Pre-Covid Planning

This project began in the summer of 2019, when student research members Mitchell Kissick and Anthony Milesi approached Dr. Bielski with their proposal. The original proposal involved the researchers attending the 2020 Indiana State Shoot hosted in Hamilton County, with analysis to then be completed by the end of 2020 and hearing conservation materials to be distributed in early 2021 as well as potentially at the 2021 Indiana State Shoot. The proposal was approved by the Ball State Audiology Committee in late 2019, and the process of applying for IRB approval began in December 2019 and January 2020. In mid-March 2020, as you all know, the world changed for everyone in a major way due to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic. With countries shutting down and a mandatory quarantine being put in place. There were a lot of questions and uncertanties about how long the pandemic lockdown would last, and during late spring/summer of 2020, with the 2020 Indiana State Shoot being canceled it was decided that the research project should adapt to the current global situation.