Engineering Change in Burkina Faso

Engineering Change in Burkina Faso

Engineering Change in Burkina Faso

Civil engineering sophomore Kana Matsui measures dimensions for the installation of a solar panel array.  Photo by Elisabeth Smela.
Civil engineering sophomore Kana Matsui measures dimensions for the installation of a solar panel array. Photo by Elisabeth Smela.

Three A. James Clark School of Engineering students and two faculty from the mechanical engineering department rang in the new year improving the quality of life for a community in the West African country Burkina Faso. Through a project sponsored by the UMD student chapter of Engineers Without Borders, the team installed solar panels and indoor lighting in an adult education center. The installed lighting now allows people of all ages to study later into the evening. The illuminated school will also be available for evening community meetings and other village gatherings.

The in-country contact was mechanical engineering undergraduate Thierry Some, whose family lives in Burkina Faso. Accompanying Thierry was team leader and engineering graduate student Jason West, and co-leader Kana Matsui, a sophomore civil engineering student. Faculty advisors Jungho Kim and Elisabeth Smela from the mechanical engineering department accompanied the students as on the trip.

The main purpose of the trip projects in addition to installing the lights and solar panels was to assess and plan future development projects. The team also evaluated other villages to assess future needs, such as small garden irrigation, solar water pumping, and water sanitation projects. The team plans to return to Burkina Faso in January 2008.

Other campus Engineers Without Borders projects include improving water sanitation in Ecuador, advised by mechanical engineering faculty Elias Balaras; potable water and irrigation enhancements in Thailand, advised by civil engineering faculty Deborah Goodings; and the improvement of potable water availability in Brazil, a project advised by Peter Chang from civil engineering.

February 16, 2007


Prev   Next
"I got to see a broader view of what opportunities are available internationally as an engineer, that engineers, too, can be involved with humanitarian work."

- Kana Matsui, Civil & Environmental Engineering Sophomore



Current Headlines

Three UMD Students Receive SAMPE Leadership Awards

International Energy Cooperation Center Established at University of Maryland

Maryland Researchers Awarded $1.5 Million to Pioneer Batteries for Electric Rail and Maritime Transportation

Researcher’s Pacific Dive Spurred Innovations in Robotics with Machine Intelligence to Create Biodegradable Plastic Substitutes

UMD Professor and Alum Among 2024 VFS Awardees

Agents of Positive Change: Highlighting Women Maryland Engineers

Celebrating Women in Aerospace Engineering: Christine Hartzell

Batteries, Building Efficiency, and More: Innovating in Energy

News Resources

Return to Newsroom

Search News

Archived News

Events Resources

Events Calendar