University of Wyoming Chapter of Engineers Without Borders™

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them,” said Albert Einstein of the world in his time, but his words remain true today.  Educating a new generation of engineers to meet the challenges of a developing world is an imperative that requires engineers to have the knowledge, skills and tools appropriate to address the issues facing our world today and in the future.  The world population is expected to grow by 2 billion over the next 20 years, with 95% of that growth occurring in developing or under-developed countries.  Energy, water, food, land, transportation, materials, waste disposal, health care, earth moving, environmental cleanup and infrastructure will be required on an unprecedented scale, and engineers will be critical to fulfilling these demands.

Organizations

Pilot Project

Long-term Plan

Program Details

Development Projects

For more information about this program, please see the following link : (full proposal)

Contacts

Richard J. Schmidt, Associate Dean, schmidt@uwyo.edu

Sherrie Merrow, Director of Development and Communications, smerrow@uwyo.edu

• EWB-USA (www.ewb-usa.org) was founded by Dr. Bernard Amadei, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder.
• There are more than 100 student chapters throughout the United States.
• EWB-WYO (http://wwweng.uwyo.edu/societies/iec/) is the student chapter at the University of Wyoming and is open to students from across campus. EWB-WYO is the ideal complement to the current International Engineering Program (IEP) in the College. (wwweng.uwyo.edu/international).

In October 2005, the neighboring village of Panabaj, on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, was struck by mudslides following Hurricane Stan, destroying hundreds of homes and much of the infrastructure in the village (school, hospital, etc). As a pilot project, the student members of EWB-WYO designed and constructed a vocational-technical school in Chocomuck.

The long-term plan for EWB-WYO is to build on the pilot project experience for future project planning, funding and execution to achieve repeatable successes for future projects. Marketing to students and donors is ongoing, but a track record of successful projects will, in itself, be the main attraction for students to join the chapter and participate in projects. Successful projects will also become the motivation for donors to enable the projects to continue.

Chapter Requirements

EWB-USA requires that a small annual membership fee of each chapter. Proposal development and project implementation costs are funded entirely by each University chapeter.

Requirements for Participation in Program

Memebership in EWB-WYO is open to all students who attend the University of Wyoming, not just those in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Program Cost to Students

EWB-USA requires annual dues of $15 per student member to participate in projects. The IEC also collects a modest $5 per student each semester in dues. Any additional costs of participation will be covered through fund-raising activities or an endowment.

Pilot Project

The estimated cost of the pilot project was approximately $60K, which includes all travel, local labor, and material costs. Donations of cash, materials and air miles were sought to support this project, and the students are in the final stages of raising these funds.

Long-term Plan

Ideally, EWB-WYO would perform multiple projects each year. Funding of approximately $100K per year would allow $10K for Chapter non-project costs and $90K to use on two or three projects. Gifts totaling $1M in an endowment fund could be matched by the State to be $2M and would generate the needed $100K per year. The students are currently working to establish the endowment in $50K increments (the State matches each $50K or greater endowment gift). Gifts of $50,000 or more may be budgeted over a five-year time period.

College of Engineering and Applied Science Dept. 3295, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071 307-766-4253 www.eng.uwyo.edu