engineering a better world Saving the World One 4 th Year at a Time Jeremy Smith or The EWB Undergraduate Research Program Undergraduate Research Coordinator Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB)

EWB Australia’s Mission Engineers Without Borders Australia works to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged communities, both within Australia and overseas, through sustainable, appropriate engineering projects. EWB’s vision is of a world where every individual and community has adequate access to the resources, knowledge and technology necessary to meet their self identified human needs.

What does EWB do? HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AWARENESS / EDUCATIONPROGRAMS Volunteer International Placements (VIPs) Technical Assistance Networks (TANs) Local Initiative Projects (LIPs) Schools Universities Companies / Industry Engineering Profession EWB Members Public

EWB Programs Technical Sectors Water & sanitation ICT Appropriate energy Disability access Land / Agriculture Infrastructure Australia Cambodia East Timor India Nepal Indonesia Laos PNG

EWB Education Aiming to achieve learning and change The Education Team works to: –increase and diversify the level of information, knowledge and awareness among its members –improve the understanding of the role of engineering in sustainable development and poverty eradication –educate members on the skills required for sustainable community development –create career paths and opportunities for those who want to move into the area of engineering in development –focus on community identified needs –feed back outcomes to communities through the Programs-Community interface

Undergraduate Research In 2006 and 2007 started to engage with final year engineering students through their individual or honours research projects Undertook a small number of pilot projects with students working in Australia on topics focused on EWB’s community work (including 2 at the DE) Projects generated outcomes for all partners; students, communities, EWB, universities Decided to develop a complete, structured Program Undergraduate Research Program

Program Aims Research on immediate and long term community needs Provide additional resources, experience and research capacity to community partners Facilitate the exchange and transfer of ideas, experience, skills, technology and resources between EWB, Australian research institutes and project partners Expose undergraduate students to real world issues and challenges, to further develop their skills and expertise Provide a framework for direct implementation of outcomes Build the capacity and experience of EWB’s members and partners Inform EWB’s planning, processes and program delivery Facilitate university engagement in community development

Case Study - Previous Project Design for a solar-powered water pumping system for remote villages –identified as a need by EWB community partner in Nepal –student based here at DE –developed a series of questions for EWB field volunteer –student completed requirements, evaluation framework and concept design –outcomes delivered to the partner –one element is now in prototype field testing –graduate keen to undertaken volunteer position with that community (application of research and experience)

Project Pipeline TANs Returned Volunteers Community Partners EWB Teams Chapters Partner NGOs Partner Universities EWB Undergraduate Research Program Project Outcomes Volunteers, Presentations, Outcomes, …

2009 Projects Project TitleField / AreaCountry FocusTechnical StreamStyle Alternate Energy Storage Technologies for Remote PV Systems Mechanical / Systems Engineering NepalEnergyResearch Improved Design for a Collapsible Solar Cooker for Emergency Relief Mechanical / Energy Engineering EnergyDesign and Build Approaches to Knowledge and Technology Transfer for Engineering Community Development Projects Management / Systems Engineering TBCProject DeliveryResearch Options for Sanitation and Human Waste for Floating and Stilted Latrines Environmental / Civil Engineering CambodiaWatsanDesign Emerging Technologies for Sanitation and Human Waste in Developing Communities Environmental EngineeringCambodiaWatsanResearch Disposal and Management of Waste Batteries from Solar PV Systems Environmental / Electrical Engineering NepalEnergyResearch Approaches to Service-Learning with Community-based Partner Organisations in Engineering Education EducationAustraliaEducationResearch Monitoring and Evaluation of EWB’s Indigenous Australia Projects Social Science / StudiesIndigenous Australia Project DeliveryResearch Framework to Evaluate Designs for Disability Access for Floating and Stilted Latrines Civil / Environmental Engineering CambodiaWatsan / Disability Access Design Refinement of Ecological Sanitation Toilet Design in NepalEnvironmental / Civil Engineering NepalWatsanDesign Sand Water Filter DesignEnvironmental EngineeringIndonesiaWatsanDesign Improved method for crushing clay bricks and laterite for use in water ceramic filters Mechanical EngineeringCambodiaWatsanDesign

Program Status Over the last 6 weeks the projects, covering 4 countries and 5 community partners, have been offered to students and universities around Australia Each project will have a university academic supervisor and an EWB identified advisor Generated significant interest among students and partners Students keen to work on a ‘real’ project that can have impact Plans to expand the number of projects over the next two years and offer a small number of travel scholarships The Program will be officially launched as a nation-wide initiative at the EWB Conference later this month

Program Outcomes Program provides real learning outcomes that impact on both the students’ professional and personal life Alumni from the Program have or are currently working on engineering development projects in: –Mongolia –Bangladesh –Indonesia –Derby, WA I am proud to be an engineer and be involved with a great organisation like EWB. [The conference] really changed what I want to do as an engineer

engineering a better world Questions?

The 4 C’s to Development 1.Conscious Unaware Informed 2.Concerned 3.Comprehend 4.Challenge Effective 1. Become aware of the plight of disadvantaged communities around the world 2. Care about the issues of sustainable development 3. Understand the complexities of development and knowing how to change good intentions into meaningful impact 4. Be challenged to make a difference, commit to actions that will work responsibly towards a better world

Project Process EWB Project Identification and Scoping University Project Identification and Scoping Review Projects for Resources and Inclusion Allocate Projects to Universities and Students EWB Resources, Tracking and Supervision Students Undertake Projects Capture and Dissemination of Project Outcomes Identify and Assemble EWB Resources and Support IdentificationAllocationMonitoring Dissemination University Academic Supervision

Project Roles Student EWB Advisor / Field Volunteer Partner EWB University Supervisor

Framework Project topics directly relate to EWB’s community work Enhance undergraduate education Provides additional resources, knowledge and benefit to community partners Builds the capacity of EWB members and partners Helps to inform EWB planning, processes and program delivery

Program Outcomes Direct research outcomes from students (thesis, reports, presentations, …) Outcomes, recommendations and conclusions for community partners Capacity within EWB The students themselves

Outline (slide to be removed) EWB Overview Program Background Program Aims Framework Example Outcomes –capturing, disseminating, implementing –students