AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State University chapter of Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB) is living up to its name, with an ISU team scheduled to travel across the world for a project designed to increase sustainability in parts of Africa. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Foundation recently selected a proposal submitted by ISU's Engineers Without Borders chapter to receive a grant to fund this collaborative effort.
The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Foundation is a professional organization of engineers and material scientists who monitor a wide range of operations including mineral processing, metal production, research and the application of materials.
The nonprofit Engineers Without Borders group develops and implements sustainable engineering projects through worldwide partnerships.
The Iowa State project, "Ceramics Production for Water Filtration, Cooking Stoves & Sustainable Households," will work to create sustainable households and improve water quality using indigenous materials in Mali, Kati Cerle and Nana Kenieba.
"I am extremely ecstatic. One of the untapped areas in engineering is the use of materials in developing countries," said Richard LeSar, professor and chair of materials science and engineering and faculty advisor for Iowa State's EWB chapter. "It is intriguing and challenging. It teaches us to be engineers in a different way… in a way you can't learn inside a classroom."
The team will use indigenous clays to increase the strength and rain-resistance of household building materials. They also will develop and construct a kiln used to fire ceramic water filters and bricks for clean, fuel-efficient stoves.
Another goal is to increase water quality by using clay pots and bio-sand filters to provide safe and sustainable water supplies. By working with local businesses, the team hopes to set up a system that would continue to manufacture the filters and clay pots.
The collaborative team is expected to include a faculty member, two EWB members and two members of Materials Advantage, a student program providing career opportunities for materials engineers.
"The relationship between both organizations builds upon unique strengths for an effective formula in poverty reduction," said Nathan Johnson, graduate student in mechanical engineering and leader of Iowa State's EWB chapter.
Iowa State's newly chartered chapter has 62 active members who have already worked overseas in Mali and Belize. This venture marks the continuation of the chapter's commitment to sustainable engineering projects outside the United States.
"The grant will help foster project growth and sustainability by emphasizing the importance of materials in engineering for development," said Johnson.
The team is expected to begin its travels in Africa during the summer of 2010.
Information on the ISU chapter of EWB is at http://www.ewb.stuorg.iastate.edu.
Information about The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
Foundation is at http://www.tms.org
