Baylor engineers seek appropriate technology for Third World_101804

Posted: 10/15/04

Baylor engineers seek appropriate
technology for Third World

By Judy Long

Baylor University

WACO–Two-thirds of the world's people focus most of their energy on surviving until the end of the day. But some Baylor University engineering students and faculty want to help change that by developing and encouraging the use of appropriate technology in developing countries.

Walter Bradley, distinguished professor of engineering, has led in creating an interdisciplinary center at Baylor for appropriate technologies.

“In many underdeveloped parts of the world, people have neither the resources nor the infrastructure to utilize technology from the developed world. We propose to help them by developing technology that is appropriate to their local needs and resources,” Bradley said.

Bradley envisions employing resources from a wide spectrum of disciplines–engineering, computer science, chemistry, biology, geology, environmental sciences and business, as well as cultural anthropology and entrepreneurship–to improve life in developing countries.

The concept of helping Third World countries identify and develop appropriate technology is gaining enthusiasm among Baylor students.

Two engineering students–sophomore Leah Richter from Corpus Christi and junior Lindsay Mack from Newport, Ark.–recently founded Engineers With a Mission, a student organization aiming to impact developing countries.

Richter and Mack, along with faculty sponsor Brian Thomas, a member of Highland Baptist Church in Waco, tentatively are planning the organization's first project next summer in Papua New Guinea.

Richter looked at other mission organizations on campus, but she wanted to participate in a group where she could use what she was learning in the classroom in a missions setting. She also checked out engineering organizations on other campuses but couldn't find the group she wanted.

“We also looked into several different organizations that already did engineering work in developing countries, but none were faith-based. One even had a clause saying you couldn't go in their name with a religious purpose,” Richter said.

“I know engineering is my calling from God. It's what I'm supposed to do, and I wanted to find a way to start using it for ministry and mission work.”

Her quest was satisfied when Thomas, a lecturer in electrical engineering, brought together several students with a similar interest.

“Talking to students, I saw their interest in an organization that practiced engineering mission work, so we got together and formed this group,” Thomas said.

Thomas was among 22 Baylor professors who traveled to northern Iraq last December to conduct education seminars for the faculty at Dohuk University. Seeing the need in an economically depressed country ignited his desire to help.

“The trip to Iraq planted a seed for me. Seeing a non-western culture spurred me to do more.”

Thomas said he is motivated to see a change, not just in the developing country, but also in his students.

“We've adopted a motto for the club: When you've done it unto the least of these, you've done it unto me,” Thomas said, referring to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25.

“I hope, while serving people in developing countries, demonstrating God's love in a tangible expression, to transform the lives of the students, so they will see their careers as an option for service. We're cultivating in them skills to be used to satisfy a calling and empower them for a life of service, not just to make money. If we can alter their perspective by just 10 degrees, it will make a big difference over the period of their careers.”

The proposed project in Papua New Guinea came about through John Pumwa, a visiting professor at Baylor. Pumwa, deputy head of the department of mechanical engineering at Papua New Guinea University of Technology, is developing an alternative fuel plan that converts his country's abundant coconuts into biodiesel fuel to meet a critical energy need.

Pumwa, who completed doctoral work in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University in 1997, is the son of early converts of Papua New Guinea's first Baptist missionaries.

He landed at Baylor for his sabbatical year almost by accident. While looking for a school where he could conduct his research, he came across Baylor's website and saw Bradley's name in the engineering department. It turned out to be the same Walter Bradley from whom he had taken classes at Texas A&M.

When he contacted Bradley, they agreed Pumwa's sabbatical leave provided a unique opportunity for them to work together on a project in appropriate technology for Papua New Guinea and establish a long-term relationship with Baylor and his university.

While Pumwa explores ways to process coconut oil into biodiesel fuel, he would like an economist to conduct a macro-economic analysis in Papua New Guinea to be sure his plan is affordable.

Pumwa is recommending an agreement between the Papua New Guinea University of Technology and Baylor to train Papua New Guineans in engineering, business, economics and other disciplines so they can take their skills home to improve their country.

Because Papua New Guinea has a mountainous landscape, isolated people groups lack access to electricity, roads or a good source of fuel.

“But they do have a lot of rain, so if they harness the falling water, they could use it in small-scale hydroelectric generation. A micro-hydroelectric generator–a really small device about the size of a dishwasher–would produce a reliable source of electricity for them,” Thomas said.

Bradley was praying for direction on how to get started in the appropriate technology area when Pumwa called him, and he sees the Papua New Guinea prospect as a providential opportunity for Baylor.

He interprets the numerous biblical commands to serve the poor as a call to action for engineers and scientists who have knowledge that can help the developing world.

“As a Christian university, Baylor is uniquely positioned to respond to the call to serve the world's poorest. We hope to obtain funding from the United Nations development program eventually, but the work has to begin with funds from private sources at Baylor and from other concerned Christians,” Bradley said.