Current projects

Project Hg

Working with the Fenner School in the ANU College of Science and the PalaeoWorks Lab in the School of Culture, History and Language in the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific to investigate the impacts of mercury contamination from informally mining to improve health.  This builds on the work of the Chalker Research Lab at Flinders University.

Biogas

Exploring the potential of methane generated from biodigesters for use in food processing and preserving. This would increase income for cash-crop farmers in the Asia-Pacific.

Humanitarian engineering practice

Research and evaluating the growing field of humanitarian engineering, to help shape a body of knowledge.  This includes evaluating humanitarian engineering and other community-centred projects, engaging with practitioners and professional associations, and evaluating education and training initiatives.

Opportunities

Opportunities to learn about and experience humanitarian engineering through short-term study tours or placements are available through numerous organisations. These can be incorporated into courses at ANU, such as ENGN3013 Engineering for a Humanitarian Context and individual and group research and development projects.

CECS has DFAT New Colombo Plan scholarships available for eligible students for opportunities marked with a *.

More information:

• Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) - Humanitarian Design Summits*
• Unbound - global education programs* (external link)
• Design for Social Change - Vietnam
• Project Everest Ventures - internships, training and ventures (external link)
• Enabled Futures - immersive study tours in Asia exploring accessibility and inclusion (external link)
• WindAid Institute - volunteer placements in Peru supporting small-scale wind (external link)
• Humanitarian engineering international placements - supporting projects particularly in South America (external link)