IEEE Humanitarian Technology Fund Awards First
Two Grants
24
September – The IEEE Foundation awarded
its first two grants from the IEEE
Humanitarian Technology Fund, established to assist
projects that use technology to improve the
quality of life especially in developing
countries:
- The Brown University chapter of
Engineers Without Borders was awarded
US$15,000 to help fund the Rainwater for
Humanity project in Kuttanad, India. The
project entails the construction of rainwater
storage reservoirs and catchment systems
with built-in purification devices to
capture rain from existing rooftops. The project
also includes a training program for
local women which will empower them to
eventually manage the reservoirs on
their own;
- Virginia State University was awarded
US$4,000 to support its Wireless
Messaging Device for Disaster Relief. The
project is intended to combat instances
of communication failure that hinder relief
efforts during natural or man-made
disasters.
These
were just two of the 12 grants awarded from
three distinct funds (IEEE Foundation General
Fund, the IEEE Life Member Fund, and the
Humanitarian Technology Fund) totaling US$146,467,
after the IEEE June Meeting Series.
