Tag: SMU

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EVIE Keeps Evolving

Hunt Institute Evie

The EVIE project is entering its third phase in the Global Development Lab at the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity. Three years after its first public unveiling at Earth Day Texas in 2017, work on the mobile greenhouse has continued to push the boundaries of innovating a solution to Dallas’ fresh produce problem. The purpose of EVIE is to serve Dallas community members as a sustainable opportunity for fresh produce by encouraging their participation in the harvesting, maintaining, and general operations of a greenhouse.

EVIE’s name was derived from Eve, which is commonly associated with life and beginnings, appropriately matching the Institute’s goals for the project. In 2018, the Department of Agriculture identified 88 separate food deserts in Dallas County. Over half of the food deserts were in three southern portions of Dallas, encompassing close to 400,000 residents. EVIE is designed to be movable through areas lacking fresh produce and easily replicable to increase the availability of fresh produce across the food deserts. The first phase of EVIE focused on designing an easily replicable greenhouse model that could function in recycled environments, including an old, rickety Shasta trailer. In Phase II of the project, researchers from the Hunt Institute examined techniques that could facilitate irrigation, solar access, and temperature controls needed to maintain the greenhouse in any environment.

Plant Lab team lead Mitchell Dye works on the roof

Before Phase III could begin, the SMU Engineers Without Boards Plant Lab team gave EVIE a much-needed makeover. The roof had a leak. The makeover was completed right before spring break when the COVID-19 Global Pandemic hit the Unites States. Students are working remotely but unable to physically work on EVIE or in Labs as of June 2020. When they are able to return and resume work, Phase III of EVIE plans to make EVIE nearly autonomous to limit work and outside effort required to maintain the greenhouse. To achieve sustainability, EVIE will run off a solar panel to supply power for any water pumping or climate control measures. In addition, a rain collection system will provide irrigation to the individual planters. Through both of these additions to the current mobile greenhouse, EVIE will be able to provide fresh, healthy produce without requiring significant labor or effort on the part of community members.

The findings from this project hope to contribute to the agriculture value-chain development in rural and urban areas by promoting community involvement and educating local schools, food banks, and churches on environmentally sustainable, hydroponic, aeroponic, and vertical greenhouse growing methods.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

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Stephanie Rodriguez

Stephanie Rodriguez

Stephanie Rodriguez is a senior at Southern Methodist University working toward an BBA in Marketing with a minor in Advertising. She is also involved with the Women in Business and Mustang Mavericks organizations.

Stephanie has been recognized with the Honor Transfer Scholarship. After completing her undergraduate studies, Stephanie would like to stay in Dallas and work in a sports marketing field or find another related career that would allow her to travel all over the world. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys exploring Dallas, dancing, and working out.

At the Hunt Institute, Stephanie serves as a Marketing Assistant managing the digital marketing day-to-day campaigns and compiling analytical data to inform decisions for the communication’s team strategy.  She also helps to implement the communication for the marketing of events for the Institute, the Inclusive Economy Consortium, and project related events.

Stephanie says, “Being able to help spread awareness of these amazing projects my coworkers are working on through what I do inspires me to work harder for them.”

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

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Srikanth Mangalam

Srikanth Mangalam is an internationally recognized expert in risk and outcome-focused decision making in areas of social impact and sustainable development with over 25 years of experience in North America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. He is considered as a visionary and a thought leader and has pioneered innovative solutions to addressing complex socio-economic and sustainability challenges including public safety, food security, gender equity, climate, health, youth employment and small-scale trade.

Srikanth established Prism Institute as a not-for-profit collaboration platform that helps address interconnected risks to global sustainable development through research, policy advocacy and technological innovation. Using a unique model that combines risk analysis, technology and dialogue, Prism Institute’s core work is focused on developing integrated risk management solutions across verticals including trade and competitiveness, employment and entrepreneurship, food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer product value chains, public health and safety, environment and climate change, gender equity and human development.

In this endeavor, Srikanth work with all levels of government, academic institutions, private sector, and multi-lateral agencies including the World Bank, in developed and developing economies in North America, Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe.

When asked what motives his work, he replied, “As much as I get excited about applying science, rational and logical thinking to solving complex social and development problems, I have learnt that building partnerships, relationships and trust with the people I interact with is far more important and motivating than the ideas that I may share and influence. This has instilled a greater sense of humility, empathy and situational awareness in my work while motivating me to be a better person every day. What I am able to learn and the amount of joy I get by listening to and interacting with people around the world and especially in places like Africa is both addictive and infectious”.

Srikanth is passionate about studying and bringing to light the need to look at interconnected risks that affect any social outcome of interest through the use of science and evidence-based approaches. He is excited about a project that he is currently leading which involves the development of a model that identifies and describes the relationships between various interconnected risk factors that affect youth unemployment globally. The model, he hopes, will lay the foundation for a more holistic, integrated, and comprehensive approach to designing interventions for achieving development goals such as SDGs.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

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JuliaGrace Walker

JuliaGrace Walker

JuliaGrace Walker is a senior at Southern Methodist University working toward a B.A. in International Studies and a B.A. in Economics with a minor in Spanish. She is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and Reformed University Fellowship, and she also serves as the President of SMU’s Program Council. She has previously served as a Resident Assistant in Boaz Commons and as the President of Boaz Commons Council.

Additionally, JuliaGrace has been recognized with the Rubottom Foreign Service Scholarship. After completing her undergraduate studies at SMU, JuliaGrace hopes to earn a master’s degree in International Development and later pursue a career in the foreign service.

At the Hunt Institute, JuliaGrace is the Undergradute Program Manager. She has also previously served as a Undergraduate Project Manager where she led teams working on projects within the Global Development Lab and used project management best practices to balance the three drivers of a project: time, budget, and scope. Specifically, JuliaGrace was the Undergraduate Project Manager on the Resilient Shelter and Better Building projects in the Institute.

JuliaGrace says she is “motivated by the work we are doing at the Hunt Institute because I know our projects are having broader impacts across the globe.”

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

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Varsha Appaji ’21

Varsha Appaji

Varsha Appaji ’21 is a Research Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Previously, Varsha worked as a Research Analyst in the Hunt Institute.

While Varsha studied at SMU, she found her passion at the place where her three majors intersected: critically evaluating the potential mechanisms that can help alleviate socioeconomic inequality. In the Hunt Institute, she worked as both Co-Lead of the Research Team and an Undergraduate Research Analyst on a project dedicated to analyzing what it takes for an inclusive economy to realistically and sustainably exist. Her work focused on optimizing a database of inclusive economics best practices to create a model of sustainable stakeholder collaboration. She co-authored a proposal for piloting a “Living Labs” model in Dallas geared toward decreasing inequity by improving public safety, sustainable housing, and entrepreneurship opportunities through technology. In addition, she initiated an effort for the Institute to analyze the policy impacts of IoTs, as well as the business case of emerging technologies.

Varsha also has great interest in the potential of emerging technologies. Through her research, she has discovered the vast impacts these technologies can make on agricultural production and access, green energy, emergency response systems, politics, privacy, and more, for better or for worse. Varsha is committed to furthering her study of the effects that technology can have on various aspects of human life. In the long run, she is motivated to one day shape policy that can ensure innovation is for the benefit of all humanity, serving to fill the gap between dominant and subaltern groups.

Varsha spoke about her connection when she worked in the Institute, “…our research is guided by a holistic scope. We look at intersections of industries and innovation so that we can address issues as a system versus as isolated situations. Rather than adding to the information-overload, we learn from established best practices and understand how we can implement their principles to make a realistic local impact.”

Varsha also spent her time at SMU as the Jack C. And Annette K. Vaughn undergraduate fellow of the Tower Center, actively involved in policy and international affairs research. Outside of her academic pursuits, Varsha is a South Indian classically trained singer and she regularly performs throughout the US, often alongside different world music ensembles.

Varsha graduated with a B.S. in Statistical Science, a B.A. in Public Policy, and a B.A. in Economics. She was recognized as an SMU Dean’s Scholar, Pre-Law Scholar, and Discovery Scholar.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

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Mohammed Njie, Social Enterprise 2021 Cohort Entrepreneur

Mohammed Nije, Social Entrepreneur, Inventor, Change Agent, The Gambia, Clean Energy, Digital Access

As the first student Social Entrepreneur in the Hunt Institute’s Social Enterprise Program, Mohammed Njie joined the Cohort in 2021 and is setting a precedent for dedicated, young entrepreneurship.

Mohammed was born and raised in The Gambia, a country in Western Africa, and has witnessed energy poverty firsthand. He attended high school at one of the few schools with electricity, and seeing students at other institutions without access to the same vital resources inspired him to make a difference in this area.

He is currently conducting research on efficient renewable energy systems that can be used to alleviate energy poverty in developing countries. Mohammed founded Janta Clean Energy with the intention of providing The Gambia with reliable, clean energy. A vision of his is to see all of Africa having access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy during his lifetime.

“I think it is important to realize that here at the Institute we are involved in a lot of projects where we can impact the lives of a lot of different people,” Mohammed said. “For their sake, it is very important that we push through…they are waiting for us.”

Mohammed initiated a pilot project called Innovation inTintinto on his last trip to The Gambia that installed solar panels in rural schools, tested capacity, and determined which elements are needed to enhance students’ academic experience. His second project Illuminating Tintinto expanded on these elements and installed additional panels for Tintinto Primary and Secondary School. Now, centered around these innovative solutions, his current project titled STEM Up Phase II is working to design and implement Wi-Fi-generating computer carts in local schools.

All the while, Mohammed is currently a senior at Southern Methodist University working toward a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and has been recognized as a Grand Challenges Scholar, winner of SMU’s Big Ideas, and is also part of the SMU Incubator.

Discussing his motivation for impact work as a social entrepreneur he said,“My passion for the work I do started when I was young. When you experience the problems you are trying to solve, it becomes personal. So as a young boy, I made it my life’s mission to help solve some of the problems I experienced growing up. So many people are in poverty because they do not have an opportunity. I want to change that.”

The December, Mohammed will be showcasing his work in the Institute’s Impact Forum along with other 2020 & 2021 Social Enterprise Cohorts.

More posts about Mohammed Njie:

December 15, 2019: “2019 Social Enterprise Cohort”

February 28, 2020: “Mohammed Njie – Travel Feature”

July 1, 2020: “Hunt Institute’s First Student Social Entrepreneur” 

November 9, 2020: “Innovation in Tintinto, The Gambia”

December 15, 2020: “2020 Social Enterprise Cohort”

April 13, 2021: “Illuminating Tintinto | Hunt Institute’s Project for SMU Giving Day 2021”

April 14, 2021: “2021 SMU Giving Day: The Power of One Person’s Vision”

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

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Sam Borton

Sam Borton, student at Southern Methodist University

Sam Borton is a senior at Southern Methodist University working toward a B.S. in Economics and Statistical Science, as well as a B.A. in Markets & Culture. He is a member of Beta Upsilon Chi fraternity, Reformed University Fellowship, and previously served as Student Facilitator for the Emerging Leaders program and Vice President of Boaz Residential Commons Council.

Sam has been recognized as a Provost Scholar. After completing his undergraduate studies at SMU, he hopes to find a career where he can utilize economic models and data analysis to alleviate poverty. In his free time, Sam enjoys playing sand volleyball, running, and watching sports.

At the Hunt Institute, Sam is an Undergraduate Research Analyst lending his skills in research to several interdisciplinary projects. He is the Co-Lead of the Research Analyst team, where he supports the training and onboarding of new researchers in the Institute. He is also the Data Aggregation Manager on the ImpactMap project team where he performs index research and management; he is also responsible for collecting, organizing, and evaluating data.

Sam’s research focuses on Filling the Gap for Seismic Protection as he researches seismic protection options for informal construction in Lima, Peru. His final report is a market analysis of the low-cost seismic protection market, along with a recommendation for the direction of further research.

When asked what drew Sam to work at the Institute he said, “For me, it is all the potential benefits of the projects of the Institute and the opportunity to work with experts in their fields.”

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

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Sydney Lobato

Sydney Lobato is a junior at Southern Methodist University working toward a B.S. in Engineering Management Information Systems (EMIS) with a minor in Environmental Earth Sciences. At the Hunt Institute, Sydney is an Undergraduate Project Manager where she leads teams working on projects within the Global Development Lab using project management best practices.

Sydney Lobato is a junior at Southern Methodist University working toward a B.S. in Engineering Management Information Systems (EMIS) with a minor in Environmental Earth Sciences. She is also a member of the Hegi Career Leaders Professional Development Program, Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, SMU Women’s Club Volleyball, and Pi Beta Phi sorority.

Sydney has been recognized as a Distinguished Scholar and member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and has been awarded the Discovery Scholarship, SMU Honor-Roll High Distinction, American Athletic Conference Athlete Honor Roll, and Academic Distinction for Pi Beta Phi. After completing her undergraduate studies at SMU, she hopes to complete the MBA program connected with the EMIS major at SMU. She wants to incorporate the study of space exploration and sustainability practices in future studies or jobs.

At the Hunt Institute, Sydney is an Undergraduate Project Manager where she leads teams working on projects within the Global Development Lab using project management best practices to balance the three drivers of a project: time, budget, and scope.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

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Yulise R. Waters, Esq.

Yulise Reaves Waters, Esq. joins the Hunt Institute as a Fellow bringing her industry expertise. Waters is the Director of Dallas Programs for the Lone Star Justice Alliance where she oversees the programmatic, data, and community engagement aspects of the Second Chance Community Improvement Program (SCCIP – pronounced “skip”).  Waters co-founded SCCIP as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Dallas and was responsible for securing one of ten 2016 Community Courts Grant Program grants awarded by the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Center for Court Innovation, establishing SCCIP as the first-ever felony community court in Dallas County history and the first-ever alternative to incarceration for young adults in the State of Texas.  SCCIP was also awarded the 2018 National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ Equity and Inclusion Award for “excellence and leadership in demonstrating and promoting cultural proficiency in treatment court services.” Prior to her role with the City of Dallas, Waters was partner in Cox Waters, P.L.L.C., a boutique Dallas law firm specializing in family law, collaborative practice and mediation.

Waters holds a B.A. in English and in Spanish (both magna cum laude) and her B.B.A. in Organizational Behavior and Business Policy (magna cum laude) from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas.  As a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, SMU’s highest academic scholarship, Waters completed studies at La Fundacíon de José Ortega y Gasset in Madrid, Spain, where she became proficient in speaking Spanish. As a graduating senior, Waters was awarded the SMU Department of English’s Shakespeare Prize for the best paper in all English sections, was named the Senior Woman of the Year by the Cox School of Business, and Senior Woman of the Year of SMU (Campus-wide).  Waters earned her Juris Doctorate degree from the Dedman School of Law at SMU. At Dedman, she served as Vice President of the SMU Black Law Students Association. A member of the Inaugural Emerging Leader Board at Dedman School of Law, which recognizes graduates over the last twenty years who have “a strong record of leadership in the legal profession and a proven commitment to public service,” she holds memberships in the Juvenile Law, Criminal Justice, and Collaborative Law Sections, and the Dallas Bar Association.  Additionally, Waters holds certifications in Texas Risk Assessment System, in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies, and she has completed additional training at the Caruth Police Leadership Institute.

An advocate for children, young adults, and families, Waters serves as an inaugural board member of POETIC Trauma Therapy Center and Creative Arts Studio, which builds a pipeline out of the juvenile justice system and into intensive aftercare for girls who have been exploited and trafficked.  She serves on the advisory board of the ARK (Adults Relating to Kids) Group, which works to build stronger families, schools, and communities by empowering adults to empower kids. And she serves on the board of Family Gateway which empowers children and families affected by homelessness. Waters has also been selected as a member of Leadership Dallas’ Class of 2020 and is an appointee to the Dallas ISD Racial Equity Office Trustee Appointed Advisory Council.

Waters has been named “One-to-Watch” by SMU Magazine, listed as a “Featured Graduate” of SMU Dedman Law by The Quad Magazine, and she is a recipient of the History Maker Award of the Black Alumni of SMU, their highest honor.  She has been named to the Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” of young professionals, to Who’s Who in Black Dallas, and to the City of Dallas’ Wall of Honor for meritorious service to the citizens of Dallas. Waters has also been named a 2019 Millennial-to-Watch and Honorable Mention Award co-recipients of the 2019 Juanita Craft Humanitarian Award in the Community Builder/Catalyst Category.  A 2017 and 2019 Dallas Public Voices Fellow, Waters’ commentary on race, justice, and policing has been featured on nationally-syndicated radio programs, and her published columns in major U.S. city newspapers.  A frequent speaker, Waters addresses civic, collegiate, corporate, church and legal bodies on topics of interest ranging from effective communication models and maximizing potential to alternatives to incarceration and community engagement. A published author, Waters’ most recent offerings, “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made,” on the adultification of black girls is included in When Kids Ask Hard Questions: Faith-filled Responses for Tough Topics and “God Heals Us” and “Somebody Prayed for Me” are included in Blessed Is She: The Transforming Prayer Journeys of 30 African American Women.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

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Duncan MacFarlane, Ph.D., Hunt Institute Senior Fellow

Duncan MacFarlane, Ph.D. Hunt Institute Senior Fellow

Duncan MacFarlane, Ph.D. joins the Hunt Institute as a Senior Fellow bringing his expertise in entrepreneurship and engineering. Dr. MacFarlane holds the Bobby B. Lyle Centennial Chair in Engineering Entrepreneurship and a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Southern Methodist University. Duncan has written more than 100 technical papers or patents in the general area of photonic systems and components. Specific research projects have included micro-optics, ultrafast lasers, photonic integrated filters, nonlinear optics, semiconductor lasers, RF and optical communications, and advanced displays. His work in photonic filters is used widely by practicing optical component and system engineers in industry. He pioneered the manufacture of micro-optics using inkjet techniques and invented a novel 3-dimensional volumetric display that has found application in aerospace.

When asked what motivates him to do impact work, Duncan replied, “I consider myself fortunate to be in a role where I can help everyone around become better and better off.”

Prior to joining SMU, Duncan spent 26 years at The University of Texas at Dallas. An early hire in the then nascent Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science he contributed to the definition and growth of a top engineering school. Duncan served as Program Head of Telecommunications Engineering, and as Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Programs, he started three new departments (Materials Science and Engineering, Bioengineering, Systems Engineering and Management) and six new degree programs. He has worked at Schafer Associates, Texas Instruments and at JDS Uniphase, and helped start Celion Networks, a telecommunications system start-up backed by Sequoia. He is a Co-Founder of MRRA, a company dedicated to improving medical imaging through supporting instrumentation. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Electromagnetics, Microwave Engineering, Optics, Probability and Statistics, Signals and Systems, Communication Systems and Electronics. Duncan received his BSEE and MSEE from Brown University, his Ph.D. from Portland State University and his MBA from SMU. Duncan is a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas and a Fellow of the Optical Society of America.

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.