Students Establish "Engineers Without Borders" Chapter at UC
A group of undergraduate students in the College of Engineering has established a local chapter of "Engineers Without Borders." Known as EWB-UCIN, the local chapter is in its first year of existence and already has a committed membership of 18 students. Professor Tim Keener is the faculty adviser and Dr. Dan Oerther is the current project mentor.
The national "Engineers Without Borders - USA (EWB-USA)" is a non-profit organization established in Colorado in 2000 that partners with communities in developing countries to improve the inhabitants' quality of life. EWB-USA pursues its mission "through implementation of equitable, environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineering professionals and students."
EWB-USA teams work closely with the host community to identify, develop and complete projects with contributions from various sources in the private sector including individuals and companies. EWB-UCIN President Dan Waites and Vice-President Dan Divelbiss are careful to point out that the organization seeks to offer a "hand-up," not "hand-out," to inhabitants in developing communities by constructing sustainable engineering projects that developing communities can own and maintain independently. The goal is to empower developing communities to be more self-sufficient by enhancing local, technical, managerial, and entrepreneurial skills.
With support provided through Dean Eckart and the College of Engineering, officers of EWB-UCIN attended an EWB-USA regional conference at Valparaiso University in the fall. Dean Eckart commented: "The College is excited to have EWB-UCIN as an organization that links the engineering profession with humanitarian needs. Students and other participants will be readily able to see the tangible improvements that the engineers make in everyday lives."
EWB-UCIN is currently planning its first water project for a community in Nigeria later this year. The local chapter invites alumni and company involvement. Anyone interested in assisting EWB-UCIN may contact Dan Waites at waitesde@email.uc.edu or Dan Divellbis at divelbdw@email.uc.edu.
Other EWB-UCIN officers are: Gabriel Wickizer, Secretary and Culture Chair; Chelsay Brewster, Treasurer; Kevin Klueber, Engineering Chair; Andy Schriner, Health Chair; Jesse Bradford, Culture Chair; and Keith Collins, Fundraising Chair.
For more information about EWB-USA, INC: http://www.ewb-usa.org/
For more information about EWB-UCIN, INC: http://www.uc.edu/groups/ewb-ucin/
Email: engn-equad@listserv.uc.edu
