#student – Page 2 – Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity

June 21, 2021February 16, 2022

HunTalks: The Gambia Energy Project

Mohammed Njie has a mission to bring clean energy to The Gambia. Since his first day at the Hunt Institute, he has been working to make this vision a reality. Mohammed is a senior at Southern Methodist University double majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the Lyle School of Engineering. He was the first Student Social Entrepreneur in the history of the Hunt Institute Social Enterprise program. He is recognized as a Grand Challenges Scholar, winner of SMU’s Big Ideas, and is also part of the SMU Incubator. Mohammed was born and raised in The Gambia in West Africa. After graduating high school, he constructed his first electric car. His childhood helped solidify his life mission from a young age: helping to close the energy gap between the Global North and South, starting in The Gambia.

The limited energy sector in The Gambia leaves the majority of the country’s population in need of electricity. The demand for energy in the Gambia far exceeds the available supply. For more than three decades, the national utility company NAWEC has struggled to meet the ever-growing demand. Of the 48% of Gambia’s population that has access to electricity, they experience frequent blackouts because the supply is unreliable. The Gambia has one of the highest energy production costs, not only in Africa, but in the whole world ($0.32/KWh). The high costs are mainly due to the importation of expensive diesel that is used as fuel for generators by the national utility company. The rest of the 52% of the population do not have access to a grid that supplies energy, resulting in no access to electricity. This leaves two categories of customers in the Gambian electricity market: (1) Urban Gambians with unreliable access to electricity and expensive tariffs, and (2) Rural Gambians with no access to electricity at all.

Mohammed discusses his motivation, saying, “Energy infrastructure is at the foundation of economic, environmental, and social growth. The Gambia, the smallest country in Africa, lacks this essential infrastructure but has the desire and resources to support it. Janta is the solution that will bring clean, reliable energy to the Gambia to facilitate the country’s growth and development. The need for energy in The Gambia is necessary now more than ever given the effects of climate change on agriculture, the country’s most important industry. This makes our venture a necessary and worthy cause.”

In this edition of HunTalks™, Mohammed shares his journey to make this vision a reality as a student employee in the Institute. Click on the video above to hear him share about his colleagues in the Institute and how they have contributed to his success.

Previous 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, 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.

May 19, 2021February 17, 2022

Alejandra Hinojosa

Alejandra Hinojosa is currently pursuing a MA in Sustainability and Development with a specialization in Global Sustainable Design and she is intending to graduate in 2022.

Alejandra is involved as a board member of non-profit Promise of Peace. In her spare time, she enjoys film, being outdoors, painting, gardening, and thrifting

In her role as Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Zarazaga, Alejandra will be working on projects with Kijiji Sustainable Solutions. In the future, she plans to pursue a career spearheading collaborative projects at the intersection of sustainable design and environmental justice.

When asked what motivated her to work at the Hunt Institute, she replied, “I was drawn to the innovative projects I’m working on with Kijiji that promote equity, collaboration, and sustainability. The passionate, socially driven work is always the most exciting to be apart of.”

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.

May 13, 2021February 28, 2022

Hunt Institute Senior Tribute Spring 2021

Each year in the month of May, there is the bittersweet turnover that is a result of having a team of student workers. We cheer for students completing their education at Southern Methodist University and at the same time, wipe away a tear watching them leave.

I personally cannot help but reflect on each senior’s time at the Hunt Institute with nostalgia; I remember their training, watching each one grow in their own talents, and celebrating their breakthroughs in projects, processes, and academic challenges. At the same time, though, I am comforted by the introduction of new team members capable and ready to receive the baton and run the race.

As is tradition, we are thrilled to showcase some of our graduating team members through a Senior Tribute video. As we have done with many of our traditions, we have adapted this video to represent both our distance and in-person team members. We invite you to watch the video above to meet some of our graduating team members and hear their takeaways from their time at the Institute.

Impressively, most student workers in the Institute are leaders in student organizations, honors program members, recipients of scholarships with strict academic requirements, and/or volunteers in their community and on campus at SMU. Honestly, sometimes I do not know how they do all this while maintaining such good grades and producing such quality work in the Institute. They are ranked in the best of the best all-around students at SMU in my eyes.

In the almost five years I have run the Institute’s program, it has grown and improved because of the input and perspective of each team member. We are interdisciplinary in nature. 20% of our students have majors in Dedman, 30% in Lyle, 13% in Meadows, and 9% in Cox, while 28% have majors across multiple schools. In addition, 41% of our student workers have two or more majors. 22% of our students are masters level, while the remaining 78% are undergraduates. This combination creates a unique opportunity for growth in each student in their perspectives and interpersonal skills.

Over the years, we have tested many new ideas; some worked, and some did not. I always remind the over-achievers that failure is part of what innovation is all about. For most of us, that is hard to handle. You beta test things on a small scale and keep looking until you find the right solution to the given challenge. It very rarely is the first thing you try. Our successes are the result of all the failed attempts. Speaking of learning, I learn more from them than they do from me on many occasions. Reverse mentoring is a common practice in the Institute!

One of my favorite things is when seniors tell me they accepted an offer of employment. We jump up and down cheering, telling all the other team members the great news! Everyone joins in the celebration. We laugh, we cheer, we clap, and affirm them that this is the fruit of years of labor. I usually say, “Of course they chose you, you are exactly what they are looking for!” and I mean it. This does not just happen overnight, certainly not just because they got lucky. Each one earned their offer.

I end this note congratulating our seniors for finishing strong while facing many challenges along the way. Seniors, based on the legacy you leave behind in our Institute, you all are truly world changers. We are grateful for each of you and your contribution to the work of the Hunt Institute while you studied at SMU.

Congratulations and welcome to the alumni family! #PonyUp – Corrie A. Harris

JuliaGrace Walker contributed to the graphic.

Read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems here. We invite you to listen Join us for ImpactNights® or listen to our podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the Institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our weekly update by emailing your contact information to huntinstitute@smu.edu.

April 13, 2021

Winner of the Water Environment Association of Texas, Student Design Competition 2021

On Tuesday, March 30th, 2021, the Lyle Senior Design Team took First Place in the virtual Student Design Competition, sponsored by the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT). The regional student design competition is typically held during the annual Texas Water Conference. The winning presentation entitled, “Intercontinental Airport WWTP Improvements and Expansion Project”, consisted of increasing the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, at the Houston airport, from 8 MGD to 11 MGD to accommodate the increased flow. The design report consists of treatment alternatives for Biological Nutrient Removal processes, solid handling processes, and odor-control technologies to ensure long-term sustainability for the plant.

WEFTEC, the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition, and Conference is the largest conference of its kind in North America and offers water quality professionals from around the world the best water quality education and training available today. More than 20,000 people register for the event each year. Attendees travel from all corners of the globe to meet with thought leaders and attend technical sessions more than 3,000 registrants from more than 80 countries attended the event in the 2019 year.

Harshada Pednekar, a Graduate Research Analyst at the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity, served as Project Manager for the WEAT team. In addition to being responsible for communication as a primary contact, she also spearheaded the design options for the IAH wastewater treatment plant expansion. She had the opportunity to design the BNR process and technical report writing. Ms. Pednekar is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering. Currently, Ms. Pednekar is a teaching assistant for the Meteorology course. Also, previously she worked as TA for Geographical Information System and Lab & Field Method at Lyle school of engineering. Her combination of strong work ethic, academics, and fieldwork made her an asset in the improvement and expansion of the Intercontinental Airport WWTP.

In October 2021, the SMU team will go on to compete at the national level, representing the State of Texas, during the 94th Annual Water Environmental Federation Technical Exhibit and Conference (WEFTEC) Student Competition, in Chicago, Illinois.

April 13, 2021February 10, 2022

Illuminating Tintinto | Hunt Institute’s Project for SMU Giving Day 2021

Today is SMU Giving Day – the one day of the year for all Mustangs to come together in support of the SMU causes and students we care about most. Giving day is not about how much we each give, it’s about the impact we can make as a collective. The more Mustangs who give, the more positive change we can create. Donations received are put into a matching program, making all donations even more impactful and appreciated.

For this year’s SMU Giving Day, the Hunt Institute is featuring a Global Development Lab project that is installing solar panels for Tintinto Primary & Secondary School, a school in a remote village in West Africa. The beginning of this pilot proved to be successful and we will be continuing the development of this project. Principal Amadou Kinteh, teachers, parents, and students are pleased with having access to clean energy and are excited to see the completion of this project with the final section of the school illuminated by Summer 2021!

During COVID-19, school administrators reported that having access to electricity created the opportunity for teachers and students to work remotely by having access to charge their cell phones in rotations at the school during the pandemic lockdown. When the schools were able to re-open, the teachers hosted additional tutoring times for students after school to help bridge any gaps that occurred during their absence due to the pandemic. As a result, Principle Kinteh reported that his students excelled in their exams (equivalent to state exams in the USA). Watch him talk about their experiences in the above video.

Mohammed Njie is an SMU student and Hunt Institute Social Entrepreneur who founded Janta Energy to provide sustainable, clean, and reliable energy to The Gambia, a West African country where just 48% of people have limited access to electricity, leaving the remaining 52% with no access. Recently, he published a website for this initiative called JantaGM.com.

In December of 2019, the Tintinto Primary and Secondary School agreed to be a beta test site for Janta’s pilot project. In January of 2020, a team installed five 330-watt 24-volt solar panels, two 250-amp 12-volt solar batteries, and a 50-amp solar charge controller to power four classrooms and a staff room. The pilot was designed to test the panel’s effectiveness as a solution to bring electrical connections for lights, fans, and eventually computers. Although the entire school is not yet powered, Njie has a vision: “As a pilot project, we were limited to installing a [certain] amount of panels. We used those panels to provide 100% energy for half of the school. The idea was that after we did a successful pilot project, then we will install more panels to extend the power to the other side of the school.”

Join us as we prepare to finish installing the necessary panels to complete this project for the Tintinto Primary and Secondary School so that all teachers and students will have access to electricity in their classrooms.

Eventually, Janta will use this concept to build a micro-grid, with the school at the center, to help power the entire village. Looking ahead to the future, Janta Energy seeks to replicate the model used in Tintinto across other rural villages as well, eventually spanning the entirety of the country. You can help make a difference in the lives of Gambians by contributing to the Hunt Institute’s project for SMU Giving Day to finish this pilot project. All proceeds will go toward this project in The Gambia.

April 13, 2021 all day giving day #SMUDayOne resulted in meeting our goal.

Check back for updates as this project progresses!

The Hunt Institute and everyone in the Tintinto Primary & Secondary School appreciates your support for this Global Development Lab project.

March 1, 2021February 28, 2022

Natalie Owings

Natalie Owings is currently pursuing a BBA in Marketing with minors in French and Graphic Design. She is intending to graduate in May of 2023.

Natalie is involved on campus as Intern for SMU Athletics Hospitality, and as a Design Editor for the SMU Lookbook. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, working out, taking photos, and making personal projects within the Adobe programs.

In her role as an Undergraduate Social Media Marketer at the Hunt Institute, Natalie will be 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. In the future, she plans to pursue a career with a marketing team for internationally connected brands or sports industries.

When asked what drew her to work at the Hunt Institute, she replied “I was drawn to the Hunt Institute because it provided me an opportunity to expand collaboration with my peers while creating impactful projects for national and international communities. To me, it satisfied my desires to involve myself into a purposeful organization at SMU and intertwine my fascination with foreign matters.”

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.

March 1, 2021February 28, 2022

Sofia Murillo

Sofia Murillo is currently pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science, and she is intending to graduate in May of 2024. Sofia is a member of both the SMU Distinguished Scholars and the SMU Discovery Scholars programs.

Sofia is involved on campus as a Chief Marketing Officer at SHPE SMU and as a Hilltop Scholar. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the violin, drawing both traditionally and digitally, and playing tennis.

In her role as Undergraduate Web Developer at the Hunt Institute, Sofia will be curating coding content, working with web development, and providing technical support to any initiatives throughout the Institute. In the future, she plans to pursue a Computer Science Ph D and create innovative tech solutions that change the world for the better.

When asked what motivated her to work at the Hunt Institute, she replied, “”It is beyond gratifying to work with World Changers at the Hunt Institute in order to solve and impact pressing world problems.”

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.

February 4, 2021February 28, 2022

Brianna Flores

Brianna Flores is currently pursuing a BFA in Film & Media Arts and a B.A. in Journalism with minors in Arts Management and Photography at SMU, and she is intending to graduate in May of 2023. Brianna is a recipient of the Meadows Artistic Scholarship and Fulton Communication School Scholarship.

On campus, Brianna has been involved as Communications Coordinator for McElvaney Residential Commons and as Student Facilitator for the Emerging Leaders Program, a leadership development program for first-year students. In her spare time, she enjoys her job as a taekwondo instructor and discovering new restaurants in Dallas.

In her role as Undergraduate Videographer at the Hunt Institute, Brianna will be planning and producing a variety of visual content based on the projects and events going on in the Institute.

When asked what about the Institute was appealing to her, she replied that it “not only lets [her] learn about others’ innovative ideas, but also allows [her] to create something powerful with their ideas in order to inform people.”

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.

December 15, 2020February 28, 2022

Women Artisans and the Case for Handicrafts

The Case for Homemade by Silvia Rivera '18, SMU and Hunt Institute Alumni

As more and more social entrepreneurs show up in industry, both non-profit and for-profit, there is increasing overlap between the initiatives of the Social Enterprise and the Global Development Lab. While this integration will be a primary focus for the Hunt Institute in 2021, the overlap between entrepreneurship and innovation has been evident in past Institute projects, too, such as a report on the international handicrafts industry by Silvia Rivera ’18.

Rivera moved with her family from Chiapas, Mexico as a child. With this perspective, she has always been passionate about breaking down complex issues to empower underrepresented individuals. During her college journey at SMU, Rivera was immersed in exploring handicrafts and artisanal goods. She soon joined the Hunt Institute as an undergraduate researcher mentored by the Executive Director Dr. Eva Csaky. At the end of her senior year, Rivera’s findings lead her to conclude that handicrafts, “have a significant potential for social impact, both in terms of the income they generate and the cultural traditions they help preserve.”

Her research questions searched for a connection point to link local artisans with the global supply chain. Shortly before completing her work at SMU, Rivera journeyed to Washington D.C. for The Creative Economy Matters conference, which had a lasting impact on her. She produced a report titled “The Case for Handmade,” exploring the global artisan sector, its potential for impact, and both the challenges and opportunities involved in realizing this potential.

Foundational to inclusive economic development is the IE Model for entrepreneurs, corporations, and enablers developed by Dr. Csaky (see Applied IE Model below).

Applied Inclusive Economy Model, Dr. Eva Csaky — Model by Dr. Eva Csaky, Executive Director of the Hunter & Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity

This model led Rivera to search for the multi-stakeholders, global forces, and the opportunity for inclusive growth to local economies. The abstract of her report states, “From the definition of artisanal activity, to its importance for poverty alleviation, to the various challenges and opportunities faced by artisans, businesses, and other sector stakeholders, this report concludes with a brief case-study of the DFW market for artisanal goods, attempting to put to the test ideas set forth herein on the global artisan sector and the key opportunities that may point the way forward.”

According to Rivera’s report, handicrafts are an essential source of secondary income. About 80% of artisans are women globally, and the handicraft industry was worth $32 billion in 2018. Because it is not capital intensive, the barriers to entry are low. Typically speaking, women reinvest 90% of earnings into their family and train other women, passing down their skills and knowledge. Her research found that these women were quite resourceful, using existing resources and materials to enhance the uniqueness of their handicrafts.

Rivera says, “But the potential for impact doesn’t stop there, like I mentioned earlier there are other cultural aspects to handmade goods that make them more than the sum of their parts, and part of that is that often that they are made by marginalized ethnic minorities using (again often but not always) traditionally environmentally friendly methods. This part of their potential needs more research and attention but does pop up in the literature.”

Women artisans help to support education, healthcare, and housing for themselves and their families. The industry serves as an important source of diversification, especially as climate change negatively affects rural agriculture. Challenges facing artisan women are well documented, country-specific, and difficult to overcome with a one-size-fits-all solution. Primary challenges include informality, aggregation, access to information, and access to finance. Finding opportunities to overcome these challenges is where the social impact space can help the most, investigating global connection points to consumer, entrepreneurial, and corporate trends for artisan groups.

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.

November 16, 2020February 28, 2022

Youth Up Next: Gearing Up the Next Generation of Innovators and Entrepreneurs

The Action Research Center launches YouthUp Next 2.0. to prepare the next generation of global leaders.

On November 14^th, students started a cutting edge program designed to support young innovators and entrepreneurs. The Young Social Innovators & Social Entrepreneurs program is designed to foster creativity, innovation, and social entrepreneurship in the Dallas/Ft Worth Area. Furthermore, it aims to enhance student’s leadership abilities through exposure to and practice of leadership skills and concepts that emphasize self-awareness, interpersonal communication and insightful analysis of resources and systems.

Dr. Candice L. Bledsoe, executive director of the Action Research Center, says, “It is refreshing to work with such a diverse group of young change makers who are developing the knowledge, skills, and practices to become global leaders.

Recently, the Action Research Center was awarded the UN Global Leadership Award in Sustainable Goal 4: Quality Education. Dr. Bledsoe envisions a world where young students and change makers develop solutions to address problems in their communities.

One example of a future change maker is Kortni Foreman of Townview Magnet High School, Class of 2022. Kortni says, “Social innovation and, more specifically, social entrepreneurship is crucial to me simply because I hope to be the person I wish I had seen when I was younger. In STEM fields, women of color are underrepresented and overlooked, so I have dedicated my time to creating a project to narrow the gap. Joining the Young Social Innovators and Social Entrepreneurs program will help me reach that goal by giving me the support and feedback I need to provide to my community and, ultimately, to younger versions of myself.”

To join the Young Social Innovators and Young Social Entrepreneurs, visit youthupnext.eventbrite.com.

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.