Projeto em Engenharia Humanitária

Objectives

Humanitarian Engineering is defined as the use of science and engineering to invent, create, design, develop, or improve technologies which promote the well-being of communities which are facing grand humanitarian challenges (fast-growing populations, poor, disaster-hit, marginalized, or under-served communities). This course intends to provide a hands-on, project oriented approach to this new engineering field.

Syllabus

Development of an experimental or modeling project, preferably of interdisciplinary nature and covering several scientific areas and proposed by an NGO. Example: generation of energy from organic waste, involving collection, physicochemical processing and equipment for power generation.

Cross Competence Component

Students develop their projects in small groups (typically 2 to 4 students per group), which allows them to improve their intra- and interpersonal competences. The project is subject to a public oral presentation and written report, working on oral and written communication skills. It also develops the literacy capacities of scientific information and media, through the research and management of information collected and the use of computer tools to produce presentations/videos. The unfolding of the project requires the development of critical and innovative thinking through the ability to seek, question and critically analyse the solutions investigated and the ability to propose new ones. The projects are proposed by students, from different cultural backgrounds, and should reflect environmental and sustainability concerns, allowing to develop citizenship responsibilities.

Laboratorial Component

There are no specific laboratory classes, but during project development, students should develop their project in collaboration with research laboratories, especially the research units involved in the course.

Programming And Computing Component

There are no specific computational components but, during the project development, the students are encouraged to include simulations in their project, depending on the subject chosen.

Ethical Principles

All members of a group are responsible for the group’s work. In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In na oral assessment, every student shall be able to presente and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.