Enlightened Engagement
We take the existence of electricity for granted, but without it (as 40% of Nicaraguans are), you must rely on kerosene lanterns or wood fires—which can lead to respiratory diseases and accidents— to do anything after dark.
Yesterday's (Sept 19) issue of the Minnesota Daily had a story about a University of Minnesota electrical engineering student, Patrick Delaney, who is implementing an idea to provide light to rural Nicaraguans without electricity. Delaney originally thought to provide electricity through hydroelectric power, but instead found a family that had figured out a way to charge a car battery with a solar panel. He returned to Minnesota, enlisted a business school senior and several others, developed a business plan, and formed a nonprofit organization called "Bright New Ideas" to find a manufacturer and distribute 500 solar-powered lanterns to Nicaraguans by December.
The combination of technical knowledge—both engineering and business—with community-driven needs and ideas and student passion is a great example of the sort of engagement that we hope our students will develop.