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Technology Development & Adaptation Accounting for Socio-Cultural Dimensions: Taking Nanotechnology to Villages
The rural regions of the globe account for a population of more than a billion people, with developing countries such as India having close to 60% of the population living in such areas. As these countries develop, there is a need for deployment of advanced technologies to accelerate the pace of development and growth. In some cases, technology has a role to play to alleviate issues of energy resource depletion, environmental concerns and public health issues. While technology development is a well established practice, the deployment in rural areas is specially challenging - and both development and deployment need to take place accounting for socio-cultural dimensions. Often this is not done, and hence there is a disconnect with technology development and the actual adaptation that results in benefits to humankind. To address these issues, a collaborative project has been initiated with colleagues in the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. We title the project - "Taking Nanotechnology to the Village". Advanced technologies have a major role to play in rural development.
The first project undertaken will evaluate the development of biomass burning cookstoves. While several projects are underway in many parts of the world, a majority of them have focused on only characterizing the adverse public health impacts. Several have addressed methodologies for improvement of energy efficiencies, but not designs to protect public health. Our approach is: FROM THE FIELD TO THE LAB; AND, THEN FROM THE LAB TO THE FIELD. The project is funded by the McDonnell Academy Global Energy and Environmental Partnership (MAGEEP) and the team consists of the following investigators:
Dr.
Gautam Yadama, School of Social Work, WUStL
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTION WITH NEW STOVE DESIGNS: IMPLEMENTATION IN GAUTEMALA
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