EWB-UMN's Appropriate Technology and Design Team (ATDT)

Background: Projects in Haiti

The Plastics and Biodigester projects from EWB-UMN's closed Haiti program focused on exciting and critical aspects of our projects: hands-on work and R&D. They dealt with the ubiquitous issues of trash, human waste, and energy - issues that required intensive research, design, and trial-and-error construction. Students benefited from learning metal working and concrete production as they determined the best technical and economical solution to their problem. Their intensive efforts focusing on one issue (plastic waste, and human waste) proved to be valuable - their designs were inexpensive, efficient, and easy to replicate. The Plastics and Biodigester projects designs solve ubiquitous issues, and can be implemented in nearly any international development program.

Mission and Goals

Following the closing of the Haiti program, EWB-UMN has begun formation of a team to assist the international programs of Gautemala, Honduras, and Uganda in issues similar to what the Plastics and Biodigester teams tackled, but not as big in scope. ATDT will focus on critical issues that arise in our international programs, such as construction of an improved first-flush system for a rainwater harvesting system, or microhydros for a water distribution system. The goal of ATDT is to generate designs beneficial to all current and future projects. However, ATDT will not steal away the hands-on experiences of students in the other programs. ATDT will assist the international projects by providing intensive focus on specific project needs. Quality designs is an overall objective for EWB-UMN, and ATDT will assist in this quality assurance

The Student Experience

ATDT will allow students engage in a more hands-on experience in the EWB-UMN chapter. Students will be directly assisting community development in our projects, while honing their engineering skills on campus. Students will be granted the opportunity to test their designs, assess their flaws, and forge a masterpiece. Students are encouraged to mail Andrew Solz if they are interested.

Project Request Form

If your project (Guatemala, Honduras, Uganda) requires specialized assistance with an aspect of your project (examples: first flush systems, microhydro research, plastic waste, or more!) please fill out THIS FORM. This completed form will be forwarded to the lead of the ATDT team, who will promptly provide excellent and focused help.