Service-Learning Project Examples

Water Resources Analysis for Honduras

Course: 14.570 - Waste Water Treatment & Storm Water Management

Instructor: Bill Moeller

Partner: Mesoamerican Development Institute (MDI)

 

Partner Description:  The Mesoamerican Development Institute (MDI) works in Central America to promote sustainable methods for coffee farmers to make a profit, by setting up co-ops where the farming families have control, using renewable energy technologies, and hermetic packaging.  They also work with local organizations, such as the National College of Forestry in Honduras and in this case acted as a liaison with the faculty member.

Project Description:  Students were assigned the development and writing of a report for the National College of Forestry in Honduras that addressed issues in their regional location regarding water resources using concepts learned in class.

Learning objectives met by the S-L project:

• To deepen the students’ knowledge of waste water and storm water technologies
• To practice writing a technical report for a non-technical audience
• To realize the complexities of a real customer, especially in dealing with a location about which little information is available.

Community objectives met by S-L project:

• To provide a model to MDI about the types of work UML students can deliver.