[Music] developing countries what comes to mind
developing countries what comes to mind
developing countries what comes to mind when you hear the term developing
when you hear the term developing
when you hear the term developing countries you’ve likely heard it a lot
countries you’ve likely heard it a lot
countries you’ve likely heard it a lot it’s been the topic of over a hundred
it’s been the topic of over a hundred
it’s been the topic of over a hundred thousand news articles and nearly as
thousand news articles and nearly as
thousand news articles and nearly as many YouTube videos just within the past
many YouTube videos just within the past
many YouTube videos just within the past year while there is no universal
year while there is no universal
year while there is no universal definition developing countries are
definition developing countries are
definition developing countries are simply countries that have much less
simply countries that have much less
simply countries that have much less money than other more developed
money than other more developed
money than other more developed countries the term also implies a
countries the term also implies a
countries the term also implies a country’s desire to improve its economic
country’s desire to improve its economic
country’s desire to improve its economic and social status now frequently
and social status now frequently
and social status now frequently developing countries aren’t considered
developing countries aren’t considered
developing countries aren’t considered much more than just by this simple
much more than just by this simple
much more than just by this simple definition but what about the details
definition but what about the details
definition but what about the details what do you really know about developing
what do you really know about developing
what do you really know about developing countries and the people that live there
countries and the people that live there
countries and the people that live there what are their lives like particularly
what are their lives like particularly
what are their lives like particularly those of the disadvantaged in the poor
those of the disadvantaged in the poor
those of the disadvantaged in the poor so this might be the typical image that
so this might be the typical image that
so this might be the typical image that comes to mind when you think of a
comes to mind when you think of a
comes to mind when you think of a developing country a community with dirt
developing country a community with dirt
developing country a community with dirt roads people without shoes little
roads people without shoes little
roads people without shoes little education polluted water diseases these
education polluted water diseases these
education polluted water diseases these places do exist there’s much more to
places do exist there’s much more to
places do exist there’s much more to them than just our shallow perception of
them than just our shallow perception of
them than just our shallow perception of them developing countries are as complex
them developing countries are as complex
them developing countries are as complex and nuanced as any other country with
and nuanced as any other country with
and nuanced as any other country with urban and rural areas rich and poor
urban and rural areas rich and poor
urban and rural areas rich and poor people educated and uneducated various
people educated and uneducated various
people educated and uneducated various cultural traditions the richest can live
cultural traditions the richest can live
cultural traditions the richest can live in luxury that surpasses that available
in luxury that surpasses that available
in luxury that surpasses that available here in the States
here in the States
here in the States well the poorest are forced to live on
well the poorest are forced to live on
well the poorest are forced to live on less than $2 per day and struggle
less than $2 per day and struggle
less than $2 per day and struggle meeting their basic needs take a minute
meeting their basic needs take a minute
meeting their basic needs take a minute to try to imagine having only $2 per day
to try to imagine having only $2 per day
to try to imagine having only $2 per day to spend on everything you need to
to spend on everything you need to
to spend on everything you need to survive your housing food water clothing
survive your housing food water clothing
survive your housing food water clothing medical care transportation it’s
medical care transportation it’s
medical care transportation it’s honestly really difficult to imagine but
honestly really difficult to imagine but
honestly really difficult to imagine but more than 700 million people around the
more than 700 million people around the
more than 700 million people around the world that’s twice the population of the
world that’s twice the population of the
world that’s twice the population of the United States or one in ten people
United States or one in ten people
United States or one in ten people around the world are forced to live in
around the world are forced to live in
around the world are forced to live in this type of poverty every day what
this type of poverty every day what
this type of poverty every day what would you do if you couldn’t buy basic
would you do if you couldn’t buy basic
would you do if you couldn’t buy basic medications or didn’t have any access to
medications or didn’t have any access to
medications or didn’t have any access to medical care at all how would your life
medical care at all how would your life
medical care at all how would your life be different if you had to spend four
be different if you had to spend four
be different if you had to spend four hours of every day just to bring home
hours of every day just to bring home
hours of every day just to bring home water for your family to drink and cook
water for your family to drink and cook
water for your family to drink and cook with what would it be like to live in a
with what would it be like to live in a
with what would it be like to live in a one-room house with dirt floors mud
one-room house with dirt floors mud
one-room house with dirt floors mud walls
walls
walls that’s troof with your four other family
that’s troof with your four other family
that’s troof with your four other family members learning about the problems of
members learning about the problems of
members learning about the problems of the extreme porn our world sparked my
the extreme porn our world sparked my
the extreme porn our world sparked my recognition of my own extreme privilege
recognition of my own extreme privilege
recognition of my own extreme privilege and started me on an adventure that
and started me on an adventure that
and started me on an adventure that redirected my career and the goals for
redirected my career and the goals for
redirected my career and the goals for my life after earning my bachelor’s and
my life after earning my bachelor’s and
my life after earning my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical
master’s degrees in mechanical
master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of
engineering from the University of
engineering from the University of California San Diego developing
California San Diego developing
California San Diego developing countries weren’t really on my radar so
countries weren’t really on my radar so
countries weren’t really on my radar so I did what most mechanical engineers do
I did what most mechanical engineers do
I did what most mechanical engineers do and took a typical mechanical
and took a typical mechanical
and took a typical mechanical engineering position working in
engineering position working in
engineering position working in aerospace on the predator sea aircraft a
aerospace on the predator sea aircraft a
aerospace on the predator sea aircraft a prototype stealth bomber drone as you
prototype stealth bomber drone as you
prototype stealth bomber drone as you might imagine I remember thinking wow
might imagine I remember thinking wow
might imagine I remember thinking wow this is so awesome
this is so awesome
this is so awesome mechanical design flight testing working
mechanical design flight testing working
mechanical design flight testing working to protect my country good money and
to protect my country good money and
to protect my country good money and prestige it was all I ever really wanted
prestige it was all I ever really wanted
prestige it was all I ever really wanted but the euphoria soon wore off and I
but the euphoria soon wore off and I
but the euphoria soon wore off and I realized that working in defense wasn’t
realized that working in defense wasn’t
realized that working in defense wasn’t for me I really wanted to work on
for me I really wanted to work on
for me I really wanted to work on engineering projects that provided
engineering projects that provided
engineering projects that provided direct positive benefits to our world
direct positive benefits to our world
direct positive benefits to our world so after moving on from that job and
so after moving on from that job and
so after moving on from that job and working as a mechanical engineer and a
working as a mechanical engineer and a
working as a mechanical engineer and a few other companies and earning my
few other companies and earning my
few other companies and earning my professional engineering license I
professional engineering license I
professional engineering license I stumbled upon engineers Without Borders
stumbled upon engineers Without Borders
stumbled upon engineers Without Borders an international development
an international development
an international development organization that works with developing
organization that works with developing
organization that works with developing communities to help them bring
communities to help them bring
communities to help them bring themselves out of poverty in short
themselves out of poverty in short
themselves out of poverty in short developing communities tell us what they
developing communities tell us what they
developing communities tell us what they need to improve their lives such as
need to improve their lives such as
need to improve their lives such as housing clean water toilets and we work
housing clean water toilets and we work
housing clean water toilets and we work with them to help them accomplish those
with them to help them accomplish those
with them to help them accomplish those goals the goal of the project I started
goals the goal of the project I started
goals the goal of the project I started working on was to provide clean drinking
working on was to provide clean drinking
working on was to provide clean drinking water to a community of 44,000 people in
water to a community of 44,000 people in
water to a community of 44,000 people in rural India that had been devastated by
rural India that had been devastated by
rural India that had been devastated by the famous 2004 tsunami that affected
the famous 2004 tsunami that affected
the famous 2004 tsunami that affected much of southern Asia overall I found my
much of southern Asia overall I found my
much of southern Asia overall I found my engineering skills and experience to be
engineering skills and experience to be
engineering skills and experience to be more than adequate for the technical
more than adequate for the technical
more than adequate for the technical side of this project pumps piping
side of this project pumps piping
side of this project pumps piping building design these things I knew
building design these things I knew
building design these things I knew really well but I soon found out that
really well but I soon found out that
really well but I soon found out that there was much more to this project than
there was much more to this project than
there was much more to this project than just the engineering the water treatment
just the engineering the water treatment
just the engineering the water treatment system we constructed had to fit within
system we constructed had to fit within
system we constructed had to fit within the society and culture of this
the society and culture of this
the society and culture of this community and be operated and maintained
community and be operated and maintained
community and be operated and maintained by these people over the next few
by these people over the next few
by these people over the next few decades and this was no easy task
decades and this was no easy task
decades and this was no easy task how shall we design this system to fit
how shall we design this system to fit
how shall we design this system to fit within this community and take advantage
within this community and take advantage
within this community and take advantage of their innate strengths
of their innate strengths
of their innate strengths in short how should we design the right
in short how should we design the right
in short how should we design the right system for them and not just engineer
system for them and not just engineer
system for them and not just engineer the system right
the system right
the system right this human sided development and the
this human sided development and the
this human sided development and the creativity it requires are known in
creativity it requires are known in
creativity it requires are known in development to be critical to project
development to be critical to project
development to be critical to project success if we didn’t address these
success if we didn’t address these
success if we didn’t address these issues there water treatment system
issues there water treatment system
issues there water treatment system would likely fail soon after it was
would likely fail soon after it was
would likely fail soon after it was constructed now the characteristics of
constructed now the characteristics of
constructed now the characteristics of the community we needed to understand
the community we needed to understand
the community we needed to understand included their education incomes
included their education incomes
included their education incomes preferences aspirations culture religion
preferences aspirations culture religion
preferences aspirations culture religion social structure just to name a few and
social structure just to name a few and
social structure just to name a few and understanding these things helped us
understanding these things helped us
understanding these things helped us design and select certain parts of the
design and select certain parts of the
design and select certain parts of the water treatment system such as we’re to
water treatment system such as we’re to
water treatment system such as we’re to locate it within the community how
locate it within the community how
locate it within the community how people would access the clean water and
people would access the clean water and
people would access the clean water and how much to charge for the clean water
how much to charge for the clean water
how much to charge for the clean water one of the ways we describe these
one of the ways we describe these
one of the ways we describe these aspects of the community or household
aspects of the community or household
aspects of the community or household interviews so during the project we were
interviews so during the project we were
interviews so during the project we were invited into over fifty households where
invited into over fifty households where
invited into over fifty households where we were able to ask structured questions
we were able to ask structured questions
we were able to ask structured questions of community members to help us design
of community members to help us design
of community members to help us design their water treatment system but more
their water treatment system but more
their water treatment system but more importantly this gave us a lot of face
importantly this gave us a lot of face
importantly this gave us a lot of face time with the community so that we could
time with the community so that we could
time with the community so that we could really understand their perspective and
really understand their perspective and
really understand their perspective and their problems and the resulting rapport
their problems and the resulting rapport
their problems and the resulting rapport and trust that we built with them over
and trust that we built with them over
and trust that we built with them over over the years of this project improved
over the years of this project improved
over the years of this project improved to be critical to the project success
to be critical to the project success
to be critical to the project success additionally these household interviews
additionally these household interviews
additionally these household interviews gave us a lot gave the community members
gave us a lot gave the community members
gave us a lot gave the community members the opportunity to thank us
the opportunity to thank us
the opportunity to thank us sometimes by singing or with flowers
sometimes by singing or with flowers
sometimes by singing or with flowers which were really special experiences
which were really special experiences
which were really special experiences unfortunately my engineering skills and
unfortunately my engineering skills and
unfortunately my engineering skills and experience really left me feeling out of
experience really left me feeling out of
experience really left me feeling out of my element when addressing these aspects
my element when addressing these aspects
my element when addressing these aspects of the project I really had to study up
of the project I really had to study up
of the project I really had to study up to get good at this human side of
to get good at this human side of
to get good at this human side of development
development
development I learned that talking with community
I learned that talking with community
I learned that talking with community members and in discussing solutions to
members and in discussing solutions to
members and in discussing solutions to their problems were the keys to success
their problems were the keys to success
their problems were the keys to success as the famous development practitioner
as the famous development practitioner
as the famous development practitioner Paul Pollock once said I have learned
Paul Pollock once said I have learned
Paul Pollock once said I have learned more from talking with these poor
more from talking with these poor
more from talking with these poor farmers than from any other thing I’ve
farmers than from any other thing I’ve
farmers than from any other thing I’ve done in my life I totally agree him and
done in my life I totally agree him and
done in my life I totally agree him and it is just that simple listen and
it is just that simple listen and
it is just that simple listen and communicate with the poor to help them
communicate with the poor to help them
communicate with the poor to help them solve their problems that engineers
solve their problems that engineers
solve their problems that engineers Without Borders project and the two
Without Borders project and the two
Without Borders project and the two others I’ve started since then one
others I’ve started since then one
others I’ve started since then one constructing 32 permanent houses in the
constructing 32 permanent houses in the
constructing 32 permanent houses in the same community and another building
same community and another building
same community and another building another water treatment system in
another water treatment system in
another water treatment system in another community have allowed my team
another community have allowed my team
another community have allowed my team and I
and I
and I to improve the lives of over 1,000
to improve the lives of over 1,000
to improve the lives of over 1,000 people in rural India while also gaining
people in rural India while also gaining
people in rural India while also gaining a lot of experience in development
a lot of experience in development
a lot of experience in development ourselves particularly in that human
ourselves particularly in that human
ourselves particularly in that human side of development now currently I’m
side of development now currently I’m
side of development now currently I’m continuing my study of the human sided
continuing my study of the human sided
continuing my study of the human sided development by pursuing my PhD in civil
development by pursuing my PhD in civil
development by pursuing my PhD in civil systems engineering at the University of
systems engineering at the University of
systems engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder
Colorado Boulder
Colorado Boulder while my research is just getting
while my research is just getting
while my research is just getting started I plan to investigate how human
started I plan to investigate how human
started I plan to investigate how human behavior affects sanitation
behavior affects sanitation
behavior affects sanitation infrastructure in the rural communities
infrastructure in the rural communities
infrastructure in the rural communities of Southeast Asia
of Southeast Asia
of Southeast Asia my perspective on development to date
my perspective on development to date
my perspective on development to date has primarily been at the community
has primarily been at the community
has primarily been at the community level seeing firsthand what the poor
level seeing firsthand what the poor
level seeing firsthand what the poor must deal with on a day to day basis but
must deal with on a day to day basis but
must deal with on a day to day basis but the global perspective paints the truer
the global perspective paints the truer
the global perspective paints the truer picture with over 700 million people
picture with over 700 million people
picture with over 700 million people living in poverty and billions lacking
living in poverty and billions lacking
living in poverty and billions lacking access to basic infrastructure like
access to basic infrastructure like
access to basic infrastructure like housing clean water and sanitation
housing clean water and sanitation
housing clean water and sanitation services it’s clear that there’s a lot
services it’s clear that there’s a lot
services it’s clear that there’s a lot of work left to do before getting into
of work left to do before getting into
of work left to do before getting into this line of work I knew little about
this line of work I knew little about
this line of work I knew little about poverty or its scope and everyone around
poverty or its scope and everyone around
poverty or its scope and everyone around me seemed to know about as little as I
me seemed to know about as little as I
me seemed to know about as little as I did but now it’s obvious to me that
did but now it’s obvious to me that
did but now it’s obvious to me that eliminating poverty in our world is one
eliminating poverty in our world is one
eliminating poverty in our world is one of the biggest challenges of all time
of the biggest challenges of all time
of the biggest challenges of all time and it’s something that really should be
and it’s something that really should be
and it’s something that really should be tackled by all of us for me I plan to
tackled by all of us for me I plan to
tackled by all of us for me I plan to continue my work in development and plan
continue my work in development and plan
continue my work in development and plan to teach at schools and universities
to teach at schools and universities
to teach at schools and universities about engineering and the human sided
about engineering and the human sided
about engineering and the human sided development my goal is that my students
development my goal is that my students
development my goal is that my students will learn about poverty and understand
will learn about poverty and understand
will learn about poverty and understand its scope in the hopes that they will
its scope in the hopes that they will
its scope in the hopes that they will also choose to work to improve the lives
also choose to work to improve the lives
also choose to work to improve the lives of the poor so I’d like to take this
of the poor so I’d like to take this
of the poor so I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you all to take
opportunity to invite you all to take
opportunity to invite you all to take your own steps to help eliminate poverty
your own steps to help eliminate poverty
your own steps to help eliminate poverty in our world start by learning about
in our world start by learning about
in our world start by learning about developing communities and the people
developing communities and the people
developing communities and the people that live there and if you can visit
that live there and if you can visit
that live there and if you can visit them seeing and hearing firsthand from
them seeing and hearing firsthand from
them seeing and hearing firsthand from the poor about their lives will
the poor about their lives will
the poor about their lives will certainly change your perspective if
certainly change your perspective if
certainly change your perspective if your student know that your skills
your student know that your skills
your student know that your skills eagerness and perseverance can improve
eagerness and perseverance can improve
eagerness and perseverance can improve the lives of others particularly when
the lives of others particularly when
the lives of others particularly when applied in developing communities for US
applied in developing communities for US
applied in developing communities for US adults I know that changing careers
adults I know that changing careers
adults I know that changing careers isn’t in the cards for most but sharing
isn’t in the cards for most but sharing
isn’t in the cards for most but sharing our extreme privilege by supporting
our extreme privilege by supporting
our extreme privilege by supporting development organizations like UNICEF
development organizations like UNICEF
development organizations like UNICEF IDE or Save the Children can make a
IDE or Save the Children can make a
IDE or Save the Children can make a really big impact
really big impact
really big impact they really do great work around the
they really do great work around the
they really do great work around the world and magnify your donation by
world and magnify your donation by
world and magnify your donation by investing in what developing communities
investing in what developing communities
investing in what developing communities need most
need most
need most so with little perspective and a touch
so with little perspective and a touch
so with little perspective and a touch of empathy each of us has the power to
of empathy each of us has the power to
of empathy each of us has the power to help the poor of developing communities
help the poor of developing communities
help the poor of developing communities rise from poverty and give them the gift
rise from poverty and give them the gift
rise from poverty and give them the gift of a healthy and happy life thank you
of a healthy and happy life thank you
of a healthy and happy life thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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