Social Innovation Lab Kyrgyzstan (SILK)

Social Innovation Lab Kyrgyzstan (SILK) is a faculty initiative within the Division of Social Sciences at the American University of Central Asia. The primary goal of SILK is to engage in socially significant projects in Kyrgyzstan and develop innovative solutions to social problems. SILK is a platform from which faculty members design and implement research and civic engagement projects across a very broad spectrum of topics.

SILK is open to researchers at other universities and organizations that are interested in developing innovative approaches to social issues in the region.

The primary partners at this time are:

Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan
American University of Central Asia
- Department of Anthropology, Technology, and International Development
- Department of Environmental Studies
- Center for Civic Engagement
Technical School of Innovation

Projects

Active Projects

Industrial Zones, Zhamilia Baiborieva and Ulan Gabdushev
Public Art, Meder Akhmetov and Seth Fearey
Social Capital, Tatiana Efremenko
Innovative Tools, Altynai Nogoibaeva
Social Entrepreneurship, Aiibike Esengulova
Monocities, Zarina Adambussinova
Social Innovations, Bakhrom Radjabov
Dashboard, Malika Solieva
Social Income Status Research, Olga Tarabashkina and Mehrigul Ablezova
Kөk Bishkek, SILK team

Сompleted Projects

Urban Poverty, Talgat Zhumashev and Tolgonai Kozhokanova
Walkability, Rada Valentin Kyzy
Crack (Research on conditions of school in the regions), Anastasia Valeeva
Mythology and Morphology of Urban Rivers, SILK team

Members

Emil Nasritdinov, Anthropology Department, AUCA
Seth Fearey, Liberal Arts and Sciences Department, AUCA
Jamilya Baiborieva, Liberal Arts and Sciences Department, AUCA
Emil Dzhuraev, Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan

NEWS: January 2022. SILK has opened an open free course on Innovative Tools for Urban planners and designers, the seminar and workshops are held by Altynai Nogoibaeva, a researcher from Urban Initiatives and Peshkom.

SILK won a grant from Internews for writing and editing the Alternative Guide to Bishkek City Book and developing a website and a mobile application.