HUMANITARIAN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
~ Open to All Majors ~
Apply: http://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eQLj7iuFUimhQpg
Course Schedule:
ES 277 Humanitarian Product Design : Fall 2021 (MW 4-6 pm)
ES 277 Humanitarian Product Prototyping : Spring 2022 (MW 4-6 pm)
Course Overview:
This two semester program was created in response to students’ desires to apply their engineering skills to solve some of the world’s most compelling problems. This program will focus your current expertise on designing products for use in humanitarian response. You will work closely with William Carter – a member of the Red Cross – to gain insights into the field of humanitarian aid and receive direction in your project.
The class will consist of ~20 engineering students plus ~5 students from other disciplines such as Social Work, Public Health, Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Liberal Arts. Each team will consist of ~4 engineering students and a student from another field who will bring expertise on the social, economic, or cultural aspects of the product. In the fall, the students will focus on design and in the spring, they will prototype and test their products.
Past Projects:
- Solar heating for a low-cost biodigester
- Press for removing water from latrine waste
- Device for fabricating customizable sanitary pads
- Minimal solar powered lighting system for latrines
- Sensor to relay information across satellites and internet
- Small-scale wind energy generator for lighting and charging phones
Contact Info:
Dr. Janet Ellzey (course coordinator) – jellzey@mail.utexas.edu
Professor Bailey Jones (course instructor) – bailey@brightpd.com
