Summer Engineering in Bolivia

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The Virginia Military Institute, Engineers Without Borders Program, is pleased to present a summer program in Potosi, Bolivia.

Dates: May 28 - June 18, 2013

2013 Cost: $2,800, excluding airfare (Subject to BOV approval)

Fees include tuition, in-country accommodations, two meals/day, and in-country transportation. International airfare and
incidentals are not included.

Program Director

MAJ Tim O. Moore, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, will serve as the Program Director. A 1997 graduate of VMI, Tim has been practicing Civil Engineering in both the public and private consulting sector for more than 15 years. Tim also spent 8 years as a Civil Engineering Officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2009. Tim’s areas of expertise are water and wastewater infrastructure design, air emissions testing (fate, transport and analysis), air toxics analysis, global climate change, odor control and air pollutions deleterious effects on water and wastewater quality. Tim is also the faculty advisor for Engineers Without Borders (EWB) at VMI. He has accomplished many successful water and sanitation construction projects in Haiti, Central America and South America previously and now with VMI.

Eligibility

Any current student in good standing with an accredited university is eligible to apply. VMI students need only submit an application. Applicants from other universities should include a faculty letter of recommendation, an official transcript, and a short essay outlining the applicant’s personal and academic goals for the program, along with the application. Applications must be received no later than 31 January 2013.

Program

CE 372X, Environmental Engineering and Construction in Developing Countries, is a three credit hour course which uses hands-on application of rudimentary field design and construction techniques for the implementation of basic environmental necessities in developing communities and the enhancement of overall quality of human life. Students conduct construction activities in various developing communities worldwide. The course explores the role of the environmental engineer, and specifically the average human being in worldwide public health and seeks to promote an awareness of communities lacking access to basic human rights such as clean drinking water and adequate sanitation. Students will maintain a daily journal or blog while in-country and will publish the blog or journal on ePortfolio upon return to the U.S. Students are also required to write a preliminary design report for implementation of in-country design, and a final reflective essay to be posted on ePortfolio for dissemination to the general VMI public.

Room and Board

Students will be living within the community in which the project is being implemented. Students will camp in the local school building located in the community.

Cultural Experience

Students in this class will work together to design and implement sustainable engineering, medical, environmental, and economical projects to help impoverished communities become healthier and self-sufficient. 100% of this course is active, hands-on engaged learning from both a practical problem-solving perspective and interpersonal and cultural relations. The goal of this class is to provide students with the opportunity to apply their diverse academic backgrounds to real-life situations for the benefit of those lacking basic human needs, such as clean drinking water and basic medical care, while gaining real-life experience communicating and working effectively in another culture, and gaining appreciation and respect for cultures. By gaining an appreciation and respect for their own unique skillset and leadership skills along with the great need for this knowledge, cadets will become well-rounded citizen soldiers armed with the life experience and expertise to lead and facilitate positive change.