Engineers without borders: clean water
This workshop explores the problem of sanitation and accessing clean water.
Students see how trade, commerce and education have led to an inequality in standards between developed and developing countries but also how engineering within constraints reduces that gap.
We introduce the issue in the context of Southeast Asian communities and the low-cost methods that demonstrate the success of “appropriate technologies”.
Students design and build a simple water filter in groups that represent developed or developing countries. Students are tasked with balancing varying funds, material costs and illiteracy rates. In doing so, we challenge students to collaborate and trade knowledge and materials to overcome such inequality and compete for speed, clarity and cost in their filter.
In comparing the effectiveness of student’s filters with water standards in Australia, we pose the question of whether any student would consider their filtered water to be drinkable. In doing so, we leave students with an understanding of the quality of life in developed countries and how modern day non-governmental organisations are assisting those countries which are still developing.
Cost
This workshop is Free.
Workshop details
- Workshop type: Engineering
- Minimum number of students: 5
- Maximum number of students: 30
- Year level: Year 8 - 10
- Availability: Monday - Friday
- Duration: 1 hour
Please direct enquiries about this workshop to: