By Katrina Dix

When Jim Blando, Ph.D., arrived in Kyrgyzstan last May at 5 a.m. to begin a short-term Fulbright project, he was so jetlagged and overwhelmed that he wondered if he鈥檇 made a mistake.

Dr. Blando, an environmental health professor at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Joint School of Public Health at 国产伦理 in partnership with Norfolk State University, first heard of the specialist program at an information session on campus. He imagined visiting vineyards in Italy and exploring the heritage of his grandparents, who immigrated from Sicily. Once he was added to the roster, however, he noticed most projects were in farther-flung corners of the globe.

He was recruited to contribute his expertise to new air quality standards in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan鈥檚 capital. He hesitated at first out of concerns over the distance and apprehension about visiting the former Soviet Union.

Jim Blando, Ph.D., stands outside on a bridge
Dr. Blando on 国产伦理's campus, April 2025. (Photo by Chuck Thomas 鈥90)

鈥淭here was a little bit of trepidation,鈥 Dr. Blando said. 鈥淏ut it was such a good fit. It鈥檚 exactly what I do. So, it was like, how could I not do this?鈥

Fresh off the plane, Dr. Blando encountered security in uniforms that reminded him of news footage from the Soviet Republic. With his U.S. Embassy contacts and interpreter still beyond customs, he struggled through with Google Translate.

鈥淚鈥檓 not sure how much help it was,鈥 he said.

His packed schedule didn鈥檛 leave much time to worry, though, and the warm Kyrgyz hospitality quickly won him over.

鈥淚t ended up being an amazing experience. The people were so awesome,鈥 Dr. Blando said.

At lunch one day, his hosts explained the importance of honoring guests with the way they are seated and served at a meal. He said they seemed shocked when he told them that according to his Italian American upbringing, he should be the one buying lunch, since they were hosting him.

During his three-week stay, Dr. Blando made around 15 presentations, focusing on Bishkek鈥檚 air quality challenges related to geography and weather.

Jim Blando, Ph.D., and Anara Shakhmatova, Ph.D., stand in front of a building
Dr. Blando, left, and Anara Shakhmatova, Ph.D., at the International School of Medicine in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in May 2024. (Courtesy of Jim Blando, Ph.D.)

Bishkek lies in a valley beneath Tian Shan, a massive system of mountain ranges that straddles the border of China and Kyrgyzstan 鈥 a topography that creates a cap of warm air.

鈥淭he land cools very fast, especially at night, and you end up with cooler air on the bottom and warmer air on the top. It鈥檚 not going to circulate,鈥 he explained. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 called a temperature inversion. Air pollutants released at ground level just sit there.鈥

Many of the most significant air quality disasters in history, like the poisonous London Fog, are associated with temperature inversions, he said. Solutions include modernizing cars, furnaces and coal plants, as well as being weather-aware.

鈥淚 spent a lot of time discussing air pollution meteorology, which is something that鈥檚 not very widely taught, even here in the U.S.,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou can predict the air quality.鈥

The Fulbright project Dr. Blando initially signed on for has wrapped up, but thanks to the relationships built with new colleagues in Central Asia, his work goes on.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to stay in touch,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 hope I get to go back.鈥