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April, 2007 - Newsletter and Meeting Notice |
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Next General Chapter
Meeting:
Our next chapter will meeting will be Wednesday, April 11th at 7:00p at Rice University in Room 253 of the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, which is Building 46 on the map. Agenda: 7:00 to 7:30 pm: Chapter Updates 7:30 to 8:30 pm: Breakout Sessions UPCOMING EVENTS
April 12th-14th: EWB-USA International Conference at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. Register here. April 15th: FUNDRAISER: Attend a comedy show at the Comedy Showcase for $10 and 100% of the admission fee supports our projects! April 17th and 18th: Poster session: Integrated Technology Solutions to Advance Global Health symposium at Rice University May: AnnMarie presents to Environmental Protection Agency in Atlanta. May 9th: Next general chapter meeting May 24th: Professional Development Seminar on Urban Planning June 9th: EWB Training Workshop on Public Health and Conducting Health Surveys The Real World by Urvi Kapadia
Why does it seem that growing up is often followed closely by an unshakeable shadow of growing cynicism? That passion and visions of a better humanity become equated with idealism and futile battles against corporate giants and corrupt governments? As a recent college graduate and now an employee of one of these so-called “corporate giants” in the “real world,” I found myself confronted with a number of transitions in the past year when the growing up curve went from comfortably linear to abruptly exponential. I went from sleepless nights in the chemical engineering lab at Rice University to eight solid hours in an office and a bedtime hardly conducive to much of a social life, problem sets and exams to presentations and million dollar projects, and a wardrobe of sweatpants and flip-flops to business casual wear and high heels... But I think the most challenging part of this journey is a struggle to reconcile the engineering career I chose in Corporate America with that seemingly jaded vision to serve developing communities. I cannot help but wonder: Does an engineering career in the corporate world have a place in those visions and conversely, are those visions obsolete in the cynical corporate world? I want to believe that we live in a time and society in which the idea that these choices are compatible and achievable together is not dismissed as hopelessly impractical. But then, who doesn't, right? For some, a world in which their children pass through the most esteemed schools and then successfully forge paths in any career they choose is a sufficiently habitable world. For some, it's a world in which their children are never forced to feel the unforgiving weight of a gun in their hands. For the community members of El Panama in Nicaragua, where I had the privilege of serving and leading a Rice EWB team, for starters, it's a world in which their children have clean water and access to school on the opposite bank of a flooded gorge during the rains. Now here was a place where I could begin. Well, between our Saturday afternoons spent designing a rainwater catchment system and the community members' seasoned expertise in improvisation and construction, El Panama's children have the first achievement – clean water – and the team from which I have since graduated is now working on the second – a bridge across their flooded gorge. After graduating from Rice, I joined the professional Houston based chapter of EWB and a project to implement housing, water and washing stations, and sanitation systems in Sri Rama Pattapu Palem, a community in India that suffered the tsunami in recent years. The goal is much the same: affect change and improve lives. So whether I was contemplating an engineering career from within the college bubble or practicing one from within a corporate giant, EWB has remained a constant and invaluable experience. And although I certainly haven't answered all my own questions, I have found that there may be a way to reaffirm my visions of serving developing communities with the help of a career in engineering and an organization like EWB.
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EL SALVADOR
The Colonia Esmeralda community well project has been successfully completed. With support from several Rotary Clubs, an 80 meter deep, professionally drilled well was finalized in December 2006. This well replaced the community's previous, 37 meter deep hand dug well that ran dry during the past dry season. The new well has been successfully providing water to the community for several months. The results of a second set of water testing confirmed our previous assessment that the new well water is safe to drink. We are currently generating final reports on the project as all implementation work is now successfully complete. |
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INDIA
The SRPP Housing Reconstruction project team has been making much progress in completing the final architectural and structural design drawings for construction of the houses. Details for the rainwater catchment design and the sanitation facilities design will be incorporated into these drawings as they are finalized. The rainwater catchment system will collect water from flat concrete roofs as well as porch roofs made of bamboo material, and the water conveyance will rely on gutters and PVC pipes. The sanitation facilities will include a washing (bathing area) and a water closet located adjacent to the main house rooms (with separate access), and the toilet will make use of manual flushing. Design work on the Water Stations is ongoing, with presentation to the TAC planned for April. The Water Stations will rely on solar power to pump groundwater for storage and daily use, and it will also include rainwater catchment for periods of intense rainfall. Team members plan to start traveling to the project site in India beginning in April of 2007. For more information on the India projects, please contact the project managers AnnMarie Spexet, PE (aspexet@gmail.com) or Guo-Pin Fuan, PE (gpfuan1@sbcglobal.net). |
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BOLIVIA The Bolivia project is now preparing an implementation trip for late July - early August. The main goal of this implementation trip will be to conduct health surveys in order to establish a baseline for impact of the water project. Another trip objective is to establish a deeper commitment with the communities by providing them an opportunity to comment on the proposed design and become invested in the project goals. The team will spend time prior to and during the trip on improving the geological information on the area before beginning the drilling portion of the project. As always volunteers, especially those with water well drilling experience, are always welcome on the project team. Please contact project team leader Marcos Flores with any questions. |
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EL SALVADOR
The Tiembla Tierra and Santa Carlota pipeline project is underway. All of our documentation is available here. Our team meets every other Saturday near 610 and San Felipe with a supporting telecon. Our next team meeting is April 14th at 11am. Email Erin Lyons (erinklyons@gmail.com) and Sara Beck (sbeck@ewbhouston.org) if you're interested in participating.
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TEXAS A&M ENGINEERING ETHICS Earlier this month, Texas A&M invited us to present to their Engineering Ethics class. Sara Beck was a guest lecturer and our chapter received a $1000 Honorarium from the Bovay Endowment. Thank you Harry Bovay & Texas A&M! Traveller Needed! The EWB-Rice Nicaragua Health Clinic team is seeking one person willing to travel to Nicaragua between May 5th and May 13th. The team will be constructing a straw bale health clinic during the month of May. Per Rice University rules, they must have a professional accompanying them during the trip, but they have not found a professional willing to travel during the dates specified. If you are able to travel during that time, please contact Deepa Panchang. Travel expenses will be covered. |
DONATE!!
Like all EWB projects, our projects are completely financed by donations. All donations are tax deductible. You may contribute mail or use the internet at your convenience. To donate by internet, go here. To donate by check or money order: Address to EWB-USA, but write “Central Houston Professionals” in the memo field. Send your donation to: Engineers without Borders –
USA
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**To subscribe to or unsubscribe from this email list, email Pauravi Shah (pauravi@alum.mit.edu) EWB-USA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization that partners with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life, while involving and training internationally responsible engineering students and professionals. |
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