BALTIC-AMERICAN
DIALOGUE
PROGRAM

Funded Projects

FALL 2023

Name of the Project: Transforming healthcare services using design thinking methodology

Location (country): Latvia
Implementing Organization: Childrens Clinical University Hospital
Speakers: Robert S Pugliese and Rosse Ritts
Project Dates: October 22 - 26, 2023

The project united healthcare professionals, design and engineering specialists, policymakers, students, startups, and patients together to apply the methodology for problem-solving and innovating in healthcare. Invited US experts Robert Salvatore Pugliese and Rose Ritts shared their experience and knowledge in various areas and conducted a full-day intensive workshop on the design thinking methodology for a diverse group of participants. Both lecturers represented Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, as well as the Health Design Lab. In addition, also a roundtable discussion was organized together with the Ministry of Economics of Latvia, Riga Technical University, and Children's Clinical University Hospital, focusing on policymakers and stakeholders shaping educational and healthcare-related strategies in Latvia.

Name of the Project: 6th Latvian Rural Communities Parliament

Location (country): Latvia
Implementing Organization: Latvian Rural Forum
Speakers: Prof. Kimberly Elman Zarecor
Project Dates: June 12 - 19, 2023

The annual event Latvian Rural Communities Parliament brought together more than 300 participants. This year, the main theme of the event was smart rural shrinking as a strategic approach to rural development; different actions, tools and approaches in the local level ensuring smart development in the local level as well as multilevel and intersectoral governance of rural agenda, which was represented by U.S. experts through the event sharing different experiences approaches and knowledge for strengthening rural communities to facilitate smart development of rural areas in circumstances of depopulation. Professor Zarecor gave a keynote speech on smart rural shrinking, and also lead a workshop “Concept of Smart shrinking. Population declines as an opportunity for development. Strategic action and mitigation of stagnation. Resource analysis, prioritization and development of actions”.

To continue cooperation between U.S. and Latvia in field of smart rural shrinking there is an agreement to continue cooperation between Iowa University academics and rural experts in Latvia.

Name of the Project: Bridge over the ocean – Latvian and American experiences of Paralympic Sport for Youth with Disabilities implementation

Location (country): Latvia
Implementing Organization: Children and Youth Paralimpic Sport Association
Speakers: Prof. Dr. Michelle Grenier and Prof. Dr. Lauren Liebernan
Project Dates: October 10 - 26, 2023

Project took place in Latvia from October 19 to October 26. Incorporation of Latvian and American experience in Paralympic Sport for Youth with Disabilities.  classes of cognitive development were held for children with disabilities. The main topics discussed and covered was how to include small sports activities in the process of informal education, small steps for big results, analysis of done activities and preparation of needed materials for future use. Disability sport aims to empower spaces that challenge concepts of ability and inability. It has been proven that participation in competitive disability sports programs empowers disabled youth to advocate for themselves by discussing barriers and enables their inclusion in sports contexts and beyond. In addition to opportunities for socialization and belonging, disability sports programs can impact participants perceptions about their own abilities in physical activity and sports contexts.

Name of the Project: Summer Course in Art Forensics

Location (country): Lithuania
Implementing Organization: European Humanities University
Speakers: Thiago Piwowarczyk, CEO, Managing Partner New York Art Forensics
Project Dates: July 17 - 21, 2023

The project envisioned a 1-week Art Forensics Course which was held at the European Humanities University and the Vilnius University Museum. The course focused on methods of analyzing artworks and the use of scientific equipment to develop an understanding of an objects age, authenticity, and attribution. Thiago Piwowarczyk, CEO of New York Art Forensics, arrived to Vilnius bringing their portable laboratory with xrf, raman spectrograph, and FTIR, as well as multi-spectral imaging camera. The course took place in a classroom at EHU and at the Museum within the Church of St. John for the lab sessions. During the sessions the students of the Art Academy of Vilnius as well as art restoration professionals studied works in the collection of the Museum. The Project also saw a public lecture at the Vilnius University Observatory of Ideas, and then a visit to the Nordic Summer University gathering in Palanga, where more short demonstrations were delivered.

Name of the Project: Support for the Exchange of Global Ideas in the 11th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2023: Bioeconomy for the Green Deal”

Location (country): Lithuania
Implementing Organization: Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy
Speakers: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Athena Katharina Ramos, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Dr. Umakant Mishra, University of California Berkeley
Project Dates: September 26-28, 2023

 The conference "Rural Development 2023: Bioeconomy for the Green Deal" convened scientists, researchers, practitioners, young researchers, PhD students, and students from 21 countries. The plenary session showcased impressive presentations by US scientists. Athena Katharina Ramos, a researcher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, presented "The intersection between agriculture, immigrant integration, and rural prosperity: Opportunities for building community in changing times," highlighting the importance of people as capital for the development of the bioeconomy in rural areas. She focused on the interlinkages between agriculture, immigrant integration, and rural prosperity. Meanwhile, Umakant Mishra, a researcher from the University of California, discussed the opportunities and uncertainties of carbon farming, pointing out that this idea raises many questions: "We don't know how long the carbon will stay in the soil, or whether it will last forever. We also want to know the potential saturation of the carbon absorption capacity. What is important is the sensitivity of all this carbon farming to climate change?" These questions sparked scientific discussion. During the visits of Athena Katharina Ramos and Umakant Mishra, meetings were organized with researchers and students from Vytautas Magnus University. These meetings focused on future collaborations in study and research fields.

Name of the Project: Junior Achievement Alumni Conference 2023 "One big network”

Location (country): Lithuania
Implementing Organization: Junior Achievement Alumni
Speakers: Gideon Marks, entrepreneur, Silicon Valey
Project Dates: August 23-27, 2023

The annual Junior Achievement Alumni Europe Conference gathered more than 170 entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and economic development program graduates (11 Latvians and 1 Estonian) for the 5-day event in Vilnius, Lithuania to improve their skills and exchange leadership practices from different countries, listen to the keynote speakers from various international countries, including Gideon Marks from the USA, San Francisco. During the event, the program covered personal development masterclasses, leadership, entrepreneurship, and business development, and non-governmental organizations development topics, networking workshops, and activities. Participants after the annual conference come back to their countries to develop their own startups and/or national alumni networks.

Name of the Project: International scientific-practical conference „The Power of Story to Inspire Voice: Engaging Educators in Storytelling Done Digitally

Location (country): Lithuania
Implementing Organization: Panevėžys County Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Public Library
Speakers: Julie Jaeger and Gwynn Moore, STE - International Society for Technology in Education
Project Dates: October 17–19, 2023

The Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Public Library in Panevėžys County hosted the international practical conference "The Power of Story to Inspire Voice: Engaging Educators in Digital Storytelling" on October 17-18, 2023. Librarians from 24 libraries in the Panevėžys region joined creative workshops to explore digital storytelling techniques. Led by experienced educators Gwynn Moore and Julie Jaeger from the USA, participants learned the intricacies of digital storytelling and created stories using digital tools. The event also featured the launch of a free online resource, offering digital storytelling tools and techniques to all librarians in the Panevėžys region. Julie Jaeger and Gwynn Moore will share this successful collaboration with Lithuanian libraries at the ISTELive 2024 conference in Denver, USA. As guests, the lecturers shared their experiences with the Panevėžys community at an English club event called "Let’s Talk" on October 19th.

Name of the Project: Workshop on Resources to Facilitate Active Learning

Location (country): Estonia
Implementing Organization: Tallinn University of Technology
Speakers: Professor John L. Falconer
Project Dates: November 16 - 17, 2023

Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) is the flagship of engineering and higher technical education in Estonia, being the only University of Technology in this Baltic country. Today, the problems that need to be solved at TalTech are student dropout (especially in STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), achievement of learning outcomes, assessment and feedback, understanding of student-centered teaching, faculty pedagogical self-improvement. To overcome the above-named shortcomings and to support the development of teaching competencies of the teaching staff, TalTech organized a workshop on Resources to Facilitate Active Learning in November 2023. The BAFF supported speaker, John L. Falconer, was invited to share his knowledge and facilitate the workshop on above mentioned topics. The workshop was held in a hybrid format, onsite at TalTech and online via MS Teams and during these 2 days professor touched the following topics: how students learn and study, active learning and using active simulations and virtual laboratories and many other relevant topics. The workshops were attended by 66 participants, among them researchers and students from TalTech, Estonian Universities of Life sciences, teachers from different schools and vocational schools and 16 participants from remote areas and from Lithuania. The workshop was found interesting by the participants and the applying organization has showed interest to continue the collaboration with the speaker.

SPRING 2023

Name of the Project: Aqueous methods for the cleaning of painted surfaces - lectures and workshop by Ms. Sc. Matthew Cushman

Location (country): Latvia
Implementing Organization: Latvian Society of Restorers
Speakers: Ms. Sc. Matthew Cushman
Project Dates: August 1 - 4, 2023

Invited expert Ms.Sc. Matthew Cushman shared his knowledge and expertise with conservators from the Baltic states in a lecture and workshop event Aqueous methods for the cleaning of painted surfaces from August 1 to 4, 2023. The event was organized by the Latvian Society of Restorers and held at the premises of the Art Academy of Latvia. The training course provided participants with theoretical and practical knowledge of water-based cleaning systems used in conservation covering their control principles. The focus was on practical applications for cleaning various types of object surfaces. The course included readings, lectures, discussions, and practical exercises suitable for restorers with varying levels of experience.

Name of the Project: 3rd Baltic School of Neurology and Myology

Location (country): Latvia
Implementing Organization: Riga Stradins University
Speakers: Prof. Carsten G. Bonnemann
Project Dates: June 12 - 17, 2023

The 3rd Baltic School of Neuro-Myology took place for three days with 85 participants from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia and prominent international speakers from the USA as prof. Carsten Bonnemann (with BAFF support) and prof. Livija Medne (with RSU support). Prof. Carsten Bonneman had key note speeches. One of them “Congenital myopathies and/ or muscular dystrophies” and the second one with the topic “Current and future therapies in neuromuscular disorders”. On the last day several practical classes were organize and prof. Carsten Bonnemann was discussing complicated cases, showing the examination methods and specifics on real cases. The third day of the event included patient discussion and it was organized only with the invitations. The conference with practical workshops and discussions on the complicated patient cases has become a recognized event among neurologists in the Baltic region.

Name of the Project: RIXARCH / International Architectural Design conference

Location (country): Latvia
Implementing Organization: RISEBA University of Applied Sciences
Speakers: Prof. Dr. James Williamson and Prof. Dr. David Turturo
Project Dates: March 24 - 25, 2023

RISEBA University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Architecture and Design has organized the RIXARCH Conference 2023 / I. International Architectural Design Conference, which was held at RISEBA University H2O 6 Quarter on March 24-25, 2023. The conference on architecture and urban development focused contemporary architecture and American architect John Hejduk’s legacy including his The Riga Project. Keynote speakers Prof. Dr. James Williamson from St. Louis University and Prof. Dr. David Turturo from Texas University has attended the conference to give keynote speeches on 24th of March and participated in the exhibition at National Library on 25th of March. The conference was attended by more than a hundred architects and students.

Name of the Project: Developing the implementation of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support System in Lithuania
Location (country): Lithuania
Implementing Organization: Lithuanian Education Centre for Blind and Visually Impaired
Speakers: Ph. D. Terrance M. Scott, Professor, Department of Special Education at University Louisville
Project Dates: April 25 - 28, 2023

The initiative, by the Lithuanian Education Centre for Blind and Visually Impaired to implement the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) System in Lithuania has successfully concluded with a series of events held on April 25 - 28, 2023. The primary aim of this program was to transition from reactive to proactive models of behavior management in Lithuanian schools and ensure a consistent application of the PBIS framework. This endeavor was achieved through various activities, including meetings, workshops, and school visits, featuring renowned PBIS expert Dr. Terrance M. Scott. Notable events included an official meeting with the Lithuanian Ministry of Education, Science, and Sports, where Dr. Scott presented the PBIS system as an alternative to the existing model of student behavior management. Guidelines for implementing PBIS in Lithuania were developed, and educators were equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The International PBIS Conference, featuring Dr. Scott as a keynote speaker, further enriched the knowledge of the Lithuanian education community. Additionally, school visits provided valuable insights into the practical implementation of PBIS, fostering motivation among PBIS school teams to continue their efforts in creating a positive and inclusive school environment. This comprehensive program has laid a strong foundation for the sustainable adoption of PBIS practices in Lithuanian schools, ultimately promoting the well-being of the entire school community.

Name of the Project: Fundamentals of the Economics: diverse perspectives and different approaches
Location (country): Lithuania
Implementing Organization: Lietuvos Junior Achievement
Speakers: Ph.D. John Brock, Jane Lopus
Project Dates: May 2-5, 2023

Lietuvos Junior Achievement invited thirty economics teachers the training course with two lecturers, Dr. John Brock from the University of Colorado and Dr. Jane S. Lopus from the University of California in the United States. During the event with John Brock and Jane Lopus, the participants were involved in interactive workshops and activities, which complement the topics which were covered during the Teacher’s Academy. 4-days workshops consisted of a basic theory introduction, followed by interactive economic games. The participating educators were amazed to find that one can be confident in fully utilizing all the acquired knowledge. They received materials that they can now take and use, all of which have been translated into Lithuanian.