At this year’s Noyce Summit that concluded today, we gathered PIs and Co-PIs—spanning different tracks and stages of their projects—and invited them to respond to six guiding questions.
Not with words on a slide… but with pipe cleaners, Play-Doh, paper, building materials and connectors, markers, and a bit of creative boldness.
Each individual (n=22) reflected on one of the questions of their choice—
- Who are the key people involved in making your project work?
- What kinds of data do you collect, and how do you use it?
- What tools, systems, or habits help you stay on track?
- When have you had to pivot—and what guided your decision?
- What tensions or trade-offs do you navigate regularly?
- How do you know if your project is making a difference?
Then they built. And shared.
The resulting structures told stories of braided partnerships, adaptive leadership, a prepared scholar, stakeholder blooms, and the ever-present balancing act of people, purpose, and progress.
More than a hands-on activity, it became a moment of reflection, storytelling, and connection. A lot of laughter.
A reminder that evaluation isn’t just about metrics—it’s about meaning.
Because sometimes, the best way to understand your work…is to see it take shape before your eyes.
