INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS 2019-2020
Engineering for ArchaeologyChavín, Peru
ESW has partnered with Professor John Rick of the Department of Archaeology at Stanford in continuing the Engineering for Archaeology program in Chavín de Huántar, a UNESCO heritage site. We have three projects currently underway: structural engineering, AR/VR reconstruction, and robotic exploration. The first team is structural analysis focused - we look for ways to preserve the integrity of the site while maintaining its accessibility. The second team focuses on creating a VR experience showing what the site might have originally looked like. The third focuses on using technology for archaeological exploration (i.e. robots). This is a continuation of the Chavín Engineering in Archaeology program previously run by Stanford Global Engineering Programs. Check out the blog Team Members Natalie Ezeugwu, Structures Project Leader JD Pruett, Structures Team Member Stephen Guerrero, Structures Team Member Jose Luis Villarreal, Structures Team Member Vivian Audong, AR/VR Project Leader Isaac Cheruiyot, AR/VR Team Member Joel Herrera, AR/VR Team Member Gabe Perez, Exploration Project Leader Cesar Regaldo, Exploration Project Leader Phoebe Kimm, Exploration Team Member Alex Somera, Exploration Team Member |
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Biochar from CacaoProject Partners: TCHO
As an organic chocolate company based in the bay area, TCHO Chocolate is commonly known for their high quality, ethically sourced chocolate that can be found in Salt & Straw Ice Cream. TCHO’s current sustainability focus is in Ghana, through the Cacao Research Institute (CRIG). Here, farmers grow and harvest the cacao pods, extract the beans, and ferment them before sending the product off to companies such as TCHO. In this process, cacao husks are discarded once the beans have been extracted. This results in a large waste of biomaterials that are usually discarded. Working with TCHO and CRIG, this team will repurpose cacao husks to produce biochar, an organic substance that can act as activated carbon in water filters. This project would involve testing the effectiveness of the husks as biochar water filters, as well as developing a mechanical system to produce the biochar and then filter the water through. As part of this the team will also explore how the water from the filter can be used. Ideally this solution will be implemented across Ghana to bring cleaner water to cacao producing areas. Check out the blog Team Members Adam Nayak, Project Lead Latifah Hani-Hamzah, Project Member Pauline Nguyen, Project Member Jessica de la Paz, Project Member Wenxi Zhao, Project Member D'Arcy Seamon, Project Member |
Zorzal Cacao:Due to lack of transparency in the supply chain for cacao production, it is a challenge for cacao production facilities such as Zorzal to track exactly where their cocoa supply originates. This is an issue for sustainable cacao production, as farmers are more successful when they know what producers are looking for in their cacao beans. For the cacao farms in the Dominican Republic, crop sales are the primary source of income. This project partners with Zorzal Cacao to develop a web based application to track and process cacao shipments. By improving sales and tracing the crops back to farms, farmers will be able to augment their production quality and benefit monetarily. Additionally, Zorzal Cacao is located on the Reserva Privada Zorzal where they work closely with chocolate companies to preserve and maintain diversity on the reserve. This project hopes to improve the science of cacao and protect natural lands and biodiversity through app based monitoring and tracking of production processes. Check out the blog Team Members Austin Brotman, Project Leader Mark Bechtold, Project Leader Langston Nashold, Team Member Julia Wang, Team Member |
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ENGR177A & ENGR177B
For the past five years, ESW has offered a two-quarter course sequence to complement club members’ work on engineering projects.
These courses aim to address the ethical, cultural, political, organizational, technical, and business issues at the heart of implementing sustainable engineering projects in the developing world. As students work on project teams with NGO and social entrepreneur partners, they think critically about the impact of their work and how to collaborate ethically and effectively as engineers.
Teaching Team
Shoshanah Cohen, Faculty Advisor
Latifah Hamzah, Teaching Assistant
D'Arcy Seamon, Course Coordinator
These courses aim to address the ethical, cultural, political, organizational, technical, and business issues at the heart of implementing sustainable engineering projects in the developing world. As students work on project teams with NGO and social entrepreneur partners, they think critically about the impact of their work and how to collaborate ethically and effectively as engineers.
Teaching Team
Shoshanah Cohen, Faculty Advisor
Latifah Hamzah, Teaching Assistant
D'Arcy Seamon, Course Coordinator
