Mortenson Center in Global Engineering faculty are editing three special issues in the journal Sustainability.  The aim and scope of these special issues is to present and review emerging engineering methods, technologies, and evidence that work to address the unequal and unjust distribution of access to basic services. Examples may include technology and methods development and validation, data collection and impact evaluations that can contribute to evidence-based influence on policies and practice. Learn more or contact Professor Evan Thomas to discuss a submission.

Visiting speaker Oyngerel Tsedevdamba is presenting a special talk for the Mortenson Center, "A Modern History of Changing Toilets in Mongolia." Oyungerel Tsedevdamba, a former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister leads Local Solutions, a Mongolian NGO that is conducting a nationwide campaign to change Mongolians' polluting toilets. Oyungerel will tell her team's story of breaking the taboo against talking about toilets and undertaking a nationwide training on toilets, changing social behavior and creating and supporting the first toilet business cluster in Mongolia. 

Lavern Tendayi Nyamutswa is a visiting student to CU Boulder. He is here to test his photocatalytic membrane on a solar simulator, and to work with Professor Karl Linden, an expert in advanced oxidation and UV treatment of water.  Lavern is originally from Zimbabwe. There he went to university for his Bachelor of Science, after which he went to South Africa where he earned an Honours in Chemistry, as well as his Master's of Science in Chemistry. He then worked in Afghanistan for three years as a lab analyst for an American fuel company. Now, Lavern is entering his fourth year as a PhD student in Chemical Engineering at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia and is set to graduate in 2020.

Lavern having fun in the rare Australian snow

Filtration cell that contains Lavern's photocatalytic membrane. An LED is inside to show that the light is coming out of the membrane.

Lavern has created an unique membrane that transmits light, unlike traditional ceramic membranes which are opaque, so as to solve the challenge of integrating membrane technology with photocatalysis. He is at CU testing the membrane with a solar simulator (like the sun). The objective is for clean water to be made, and the membrane to be kept clean, by simply exposing the membrane to the sun. This could be extremely impactful for remote communities without water treatment plants. When Lavern returns to Australia he will be writing a paper with Professor Linden on the work he has done at CU Boulder.  The Mortenson Center welcomes Lavern to CU!  He is here until the end of Oct.

This week in the series features Amanda Carrico, Assistant Professor, CU Boulder Environmental Studies Program. The title of her talk is Adapting agriculture to climate change: Accou nting for farmer perceptions and behavior. In this talk, Dr. Carrico draws on data collected from smallholding farmers in Sri Lanka to examine factors that facilitate or constrain adaptation to water scarcity. 

The second annual Research & Innovation Week will feature panel discussions on remote sensing and climate change, TED-style talks, poster presentations and more. Learn more and RSVP for events.

The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) invites photographers to share inspired work. Photographs can reflect the balance between science and decision-making, humans and nature, ecosystem science, space science, sustainability, etc.  Learn more and then submit your image to ncse@ncseglobal.org. 

Fri. Oct. 4, 2019 - Deadline to Apply

The U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program is an unpaid internship with the opportunity to work in U.S. embassies around the United States, and is designed to provide learning experiences in a foreign affairs environment. Learn more.

Mon. Oct. 14, 2019 - Early Application Deadline

Mon. Oct. 21, 2019 - Regular Application Deadline

Candidates who submit their application by the early deadline are reviewed first, then regular deadline candidates are reviewed if there is remaining availability. Request an application.

Engineers in Action (EIA) is a U.S.-based non-profit working in partnership with communities to bring critical infrastructure to people living in impoverished and isolated communities. They are seeking an Executive Director who will lead the organization's staff and volunteer teams in the U.S., Bolivia, Ecuador and eSwatini. Email miro.kurka@engineersinaction.org for more information. 

The Shuttleworth Foundation offers fellowships to individuals to implement their innovative idea for social change at the intersection between technology, knowledge and learning, with openness being the key requirement.