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MCEDC Quarterly Digest - Q2 2018
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The Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities (MCEDC) combines classroom work, research and development, and real world, on-the-ground experience to train engineers to work in partnership with organizations in developing communities worldwide. Our goal is to create sustainable and appropriate solutions to meet people's basic needs.
Learn more about the center on our website, http://www.colorado.edu/mcedc.
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A Note From MCEDC's New Director: Evan Thomas
I am excited to join the Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities and work with our incredible team of students, faculty, and staff to maximize the University of Colorado Boulder's positive impact in the world.
Over the coming months, the MCEDC team will be refreshing our mission and vision, and restructuring the Center to align our teaching and research activities with measurable global impact. As a team of engineers, we work in service of global health, and in partnership with other researchers, technology developers, implementers, and policymakers.
As a researcher and practitioner in global health and development engineering, I am confident that we can make a positive difference and leverage the tremendous resources of the University of Colorado for the benefit of our partner communities around the world.
I remember first accosting Professor Bernard Amadei in the hallway of the Engineering Center with a proposal for a Engineers Without Borders-USA project in Nepal back in 2002 and being a guinea pig for the first EDC courses Bernard offered. I am personally and professionally indebted to his leadership, and I am committed to continuing to scale our impact.
Evan Thomas, PhD, PE, MPH
Associate Professor; Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
Mortenson Chair in Global Engineering
Director, Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities
University of Colorado Boulder
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MCEDC 2.0 Executive Summary
The Mortenson Center conducted a year-long assessment of our programs this past year. We are pleased to present you with the
Executive Summary of the findings and recommendations. If you want to read the entire 12-page report, email a request to Robyn Sandekian (
sandekian@colorado.edu) and she will share it with you. Thanks to everyone who provided input during the process. We are excited to continue to improve our program and ensure that our graduates meet the needs of the development engineering sector for years to come.
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STI Forum Side Event Summary
MCEDC was a co-organizer of a side event at the third annual Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
EDC student Kimmy Pugel represented both the Mortenson Center and the UN Major Group for Children and Youth at the event held on June 5, 2018. The STI forum is a place where member states, major groups, and other stakeholders can influence the review and evaluation of the SDGs. The objective of this side-event was, in part, to focus specifically on the water and energy development sector and discuss how local knowledge is often disregarded in favor of external (i.e. scientific and professional) knowledge. Key recommendations for action included, "Valuing indigenous knowledge as another kind of knowledge, and not a lesser knowledge," and "Local community participation in decision making processes and technology design can provide a sense of ownership."
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Congratulations To Our May Graduates!
Doug Alleman: MS, Civil Engineering
Jonathan Berry: Professional MS, Civil Engineering
Katherine Chambers: MS, Civil Engineering
Anna Issa: MS, Environmental Engineering
Rachel Kennedy: MS, Architectural Engineering
Nicollette Laroco: MS, Civil Engineering
Liesbet Olaerts: MS, Civil Engineering
Eric Peterson: MS, Environmental Engineering
Mark Schroeder: MS, Environmental Engineering
Casie Venable: MS, Civil Engineering
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Our Students Are Making a Difference Around the World
EDC currently has 17 students completing their practicums in countries as varied as the Philippines, Zambia, Uganda, eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland), Rwanda and more. Some of the organizations they are working with include
Bridges to Prosperity,
IRC WASH,
World Vision, and
Water for People.
Follow two of our students, Desiree Beardmore and Caleb Cord, as they blog about their experiences abroad.
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Naomi Chang Wins Boren Fellowship
Naomi Chang was selected as a
Boren Fellow, which provides funding opportunities for U.S. graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests. This fellowship will provide support for her summer practicum with Maji Safi Group in Shirati, Tanzania where she will work with local community health educators on improving WASH practices and support an intensive language program in Swahili.
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Emily Moore, New MCEDC Student Representative
Congratulations to Emily Moore on being elected as the student representative to the Mortenson Center. One of Moore's goals is to expand social events, keeping what exists, while exploring new ideas and promoting more student involvement in events. Another goal is to develop a networking event with local development agencies of all disciplines (WASH, Shelter, Energy, Relief, etc.). Moore wants to be a voice for students, working with the leadership team as the program moves forward.
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 Want to read our past weekly digests?
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If you are interested in seeing the types of information we publish weekly, check out the
Weekly Digests Page on our website.
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Do you have program questions, comments, or want to change the frequency of which you are contacted by the Mortenson Center?
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