Join us & learn more about the Humanitarian Engineering work being done at OSU!
Increasingly, we’ve found that the engineering students at Oregon State University are seeking ways to make a lasting impact on our world. In response to this demand, a diverse group of faculty from engineering, humanities, public health, forestry and has worked together to launch this humanitarian engineering program. A fact sheet about the program can be found here.
We define humanitarian engineering as the co-development of science or engineering-based solutions to improve the human condition, namely through improved access to basic human needs (e.g., clean water, clean energy), an improved quality of life, or improved level of community resilience (e.g. disaster mitigation, economic resilience).
While the greatest needs often lie in the developing world, we recognize that needs exist within our borders, too, so our program is consciously both global and local in orientation. The importance of co-developing solutions through active community engagement and sensitivity to context is critical in any setting.
Our mission is to cultivate science and engineering-based solutions that provide access to basic human needs, enhance life quality, and advance the level of community resilience in the local and global community.