Harry visited the American University of Central Asia during April, to get to know the staff, students, the curriculum, and many other aspects. The schedule included two lectures (open access, machine learning), a detailed discussion about a potential masters degree course that the staff could create. the social care and disability facilities, a bootcamp, ethics in the use of machine learning, Makerspace, building design, cultural aspects within the University etc.
It was a memorable visit that has made a lasting impression on me, especially regarding the thirst for knowledge from all I met.
On the news section of the AUCA website
Professor Timothy O'Connor (President, AUCA) and Harry
One of the talks that Harry gave, this one to a bootcamp hackathon on so-called artificial intelligence.
The aim was to demystify machine learning.
The audience was terrific, with questions and comments.
Driving from the centre of Bishkek to the University
Man on electric transport.
An orthodox church in the background.
Construction of a real, traditional yurt
Click for higher resolution
The team that built the full-scale yurt, as shown in the following images.
This is inside what will eventually become a museum. Here, a spinning wheel.
All hand made.
Ancient utensils.
At the top are containers made of leather.
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Traditional head-dresses for women. They involve a large length of cloth.
Traditional head-dresses for women. They involve a large length of cloth.
A horse shoe.
Head dress for men
These are volunteers at the museum.
Some of the wooden objects used in construction of a full-scale yurt.
we begin assembling.
The frame, assembled without any nails.
Here, the roof light, which can also act as a chimney.
There are national competitions on the speed with which a yurt can be erected.
This young man was a part of the team that did it in 7 minutes!
The whole team. This time, it took us two hours. On the right are students from AUCA.
On the way back, a picture of the Liberal Arts University.
Some images of the lovely campus at AUCA. This is a relatively new campus (perhaps 2015), and when built, it was isolated. However the surrounding areas now bustle with people.
A view from inside the main building.
A view from inside the main building.
The building is extremely well-designed, with plenty of open space in the mmiddle.
There is a lot of sound proofing and a peaceful environment.
This is the ground floor, where events such as graduation can be held.
The basement where there is a sophisticated system of heat pumps.
This can even drive refrigeration (air conditioning)
The Makerspace building from a distance. A makerspace is a physical location where people gather to co-create, share resources and knowledge, work on projects, network, and build
Construction of toy yurt, at AUCA Makerspace
The Makerspace building in the background. In the foreground, the "fresher" at AUCA who helped Harry navigate.
Engineering design of the yurt model (at Makerspace).
There are two kinds of models, this is the more sophisticated one.
This is the kit, manufactured at Makerspace.
Almost the final stage.
The equipment at Makerspace can produce textured surfaces.
Even complex furniture designs using numerically controlled machines.
This is a typical traditional cradle (gahvora) for babies, who are safely tucked in with swaddles and binds, keeping them warm. The sides of the cradle therefore do not need to be high.
This is the simpler version of the yurt that Harry assembled from a kit, and painted.
The final product
We did, indeed, do it.
Harry's yurt, on the official display (middle, top shelf)
