GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Experience: Engineers Without Borders (EWB) - UMBC

Level: Bronze

Description and Reflection:

The goal of EWB is to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged communities through the implementation of economically and environmentally sustainable engineering projects. EWB meets the expectations of the Grand Challenges program by allowing its participants to grow and innovate in a global economy. 

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As a member of the EWB-UMBC team and serving on the executive board, I learned about the planning necessary to making a project of this magnitude a reality. Particularly, EWB-UMBC is focused on implementing a water infrastructure project in the community of San Rafael, Costa Rica. This experience is related to restoring and improving infrastructure to help a community meet their basic needs. Though it is not urban, this experience still ties to the mission of the program to help every single person in the world fulfill their greatest potential. Even though the project is an engineering one, I learned how important it is to have an interdisciplinary team with people from varying academic and ethnic backgrounds. 

Through my participation, I attended the weekly meetings. Through these workshops, I was able to help edit grants and organize funding for events like the national EWB meeting in Pittsburgh. I have been actively involved with EWB-UMBC for 2 semesters, for about 2 hours a week. 

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Program Learning Objectives:

Perspectivism: As a person seeking to collaborate on an engineering project, it is important to seek and acknowledge the perspectives of the community that we are working with because these are the people who will be directly influenced by the projects implemented. I

Realistic vision: It is important to be able to realize the economic, social, and environmental constraints of the projects and be not only innovative but realistic during the planning and implementation of these projects contributing to the goal of realistic vision.

Teamwork: extensive team work will be needed in order to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of all of the members of the group and support one another in our weaknesses. we have to work and collaborate with the community we are partnering with and recognize our responsibilities with them.

Persistence: this project is challenging, and many difficulties may arise so persistence will be important in order to view this as a part of the path to creating a solution.

Flexibility: It is important to modify infrastructure plans in order to satisfy their needs and to be flexible and accommodating if there are any changes.

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Global Learning Objectives:

Working with Diverse Teams.  EWB-UMBC will be working with the community in Costa Rica requiring knowledge of ethnic and cultural similarities and differences. Also, within the EWB UMBC team, we have multiple engineering disciplines on board. For example, some students are studying mechanical engineering while others are studying chemical or computer engineering. Also, we all have differing knowledge of the Spanish language. This project will help me learn how to communicate with a team with people of different academic and professional skills.

Global Citizenship.  EWB is directly involved in solving sustainability challenges to serve the needs of the most deprived communities all around the world despite the borders that divide us. Through working on a project with EWB and Costa Rica, I will be able to develop skills and techniques that will allow me to connect to the international community. In addition, I will learn how engineering challenges are specific to Costa Rica.

Cultural Awareness.  Working with a new country requires knowledge of the language and social/behavioral context when speaking to collaborators. 

Openness to Difference.  I will learn the differences between my team and the team in Costa Rica. Because of differences, it is important to communicate clearly and interact with the community and its citizens, leaders, and other engineers non judgmentally.

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Additional Learning Objectives:

Interpersonal Communication: Working with a new community will require interactions with different people and stakeholders in Spanish. Due to cultural differences, it is important to be aware of the meaning of certain traditions Also, it is important to ask questions as well to clarify any confusion.

Situational Awareness: It is important to be aware of the cultural and political climate by researching before travel.

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