Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
This project was suggested by William Carter, a senior officer at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), who provided guidance throughout the semester. In addition, we were supported by a group of students who brought it to life as an individual research project. It’s thanks to their efforts that the minimal lighting project can pursue its goal of lighting latrines in refugee camps. In an environment where electricity is a scarce resource, the lack of reliable lighting in refugee camps not only poses a safety concern but is also detrimental to the standard of living for the community. Existing solutions such as flood lights and solar powered street lights do not effectively solve the issue as they can provide too much lighting and result in unwanted congregation. At times, when refugee camps are first being established, lights may not be available and our project aims to provide a cheap and efficient transitional solution until a more reliable source of energy can be acquired. It’s thanks to monthly calls with our IFRC correspondent Mr. Carter that the team was able to gain insight into the reality of the location this project is aiming to help and accordingly tailor design choices based on their needs and experiences. Additionally, the calls with the HEAP panel have been crucial to gaining professional insight into the development of the device and solutions to any problems that were encountered during the semester.
Student Experiences:
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to have really easy access to Professor Jones as we develop our design. He has always been available and happy to help us whenever we were stuck with a design challenge.”
– Alan Hash
“This has been an amazing project, and an even more amazing experience. It feels really good to be able to undertake such a great initiative and learn alongside industry professionals.”
-Osiel Maldonado
“It has been really fun to get to use skills that I learn in class in a real project that will hopefully help improve people’s’ lives someday”
-Stefanie Thompson
Prototyping: 
Osiel Maldonado preparing a prototype for sealing
Stefanie Thompson (left) working on the light’s PCB schematic, Seema Kulkarni (right) researching new electronic components
Alan Hash uses a heat gun to seal a clamped section of heat shrink plastic
Stefanie Thompson creating the electronic schematic of the light’s PCB
Stefanie Thompson showing the results of a folded seal test that will be used on specific points in the design where a wire needs to pass through the heat shrink seal
Prototypes and Schematics:
