Teaching Science by Encouraging Innovation in Appropriate Technologies for Sustainable Development

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Appropriate technologies, those able to be easily and economically constructed from readily available materials by local craftspeople, have a central role in the alleviation of poverty in the developing world. Research and development of these technologies are, however, generally apportioned relatively modest support by the developed world’s institutions in part because the operation of many of these appropriate technologies is dependent on relatively well-understood science accessible even to introductory college science and engineering students. This paper describes a project-based assignment utilized for two years that benefited from this opportunity to motivate students to learn both science and innovative problem-solving by offering them a chance to make concrete contributions to the optimization of appropriate technologies for sustainable development. The outcomes of this new method of service learning will be discussed. Finally, the advantages of applying this teaching methodology will be highlighted.

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