Engineers Without Borders USA - Auburn University

01/03/2024

Happy 2024 from EWB!

We are pleased to announce that registration is open for our third annual Water Cycle on March 23!

All proceeds from the event will go directly towards our chapters projects in Bolivia and Guatemala. The proceeds from last year helped send 17 students to continue working on water distribution systems.

Secure your spot and a t-shirt using the link: aub.ie/watercycle. For students who are interested in riding, use code STUDENT2024 for a discount on your ride!

09/07/2023

After a restful two weeks post travel, chemical engineering student and travel team member, Molly Smith, reflects on the Bolivia trip:

The rough few days of travel experienced by the members of Auburn’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders are minor when compared to the daily trek to get water in the communities of Pararia and Quesimpuco.

While working in Bolivia, ten engineering students and two professors gathered data for the continued implementation of their project to fulfill the need for a reliable water source throughout the wet and dry seasons. They worked closely with community members, combining classroom knowledge with local methods to measure flow rates and field areas, ensuring the communities’ needs can be met.

A student took drone footage provided information on four possible sources of water to feed into the community’s second planned catchment tank. The engineering students’ varying majors strengthened their problem solving, data gathering, and teamwork. Whether manual labor or computations, the students showed drive and passion for the water project.

The community of Pararia enriched the students’ time there by not only providing practical engineering experience, but also by celebrating their arrival with flower wreaths and ending their last day in the community in a similar manner. They shared a meal together of goat and potatoes cooked in the ground, a market day in Quesimpuco where students bought handmade clothing and pottery, and a soccer game where the Bolivian team beat the students 5-3. �
Altitude and attitudes were high throughout the trip and remained high after returning to Auburn for the fall semester. Students and professors will now be modeling data gathered in Bolivia for the next steps of the project. The Auburn chapter of Engineers Without Borders believes in work, hard work, and the team to Bolivia embodied the spirit of Auburn’s creed in their trip there.

07/27/2023

Finally, our last story is from rising senior in mechanical engineering, Zach Twomey! Zach shares his favorite moment from Guatemala:

“At one part during our trip in Guatemala, I was on a team that was priming the pipeline (basically using valves to remove the air stuck inside so the water could finally flow) once we had already laid and connected the line from the natural spring to the tank. At one point, we realized we had reached the final valve location, after which rest of the path would be steep downhill, so we knew the line was fully primed and the water could flow all the way down. We excitedly radioed the rest of the team to tell them the news and began to hurry down the rest of the mountain. We were soon informed that the water had, in fact, reached the tank and some members of the community had gathered there to celebrate with fireworks, which I thought was a joke at first, but sure enough, we began to hear loud booms and cracks. After months of preparation and work, was a surreal moment as everyone cheered on the mountain and over the radio. When we finally made it down, we saw the emotional impact that our work was having on the community. Dozens of people were gathered at the tank, where water was flowing out of the pipe. Everyone was smiling and talking, and the air was filled with excitement, relief, and gratitude. Access to clean, reliable drinking water is life-changing for those who have had to live without it, and to be a small part of making that a reality has inspired me to work even harder to continue this work.”

Thank you all for listening to our stories, and we can’t wait to share more! The Guatemala team returns to Saloj July 30th, and the Bolivia team returns to Pararia August 6th. War Eagle!!

07/19/2023

Our last 2022 Bolivia story is from recent graduate, Garrison Smith. Garrison received his degree in aerospace engineering, and is currently work at Lockheed Martin as a flight test engineer on their F-35 program. Here is his story from Bolivia:

“While in country, I worked to educate the community on how to connect pipe lines to ensure efficient water delivery to crop fields. Water in the community is scarce, and being able to guarantee every drop of water can be captured for use is very important. To see something we take for granted be so significant to the community was really eye opening. My favorite part of the trip was having dinner with the team and the community. Benjo brought the house down with his singing. It was incredible at how welcoming everyone in the community was and how thankful everyone was for us being there. Just about everyone in the community made an effort to come meet us and thank us for being there. It really made us feel the meaning of our work. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime, and a memory I will never forget.”

07/10/2023

The next story is from mechanical engineering senior, Brennan Paucke. Brennan has been on every travel team since 2019. Due to different epidemics and travel complications, Brennan was finally able to travel to Guatemala in 2022. Here is his favorite moment:

“My most memorable part of the design was when Christian and I jerry-rigged a 90° elbow in a section of PVC pipe that was encased in galvanized pipe except for the elbow. I took a machete and cut down some sticks and we reinforced the elbow with them and baling wire. When we finally got water down from the mountain to the community, and they started cheering, dancing, praying, and shooting off fireworks, was top five best moments of my life. I also quite enjoyed riding in the bed of trucks to and from the worksite. Outside of work, culturally, Guatemala was amazing. The first night and last night there I had some of the best tacos I’ve ever eaten. I also got to hike up a volcano and pose at the top. All in all, helping to bring water to a community in need was an amazing experience and I can’t wait to go back this coming summer.”

06/30/2023

Our next story is newly graduated senior Kylie DuBose. Kylie completed her degree in civil engineering, and here is her story from Bolivia:

“In the summer of 2022, I traveled with an awesome group of people to Quesimpuco, Bolivia. Here I sat down with a man whose connection to this place extended for generations. With the stamina and agility of a mountain goat, he led us to his homestead as we Americans stumbled behind him gasping for air and grateful for the ankle support from our boots. He shares his story with us beginning with the fact that his home was built by his forefathers more than 150 years ago. For 150 years, this community of strong resilient people lived happily and peacefully solely off the resources around them. He points out that the homes we passed along the way have been abandoned and that his family no longer lives there either. Over the years water in that community has become more scarce and infrastructure is nonexistent or has already failed due to government negligence. The entire community has been forced out of the land they have existed on for more than 150 years. This is because they no longer have the one resource they need to survive.

This community does not ask for much, just the ability to continue the life they’ve known for generations and the basic necessity for human survival: water. This project will do that. This project is on track to put these people back together in the same environment they were literally born to thrive in. The first thing I learned about this field was that an engineer solves complicated problems with creative solutions using every available resource. EWB possesses those resources communities like Quesimpuco need and are more than willing to deliver. I am proud to be a part of the team that delivers.”

06/21/2023

In preparation for travel this upcoming summer, we want to share stories from students who traveled during 2022. To begin, mechanical engineering student, Josh Twomey traveled to Guatemala. Below is his story:

“My involvement with the Guatemala team of Auburn’s Engineers Without Borders has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Over the 2021-2022 school year, our team designed a roughly 3-kilometer water transmission, purification, and distribution system for the community of Saloj in Guatemala, and in the Summer of 2022, we were able to travel to Saloj to implement the system. The two weeks spent in Guatemala were deeply introspective and transformative for me. It was humbling hearing stories of the adversities the community members each had to overcome simply to afford buying water. Working side by side with them on this project, which they had been working on for over a decade to realize, was truly special. As the water rushed down the mountain in our completed pipeline for the first time, finally spilling out of the PVC and running through the Guatemalan children's fingers, the sense of pride and solidarity I felt was overwhelming. The fireworks, prayers, and tears of joy we shared with the community at that site will stay with me forever.

Coming into college, I knew I wanted to be involved with experiences like this with an organization like Engineers Without Borders. I had been part of some service opportunities in high school which had also given me experiences I can look back on and feel a similar pride. Engineers Without Borders seemed like the perfect way to merge service with hands on engineering experience. I’ve had the opportunity to work on the travel team, lead different sub-teams, and be a part of the fundraising committee which hosts the annual cycling event, all of which have been great experiences.”

04/25/2023

Water Cycle 2023 has officially concluded! Thank you all for making this such a memorable event. A huge thanks to our riders, volunteers and donors, we could not have done it without you. We raised a total of $27,000 that will go directly towards our water projects in Bolivia, Guatemala, and Auburn.

For pictures of the event and the results of each event, visit aub.ie/watercycle

04/19/2023

We are officially a few days away from the 2023 Water Cycle!

Registration is still open until the race begins and participants can register at the Dam too! Packet pickup and on-site registration in Auburn will be at James Bros Bike Shop, Friday, April 21 from 3-6, and packet pickup and on-site registration at the Martin Dam from 7-9 on Saturday, April 22.

Schedule of Events:
8am: Start of 60 mile Ride and Race
9am: Start of 30 mile Ride
10am: Start of 15 mile Ride
12pm: Lunch and Live Music by Jessie Osborne and Noah Darby will begin
2pm: Awards Ceremony

For more information, you can visit our website aub.ie/watercycle
We are excited to see you on Saturday! War Eagle!

03/23/2023

After a successful 2022 Water Cycle, we are hosting our second annual fundraising event that will be held on April 22 at Lake Martin Dam in Dadeville, Alabama!
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⁠Participants will be able to choose from three different path distances: 15, 30, or 60 miles. Additionally, for competitive cyclists, there will be a 60-mile race in which winners will be taking home prizes. Registration for the event includes tickets for food and live music at the Dam Jam following the ride. These tickets are also available for those who do not wish to ride during the event. T-shirts will be included in rider registration and available for individual purchase.
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All proceeds from the event will go directly towards our chapter’s next humanitarian project: providing water for drinking and irrigation in Guatemala and Bolivia. ⁠The proceeds from last year's event sent 18 of our students overseas to help implement the global projects.

Registration and more information is open now and can be accessed here: https://ewb.auburn.edu/cycling-event/
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For students who are interested in riding, use code STUDENT2023 for a discount on your ride!

11/17/2022

We are so excited to open registration for our second annual Water Cycle event benefiting our chapter. The event will be held on April 22nd. Visit this link to learn more and register:

https://wp.auburn.edu/ewb/cycling-event/?fbclid=PAAaaJQiIapa-JUT8Dytn3w93pMNFZoIB276LSkitYMSPRRN2E1UbElIKJhHQ

04/11/2022

We are so pleased to have finished our first annual Water Cycle event at Alabama Power’s Martin Dam. The proceeds from this event directly benefit our chapter. We hope to see everyone at next year’s event!

Almost 80 cyclists participated in this year’s first Water Cycle event at Martin Dam to raise money for water projects in Bolivia and Guatemala. The Auburn University student chapter of Engineers Without Borders hosted the event. Participants chose to bike either a 30-mile or 60-mile gravel course...