Engineering Experience

Engineers for a Sustainable World
Call for Summer 2009 Volunteers and Project Managers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information for:
Project Managers Needed in Tanzania this Summer
ESW SEED Program: Apply by February 13!

ESW SEED Program: Apply by February 13!
Call for ESW SEED Program Internship Applicants - Summer 2009
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Greetings Engineering Students,
Imagine using your technical skills to design rainwater storage tanks in Africa, enabling villagers to manage community gardens to feed their families or working with poor, rural families to disinfect drinking water using solar technology so their children no longer fall ill from water borne diseases. Through Engineers for a Sustainable World and its Summer Engineering Experience in Development (SEED) Program, young engineers engage in sustainable community development projects that improve the lives of underserved people around the world. Over the years, the SEED Program has supported various engineering related projects in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia. This summer, SEED volunteers will be placed on 9-week technical volunteer assignments in several different developing countries. Be sure to apply by the Friday, February 13th deadline to be eligible for consideration.

Some of this summer's possible projects include working on safe drinking water and improving hygiene for the urban poor of India; community development through renewable energy in central Nicaragua; biodiesel generation and green building for a new hospital in Tanzania; and mapping of rural communities in Kenya using GPS/GIS.

More information, in addition to that provided below, on ESW and the SEED Program (including program dates, fees, and scholarships) is available on the ESW website at http://www.eswusa.org/.

Former SEED Volunteer Testimonials "The best part of the SEED experience was being immersed in a culture different from my own... I think I took away more than I gave. I got a first hand feel for development work. I also learned a new language, made several close friends and realized that I would like to do more of this type of work in the future."-John Erickson, Nicaragua, 2006
"My volunteer work with ESW set the stage for me to pursue a master's degree in engineering for Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge where my dissertation built on relationships in West Africa that I had established as a SEED Program volunteer."-Francis Mills, Senegal, 2004

Eligibility:
Anyone who is currently enrolled in or has an engineering or science degree from an accredited U.S. college/university is eligible to apply. Applicants who are ESW members or have been involved in an ESW collegiate chapter are preferred; however, applicants from all colleges will be considered.

How to Apply
Download and complete the 2009 SEED Program volunteer application from our website at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102430110656&e=0016fBtWUvpacC-d69k6-GzQd8UU_-uYL0ovhp7i2MoLHQL6bhvrO7lHiM0qM8rnpAf_JL8e3LZr5_nzlTAjPvz5GwlaMOX1JGITL08sBIZNvyce3e3qFBLWQ==.
Email your completed application to mailto:seed@eswusa.orgno later than February 13, 2009.
Pay on-line or mail your non-refundable application fee of $25 (for ESW full-members) or $50 (non-ESW members) to the ESW National Office, postmarked no later than February 13, 2009.

Questions? Please contact Jeff Dahm, the ESW SEED Program Manager at jdahm@eswusa.org.


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Project Managers Needed in Tanzania
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Engineers for a Sustainable World is looking for qualified graduate students, professionals, or faculty to serve as project managers in Tanzania this summer on two potential projects regarding biodiesel generation and LEED-certified green building. Interested parties should contact Jeff Dahm (jdahm@eswusa.org) to express interest in serving as a project manager by Febraury 9, 2009. The following information will be then be requested:·
Contact information · CV/ resume · Submittal of SEED Program application Please read below for project background, job description, and other details. OverviewThe ESW chapter at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, has partnered with the Dodoma Christian Medical Center (DCMC) and Dodoma Tanzania Health Development (DTHD) Inc. on possible projects involving biodiesel generation, and green building. The DCMC mission is to provide accessible and sustainable quality health care through both community-based and a referral/specialized health delivery system, in collaboration with other stakeholders and in line with government policies. DCMC is serving as a medical and dental leadership model in Central Tanzania by providing: · A restorative dental clinic and training program· A Reproductive and Child Health Clinic · Outreach through rural dispensaries · Emphasis on community health and prevention programs · Intercultural medical and dental exchange· For the future with plans for a 150 bed hospital with specialty services General Job Description-Oversee and coordinate all project activities as described in Project Background including coordinating work of external organizations, identifying and helping to solve problems, and communicating and documenting progress
-Supervise and delegate project tasks to undergraduate and/or graduate student volunteers
-Conduct sourcing of project materials, supplies, and consultants needed for development of technical solutions as necessary Job Location: Dodoma, Tanzania
Duration: From four weeks (June 18, 2009 - July 16, 2009) to eight weeks (June 18, 2009 - August 19, 2009), full-time in country (Tanzania) over the summer + part-time preparing for trip starting March 10, 2009. Funding: Selected graduate student will be eligible for a full SEED volunteer scholarship. Professionals and faculty will be eligible to apply for a travel and housing stipend from the host NGO to help defray out of pocket costs. Project Background: Biodiesel CreationTanzania imports almost all of its oil and is thus extremely vulnerable as a country to changes in the oil market. Tanzania, like all countries, has to find alternatives to importing oil. "Since 1980 foreign oil prospectors have invested more than $293 million searching for oil in Tanzania without success".
The purpose of this project is to create a sustainable biodiesel creation system from Jatropha, an inedible plant local to Tanzania, or another plant oil source. The primary target of this phase of the project would be able to create a solution on the DCMC campus to help power DCMC vehicles and their backup generators. If implemented correctly, this project could save DCMC money that could be invested into providing better health care to the region. Furthermore, if successful at the pilot scale, this project could be scaled up to provide biodiesel to the greater population of Tanzania, helping to transform its energy sector to a renewable homegrown solution. Likewise, the production of biodiesel could provide jobs to Tanzanian farmers and those who process the biodiesel after the SEED volunteers leave. This goal of the first phase of the project (Summer 2009) would be to setup a biodiesel production system by buying oil, methanol and a lye from an outside source and producing 1500 liters of biodiesel a month.
An initial field assessment found that DCMC as an organization that uses about 1250 liters (330 gallons) of diesel fuel every month, which costs about $2,000 a month. DCMC also has sufficient land that could be used to farm Jatropha or another plant substance to provide oil. Alternatively, DCMC could hire a farmer to provide the Jatropha. If DCMC were to create its own biodiesel, several new jobs would be created to support the local economy and thousands of dollars spent on energy needs could be diverted to funding the health care needs of the area. Required Skills / Experience· Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field· Minimum 1 year of project management experience· Relevant overseas experience· Ability to oversee and direct undergraduate student volunteers on specific project objectives· Ability to coordinate between DCMC workers and volunteers, Tanzanian businesses and officials, and student volunteers· Working knowledge of biodiesel generation from plant oils· Hands on experience in construction of biodiesel generation systems Project Background: LEED Building HospitalLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a voluntary accreditation to ensure that buildings are built in the most non-invasive, environmental friendly way as possible. LEED was started by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) in the United States, however it has spread internationally to many countries. DCMC is planning on making its hospital one of the first, if not the first, LEED accredited buildings in all of Africa. DCMC is planning on starting construction on a 150 bed hospital in early 2009. This project would involve working with the design and construction teams at DCMC to make sure they are building to LEED standards. Documentation of successful completion of LEED credits is essential for obtaining actual credit points. This project will help ensure that DCMC is building in an environmentally friendly manner and work through the submittal process for LEED much quicker while promoting the advancement of green building in Africa. Required Skills / Experience· Bachelor's degree in engineering of related field· Minimum 1 year of project management experience· Relevant overseas experience· Ability to oversee and direct undergraduate student volunteers on specific project objectives· Ability to coordinate between DCMC workers and volunteers, Tanzanian businesses and officials, and student volunteers· Applicant must be a "LEED Accredited Professional" as according to the US Green Building Council. · Experience in construction of LEED certified buildings

Enjoy!
Best, Holly M. Justice, Engineering Career Counselor