Term: Fall 2022. Credits: 3 hours

An exploration of the progress and pitfalls of a real-life engineering project in Nigeria to make the case for Contextual Engineering, which evaluates non-technical influences to determine the likelihood that an infrastructure intervention will work for a particular international community. While this course includes engineering principles, we encourage non-engineers to enroll and learn about the relationship between technical and social sciences when working on international projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Counts towards the non-western culture and social sciences general education categories.

Term: Fall 2022. Credits: 4 hours

Sharing a lecture with ABE 232/AFST 233, this advanced course on Contextual Engineering addresses the loss of infrastructure usability, sustainability, and resiliency in non-industrialized societal settings that often results from disconnects and differing objectives among stakeholders. Using case studies and technical infrastructure designs, the impacts of globalization, Western attitudes, power dynamics, and place-based knowledge are explored and applied to engineering design and implementation processes. Application of these concepts will then be conducted for specific design efforts associated with the student's own discipline.

Term: Fall 2022. Credit: 1 hour (undergraduate)

When students are drawn to participate in engineering service organizations, many new members quickly drop out in frustration from the complexity of technical and logistical challenges associated with working with an unfamiliar client. This course trains student practitioners on how to assess, design, and implement a project by addressing the technical design, societal conditions, and project management skills that are needed to allow participants to contribute meaningfully to their projects.

Term: Fall 2022. Credits: 3 hours (undergraduate), 4 hours (graduate)

The first part of two-semester applied design course providing assistance for a rural Central American community in designing and implementing a contextually appropriate water system. Enrollees will work closely with alumni mentors and professional advisors on client assessment, conceptual engineering design, and strategies for implementation, and have the opportunity to travel to Honduras during Winter Break. Check out the project website here!

ABE 451/LAST441-550 - International Water Project II

Term: Spring 2023. Credits: 3 hours (undergraduate), 4 hours (graduate)

The second part of two-semester applied design course providing assistance for a rural Central American community in designing and implementing a contextually appropriate water system. Enrollees will work closely with alumni mentors and professional advisors on client assessment, conceptual engineering design, and strategies for implementation, and have the opportunity to travel to Honduras during Winter Break. Check out the project website here!