PSC-392-82-2244 - Appropriate Technology for the World's People: Design

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Appropriate Technology for the World's People, Design, Spring 2024

Cross listed: UNIV-392/492, PSC-392/492, HNRS-392

MWF 10:10-11:0 in Baker Science, 180-113.  Shop sections (Monday 6:10 - 9:00 PM, or Tuesdays 3:10 PM - 6:00 PM) are in Mustang '60 shop, Bonderson, Bld. 197, near the library.

Pete Schwartz, Cal Poly PhysicsPete's Webpage Links to an external site.pschwart@calpoly.edu

Office Hours: TBA

See information from Design (392, Spring 2022), Design (392, Spring 2021), Design (392, Spring 2020), Development (the "development theory class", 391, W2024), and from other previous classes Links to an external site..  

Activities are listed on modules by week. Course expectations can be found on Syllabus.

Grade determined by weekly assessments, participation, and projects. 

Assessment Solutions:

Description of Download Fabulous Failures

Course Redesign, June 1, 2022, how would we like the class to be different next time? Download how would we like the class to be different next time?

Extra Participants
We've had the pleasure to work with the following people who are not enrolled students: none listed at present

Timeline for the class. Activities subject to change. Please check 24 hours before class.

Week 1
April 1
Red Tag, ISEC, Pete's House, Development, 
Wed: Meet Group
Fri: Pete's House
Week 2
April 8
Mon: Pete and the design process, Grp #1 Presentation
Wed: Garrett Morris in Nepal, Grp #2 Presentation
Fri: Peter Keller and Aid Africa, Grp #4 Presentation
Week 3
April 15
Mon: Graham Roberts and Antarctic Ice Grp #3
Wed: Nathan Bair, Designing with People in Mind, Grp #5
Fri: Grp #6
Week 4
April 22
Mon: Grp #1
Wed: Grp #2
Fri: Grp #3
Week 5
April 29
Mon: Carley Althoff, Journeyman International
Wed: Grp #4
Fri: Nick Babin
Week 6
May 6

Mon: Grp #5
Wed: Pete in Jamaica
Fri: Grp #6

Week 7
May 13

Mon: Grp #2
Wed: Grp #1
Fri: Grp #3

Week 8
May 20
Mon: Grp #4
Wed: Grp #5
Fri: Grp #6
Week 9
May 27
Tues (Monday's Schedule): 
Wed: Alex Petroff
Fri: Pete in Africa/Nepal

Week 10
June 3

Mon:
Wed:
Fri:  Please enter your thoughts in the discussion board for our Course Redesign

Exam Week. Final Presentations!  Cal Poly Exam Schedule 10:10 AM, Friday, June 14.  In the Classroom. This is a Potluck brunch.  Please bring a culinary creation of your choice.  If you don't bring food, you are still welcome (and required) to come. 

 

Website Link Description of the topic Members

1. ISEC in Uganda Links to an external site.

Improved construction of  Insulated Solar Electric Cooking (ISEC, research website), particularly advances in thin-wall concrete construction.  Collaborator is Andrew of African STEM Education Initiative (ASEI Links to an external site.) and Elwyn, who wants to build a kitchen for a school. Tuesday Shop

Theo B 
Abe M
Kelly H
Aubrey Z


2. ISEC in Togo Links to an external site. Building a passive solar food-dryer.  Past work with Salma: There was a student project in 392 S2021 Links to an external site., and in 391 W2024.  Pete lived and worked with Salma the month of November, 2023, see blog Links to an external site.,   Monday Shop

Logan W
Gina C
Molly M
Philip M

3. ISEC in Malawi Links to an external site.

Exploring construction of Insulated Solar Electric Cookers with Victor, of vocational school Kindle Orphan Outreach Links to an external site. near Salima, Malawi.  See ISEC efforts in past 392 and 391 classes.  See past projects from past years.  There was a previous student project in 391 W2024.  Pete worked with Victor from January 15 until March 11, see blog Links to an external site.,  Victor has been tasked with the design and production of a consumer-ready ISEC.  Monday Shop

Alycia D
Cole G
Marilynn V
Henry M

4. Musical Instruments in Malawi Links to an external site.

Building guitars in carpentry vocational school,  Bruno is the carpentry instructor for Kindle Vocational School of Kindle Orphan Outreach Links to an external site. where we started a vocational program for electricity and ISEC technology (project #3 above), see blog Jan 14 - March 11.  Bruno has begun to build guitars for play and profit.  The major challenge is making the string tuning pegs.  Although these pegs are readily available for $10 everywhere online, $10 is a considerable amount of money in Malawi, and it's very difficult to import things into Malawi.  It's also important this technology be high performance enough to sell and even export guitars. Monday Shop.  1st Presentation Links to an external site.

Ben T
Jemma S
Sophia K
Dylan S

5. DC home system, Navajo Nation Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.

Skip the Grid is a Cal Poly student organization out of Construction Management that installs modular home solar electrical systems in the Navajo Nation during spring break.  Skip the Grid presently uses expensive consumer systems.  We designed a simpler, less expensive system that provides the same services and can be assembled by partners on the Navajo Nation. Tuesday Shop

Jeremy H
Graham N
James C
Sebastian

 

6. Mitad Injera Making, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Links to an external site.

Collaborating with SLO’s Ebony Ethiopian Restaurant, and a friend (Betty) from Ethiopia, designed and built an insulated mitad, the device used to cook injera, traditional Ethiopian flatbread made from teff flour.  Monday Shop

Michael A
Sean M
Trystan G
John C

 

 

Notes on Course Improvement Links to an external site.