SEEDR has been invited to advise a senior capstone design studio course this Spring 2010 at Georgia Tech. Thirty-three students (18 mechanical engineering, 11 industrial design, and 4 architecture) will participate in multidisciplinary teams to work on projects addressing humanitarian causes such as clean water, shelter, and immunization.

The projects, sourced from NGOs and multilateral aid agencies, include a water acquisition and distribution for Nicaragua, a net-zero energy health care clinic for Tunisia, a net zero energy stand alone vaccine cold room for Tunisia, a vaccine cool box, a birthing kit for Papua New Guinea, and an immunization and well-being health care post kit for Papua New Guinea.

SEEDR is excited to participate in what SEEDR director, Michael Moreland, described as the “important, meaningful, and promising application of the Institute’s world-class engineering and design resources.” He added, “SEEDR is pleased to see Georgia Tech interested in integrating and transcending disciplines. This multidisciplinary approach is necessary if we are to succeed in answering the pressing engineering, design, and social science questions that development and humanitarian response present our generation.”

SEEDR will advise the graduating seniors on matters of research and design methods, multidisciplinary collaboration techniques and concepts, and designing for manufacturability, scale, and accessible and sustainable commercialization.

The course’s instructors are Sabir Khan, Associate Professor and Associate Dean of the College of Architecture, and Dr. Jonathan Colton, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Center for Polymer Processing.