what comes to mind when you think of engineering
maybe thought of building a bridge
maybe thought of building a bridge rocket ships or high-tech gadgets now
rocket ships or high-tech gadgets now
rocket ships or high-tech gadgets now consider what comes to mind when you
consider what comes to mind when you
consider what comes to mind when you think of humanitarian work maybe thought
think of humanitarian work maybe thought
think of humanitarian work maybe thought of cleaning up after a disaster
of cleaning up after a disaster
of cleaning up after a disaster volunteering at an orphanage for
volunteering at an orphanage for
volunteering at an orphanage for building schools in third-world
building schools in third-world
building schools in third-world countries my goal today is to merge your
countries my goal today is to merge your
countries my goal today is to merge your vision of engineering with your vision
vision of engineering with your vision
vision of engineering with your vision of International Development now putting
of International Development now putting
of International Development now putting these two seemingly unrelated concepts
these two seemingly unrelated concepts
these two seemingly unrelated concepts together is the birth of a new
together is the birth of a new
together is the birth of a new discipline which I call in development
discipline which I call in development
discipline which I call in development the integration of engineering into
the integration of engineering into
the integration of engineering into International Development as a
International Development as a
International Development as a mechanical engineer I could clearly see
mechanical engineer I could clearly see
mechanical engineer I could clearly see that there’s there’s a scarcity of
that there’s there’s a scarcity of
that there’s there’s a scarcity of people concerned about change
people concerned about change
people concerned about change development Paul Pollock in his book out
development Paul Pollock in his book out
development Paul Pollock in his book out of poverty points out that the world’s
of poverty points out that the world’s
of poverty points out that the world’s designers spend all their time working
designers spend all their time working
designers spend all their time working on the solutions to the problems of the
on the solutions to the problems of the
on the solutions to the problems of the richest 10% of the world’s customers a
richest 10% of the world’s customers a
richest 10% of the world’s customers a revolution in design is needed to
revolution in design is needed to
revolution in design is needed to reverse this silly ratio and reach the
reverse this silly ratio and reach the
reverse this silly ratio and reach the other 90%
we only innovate for the richest 10%
we only innovate for the richest 10% well think about what engineering and
well think about what engineering and
well think about what engineering and technology breakthroughs are making the
technology breakthroughs are making the
technology breakthroughs are making the headlines the newest smartphone
headlines the newest smartphone
headlines the newest smartphone self-driving cars and houses that can
self-driving cars and houses that can
self-driving cars and houses that can talk to you now don’t get me wrong these
talk to you now don’t get me wrong these
talk to you now don’t get me wrong these these technologies are great they
these technologies are great they
these technologies are great they accelerate our connectivity our mobility
accelerate our connectivity our mobility
accelerate our connectivity our mobility our access to information but what about
our access to information but what about
our access to information but what about the other 90% of the world’s customers
the other 90% of the world’s customers
the other 90% of the world’s customers many of them lack clean water and
many of them lack clean water and
many of them lack clean water and adequate food supply and basic
adequate food supply and basic
adequate food supply and basic sanitation let me talk about that last
sanitation let me talk about that last
sanitation let me talk about that last one basic sanitation in India more than
one basic sanitation in India more than
one basic sanitation in India more than a third of the population lacks access
a third of the population lacks access
a third of the population lacks access to a toilet meaning that millions of
to a toilet meaning that millions of
to a toilet meaning that millions of people do their business out in the open
people do their business out in the open
people do their business out in the open leaving them prone to a host of serious
leaving them prone to a host of serious
leaving them prone to a host of serious issues
issues
issues including serious disease and even
including serious disease and even
including serious disease and even sexual abuse in 2011 I went to India as
sexual abuse in 2011 I went to India as
sexual abuse in 2011 I went to India as a student engineer with a group of
a student engineer with a group of
a student engineer with a group of social entrepreneurs we introduced
social entrepreneurs we introduced
social entrepreneurs we introduced innovative toilets which break down
innovative toilets which break down
innovative toilets which break down waste using earthworms appropriately
waste using earthworms appropriately
waste using earthworms appropriately called SOI ‘let’s now these soil ‘it’s
called SOI ‘let’s now these soil ‘it’s
called SOI ‘let’s now these soil ‘it’s our match made in heaven for slums in
our match made in heaven for slums in
our match made in heaven for slums in India because many of these communities
India because many of these communities
India because many of these communities lack any type of sewer system so let’s
lack any type of sewer system so let’s
lack any type of sewer system so let’s are so cool they look just like normal
are so cool they look just like normal
are so cool they look just like normal toilets have virtually no smell they’re
toilets have virtually no smell they’re
toilets have virtually no smell they’re cheap to build and they even produce get
cheap to build and they even produce get
cheap to build and they even produce get this garden friendly fertilizer
this garden friendly fertilizer
this garden friendly fertilizer after weeks of networking with local aid
after weeks of networking with local aid
after weeks of networking with local aid organizations we finally found it an
organizations we finally found it an
organizations we finally found it an organization that would take on the so
organization that would take on the so
organization that would take on the so that project is their own the
that project is their own the
that project is their own the organization is called SAP ‘add and it’s
organization is called SAP ‘add and it’s
organization is called SAP ‘add and it’s run by seven women who spend all their
run by seven women who spend all their
run by seven women who spend all their efforts into developing slums in the
efforts into developing slums in the
efforts into developing slums in the outskirts of Hyderabad India we built
outskirts of Hyderabad India we built
outskirts of Hyderabad India we built seven soil it’s in these slums and they
seven soil it’s in these slums and they
seven soil it’s in these slums and they were successful because we trained local
were successful because we trained local
were successful because we trained local builders how to construct these eyelets
builders how to construct these eyelets
builders how to construct these eyelets and SAP it
and SAP it
and SAP it continue to implement the concept long
continue to implement the concept long
continue to implement the concept long after we left the country so I returned
after we left the country so I returned
after we left the country so I returned to India five years later I was
to India five years later I was
to India five years later I was pleasantly surprised to learn that these
pleasantly surprised to learn that these
pleasantly surprised to learn that these these seven soils had now become over
these seven soils had now become over
these seven soils had now become over 150 soil it’s
we like toilets yeah so it’s were
we like toilets yeah so it’s were sustainable because we the technical
sustainable because we the technical
sustainable because we the technical innovators were connected with a local
innovators were connected with a local
innovators were connected with a local organization this is in development the
organization this is in development the
organization this is in development the sort of project has given me the
sort of project has given me the
sort of project has given me the opportunity to network with some
opportunity to network with some
opportunity to network with some excellent in development engineers the
excellent in development engineers the
excellent in development engineers the soil was invented by an engineer in
soil was invented by an engineer in
soil was invented by an engineer in Ghana named quake you a know now quick
Ghana named quake you a know now quick
Ghana named quake you a know now quick you saw that sanitation in his local
you saw that sanitation in his local
you saw that sanitation in his local community had some serious issues many
community had some serious issues many
community had some serious issues many of these people had pit latrines which
of these people had pit latrines which
of these people had pit latrines which hadn’t had a unbearable stench and
hadn’t had a unbearable stench and
hadn’t had a unbearable stench and caused serious disease and water
caused serious disease and water
caused serious disease and water contamination but but quake you saw
contamination but but quake you saw
contamination but but quake you saw these problems as an opportunity for an
these problems as an opportunity for an
these problems as an opportunity for an engineering solution and even a business
engineering solution and even a business
engineering solution and even a business solution he he invented the toilet sand
solution he he invented the toilet sand
solution he he invented the toilet sand started a lucrative business from it he
started a lucrative business from it he
started a lucrative business from it he then passed the the concept onto Ana
then passed the the concept onto Ana
then passed the the concept onto Ana organization called help International
organization called help International
organization called help International and that’s where I took the baton my job
and that’s where I took the baton my job
and that’s where I took the baton my job as an in development student engineer
as an in development student engineer
as an in development student engineer was to take quake use design of the
was to take quake use design of the
was to take quake use design of the Soylent and redesign it for India quake
Soylent and redesign it for India quake
Soylent and redesign it for India quake use soil design had a rectangular box
use soil design had a rectangular box
use soil design had a rectangular box which allowed the liquid waste to drain
which allowed the liquid waste to drain
which allowed the liquid waste to drain in the ground while the solid waste was
in the ground while the solid waste was
in the ground while the solid waste was retained at the top to be devoured by
retained at the top to be devoured by
retained at the top to be devoured by the worms our first Indian soil it
the worms our first Indian soil it
the worms our first Indian soil it looked a lot like this one but I
looked a lot like this one but I
looked a lot like this one but I realized that we could drastically cut
realized that we could drastically cut
realized that we could drastically cut costs if we use more local materials
costs if we use more local materials
costs if we use more local materials like these concrete rings already
like these concrete rings already
like these concrete rings already manufactured in the slum sure enough my
manufactured in the slum sure enough my
manufactured in the slum sure enough my indianized soil it was a ninja velopment
indianized soil it was a ninja velopment
indianized soil it was a ninja velopment success and well the best part of this
success and well the best part of this
success and well the best part of this model is that no one is using it anymore
model is that no one is using it anymore
model is that no one is using it anymore and let me explain that
so back in 2011 at the end of our stay
so back in 2011 at the end of our stay in India we held the first ever Indian
in India we held the first ever Indian
in India we held the first ever Indian soil at conference to show-off soil it’s
soil at conference to show-off soil it’s
soil at conference to show-off soil it’s to haze posts of Indian aid
to haze posts of Indian aid
to haze posts of Indian aid organizations at this conference I met
organizations at this conference I met
organizations at this conference I met Dharma Rao the former chief engineer of
Dharma Rao the former chief engineer of
Dharma Rao the former chief engineer of the state of Andhra Pradesh
the state of Andhra Pradesh
the state of Andhra Pradesh when Dharma Rao saw these toilets he
when Dharma Rao saw these toilets he
when Dharma Rao saw these toilets he said these are great but I want to make
said these are great but I want to make
said these are great but I want to make them cheaper and easier to build and he
them cheaper and easier to build and he
them cheaper and easier to build and he did instead of using brick bathroom
did instead of using brick bathroom
did instead of using brick bathroom walls
walls
walls he used thin concrete panels and he
he used thin concrete panels and he
he used thin concrete panels and he didn’t use my concrete ring soil it
didn’t use my concrete ring soil it
didn’t use my concrete ring soil it design but he was able to accomplish the
design but he was able to accomplish the
design but he was able to accomplish the same wastewater filtering with the
same wastewater filtering with the
same wastewater filtering with the proven gravel pit design hundreds of
proven gravel pit design hundreds of
proven gravel pit design hundreds of these SOI ‘let’s have now been built and
these SOI ‘let’s have now been built and
these SOI ‘let’s have now been built and most recently the government of India
most recently the government of India
most recently the government of India has adopted the concept
I believe we need more quick you a nose
I believe we need more quick you a nose and Dar Morales in the world we need
and Dar Morales in the world we need
and Dar Morales in the world we need more quick you annals who see a problem
more quick you annals who see a problem
more quick you annals who see a problem in an underdeveloped community is an
in an underdeveloped community is an
in an underdeveloped community is an opportunity for an engineering
opportunity for an engineering
opportunity for an engineering innovation but we also need dar Morales
innovation but we also need dar Morales
innovation but we also need dar Morales we need people that see an invention and
we need people that see an invention and
we need people that see an invention and redesign it to make it more accessible
redesign it to make it more accessible
redesign it to make it more accessible and affordable for those in poverty
and affordable for those in poverty
and affordable for those in poverty these two engineers utilizes in
these two engineers utilizes in
these two engineers utilizes in development as they solve local problems
development as they solve local problems
development as they solve local problems with engineering solutions now with more
with engineering solutions now with more
with engineering solutions now with more connectivity and mobility than ever we
connectivity and mobility than ever we
connectivity and mobility than ever we don’t necessarily have to live in Ghana
don’t necessarily have to live in Ghana
don’t necessarily have to live in Ghana or India to be in development designers
or India to be in development designers
or India to be in development designers or engineers at the same time that
or engineers at the same time that
or engineers at the same time that doesn’t mean you could just look up a
doesn’t mean you could just look up a
doesn’t mean you could just look up a problem on the internet go and 3d print
problem on the internet go and 3d print
problem on the internet go and 3d print a solution and end global poverty that
a solution and end global poverty that
a solution and end global poverty that is not in development likewise many tech
is not in development likewise many tech
is not in development likewise many tech companies donate their computers or
companies donate their computers or
companies donate their computers or tractors to third-world countries just
tractors to third-world countries just
tractors to third-world countries just to find those machines unused misuse
to find those machines unused misuse
to find those machines unused misuse destroyed in filling up local landfills
destroyed in filling up local landfills
destroyed in filling up local landfills ultimately making things worse than they
ultimately making things worse than they
ultimately making things worse than they were before so why are these probably
were before so why are these probably
were before so why are these probably well-intentioned endeavors not in
well-intentioned endeavors not in
well-intentioned endeavors not in development well not only do they ignore
development well not only do they ignore
development well not only do they ignore the development side of in development
the development side of in development
the development side of in development but they also ignore the engineering
but they also ignore the engineering
but they also ignore the engineering side of in development they ignore good
side of in development they ignore good
side of in development they ignore good engineering practice just just like a
engineering practice just just like a
engineering practice just just like a bad Oh ring can destroy a space shuttle
bad Oh ring can destroy a space shuttle
bad Oh ring can destroy a space shuttle a poorly fitted invention in a
a poorly fitted invention in a
a poorly fitted invention in a third-world country can do more harm
third-world country can do more harm
third-world country can do more harm than good
than good
than good remember that the soil ‘it was
remember that the soil ‘it was
remember that the soil ‘it was successful as we were well connected to
successful as we were well connected to
successful as we were well connected to a local organization to understood the
a local organization to understood the
a local organization to understood the needs of the community much better than
needs of the community much better than
needs of the community much better than we did these people didn’t need
we did these people didn’t need
we did these people didn’t need computers or tractors they needed
computers or tractors they needed
computers or tractors they needed toilets in
toilets in
toilets in development is successful as technical
development is successful as technical
development is successful as technical innovators are connected with two local
innovators are connected with two local
innovators are connected with two local social entrepreneurs now you don’t have
social entrepreneurs now you don’t have
social entrepreneurs now you don’t have to be obsessed with toilets to be
to be obsessed with toilets to be
to be obsessed with toilets to be involved with in development if you
involved with in development if you
involved with in development if you haven’t noticed I’m a little obsessed
haven’t noticed I’m a little obsessed
haven’t noticed I’m a little obsessed with these soy ‘lets I may or may not
with these soy ‘lets I may or may not
with these soy ‘lets I may or may not bring up soil it’s on every first date
bring up soil it’s on every first date
bring up soil it’s on every first date I’m still single and now all of you get
I’m still single and now all of you get
I’m still single and now all of you get to join me right here on our first date
to join me right here on our first date
to join me right here on our first date talking about some of its
talking about some of its
talking about some of its congratulations but like I said you
congratulations but like I said you
congratulations but like I said you don’t have to be obsessed with toilets
don’t have to be obsessed with toilets
don’t have to be obsessed with toilets to be involved with in development there
to be involved with in development there
to be involved with in development there are other problems that need in
are other problems that need in
are other problems that need in development here are some problems some
development here are some problems some
development here are some problems some world problems in which the United
world problems in which the United
world problems in which the United Nations is currently looking for
Nations is currently looking for
Nations is currently looking for solutions one in nine people in the
solutions one in nine people in the
solutions one in nine people in the world are undernourished one in five
world are undernourished one in five
world are undernourished one in five live on less than a dollar twenty five a
live on less than a dollar twenty five a
live on less than a dollar twenty five a day two and five experience water
day two and five experience water
day two and five experience water scarcity now these are big problems
scarcity now these are big problems
scarcity now these are big problems which is great because without problems
which is great because without problems
which is great because without problems engineers wouldn’t have a job
engineers wouldn’t have a job
engineers wouldn’t have a job I’m excited to meet the quake you a nose
I’m excited to meet the quake you a nose
I’m excited to meet the quake you a nose and Dharma Rous who tackle world hunger
and Dharma Rous who tackle world hunger
and Dharma Rous who tackle world hunger extreme poverty and water scarcity the
extreme poverty and water scarcity the
extreme poverty and water scarcity the solutions to these problems
solutions to these problems
solutions to these problems may not have been invented yet but I’m
may not have been invented yet but I’m
may not have been invented yet but I’m excited because the innovators who solve
excited because the innovators who solve
excited because the innovators who solve these problems may be listening today
development organizations will continue
development organizations will continue to put forth their best efforts to help
to put forth their best efforts to help
to put forth their best efforts to help those in poverty engineers will continue
those in poverty engineers will continue
those in poverty engineers will continue to be the problem solvers and designers
to be the problem solvers and designers
to be the problem solvers and designers in society but unless more
in society but unless more
in society but unless more step forward and integrate these two
step forward and integrate these two
step forward and integrate these two fields will be missing out on a
fields will be missing out on a
fields will be missing out on a powerhouse resource something that could
powerhouse resource something that could
powerhouse resource something that could help not just millions but billions as
help not just millions but billions as
help not just millions but billions as the next generation of innovators
the next generation of innovators
the next generation of innovators looking to the future rather than
looking to the future rather than
looking to the future rather than focusing on the cool toys for the
focusing on the cool toys for the
focusing on the cool toys for the richest 10% if they want to have the
richest 10% if they want to have the
richest 10% if they want to have the greatest world impact they need to adopt
greatest world impact they need to adopt
greatest world impact they need to adopt principles of in development and start
principles of in development and start
principles of in development and start catering to the other 90% thank you
”
Be First to Comment