The Fellows Reveal a Promising Future for Technology for Good

Engineering for Change’s Research Fellows deepen our relevance and hold promise for the future of global development engineering. They displayed experience that spans cultures and disciplines on stage and in breakout sessions at the annual Impact.Engineered conference October 9th in Brooklyn, New York (USA). We’re proud to have been a small part of their journey as they are taking roles in global development organizations, universities and founding their own startups. These highlights from the event exemplify the impact our fellows are making on the future of technology for good.

Onstage at Impact.Engineered

Speaking today at Impact.Engineered, Rhys Keogh, a Research Fellow now working with the University of Technology Sydney, has been investigating the state of engineering for global development in Australia and New Zealand.

Rhys, your research on #humanitarianengineering is so relevant. Great to have the Australian perspective in the fellowship cohort. #impactengineered https://t.co/zxRSxegnYH

— Eleanor Loudon (@EleanorLoudon) October 9, 2019

Kathleen Kirsch is now with USAID and took a moment on stage to discuss the level of technological priority within the #SDGs.

Kathleen Kirsch is now with @USAID but worked these last few months in Tunisia as an E4CFellow. She presented today partly on the level of #technologinal priority within the #SDGs. #ImpactEngineered pic.twitter.com/jQytwW3S12

— Engineering for Change (@engineer4change) October 9, 2019

Former E4C Fellow Megan Richardson at MIT shared her work on manufacturing women’s hygiene products made from byproducts of agriculture. Megan collaborated with SHEnterprises which creates pads from fibrous waste.

Former E4C Fellow Megan Richardson from @MIT shared her work on manufacturing women’s hygiene products from #agricultural byproducts. Megan collaborated with @SHEnterprises which creates pads from fibers waste materials. Go check them out at the #ImpactEngineered Tech Gallery! pic.twitter.com/uihGjhc80p

— Engineering for Change (@engineer4change) October 9, 2019

Grace Burleson returned this year as an Expert Research Fellow and moderates a breakout session on E4C’s research collaborations with private sector, government and non-profit organizations.

So glad to have been part of this wonderful team. Learnt a lot from each and every individual there. The #E4CTeam contributing and working towards technology for development! https://t.co/Afsj7rLnx0

— Amartya Mukherjee (@tommedy_) October 9, 2019

Exemplifying the expertise that our fellowship program supplies, a report in collaboration with UN-Habitat on affordable housing in Kenya will be published on our Research page.

One example of the engineering for global development expertise @engineer4change is bringing to the space is this research collaboration with @UNHABITAT around affordable housing development in Kenya. This is done by our Fellows & network of experts. So proud! #impactEngineered pic.twitter.com/wPuPesIDyB

— Mariela (@Marielavzla) October 9, 2019

Another example is research into the intersection of trust and digital IDs. Expert Fellow Jen Ventrella, together with Fellow Senka Hadzic & Jr. Fellow Pauline Mweu, investigated attempts to introduce digital IDs and found three maxims: 1. Trust is needed. 2. It’s difficult to incentivize something new. And 3. whatever program is started needs to work in context.

Expert Fellow Jen Ventrella worked w/ Fellow Senka & Jr. Fellow Pauline. They found in their research of digital IDs (or lack of IDs) is that trust is needed, it’s difficult to incentivize something new, & whatever program is started needs to work in contexts. #ImpactEngineered pic.twitter.com/YWsKPI5zdD

— Engineering for Change (@engineer4change) October 9, 2019