initial proposal by the bus rapid transit. The low cost allows the implementation of the partition throughout the bus fleet, but controlled observational and clinical studies on the effectiveness of the partition in the prevention of COVID-19 are required.