“I love the Tiger Challenge and all that it offers.”

-Associate in June, 2016 Cohort

Position: Tiger Challenge Project Associate The Keller Center has openings to join teams of 4-5 that will begin tackling important projects in June, 2017 Full-time: 6/12/17 - 8/18/17 | Part-time 9/13/17 - 5/13/18 Applications are due March 12th: bit.ly/june2017cohort All years and majors are encouraged to apply This booklet contains an overview of the Tiger Challenge program and the projects to begin in June

“It has changed how I view problems in the world, but also has given me a glimpse into innovation in action. You get so many resources in this program, the people are so knowledgeable, and you’re doing real work. This experience was unlike any other, and every student should be able to experience the magic and power of human-centered thinking.”

Projects starting in June, 2017 (flip through the rest of this packet for more info): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

How might we design a better way to measure pulse and blood-oxygen levels in infants? How might we help eliminate new cases of lead poisoning in Trenton, NJ? How might we help design a more participative and effective Climate Action Planning process? How might we help more refugees in the U.S. begin fulfilling and stable careers? Propose your own challenge!

Creating societal impact by innovating in partnership with communities What is the Tiger Challenge program? The Tiger Challenge is a multi-year, multi-disciplinary program at Princeton University. In small teams, students work with partner communities to develop lasting innovations and the joint-capacity to address seemingly intractable societal issues, such as affordable housing or adolescent mental health. The program is grounded in design thinking, a methodology that unlocks empathy, creativity, collaboration and openmindedness. This is not a competition or course; every Tiger Challenge team is highly supported throughout, receiving the training, mentorship, space and resources necessary to do this crucial work well.

What are the details of the positition? • Eligible years: the classes of 2020 to 2018 are encouraged to apply. • All majors are welcome! In fact, success depends on a diversity of perspectives. • During the summer, 2017, associates receive: • A stipend competitive with on-campus internships; • Housing in Dod, from June 11th to August 18th; • A cohort experience with other teams that includes educational and social programming. • During the ’17-’18 academic year: • Teams will meet at least one evening per week (day depends on teams’ class schedules; we’ll try to keep the cohort together, if possible). • While there is no stipend during the academic year, financial aid is available for those forgoing work-study opportunities.

What are you looking for in candidates? Project associates should be excited to work in a team to bring something new into the world that impacts the lives of an end-user community. Impact through innovation is like trying to be the first team to reach the South Pole: there will be arduous tasks, frustrating detours, beautiful sights, moments of bonding-hilarity, requisite humility, motivationtesting roadblocks, unity through an inspiring goal, and fulfilment. If this is an experience you want during your Princeton career, you should apply. This is at least a year-long endeavor. Associates are expected to work fulltime from June 12th to August 18th this summer, and part-time during the 2017-2018 academic year. Travel during one of the breaks (Fall, intercession, or Spring) may be necessary, depending on the project. Applications due Sunday, March 12th, 11:59pm: bit.ly/june2017cohort For questions, please email Rafe: [email protected]

PROJECTS A Better Way to Measure Infants’ Pulse-Ox Levels

A Lead-Free Kindergarten Class in Trenton

The “Pulse-Ox” Tiger Challenge:

The “Lead” Tiger Challenge:

As with standard pulse/oxygen (“pulse/ox”) monitors, infant monitors utilize light emitting diode (LED) technology to measure a patient’s pulse and bloodoxygen levels. The oximeter currently used with infant patients is wrapped around a toe:

The lead crisis in Flint’s water brought national awareness to the threat of elevated lead levels and its permanent effects on children’s brains. Although 1990’s regulations dramatically reduced lead exposure and raised national IQ averages, lead poisoning still persists in poor communities. This is a dire problem here in Mercer County. New Jersey Department of Health data suggest that over 50% of children enrolled in Trenton schools have a high enough lead exposure to have it affect their learning outcomes. The exposure to lead mostly comes through environmental hazards in the home.

Both the monitor’s cord and the precariousness of the monitor’s attachment to the patient cause inconsistent readings and frequent false alarms. Inaccurate readings and frequent false alarms: disrupt patient rest and recovery; are costly and annoying to hospital staff; and, most critically, can produce a crying-wolf scenario in which alerts triggered by actual changes to pulse or oxygen levels are ignored or investigated slowly. “My daughter was not diagnosed properly last May because nurses wrote off dips in her O2 levels as the machine’s fault. Turns out she had an object lodged in her throat that would cut off her airway when she laid a certain way. It’s an extreme case, but she could have lost her life.” – Jenni Franck Wolfenbarger For this Tiger Challenge, a team of Princeton students will learn how pulse/ox monitors utilize LED technology to accurately monitor pulse and blood-oxygen levels and study environments in which these monitors are used. The team will then design solutions that: improve the accuracy and reliability of pulse/ox readings, thereby bettering the experience of patients, family and hospital staff.

“Tests of 2,000 homes show that harmful levels of lead dust were present in 60% of Trenton homes, and at least some lead dust was present in 80% of Trenton homes.” -- Marty Johnson of Isles, Inc. Isles’ goal is to have the 2025 Kindergarten class in Trenton be 100% lead-free. Achieving this mission means tackling this challenge from several angles: regulatory, financial, educational, and scientific are a few. For example, Isles has replicated a process to make homes safe (for about $7,000), but it is infeasible to undergo this process for every home, especially the ~20% with lower levels of lead. We need innovative ways to activate and empower families in this battle. In homes with low levels of lead, excessive dust accumulation can increase risks; additionally, our digestive systems confuse lead for calcium, so calcium-deficient diets can exacerbate lead exposure. Families need to understand the risks and take actions to reduce the risk lead poses to their children. It’s imperative, however, that such behavior change not become a substitute for important policy and structural change (such as holding landlords accountable for providing safe housing). For this Tiger Challenge, a team will study this behavioral, cultural, and structural problem, and design ways to activate broad community participation in combating lead poisoning. A successful team will help Isles & Trenton reach their goal of an incoming kindergarten class that is lead-free by 2025.

Applications due Sunday, March 12th, 11:59pm: bit.ly/june2017cohort For questions, please email Rafe: [email protected]

PROJECTS A Participative Climate Action Plan

Fulfilling & Stable Careers for Refugees

The “Climate Planning” Tiger Challenge:

The “Refugee Careers” Tiger Challenge:

There is scientific consensus that climate change will profoundly impact most communities worldwide. With or without meaningful federal action, local governments and populations must act urgently to limit the magnitude of climate change (“mitigation”) and prepare for its consequences (“adaptation”); the Municipality of Princeton is no different.

There are 21.3 million refugees worldwide. Just last year, the United States admitted more than 80,000 refugees in addition to the few hundred thousand already in the country. While many refugees are open to any form of employment when they first enter the country, finding a job, and slowly moving up the ladder, is incredibly difficult. Refugees and immigrants who are educated, and who formerly had professional jobs back home, find it frustrating that they can’t obtain the same jobs here. Additionally, refugees and immigrants are easy victims for discrimination and exploitation in the workplace. Some employers recognize the desperation among these groups to keep their jobs, so they will place them in less desirable and even dangerous roles.

Princeton last released a Sustainable Community Plan in 2009 (http://bit.ly/PrincetonCAP2009). While a tremendous achievement of visionary planning, many involved in the process have been disappointed by adherence to the plan and, therefore, its net impact. As the Municipality begins the process of creating the newest version, they are wondering: “How can our process of creating the climate action plan boost adherence to the plan and its overall impact on mitigation and adaptation?” For this Tiger Challenge, a team of Princeton students will work with the Municipality and other stakeholders in our community to design innovative ways for the upcoming climate action planning process to result in greater impact. A successful team will greatly help Princeton Municipality do its part to mitigate the effects of climate change and prepare for its consequences.

Even when refugees gain employment, their jobs are often temporary and do not teach them transferable skills. New organizations like Eat Offbeat, which trains refugee families to cater their local cuisines, are trying to help refugees combat these employment issues.

Photo courtesy of: Eat Offbeat For this Tiger Challenge, a team will study the problems of unemployment, workplace exploitation, frustration from being overqualified for jobs available, and other linguistic and cultural barriers faced by refugees in the workplace. The team will then design an innovative solution to increase permanent employment opportunities for refugees. A successful team will help refugees discover fulfilling and stable careers.

Applications due Sunday, March 12th, 11:59pm: bit.ly/june2017cohort For questions, please email Rafe: [email protected]

Propose your own topic (as an individual or team)

A bit more about the projects

What we’re looking for in our challenges:

Projects’ deliverables & objectives:

• Open-ended: There should be infinite possible directions for the project; we’re looking for divergent, unanswered challenges. If you have a solution in mind, take a step back and ask, “What’s the problem I’m looking to solve, and would it be best to start by learning a lot more about the dynamics of the challenge?”

Every Tiger Challenge project has three goals:

• Human-centered: The challenge should hinge on the behaviors and experiences of people. The underlying question should be “how do we improve the experience for ________?” and/or “how can we encourage more people to _________?” • Important: The challenge should inspire Princeton students. Teams are comprised of 4-5 people. You may apply as a team, or propose a challenge that would fire-up others to apply. • Accessible: Who are the stakeholders involved, and is it feasible for us to interact with them in the NYC-NJ-Philly corridor? • Flexible: Design thinking projects often pivot based on insights uncovered; you and your teammates should be open to evolving directions based on the insights your team uncovers. An example: A Tiger Challenge team is currently working with a local school district to mitigate the impact of academic anxiety on adolescent mental health. This challenge was first proposed by a student.

• In the first phase: to uncover & share novel insights that are valuable to partner communities and others in the field. • In the second phase: to help design & implement an innovation that has a substantial impact in the partner community. • In the optional third phase: to adapt and scale the innovation across many communities. Milestones & timeframe: Teams will work full-time for 10 weeks this summer (June 12 - Aug 18), and at least one night a week during the ensuing academic year. Please refer to Roadmap (last page) for the process we will follow. This summer, we’ll go through Ideation, finishing the summer by presenting a series of concepts to partners and mentors. In the ensuing academic year, we’ll make our way through Prototyping, Pilot, and Implementation. Summer hours are generally 9-6pm (although field research may require flexibility). Teams will meet one night per week, 7-9pm, during the ensuing academic year. Teams are encouraged to continue beyond May 2018 to accomplish the third phase: to adapt and scale their innovation across many communities!

Applications due Sunday, March 12th, 11:59pm: bit.ly/june2017cohort For questions, please email Rafe: [email protected]

For inquiries, please contact Rafe Steinhauer: [email protected] | 609 258-3347 34 Chambers St. #110, Princeton, NJ 08542

Teams create low-fidelity prototypes of the concepts they have developed, test them with real end-users, and rapidly iterate based on their findings and feedback.

Before teams begin the design thinking process, they receive support scoping their topics and planning their projects, creating the foundation for impactful projects.

By exposing their most promising prototypes to real-world forces for a reasonable time period, teams learn, adapt, and evolve their concepts, preparing for implementation.

After articulating design opportunities, teams launch into systematic ideation, laying the foundation for innovative (and desirable) concepts.

Through interviews with and observation of end-users and other stakeholders, teams build deep empathy for the people for whom they are designing.

Implementation takes place when teams have successfully piloted (and iterated) their concepts. While implementation will look different for every project, it is a sign that the teams’ ideas are ready to scale!

By exploring themes, connections and asymetries in the qualitative data, teams articulate key insights and opportunities for design that might unlock impactful innovations.