Ballard Labs
Ballard Labs are a student-led, faculty-mentored experience that engages students in addressing a social problem. Over the course of two years, multidisciplinary teams of students use the social impact cycle and other Ballard Center practices to thoroughly research and design a solution to the issue.
Understanding the Problem
Due to climate change and increased water consumption, Great Salt Lake is shrinking. 2022 saw Great Salt Lake hit a record low elevation of 4,188.5 ft. Though only 11 ft below Great Salt Lake’s average elevation, this loss shrunk the lake’s surface area from 1,700 square miles to approximately 800. This desiccation puts the state of Utah and its citizens at risk.
Student Research
Our team has spent two years researching the different factors contributing to Great Salt Lake’s decline, stakeholders involved in solving the problem, and solutions that could help save it. We have written a high-level summary of our understanding of these factors and the gaps where current efforts could be expanded. One of the biggest challenges we discovered was how difficult it is to find accurate, up-to-date information about the state of the lake. There is also a lot of bias and private interests at play.
Our Intervention
In the Resource Guide, readers can learn more about Great Salt Lake. These sources represent the views of many of the stakeholders involved in solving the issue. Their purpose is to provide readers with beginner-friendly tools for expanding their knowledge about the issue and how to help solve it. Most of these sources contain information consistent with the state’s research across multiple departments and agencies. However, some of the sources contain estimates, assumptions, or beliefs that differ from those of the state; these are included in this Resource Guide in an effort to reduce bias surrounding the issue.
Using what they learn from these sources, readers will be well-equipped to make informed decisions about their water use moving forward. These decisions may span a range of actions, including making personal water use decisions, educating others about the issue, supporting new or existing water legislation, or supporting current advocacy efforts. No matter how this knowledge is used, we hope readers feel confident finding information and making informed decisions about the issue.
Coming soon!
Understanding the Problem
Homelessness is an urgent issue in Utah. Recognized as a priority by both federal and state governments, efforts to confront this complex issue are multifaceted and ongoing. The creation of solutions that consider the intricacies of homelessness requires an approach that considers sociological, economic, and other perspectives. Research and literature surrounding this field explore the causes and consequences of homelessness, including safety, physical well-being, societal acceptance, and mental health.
Different subpopulations face distinctive challenges when experiencing homelessness. Risk factors, antecedent events, and feeder systems uniquely affect each subpopulation, which makes it difficult to develop effective solutions. Although government involvement in addressing homelessness in the US has increased, there are still existing gaps in programs, which make it difficult for individuals to exit homelessness and re-enter society. To move towards a functional level of zero for homelessness in Utah, collaboration between researchers, individuals with lived experience, lawmakers, and service providers is crucial.
Student Research
The Homelessness Lab has been researching on the issue of homelessness in Utah for the past two years. Our lab members are dedicated to finding current and reputable sources to inform the design and implementation of the pilot program. As part of their research, the team spoke with researchers specializing in homelessness, practitioners in the space, homeless service providers, and people with lived experience. The research team also has looked into common databases and websites, including but not limited to UHMIS, US Department of Health and Human Services, The Road Home, US Census Bureau, and more. In addition to these sources, the team has combed through numerous peer-reviewed articles published in scientific journals on the issue of homelessness. Click here to read a full report of research findings on the best practices on the topic of homelessness.
Our Pilot Program
The name of our pilot program is “Community Compassion Collective”. Our team is focused on the power of constructive social relationships and networks. These relationships can play a pivotal role in helping individuals secure and maintain housing. A strong support system can motivate those facing housing instability, connect them to community resources, and provide a safety net during setbacks in their recovery process.
Our research and pilot program seek to test this claim by addressing two key questions:
- Does increasing community connections for individuals experiencing homelessness improve their recovery and self-reliance outcomes?
- What are the best practices for programs and interventions to foster stronger community ties for people experiencing homelessness?
The “Community Compassion Collective” will run for a period of 13 weeks. Each week, for an hour-and-a-half-long session, ten volunteer members of the community who are housed will gather with ten volunteer members of the community who are unhoused. Facilitators will also be present at the gathering to help meaningful connections begin to grow between program participants. The program began on June 11, 2025, with training on trauma-informed care and
other topics relevant to the pilot. The weekly meetings began on June 12 with food, get-to-know-you games, and introductions. Each week, a new theme is introduced.
The “Community Compassion Collective” is designed to highlight and implement various aspects of the social impact cycle, through co-creation and evaluation to determine the success of the pilot. We hope that through our pilot program, community members will be able to foster meaningful and constructive relationships that will lead to improved recovery and self-reliance.
Understanding the Problem
Water quality is a major issue affecting millions of people globally. Contaminated water leads to acute and chronic health problems. This is especially evident in Bolivia's Lake Poopó basin, where both scarce and contaminated surface and groundwater are concerns despite existing water treatment facilities. To address these concerns, we have researched the population, region, contamination sources, health impacts, and proposed solutions. The people of Oruro, the major city in the region, are aware of the issue and are working to collaborate with others to solve the problem.
Student Research
Since its launch in May 2023, the Andean Poverty Lab has conducted research and outreach on water-related challenges in Bolivia's Andean region. Initial efforts focused on creating a team charter and researching poverty. In 2024, the Lab shifted to water systems, launching research on Lake Poopó and the Titicaca–Desaguadero–Poopó–Salar de Coipasa (TDPS) basin. This was followed by partnership-building with NGOs, researchers, government, companies, and indigenous groups. The lab's most significant partnership was formed with the Universidad Técnica de Oruro (UTO), combining their expertise and the lab’s research capacity to assess and improve drinking water quality in Bolivian communities.
Empowering Local Solutions
This project was designed to align with our mission of addressing poverty through local, data-informed solutions and the methodologies taught by the Ballard Center. From the beginning, we worked closely with Universidad Técnica de Oruro (UTO), co-designing and co-implementing each phase alongside their faculty, researchers, and students—ensuring a collaborative, sustainable approach rather than a one-sided intervention.
The issue of drinking water quality in Oruro, identified through discussions with UTO experts, emerged as a key focus due to its ties to public health, infrastructure, governance, and environmental management. Although contamination was widely suspected, there was little data on actual water quality, revealing a critical knowledge gap. In response, we launched a replicable water quality assessment to support data-driven decision-making and delivered courses on social impact and lasting change, all tied directly to this initiative.
Guided by Ballard Center principles—especially faith and stewardship—we navigated challenges, built strong relationships, and remained grounded in our purpose. Our diverse team contributed in areas such as translation, public relations, water analysis, and partnerships. Ballard Center funding enabled our fieldwork, and we continue to monitor measurable impact through an ongoing evaluation plan. Ultimately, we aim to empower local actors, support long-term research infrastructure, and promote more informed water governance.
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