Weeks 1–2: Exploring Cohesion

The first two weeks marked the beginning of an exciting journey. We are a team of five university students from the fields of Communication, Computer Science, Entrepreneurship, and Psychology, working together on this year’s MiLab project at Reichman University.

Our Process: Exploring the Concept of Cohesion

We began with a brief on this year’s theme, Cohesion, defined as “the action or fact of forming a united whole.” But what does this truly mean in today’s world?

Each of us was tasked with researching projects or products related to cohesion. When we reconvened, we shared our findings and quickly realized that the gaps in this field are everywhere. From community-based projects and educational programs to technological solutions, every approach revealed different aspects of the cohesion challenge, and more importantly, the spaces where solutions have yet to exist.

A representative from the 8200 Alumni Association joined us, sharing their perspective on cohesion and their ongoing collaboration with MiLab. Their insights helped us ground our abstract discussions in a real-world context.

From Concept to Focus

After getting to know each other as a team, we moved into a discussion about the difference between a need and a problem. This distinction became our guiding framework moving forward.

Brainstorming Session

We then mapped out issues connected to cohesion in contemporary society. Some of the main topics included:

• Screen time and its impact on real connection

• Lack of empathy in communication

• Feelings of loneliness and being misunderstood

• Bullying and social exclusion

• Exposure to harmful online content

• Unequal starting points

We organized these ideas into three main categories: Technological, Environmental, and Psychological/Personal.

Our Three Focus Areas

After narrowing our focus, we identified three issues to explore further through expert interviews:

1. Low-quality screen time

2. Feeling misunderstood or lonely

3. Lack of empathy in communication

   
   

What’s Next

Next week, we will begin conducting our expert interviews. These conversations will help us understand not just the problems but also the nuances behind them, moving us from broad themes toward specific, addressable problems and needs.

Stay tuned 🌟