BSD/PCSA: Humanitarian Engineering Symposium: Humanitarian Engineering
Sponsored by: ACerS Basic Science Division, ACerS President’s Council of Student Advisors
Program Organizers: Victoria Christensen, University of California Santa Barbara; Scott Mccormack, University Of California, Davis; Michael Walden, Colorado School of Mines; Christopher Kassner, University of Virginia; Kimiko Nakajima, University of California, Davis; Adrianna Lupercio, Boise State University
Monday 2:00 PM
November 2, 2020
Room: Virtual Meeting Room 11
Location: MS&T Virtual
Session Chair: Victoria Christensen, UC Santa Barbara
2:00 PM Invited
Service Learning and Ceramic Material Research on Point-of-Use Water Treatment Technologies for Use in Marginalized Communities: Ian Nettleship1; 1University of Pittsburgh
Globally, contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause 485,000 diarrheal deaths each year. Understandably, many ceramic scientists and engineers wish to use their knowledge and skills to address this shocking circumstance. This presentation will describe a model of engagement based on 15 years of experience combining service learning with materials research on point-of-use water treatment technologies. At the heart of this approach are direct and enduring relationships between the ceramics research laboratory and non-for-profit organizations that work in the field. This allows: (i) research to be directly informed by experience in the field (ii) laboratory researchers to be trained in appropriate point-of-use technologies and (iii) the technological resources and infrastructure of the research organization to be leveraged in the service of marginalized communities. Examples will illustrate how these outcomes are achieved and describe technical problems that have been addressed. Finally, future directions for research will be discussed.
2:30 PM Invited
Harder, Better, Faster, Greener Building Materials by Cold Sintering Process: Sun Hwi Bang1; Arnaud Ndayishimiye1; Esther Obonyo1; Clive Randall1; 1Pennsylvania State University
Among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, finding affordable but less anthropogenic CO2 emission building materials is a core determinant to implement sustainable cities and communities. However, the current brick manufacturing process of both cement and clay has been energy-intensive, requiring high temperature and producing CO2. Although sintering has been a material processing technique that takes thermal energy and often pressure to densify a powder compact at above 1000C, the recent study of cold sintering process features significant energy and cost reduction of ceramic fabrication and co-processing of polymer/ceramic composites. Here, cold sintering is applied to develop sustainable building bricks without firing at high temperatures. Studying raw Ca2SiO4 rock samples from Wajir, Kenya as a proof of concept, making a brick using locally-accessible materials contains high feasibility and impact. This work demonstrates the current fundamental understanding of the process, transition from lab-scale to human-scale and sustainable composite brick designs.
3:00 PM Invited
SciBridge Project: Preparing the Next-generation of Scientists through Renewable Energy Kits: Michael Spencer1; 1North Carolina State University
Africa is home to more than 1 billion people, yet the continent accounts for less than 3% of the world’s scientific publications. Furthermore, the majority of people living in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity, clean water, and modern healthcare. To combat these challenges, African scientists and engineers must be equipped with technical skills relevant to the latest developments in science and engineering. The SciBridge project at NC State develops experiment kits on cutting-edge renewable energy technology that supply universities in East Africa with educational tools to teach undergraduate students about sustainable energy technology. At NC State, SciBridge student volunteers develop experiment kits, lesson plans, and tutorial videos. Currently, SciBridge is assembling kits on microbial fuel cells, low-cost potentiostats, and thermoelectric generators. The SciBridge project is based on the concept that conducting hands-on experiments will enable students to pursue further studies in renewable energy technologies and encourage Africa-U.S. research collaborations.