GSBI '11 Jeroen Verschelling of Kamworks discusses potential solar lantern innovations with EDW students.
The Frugal Innovation Lab distinguishes itself from the many national innovation programs by closely integrating the classroom curriculum with hands on work with our network of GSBI Alumni and Tech Award laureates. They learn the necessity of frugal innovation by analyzing the specific design constraints of an entrepreneurs engineering challenge. Partnerships built between social entrepreneurs and FIL students often continue beyond the classroom to become ongoing student research projects and senior design projects.
Engineering in Action
Student teams partner with GSBI'11 Social Entrepreneurs to create solutions for their BoP engineering challenges. The final projects included:
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One group of FIL students created an analysis tool for water purification technologies designed for Border Green Energy Team (BGET), to allow them to evaluate technologies based on cost, maintenance, simplicity, level of purification, etc. and choose the appropriate solution for the breadth of unique environments in which they work. This matrix has now been used to create a training guide for bio-sand filtration installations.
Left: Students at the Umphiem Refugee Camp learn to install the biosand filtration system recommended by the technology matrix created by FIL students.
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A team of FIL students designed a comprehensive cost/feasibility analysis of water telemetry technology, and three designs for cost-effective options for automated water pumps for Al Hammond's e-Health Points.
Left: E Health Points (EHP) provide families in rural villages with clean drinking water, medicines, comprehensive diagnostic tools, and advanced tele-medical services.
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FIL students designed a solar-powered heating system for a new chicken hatchery for Guirlaine Celius of Haiti Community Development. The new system will allow for simplified operation, minimal maintenance, high efficiency, and precise temperature control, which are all vital features to scaling Haiti Community Development's impact on Haiti's agricultural economy. A team of seniors continue this project through their senior design work, and plan to visit Haiti to collect specific project parameters.
Left: A Haitian chicken farmer tends to his chickens in his current chicken coop.
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