D-Lab China Yiqun Bai Sal Scaturro October 19, 2005

Contents Brief intro to China & Tibet D-Lab China History Project Details IAP schedule Expectations Future D-Lab China Possibilities

China: Basic Facts year history People’s Republic of China (PRC)  founded by Mao Zedong on October 1 st, 1949 at Tian’anmen 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, 2 special administrative regions Population: 1.3 Billion  ~80% live in rural areas  15% arable land 56 officially recognized ethnic minorities Average incomes  Urban: $1,200  Rural: $365 Currency: Renminbi (8RMB = US$1)

China: Map

Qinghai

Xining

Tibet: Basic Facts Tibetans ethnically distinct from Chinese (Han)  Language, food, culture Songsten Gampo (629–649)  Expanded empire across large portion of Central Asia and China Buddhism  Introduced in two waves – 8th century, 11th century Independent throughout most of its history Current Situation  Culture, Development, Tourism

Tibet: Map

YuShu

D-Lab China History Began summer ’05 through existing relationship with Qinghai University 1-month workshop with QU students  Similar to MIT D-Lab  Composting toilet project with local village  Student group 1-week visit to Snowland Service Group in Yushu  NGO dedicated to improving lives of Tibetans  Interested primarily in energy projects

At Qinghai University

A Nomadic Community

In Yushu

IAP Projects Composting toilet  QU students  Improve design  Large-scale implementation plan Biogas system  SSG  Lightweight, sturdy, easily transportable  Temperature issue Snowmelt system  SSG  Use snow for drinking water

IAP Schedule 5 Jan – depart Boston 6 Jan – arrive Beijing 10 Jan – arrive Xining (train) 16 Jan – arrive Yushu (bus) 28 Jan – arrive Xining (bus) 29 Jan – Chinese New Year! 31 Jan – Arrive Beijing (train) 3 Feb – Arrive Boston

Expectations Rich cultural experience Already established connections, even though 1 st D-lab project Closely work with university students, villagers, & NGO See many views of China Part implementation, part fact-gathering Housing  Hotel in Beijing; QU in Xining; SSG/nomads in Yushu Difficult to adapt  Xining – 2300m (7800ft), Yushu – 3700m (12,100ft)  Deep winter on ‘roof of the world’ = COLD  Less-than-ideal transportation Additional costs  ~$150 transportation, ~$50 food, souvenirs, clothes, etc.

Future Possibilities Spring term courses Summer  MIT China program  Overlap with IAP  Focus on Biogas Implementation  QU students

Questions?