International Humanitarian Innovation Academy

Our Entrepreneurship Group is developing their business ideas: a bio-composting company and a water filter producer in Tanzania

We are directly diving into engaging discussions on sanitation challenges and teamwork using Design Thinking approaches to come up with innovative ways to promote handwashing in rural areas.

We reached Dar Es Salaam and our Summer School has started. Thanks to the Irish Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr. Paul Sherlock, for giving the opening address.

The first 7 are heading to Tanzania. Looking forward to see everyone in Dar Es Salaam for our Summer School.

Meet Shannon. She recently finished studying History of Art & Architecture and Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin - two disciplines she is very passionate about. Whilst studying philosophy, she specialised in Political Philosophy and Moral Philosophy, giving her an understanding of topics such as liberty, justice, human rights, borders, and global issues and conflicts that arise because of these matters between different cultures. She is also interested in understanding the nature of morality and different societies’ behavioural conduct and concepts of right and wrong. She is also deeply interested in the arts and all matters of aesthetics and is currently volunteering at the National Gallery of Ireland. She will bring some very valuable skills to our Summer School in Dar Es Salaam!

Meet Michael. He has a M.Sc. in Environmental Chemistry with a minor in Ecology. Michael has worked previously as an analytical/environmental chemist and in wetland restoration. He is currently a PhD student at Trinity College Dublin studying wetland hydrology and greenhouse gas emissions. He thinks that a wide range of environmental issues fall at the intersection of human needs with ecology, hydrology, and chemistry, and, more importantly, believes that global human needs can be met sustainably.

Meet Nathan. He recently finished a Master’s degree in Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering from Trinity College Dublin. As an undergraduate, Nathan worked in the infrastructure department of Arup Dublin, and will soon be returning there to begin work as a bridge engineer. Nathan loves sport, he plays hockey and has coached a number of youth teams at his club. He also enjoys live music and travel, and hopes to work abroad as a civil engineer in the near future. First stop: Tanzania!

From Belgium to Ireland to Tanzania: Meet Jan! In 2017 he started a PhD on heat recovery from wastewater at Trinity College Dublin as part of an international project, called Dwr-Uisce, aiming to improve the efficiency of water networks. Before this, Jan worked as a researcher at ULB in Belgium, mostly focusing on the water-energy nexus and energy storage. Jan also, previously, supported Engineers Without Borders with technical consulting and coordination for installing a solar pump in North Uganda.

The Pub Quiz is on at Doyles Bar. Good luck to every team tonight!

Meet Iseult. She has just finished her masters in Mechanical Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and will join us in Tanzania this summer. Her main engineering interests lie in control, dynamics, acoustics, and renewable energy. Her Master’s thesis looked at the control of sloshing liquids in tanks to increase the efficiency and safety of vehicles transporting liquids - some first hand knowledge that might come in handy when we have to deal with feacal sludge transporters! Previously, she was one of the student organisers of the Trinity Engineering Summer Camp. Iseult is looking forward to meeting the Tanzanian students and working alongside them to develop innovative solutions to the challenges presented. She is also excited to experience a new culture and explore a different part of the world.

Another talented student heading to Tanzania with us: Meet Iomhar, who studied Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at TCD. His studies focussed on the performance of sustainable cement in hot climates, specifically those found in the Punjab region of Northern India. His interest in water came about as a result of two summer internships working as part of the water conservation and quality team at Irish Water. Now he is getting ready for the hot summer in Dar Es Salaam; his dog will have to stay in Ireland, though.