Mortenson Center Quarterly Digest - Q4 2018
The Mortenson Center combines classroom work, research and development, and real world, on-the-ground experience to train engineers to work in partnership with organizations in developing communities worldwide. Our goal is to create sustainable and appropriate solutions to meet people's basic needs.  Learn more about the center on our website, http://www.colorado.edu/mcedc.
Program Headlines
Congratulations Graduates!
A hearty congratulation to the following Mortenson Center Students who are graduating and those moving on to earn their PhD:

James Harper: MS in Civil Systems Engineering
Katrina Johns: MS in Civil Engineering
Martin Premo: MS in Civil Engineering 
Austin Riley: BS & MS in Civil Engineering
Nikki van den Heever: BS in Civil Engineering & MS w/Thesis, 
    Civil Systems Engineering

MCEDC also wants to recognize the additional achievements of Austin Riley, who won Outstanding Graduate for International  Engagement and   Nikki van den Heever, who won the Outstanding Graduate of the College award!  These awards are incredible achievements and we are so proud of our students. 
Global Engineering Awards
Tue. March 5, 2019

This year, the Mortenson Center is launching the Global Engineering Awards on the evening of March 5, 2019 after the first day of the CO WASH symposium. Featured is a keynote speech by Greg Collins, USAID Resilience Coordinator. Before the awards, take part in the CO WASH reception and tour the newly renovated space the Mortenson Center shares with the  Sustainability Innovation Lab at Colorado (SILC). Moving forward, this space will serve as the physical home for the Mortenson Center, SILC and others under a joint initiative that will bring together faculty, students and staff who are working to develop solutions to complex human and environmental problems.
2019 CO WASH Symposium
Tue. & Wed., March 5-6, 2019

The 7th annual Colorado WASH Symposium is an unconventional, student-organized event . It brings together premier speakers from the academic, practitioner, and NGO sectors engaged in Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) research and practice to create an open dialogue around some of the most pressing challenges in the WASH field. This two-day event consists of panels, presentations and interactive sessions. FREE.  Learn more and register.
Student Highlights
Mortenson Center Students Present at UNC Water Conference

CU Boulder was represented at this year's UNC Water and Health Conference by more than twenty current and former students and faculty, and was one of the largest contingents of any organization at the conference. PhD students Katie Chambers, Allie Davis, James Harper, Kimmy Pugel and Nick Valcourt all presented their on-going research, while MCEDC Director Evan Thomas took part in a session about his work with USAID's Lowlands WASH and Kenya RAPID projects. The group was also joined by a number of CU students seeking out potential speakers for CU's own CO WASH Symposium March 5-6, 2019. 
Shaye Palagi Receives Micro Grant

Mortenson Center Student Shaye Palagi received a micro grant from the CU Office for Outreach and Engagement to facilitate a forum focused on dialogue and diverse participation within the communities affected by the devastating SuperTyphoon Haiyan in the central Philippines five years ago. Shaye and the CU Boulder team are positioned to share findings and facilitate a dialogue regarding implications and recommendations for future community development and disaster recovery efforts.
Caleb Cord & Ken Wallace Practicum Findings Published
This past summer Mortenson Center students
Ken Wallace (left) and Caleb Cord (right) spent twelve weeks on their practicums with USAID SWS primarily in Fort Portal in Uganda. Their findings have since been published on the IRC website. Caleb's findings will hopefully result in the creation of a proposal for a piped water system to serve communities in Western Uganda. Ken's practicum was an analysis on IRC's use of "Pay as You Fetch"  Both students' blogs have also been posted to the IRC website Read Caleb's blog and Ken's blog. 
Anna Libey Helps Design "Chili Briquette" Elephant Repellent

Mortenson Center student Anna Libey is an Engineering for Change Research Fellow. She, and teammates from different villages in Botswana who were a part of the International Development Design Summit, worked to develop a "chili briquette" that, when burned, can turn away unwanted elephants. Botswana is home to more African elephants than all other African countries combined and there is a problem with them encroaching on human settlements where they fight with livestock for water and raid crops. An elephant repellent would help prevent the animals from being killed by farmers or poachers while protecting the livelihood of the citizens. Read more in Anna's blog.
Kimberly Pugel Awarded Best Presentation
 
Kimberly Pugel was awarded the best presentation in June at the Engineering  Projects and Organizations Conference in Brijuni, Croatia. She sought to gather feedback from participants on a new method for integrating qualitative data about organizations' priorities into a network analysis. The purpose is to support groups of organizations seeking to work toward a common goal, but who face challenges reaching an agreement on the best actions to reach that goal. Read the paper titled, "Factor and Actor Networks: Alignment of Collective Action Groups for Water Sustainability in Ethiopia". 
EDC Students Visit the Posner Center

On Nov. 9, 2018 the Mortenson Center Student Group took a tour of the Posner Center in Denver. The tour gave students a first-hand look into the collaborative spaces that are home to many international development organizations in CO. Students learned about the history, vision, and approach to international development of the Posner Center. After the tour, students met with CU Alum and employee of iDE, Max Churchfield, to learn more about the work iDE does and ways to start a career in international development. 
Job Opportunities
Climate Impacts Group Seeks Deputy Director

The Climate Impacts Group is seeking a full-time Deputy Director to support and advance innovations in connecting science and practice to advance climate resilience. They are looking for a candidate with a strong background in applied climate impacts and adaptation research and experience in successfully linking science decision making. The job is located in Seattle, WA and is open until filled.  Learn more and apply. 
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