Engineering students collaborate to fix leaky irrigation structure
Engineering students from University of Connecticut and Bahir Dar University are collaborating to rehabilitate a traditional irrigation system near Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. This student-student partnership helps future engineers of both institutions to test classroom theories in real life engineering projects to enable local farmers grow various crops during dry seasons.
In the initial phase of the collaboration they are planning to renovate existing irrigation systems for the community. A design brief prepared by the students indicates renovation is required to reduce the excessive water leakage in the distribution system by implementing engineering solutions. They also have a plan to build new small-scale irrigation structure to expand the service to nearby communities.
Recently Bahir Dar University elected five engineering students to establish an engineering students club at Bahir Dar University for the first time. Bahir Dar University’s president zeroed in on the initiative: “The idea of small scale engineering project is very much appreciated and I will provide full support to Bahir Dar University Engineering students. Access to seed money will be made available to form the club so that our students can collaborate with their counterparts from University of Connecticut on equal footing.”
The PIRE project will soon sing an MoU with Bahir Dar University; thus the engineering students’ partnership is timely as opportunities are lining up to translate their plan into action. Consequently, UConn engineering students are excited to work with their peers in Bahir Dar for the next five years. Learn more from design brief of the proposed Engineering project.
Categories: News
Published: December 4, 2016