When Joseph Menicucci started preparing for his interview at Lehigh University this February, he was excited to find out that Lehigh University had a number of student projects in Kazakhstan. Menicucci’s first faculty position was at Nazarbayev University, then a newly developed university in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. While interviewing at Lehigh, Menicucci met with Dr. Dinissa Duvanova, who will again serve as a primary investigator on two Global Social Impact Fellowship Projects in Kazakhstan this year.
"After I met with Professor Duvanova while visiting Lehigh, I became excited not only by the possibility of joining the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering as an Associate Chair and Teaching Associate Professor, but also that I might one day have the opportunity to return to Kazakhstan," Menicucci said. “I never could have dreamed that the opportunity would become reality so quickly”.
Professor Menicucci joined the faculty of the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science this July. Soon after, he again met with Professor Duvanova who introduced him to a group of students who had recently traveled to Kazakhstan. Their energy and commitment to making a significant impact inspired Menicucci to pursue a project as soon as possible. After numerous meetings with the leadership of Creative Inquiry at Lehigh, Menicucci had a breakthrough. Recalling a presentation made by a colleague when both were Assistant Professors at Nazarbayev University, Menicucci suggested that Lehigh students address food insecurity in migrant worker populations in Kazakhstan. “I’ve always wanted to have the opportunity to formally work with a friend and former colleague, Dr. Caress Schenk”, Menicucci said. Professor Schenk, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Nazarbayev University, is an expert in globalization and migration in the post-Soviet region. “Caress has always been incredibly generous with her knowledge and time; I’m honored that she has again agreed to share both; this time to great benefit of the students working on this project.”
Students are invited to learn about this and all Global Social Impact Fellowship Projects at the Office of Creative Inquiry and Open House in the STEPS Concourse TODAY, Wednesday, October 12th, from 4:30-6:00pm.
Kazakhstan: Combating Food Insecurity in Migrant Worker Populations (PI: Joseph Menicucci, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) Kazakhstan, the second-largest economy among the former Soviet republics, has been a destination for migrant workers from elsewhere in Central Asia and the world for several years. After a slowdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for migrant workers in Kazakhstan are expected to grow rapidly in the coming years - and challenges of unfair and exploitative labor practices, food and water access, and worker housing will likely grow as well. This new project will begin with the goal of developing solutions to food and water insecurity amongst migrant workers in and around the fast-growing cultural capital of Almaty, Kazakhstan. All majors are welcome to apply - specifically students are needed with experience or interest in: urban agriculture, micro-farming, composting, rainwater collection, and water purification; migrant (often undocumented) workers; solving complex problems; and the languages and cultures of Russia and Central Asia. The project team will be composed of 4-6 students, typically one vist per year for a probable 4-5 year stent. Interested students will be able to apply here.
“One of the warmest memories of my three years in Kazakhstan was my invited presentation at a seminar hosted at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU)”, Menicucci said. "I look forward to working with the great scholars and students at that University again".
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