海角社区 Engineering Students Offer Solutions to Honduran Problems
April 7, 2014 | 海角社区 Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
Engineers are problem solvers, offering solutions to better people鈥檚 lives. 海角社区 engineers are assessing issues not just in Baton Rouge, but across the world.
Four 海角社区 students, who are members of the 海角社区 Student Chapter of Engineers Without Borders - USA (EWB), and one faculty member traveled to Honduras in January to unite with Universidad Tecnol贸gica Centroamericana (UNITEC) students to observe water quality, waste treatment, infrastructure and ecotourism problems in Omoa, San Pedro Sula, San Pedro Zacapa and La Ceiba.
鈥淲e had a chance to see a full spectrum of potential projects, everywhere from water potability to hydroelectric plants, that we have reduced to a small group of target projects,鈥� said Zachary Faircloth, electrical engineering sophomore.
The 海角社区 EWB students paired with Honduran UNITEC engineering students to tour areas of the country in need of engineering solutions. After observing multiple sites, 海角社区 Engineers Without Borders Adviser Steven Hall, P.E., said water potability and waste management should be addressed.
鈥淲ater quality needs to be improved for good potable water to local villages,鈥� said Hall. 鈥淎 well-planned distribution system would minimize waste and maximize effectiveness.鈥�
In San Pedro Zacapa, 鈥渨ater sources were polluted with mineral sources nearby,鈥� said Faircloth. The makeshift pipes strung downhill from a river to supply the water to locals.
鈥淭he pipes and their location present the risk of drinking contaminated water,鈥� said Michelle Galindo, biological engineering sophomore. 鈥淲ithout potable water, community members can suffer from illness. Our plan would be to first design a better water supply and distribution system.鈥�
Perhaps the greatest community need was an improved waste management program. Locals dump their trash in a field with no method of removing it safely. It grows larger every day, Galindo said.
鈥淭hey had attempted to alleviate the pollution by burning the trash, but that only further polluted the air,鈥� said Faircloth.
Mechanical engineering senior Courtney Irwin explained the trash presence had a significant impact on the team.
鈥淪eeing the trash dump in Zacapa was a very sobering moment for the team,鈥� Irwin said. 鈥淗ere in the U.S. most of our problems are generally more hidden, but the problems in developing communities are so prevalent and apparent nearly every where you go.鈥�
Hall said Hondurans have access to advanced technology, but many don鈥檛 receive clean water.
鈥淲e often take for granted clean water, waste treatment, decent infrastructure, safety aspects and decent roads and bridges,鈥� Hall said. 鈥� 鈥淚ronically, people in Honduras have cell phones but many die of health issues related to water quality or waste treatment.鈥�
The purpose of the trip was to visit sites in order to create practical solutions for the local people.
鈥淲e can now brainstorm and decide which site would be the most feasible for our team, but I think something else we accomplished was developing a relationship with the communities we visited,鈥� Galindo said.
Galindo, a Honduran-American, was the team鈥檚 designated translator, and she was excited to use her communication and language skills in addition to her engineering knowledge.
鈥淎s the team鈥檚 designated Spanish speaker, I had to speak a lot more than I usually do. It was intimidating at first, but communicating with the community members was our priority,鈥� Galindo said.
Manuel Bermudez, a Honduran UNITEC civil engineer who worked with the 海角社区 students, said the only barrier these projects had in the past involved technical support. The town of La Ceiba had financial support, but lacked technical designs for water supply.
鈥淚f we can get a partnership with them, the project can be a reality,鈥� Bermudez said. 鈥淭here are many problems that can be solved by creative solutions. This shows us that engineering has a great impact in the development of a community.鈥�
Bermudez commented on how the 海角社区 engineers were perceptive and actively listened to the locals to grasp a detailed understanding of the problems. All agreed that the acceptance of various cultures made the trip successful, and the students look forward to helping the Honduran people solve engineering obstacles.
鈥淎s a Honduran-American, receiving such a warm welcome made me proud of my culture, especially after seeing the travel team enjoy themselves so much over there,鈥� Galindo said.
Irwin said the trip empowered her to do even more in the global community.
鈥淚 would go back in a heartbeat, and I feel so much more connected to my interests in global engineering and global service,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tudents and young professionals can make a significant impact on local and international problems.鈥�
The group is returning to Honduras on April 9 to assess the water supply and distribution projects in San Pedro Zacapa.
鈥淎s an engineer, part of the job description is to develop solutions for today鈥檚 problems,鈥� Galindo said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e using what we know to better people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
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Article by Danielle Kelley, 海角社区 College of Engineering communications intern. For more information, contact Mimi LaValle, College of Engineering, mlavall@lsu.edu or (225) 578-5706.