 |
Outreach-Projects
ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS - USA PROJECTS
The first chapter of Engineers Without Borders–USA (EWB-USA), called EWB-CU, was formed at the University of Colorado at Boulder in late fall 2001. EWB-USA now involves more than 12,000 engineering students, faculty, and professional engineers in 295 chapters across the USA. EWB-USA works on about 400 projects in 47 different countries. EWB-USA is a member of the Engineers Without Borders - International network.
The mission of EWB-USA is to is to partner with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through implementation of environmentally, equitable, and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineers and engineering students.
EWB-USA projects are initiated by, and completed with, contributions from the host community. They are designed to be appropriate and self-sustaining. The projects are conducted by groups of engineering students under the supervision of professional engineers and faculty. The students select a project and go through all phases of conceptual design, analysis and construction during the school year with implementation during breaks and the summer months. By being involved in all project steps, students become more aware of the social, economic, environmental, political, ethical, and cultural impacts of engineering projects.
Students from the EWB-CU chapter have been actively involved in EWB-USA projects in Rwanda, Nepal, and Peru. Past projects were conducted in Mali, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Bolivia.
EWB-CU PROJECTS
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
 Engineering students at CU Boulder have shown a strong interest in working on community projects and have been able to integrate such projects into their overall engineering education. Most of the projects involve the conceptual, design, implementation and monitoring phases of typical engineering projects. Students can be involved in one or several project phases spanning over one or two semesters. Depending on their level of involvement, students can receive a grade for their outreach effort counting toward their engineering degrees (technical electives, independent studies).
Many of the projects have been conducted through EWB-CU or as part of existing CEAE courses such as Environmental Engineering Design (CVEN 4434/5434) and Engineering for the Developing World (CVEN 4838), and Sustainable Community Development (CVEN 5834). The community projects have been financed through small grants from the University of Colorado at Boulder (Outreach Committee; Engineering Excellence Fund; Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program; Service Learning), foundations, and private donations.
MC-EDC PROJECTS
- Fuel Briquette Project in Kabul, Afghanistan (2008-) with Afghans for Tomorrow and FoSt Nepal.
- High Efficiency Stove Microenterprise in Rwanda
- Afghan Merit Scholar Program in Geosciences and Engineering at the University of Colorado. In collaboration with the Afghan e-Quality Alliance at Washington State University.
- Developing a Replicable Model for Sustainable Technology Entrepreneurship in Afghanistan.
- Tele-Education in the Amazon Region of Peru (2008-2009): Phase II.
- Economic development project in the Crow Native American community in Montana (2007-2013).
- Casa de la Ezperanza Science and Math Center expansion project in Longmont, CO.
- Sustainable practices for affordable housing in Palestine in partnership with EWB-Palestine, Arial Homes and UNRWA
- Sustainable Engineering in the Eastern Mediterranean Region initiative (progress report)
- Development of the Swayambu community in Nepal
ARTICLES ABOUT PROJECTS
TRAVEL GUIDELINES
|
