What are engineers ?

Biomedical AerospaceCivil Mechatronics Electrical Chemical

In General, Engineers…. Respond to the needs of society by providing technological solutions to every day problems in order to improve the quality of life.

Respond to the needs of society: Engineers in Australia e.g. Better computers, more roads, faster cars? iphones? Respond to the needs of society: Engineers in South East Asia e.g. Access to clean drinking water

International Development Finding solutions to the problems of access to basic human rights in order to improve the quality of life.

Engineers Without Borders Australia works with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through the education and implementation of sustainable engineering projects. So Who Are Engineers Without Borders...?

What are the problems ?

3 billion live on less than $2 per day

1 billion lack access to clean water

2 billion lack access to sanitation

Cholera Hepatitis A Typhoid Ringworm (Tinea) Guinea-Worm Disease High Prevalence of Water Borne Diseases

Waterborne Diseases Unsafe drinking water causes 80% of diseases in the world Diarrhoea kills 1.8 million children each year Diarrhoea is caused by harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites in the water Bacteria are unicellular organisms (made of 1 cell)‏ Escherichia coli bacteria Source:

Cholera Pandemic In Zimbabwe What is Cholera? Toxin of bacterium Vibrio cholerae causes vomiting and diarrhoea. From contaminated food, water or other cholera patient. Why is there a pandemic? No clean water supply Contamination of wells with sewerage No medical aid Food is not affordable Mortality rate of 20%

Haiti Earthquake 7.0 scale deaths 1.5 million people homeless Buildings including parliament, schools, prisons and hospitals collapsed $562 million appeal by UN

Problems? Poverty Damage to Infrastructure Overcrowded Hospitals Lack medical supplies Violence Damaged sewerage system Lack of food and water supplies Disease

What about solutions ?

Bio Sand filter Water passes through layers of sand, gravel and charcoal After repeated use, a “biofilm” layer forms on the sand This sticky layer traps bacteria and “eats” them.

Activated Charcoal Activated charcoal has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between carbon atoms Huge surface area to trap organic (carbon) compounds. Source: user:Ravedave, Wikipedia

Solar Radiation Cover half of a PET plastic bottle in black paint and lay in the sun UV Radiation kills bacteria in water If water is heated to 65 degrees for 6 minutes all bacteria that harm humans are killed

Ceramic Water Filters Resource Development International Cambodia (RDIC)‏ Resource: Development International Cambodia - Clay pots are made from 82% powdered clay, 18% rice husks Since clay is naturally porous, the water will pass through leaving particulates in the pot The inside of the pots are coated with colloidal silver to kill bacteria

Activity: Make your own water filter In country groups, Decide what to do Buy materials Make filter Test filter Present to class

How does the activity relate to the real world? People in poorer countries have their own coping mechanisms Resourcefulness of groups with little money North-South co-operation Richer countries formed the G8 and OECD Poorer countries formed the Group of 24 Collaboration between countries Based on actual country’s illiteracy rate Lack of education and access to information Illegible instructions Based on actual country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)‏ Different amounts of money per group Real WorldActivity

What you can do? Get informed Think about international development – we can help others Get involved in science and technology – create new solutions