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Frugal Innovation Hub

Projects

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The Frugal Innovation Hub connects Santa Clara University students with organizations to solve real-world problems and implement humanitarian solutions.

Check out recent projects below!

  • prototype standalone
    General Engineering and BioEngineering, Senior Design 2022-2023
    Thermometer Servo Loop for Actuating Marine Permaculture

    We are prototyping and developing a control system for the Climate Foundation’s “Marine Permaculture” (MP) platforms in the Philippines designed for offshore seaweed cultivation. The Thermometer Servo Loop will sense and remotely communicate underwater temperature readings in real-time; consequently, the platform will change depth to consistently achieve optimal growing conditions.

    Students: Connor Grady, Mia Gabriele, Illan Vargas, Jeremiah Rufus

    Advisor: Dr. Jes Kuczenski (GENG), Dr. Prashanth Asuri (BIOE)


     

  • Computer Science and Engineering, Senior Design 2019-2020
    Computer Science and Engineering, Senior Design 2019-2020, Special Project 2020-2022
    GalápaGo!
     

    The GalápaGo! team teamed up with the Galapagos Chamber of Tourism to develop a tourist-friendly application that encourages visitors to explore local businesses, respect sustainability efforts, and learn social customs.

    Students: Kristina Andersen, Kat Hibbert, Mariah Manzano, Catrina Nguyen

    Advisor: Silvia Figueira PhD

    Grad students: Jilian Coveney, Junhan Deng, Abhilash Harish and Briana McGovern


     

  • NicaAgua
    Computer Science and Engineering, Senior Design 2010-2021, Special Project 2021-2023
    NicaAgua
     

    We have developed an app through which we plan to engage, educate, and learn from rural communities through climate science, social science methods, technology and the arts. A diverse and multidisciplinary team of faculty and students from Environmental Studies and Sciences, Engineering, the Frugal Innovation Hub, Art and Art History, and a Nicaraguan NGO is collaborating on this work. 

     

    Students: Alexa Grau, Justin Ling, Greta Setlz

    Advisor: Angela Musurlian

    Grad students: Abhilash Harish, Briana McGovern, Giuliano Silva Zanotti, Gautam  Chitnis 


     

  • OmwanaThrive application being deployed in Uganda
    Computer Science and Engineering, Senior Design 2019-2020
    OmwanaThrive: A Neonatal Mobile App

    Eighty-one babies within their first month of life die each day in Uganda. Developed in partnership with Rose Academies, OmwanaThrive is a mobile application for rural mothers that includes educational lessons with culturally relevant graphics and limited text, help with navigation to nearby clinics, and reminder messages about important healthcare checkup dates.*

    Students: Story DeWeese, Tiffany Lee, Samantha Sy, Emily Zhang
    College of Arts & Sciences Students: Tia Halsey, Hayley Seeno, Tatiana Valentine, Chloe Wong
    Advisors: Silvia Figueira PhD, Michele Parker PhD

    *Students could not deploy project on-site due to COVID-19.


     

  • Students and advisor installing Flomosys in San Jose, CA
    Computer Science and Engineering, Senior Design 2019-2020
    Flomosys: A Flood Monitoring System

    The goal of Flomosys 2.0 is to bring new features and functionality to Flomosys, the Flood Monitoring System of Silicon Valley. Flomosys 2.0 will implement multi-client support, dynamic frequency scaling, an overhauled web UI, and a novel low-power security algorithm.

    Students: Tai Groot
    Advisors: Behnam Dezfouli PhD


     

  • YouLearn mobile application
    Computer Science and Engineering, Senior Design 2019-2020
    YouLearn: Offline Media Streaming Application for Rural Uganda

    YouLearn is an offline media streaming application designed for rural areas that have limited access to electricity and the internet. It provides videos and other media to educate and empower impoverished communities using tools such as vocational training and public health information.

    Students: Emma Allegrucci, Jiabei Luo, Brianna McGovern
    Advisor: Silvia Figueira PhD

    *Students could not deploy project on-site due to COVID-19.


     

  • Hydroponics Garden team
    Interdisciplinary, Senior Design 2019-2020
    Hydroponics Garden in South African High School

    In partnership with LEAP School, our team has designed an adaptive hydroponics garden for use at a high school in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The garden system features two unique "grow beds" and utilizes an energy and water conscious design to produce a diverse blend of vegetables.

    Students: Alex Estrada, Andrew Feldmeth, Katya Fairchok, Andrew Jezak
    College of Arts & Sciences Students: Carson Edgerton, Claire Pavelka
    Advisors: Laura Doyle PhD, Hohyun Lee PhD, Michele Parker PhD

    *Students could not deploy project on-site due to COVID-19.


     

  • Sunny-Side Solutions team
    Mechanical Engineering, Senior Design 2019-2020
    Sunny-Side Solutions

    Sunny Side Solutions has partnered with Kenyan NGO, Sabore's Well, to design and build a solar-powered water heating system for a Maasai school shower for teachers to use on a daily basis, which will not only be relaxing, but will also encourage them to continue educating the next generation.

    Students: Adrienne Lee, Malonda McElwee, Jada Paddock, Jesus Reyes
    Advisor: Hohyun Lee PhD

    *Students could not deploy project on-site due to COVID-19.


     

  • Groundwater Irrigation Team
    Civil Engineering, Senior Design 2018-2019
    Design of a Groundwater Irrigation System for Sustainable Agriculture

    This project aims to design and build a replicable, sustainable irrigation system to help communities kickstart their agricultural economy. This system will allow villagers to grow crops such as cassava, okra, and squash during the dry season to help alleviate food insecurity while providing a source of income for farmers. See the video here.

    Students: Ciara Murphy, Ricky Matthews, Peter Koros
    Advisors: Edwin Maurer PhD, PE, Laura Doyle PhD


     

  • Image links to full content
    Bio Engineering, Senior Design 2017 - 2019
    Cervical Cancer Early Response Visual Identification System

    Our project aims to address the high rates of cervical cancer in the developing world. We are trying to develop a low-cost, minimally invasive, visual identification device that tests for bacterial changes in the vaginal microbiome as an indication of cervical cancer.

    Students: Ivy Fernandes, Evangelica Bouzos, Marina Predovic, Alyssa Miawotoe, Lea Daran, Christina Kraus, Claire Hultquist, Hallie McNamara, Julia Lanoha, Rosie McDonagh, Mason Seely, Dave Heil, Nicola Gerbino
    Advisors: Prashanth Asuri PhD, Michele Parker PhD, Craig Stephens PhD

     
  • Pedal4Purification Team
    Mechanical Engineering, Senior Design 2018-2019
    Pedal 4 Purification

    Pedal 4 Purification is a universally adaptable water purification and transportation system optimizing the centripetal pedal force of a bicycle. Partnering with Maya Pedal Guatemala, a non-profit organization focused around helping those in need to gain access to potable drinking water while promoting community involvement of women and children. See the video here.

    Students: Coleton Rodd, Matt Lograsso, Cory Yamagata, Jonathon Keyes
    Advisor: Gaetano Restivo PhD


     

  • Image links to full content
    Engineering Without Borders at SCU

    At EWB, we support community-driven development by implementing sustainable, user-centric solutions to solve pressing challenges both locally and abroad. Our members are the next generation of responsible, humanitarian engineering leaders. We empower technically competent, empathetic, and ethical engineering leaders.

    To learn more, visit our website : www.ewbscu.com


     

Humanitarian Award Winners

This award is given by the Frugal Innovation Hub to Senior Design projects with the most social impact.

FIH Humanitarian Award 2022 photo

(2022) Wage Wizard

Students: Kyle Felip Mondina, Jack Davey, Brett Rimmer

Advisors: Dr. Silvia Figueira

A geolocation-based mobile application that relies on on-device geofencing to automatically record hours spent at a workplace, generate and store logs of work sessions and expected payments, as well as provide access to relevant, reliable, and comprehensible wage theft resources. The mobile application was developed in close communication and collaboration with workers from the local community in order to better grasp the issue of wage theft as well as capture the project’s requirements.

 

Students: Nicholas Buccino, Kyle Uyehara, Jay Weber

College of Arts & Sciences Students: Carson Edgerton, Claire Pavelka

Advisors: Dr. Jessica Kuczenski

In partnership with the City of Santa Clara Community Gardens, the Garden Composting Device team has designed a device that removes much of the manual labor associated with conventional composting methods and educates the community about the benefits of growing local produce.

Students: Alex Estrada, Andrew Feldmeth, Katya Fairchok, Andrew Jezak

College of Arts & Sciences Students: Carson Edgerton, Claire Pavelka

Advisors: Dr. Laura Doyle, Dr. Hohyun Lee, Dr. Michele Parker 

In partnership with LEAP School, the Hydroponics Garden team has designed an adaptive hydroponics garden for use at a high school in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

Students: Jonathan Keyes, Matthew LoGrasso, Coleton Rodd, Cory Yamagata

Advisors: Dr. Gaetano Restivo, Dr. Walter Yuen

Pedal 4 Purification is a universally adaptable water purification and transportation system optimizing the centripetal pedal force of a bicycle developed in partnership with Maya Pedal Guatemala. 

Students: Cristina Whitworth, Lauren Oliver

Advisor: Dr. Laura Doyle 

The project entailed developing an integrated farming system that includes crops, fish, and poultry that would allow grassroots women to produce food products for both consumption and sale.

Students: Nina Morrison, Samantha O’Connor, and Callie Weber

Advisors: Dr. Unyoung (Ashley) Kim and Dr. Michele Parker

This team designed a low-cost paper-based sensor to detect the presence of E. coli in human breast milk donated to breast milk banks. Their aim is to ensure post-pasteurization safety in developing countries, where traditional lab culturing methods are unavailable.

Students: Jacob Leatherberry and Nicolas Metails

Advisors: Dr. Timothy Healy and Father James Reites, S.J.

97% of the 1.3 billion people who still do not have access to electricity live in Sub-Saharan Africa. To help solve this problem, our team designed and installed a solar microgrid for 133 people living in Alafiarou, Benin, so that they may see in the dark and charge their phones.

Students: Greg O'Neill and Jonathan Tadros

Advisors: Dr. Mark Aschheim and Dr. Tonya Nilsson

This project researched Arundo donax - a type of giant, perennial cane plant - to examine its use as a viable structural building material.  Used alongside other traditional building methods, this material may offer new technologies for housing in developing countries.

Students: John Miller, Tara Pozzi, and Caroline Ruwe

Advisor: Dr. Steve Chiesa

This project includes the design of a gravity-fed water delivery and distribution system for a 12-acre farm.  The farm will be used by the Homeless Garden Project, a nonprofit organization geared toward helping the homeless in Santa Cruz, California.

Contact Us

Email: fih@scu.edu

Santa Clara University
School of Engineering
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053

Sobrato Discovery, Bldg. 402
Research Lab No. - 4021

(408) 554-2334

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