Usability Testing Protocol for Cookstoves

Usability is a critical factor in a cook’s decision to purchase or adopt an improved cookstove, as well as to continue use long-term. While the study and incorporation of usability is common in product design for high-income countries, there has historically been little material available to help evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency with which a cookstove meets a user’s needs and as a result, usability has often been overlooked.

NASA ARSET training on humanitarian applications of satellite imagery

FUEL Consumption Sensor for Biomass Cookstoves

Measuring Real-World Performance of the Jet-Flame Cookstove Accessory in Malawi

Project Purpose

To quantify and compare the usage, fuel consumption, and personal and/or ambient PM2.5 exposure implications between the baseline, stove only, and stove + jet-flame kit (JFK) using an integrated sensor system for 10 days for each phase in 55 rural households in Malawi. These data will be useful for understanding the impact of the stove and JFK in real world use.

Design of Cordwood Heating Stoves for Underserved US Communities

Goat-Milk Soap in Uganda

Under the guidance of professor Kendra Sharp (the Richard and Gretchen Evans Professor of Humanitarian Engineering), students completed their capstone project working with a nonprofit organization, TERREWODE. This summer, they are conducting additional field research in Uganda.

Micro-Hydro Development in Pakistan

Many sources suggest the tremendous potential for hydropower generation in Pakistan. However, the current lack of accurate hydrological data and quantitative metrics makes it very difficult to estimate the distribution of power potential across that region. This project will fill this knowledge gap, promoting the optimal utilization of Pakistan’s national hydropower resources.

Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory

The international Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory explores the crucial connections between weather, crop productivity, and food security.