Engineering for Change
Engineering for Change (E4C) is an online platform and international community of engineers, scientists, non-governmental organizations, local community advocates and other innovators working to solve problems in sustainable global development. Their mission is to 'prepare, educate, and activate the international technical workforce to improve the quality of life of people and the planet.'
| Founded | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Founder | American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Engineers Without Borders |
| Type | International development and education charity |
| Focus | International development, sustainable development, appropriate technology, open source, health, water, sanitation, architecture, aid, infrastructure and education |
| Location |
|
Area served | International |
| Method | Online collaboration and education |
Members | c. 70,000 |
Key people | President Iana Aranda |
Employees | 11 staff, 200+ fellows |
| Website | engineeringforchange |
The organization's founding partners are the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and Engineers Without Borders USA. It is now under the umbrella of ASME's Engineering for Global Development program. Collaborators include Siemens Stiftung, The Level Market, Autodesk Foundation, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, CAWST, WFEO, ITU, Institute of Food Technologists, and United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth. E4C facilitates the development of affordable, locally appropriate and sustainable solutions to the most pressing humanitarian challenges and shares them freely online as a form of open source appropriate technology.
Members of the E4C community use the platform's online tools to share knowledge, research global development issues, products and services, and deepen their professional development. The organization provides services through seven channels:
- The Solutions Library, a database of products that meet basic needs
- Monthly webinars and academic seminars
- Fellowship Program
- News and analysis
- Research in collaboration with external partners
- Online courses in global development engineering and design
- Jobs and volunteer opportunities board
Information about products and services fall into eight categories on the organization's Web site, and they can include big infrastructural projects such as community water purification and bridge building, or smaller, personal technologies such as bicycle-powered electricity generators and cellphone applications for healthcare.