Michigan Tech's D80 Center—a newly formed collaboration of Engineers Without Borders, International Senior Design, AquaTerraTech Enterprise, Master's International Peace Corps Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, International Sustainable Development Engineering Certificate, and International Research Experiences Program—held its first conference Saturday, Nov. 3 with over 450 in attendance.

D80 is dedicated to assisting the most vulnerable 80 percent of humanity in meeting their basic needs for food, water, shelter, sanitation, waste disposal, energy, income and education. The programs that comprise D80 provide many education, research and service opportunities for students interested in gaining valuable professional experience while making a difference in the lives of others today. More than a dozen faculty and 350 students have contributed their efforts to make D80 a success.

The conference featured presentations by D80 students ranging from PhD candidates to high school seniors. Provost Lesley Lovett-Doust and Assistant Professor Kurt Paterson (CEE) opened the conference. Keynote speakers included Cathy Leslie, executive director of Engineers Without Borders-USA; Professor Linda Phillips (CEE); and Professor James Mihelcic (CEE).

"The D80 Conference is an opportunity to have a dialogue focused on Michigan Tech's international leadership in the area of sustainable development research, education and service programs," said Paterson. "The conference will demonstrate how such programs are redefining university education and how they can be integrated into scholarly pursuits to great, positive effect."

Visit D80 Conference Vido Clips of presentations

More Photos Slide Show of D80 Conference

Superb international buffet was in the Rozsa Atrium, Chef Eric Karvonen

Slide Show of D80 Conference

Presenters

•International Senior Design: Los Bosques Barrio by Cindy Schafer, Ryan Biehl, and Travis Ostrom View project

•International Senior Design: Avenida Vallegrande by Mike Ostendorf, Jordan Leep, Dana Volk, and Grant Ovist View project

•Engineers Without Borders: Helping Honduras Kids: EWB Designs a Nutrition Center by Pamela Brushaber (above), Brendan Held, and Michael Novick

•Research: Perceptions of drinking water quality and associated health risks: A case study in Potam, Sonora, Mexico by Stacey Pilling

•Peace Corps Master's International: Sustainable Development Jamaica Me Crazy! by Drew Snauffer

•Houghton High School: 2007 Bolivia Project by Kyle Krym

•International Senior Design: Moscu Ave and Barrio Los Pinos del Sur by Kerri Sleeman, Giancarlo Calbimonte, and Amanda Schmidt View project

•Engineers Without Borders: Point of Use Water Filtration Micro-Enterprise in Bolivia by Kim Landick, Steve Wright, and Sam Hendricks

•Aqua Terra Tech Enterprise: Remote Sensing for Characterizing Water-Bearing Fractures for Groundwater Supply in Volcanic Terrains: Boaco, Nicaragua

•Peace Corps Master's International: From Houghton to Cameroon and back again by Lauren Fry

•A World of Opportunity: International Engineering Careers and How to Construct Them by Elizabeth Myre

•International Senior Design: Avenida Flamingo by DaVaughn Dixon, Cassandra Fahl, and Morgan Petersen View project

•International Senior Design: Barrio Telchi by Danielle Bischoff, Steve Roznowski, Daniel Titze, and Sunny Pereira View project

•Engineers Without Borders: Los pozos exitosos: Clean Water In Guatemala by Patrick C. Miller, Fritz N. Burt, and Laura R. Oman

•Study Abroad: Panama to Mexico - A Journey Through Central America by Kate Rogers and Jon Malette

•International Research Experience: The Challenges of Working in Bolivia by Rachael Feldpausch, Andrew Manty (above, left), Sunny Pereira, and Elizabeth Quinley (above, right)

Visit D80 Conference Vido Clips of presentations