EWB, biomass charcoal; water/sanitation team forming
Matt Ball
I apologize for taking a month to really get things together. I think
the work we did last semester was fantastic and I hope we can maintain
that level of effort and commitment. We've produced charcoal in an oil
drum kiln and made briquettes with the D-lab press. Until we have
people in Uganda, where the world's stickiest binder, cassava, exists,
we've largely completed our research. There is some calorimetry
analysis remaining and there may be an opportunity to do another kiln
burn in late March but I think it's time to shift our hive mind's focus
to another topic.
We've thrown around the idea of researching technologies related to
water purification or efficient/low pollution cooking stoves. Kenneth
Kasule, a student in Uganda, has replied that both of these projects
would be very useful in Kasaka, a rural area EWB has worked in (and
where Kenneth lives). In an executive decision of striking boldness,
I've decided to start a new research team focusing on water and
sanitation; we may transition to stoves in mid-March. There's a brand
new Google group with information here:
http://groups.google.com/group/ewb_duke_water The main goals are
currently to research and get experience in making point-of-use water
purification systems that could be implemented abroad. There are some
intro papers and a preliminary schedule posted on the Google group; join
the group if you'd like to continue getting emails about its work and
meetings and such. I'm looking forward to working with you all again!
Please email me with any suggestions about the new (or old) project.
Thanks!
Matt