Research
Welcome to the Simbi Foundation Think Tank.
Our hub of bright ideas.
Our Think Tank researchers develop, test, and validate — in collaboration with our partner communities — innovative solutions that support our mission to enhance access to education.
In doing so, they have the unique opportunity to channel their research skills into real-world projects, practical field work, and contribute to positive change.
Current Research Projects
Learn more about our current research projects.
We’re always looking for talented, passionate individuals attending an academic institutions or with a research background to join our Think Tank.
Discover some of our current research projects that you could get involved in:
Literacy & Curriculum
Our Literacy Research focuses on analysing the ways in which we can support literacy progression at our partner schools through digital curriculum and technology innovation.
Solar Power
The principal focus of our Solar Power research is to optimise and scale the current solar system used in our BrightBox solar classrooms.
Technology & Connectivity
The Simbi Foundation technology research aims to provide solutions for the upgrading of our curriculum server and connectivity systems in partner schools.
Gender-Based Analysis
The Simbi Foundation Gender-Based Analysis has the principal goal of better identifying intersectional barriers that prevent women and girls from having access to education.
Bike Share
Our pilot Bike Share program seeks to provide remote students with improved and faster access to their schools, to which they may have previously been walking several kilometres.
User Experience / User Interface
The Simbi Foundation UX/UI research seeks to improve the learning experience of students and teachers at our partner schools who are using the Simbi Learn Cloud.
Literacy & Curriculum
Research Goal:
Simbi Foundation literacy research focuses on analysing the ways in which we can support literacy progression at our partner schools through digital curriculum and technology innovation.
Description:
Ongoing research includes ensuring alignment of Simbi Learn Cloud curriculum content with the national curricula, as well as supporting in the integration of the content and the training of local teachers. Research also includes analysis of the effects of Simbi Reading-While-Listening software.
Next Steps:
The Simbi Foundation Literacy research team are currently developing a new research study to analyse the benefits of Reading-While-Listening in English accents that are local to South Sudanese and Northern Ugandan students in our partner schools in refugee settlements.
Solar
Research Goal:
The principal focus of our Solar Power research is to optimize and scale the current solar system used in our BrightBox learning labs.
Description:
Both of our BrightBox solutions use solar power in order to provide digital education technology to schools and communities who have little or no connection to grid electricity. We are constantly seeking to optimise our solar systems in order to boost the amount of power they are able to draw, the number of educational devices that can be powered, and the number of community members who are able to charge their devices there, the charging costs from which go directly back into communities.
Next Steps:
The Simbi Foundation Solar research team is currently focused on investigating possible upgrades for our solar technology, as well as seeking the best methods for optimizing and streamlining the experience of community members and healthcare workers coming to BrightBoxes to charge their devices.
Technology & Connectivity
Research Goal:
The Simbi Foundation technology research aims to provide solutions for the upgrading of our curriculum server andk connectivity systems in partner schools.
Description:
Our BrightBox learning lab solutions are designed to provide our partner schools and communities with solar-powered access to education technology and offline, supplementary curriculum content on the Simbi Learn Cloud. For larger partner schools, our offline curriculum connectivity system needs to stretch further in order to allow more students and teachers in nearby classroom blocks to use the resources.
Next Steps:
The Simbi Foundation Technology research team is currently analysing data collected in early 2020 and investigating the most effective upgrades we can make in the near future to ensure that more students and teachers at a school can have sustainable, fast access to the curriculum content
Gender-Based Analysis
Research Goal:
The Simbi Foundation Gender-Based Analysis has the principal goal of better identifying intersectional barriers that prevent women and girls from having access to education.
Description:
The Gender-Based Analysis seeks to investiage the intersectional barriers faced by girls when accessing education. These barriers lead to fluctuating school attendance, difficulties in catching up with missed school work, and school drop-out. To deepen our understanding of these challenges, a preliminary Phase I needs assessment was conducted in July 2019, during which the GBA research team spoke with focus groups in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement about difficulties that they faced, and services that they believed would improve equal access to education.
Next Steps:
We are planning an exciting and meaningful Phase II of this research study, which aims to conduct further needs assessments, explore sustainable and local solutions to the lack of menstrual product availability for girls, and discuss support programs for female students with our partner schools in Uganda and India.
BIKE SHARE
Research Goal:
The Simbi Foundation Bike Share program seeks to provide remote students with improved and faster access to their schools, to which they may have previously been walking several kilometers.
Description:
Having conducted a needs assessment that identified students having to walk long distances to and from school every day, which appeared to be negatively impacting their in-classroom performance and energy levels, the Think Tank Bike Share research team collaborated with the local community to install a pilot Bike Share program and conduct pre-intervention student performance analysis in the Bidibidi Refugee settlement, giving a trial group of students access to bikes, and therefore faster access to education.
Next Steps:
As we continue to analyse data collected in early 2020, our research team is investigating optimal locations for future Bike Share stations, discussing the best ways to enhance the sharing system with the local community, and planning the implementation of more bikes.
UX/UI
Research Goal:
The Simbi Foundation UX research seeks to improve the learning experience of students and teachers at our partner schools who are using the Simbi Learn Cloud.
Description:
Through our BrightBoxes, students, teachers, and community members have access to Simbi Learn Cloud digital curriculum, which supplements the relevant national curriculum and integrates into existing teaching goals. Since many teachers and students at our partner schools have not had extended access to, or training in, digital education technology, it is crucial that the Simbi Learn Cloud is as user-friendly, accessible, and locally-relevant as possible. Our UX research team is currently undertaking a preliminary investigation of how to optimize our current curriculum system.
Next Steps:
In order to ensure that any curriculum UX upgrades we make are as user-friendly and locally relevant as possible, we are planning to conduct several user tests in collaboration with our partner schools using alternate versions of our curriculum, during which feedback will be collected to inform which curriculum upgrades will be the most effective for students and teachers.
Think Tank Research Process.
Our Think Tank provides academics and professionals of various disciplines and experiences with mutually-beneficial outlets for their research.
Alongside conducting studies that enhance their academic credentials, Think Tank members can work with our partner communities in the field to validate their research. This research is then vertically integrated into our organisational programming, forming the foundations for sustainable, locally-relevant projects that create positive impact in the areas where we work.
Here’s how it works:
1. Proposal
Researchers want to conduct research in one of our partner communities that will support our mission.
2. Choose area of study
Our work in Uganda and India provides an opportunity for study in these contexts.
3. Expedition
Researchers collaborate with our partner communities to conduct their research in the field.
4. Work Report
On Expedition, researchers are able to conduct their studies and test hypotheses on the ground.
5. Implementation
If research is proven to be beneficial to our partner community, we collaborate with the community to implement.
6. Further Research
After implementation, further research is conducted to test for success and to identify hypotheses for future projects.
Meet Our Researchers
Hans Zhang
Solar Power Researcher
Master of Solar Engineering, University of British Columbia.
Emma Thompson
Gender Researcher
Bachelor of Education, University of British Columbia.
Pulkit Aggarwal
Literacy Researcher
Undergraduate Economics student, UBC.
Nadina Holca
Bike Share Researcher
Clincal Analyst, Toronto.
Discover more Think Tank members
Researchers To Date
Completed research Projects
Discover Our Past Research.
Does Reading-While-Listening enhance student fluency?
“Since improving fluency is an important instructional goal of primary schools, understanding the role of RWL to audiobooks in improving reading fluency is essential...”
Friedland, A. et al.., 2015.
Educational Attainment in Uganda’s Youth Population.
“Recent progress in economic growth theory has revealed the significance of human capital in economic growth and development…”
Dixon, Y., 2015.
Crossbred Cattles in Suba and Laikipia, Kenya.
“Recognizing that more than 10% of the Kenyan GDP and 50% of agricultural GDP are comprised of sales within the livestock subsector…”
Friedland, A., Demeke, A., Sekora, A., 2016.
A critical study of Canadian outreach initiatives.
“This exploratory study analyses perspectives of students belonging to campus clubs at one Canadian university who advocate issues that relate to Africa…”
Dharamsi, S., et al., 2013.
Honey Production in Ethiopia: a cost-benefit analysis.
“Ethiopian honey production is characterized by the widespread use of traditional technology resulting in relatively low honey supply and poor quality of honey harvested…”
Miklyaev, M., Jenkins, G.P., Barichello, R.R., 2015.
Rainwater Harvesting Research Project.
“Mbale has long been subject to high rates of water insecurity. According to the Ministry of Water & Environment, the access rate to safe water in Mbale was 66%…”
Berbe, K. et al., 2018.
Get involved.
Join our Research Community.
Are you interested in joining our global Think Tank and conducting research that will enhance your academic experience, inform Simbi Foundation operations, and contribute to positive impact?
Are you interested in acquiring on the ground, practical research skills and working in collaboration with Simbi Foundation staff and partner communities to make positive impact? Join a Research Expedition!
Any Questions?
Check out the answers to the following questions.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
Do I need research experience, an MA, or a PhD to join the Simbi Foundation Think Tank?
To ensure that our research projects are as effective, relevant, and robust as possible in order to ensure informed and sustainable program implementations, we do require Think Tank members to have some research experience. We welcome university Undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD students, faculty members, and professionals with a research background into our Think Tank.
Can I research with the Think Tank on a paid/co-op term?
We pride ourselves on the structure of our Think Tank, which is built upon the value of Mutual Benefit. We therefore seek to house research projects that support and supplement students’ and faculty members’ own research interests and studies and give them an outlet to engage in meaningful fieldwork, all while we are able to use the research they conduct to inform our program design, testing, and implementation. For this reason, all Think Tank members research with us on a volunteer basis, as this best suits their existing study, teaching, and research commitments.
Following this structure, the Simbi Foundation Think Tank is able to provide students with meaningful research experience, throughout which they are able to apply their classroom skills through relevant field work that directly makes an impact. The Think Tank has proven to provide the opportunity to develop out-of-classroom skills that enhance your resume and academic credentials. Through researching with the Think Tank, you have the opportunity not only to transfer your research skills from theory to practice, but also to use your research for good, given the Think Tank process which sees your research journey from hypothesis to impactful implementation.
Previous Think Tank members have even incorporated their Think Tank research directly into their University projects, whether in an Undergraduate or Master’s thesis, a course report, or a publication!
On rare occasions, we are able to accomodate funded co-op terms depending on Simbi Foundation priorities, and if the research area in question is of vital importance to the continuation of our services.
Still want to get involved but don’t have a background in academics?
We gladly welcome individuals who are interested in research to work with members of the Think Tank in preparation for an Expedition. This would include supporting in the initiation and training of new Expeditioners in our research methods, data collection for the Think Tank in the field, and study conduct on the ground.