Service-Learning Project Examples
- Composting Coffee for Fertilizer - Honduras
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Course: 18.584 - Sustainable Infrastructure Practicum
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Instructor:
Bill Moeller -
Partner Description: The Mesoamerican Development Institute (MDI) hosted one graduate student in Honduras, with other financial support, to explore methods of composting coffee waste to make organic fertilizer. The goal was to create a way for coffee farmers to switch over to organically grown coffee thus earning more for their crop.
Project Description: This is the capstone project for the Masters Certificate in Sustainable Infrastructure for Developing Nations. The certificate prepares engineers and allied professionals for work in developing regions. It develops the special skills and awareness necessary for development of functionally sustainable infrastructure. The technical material provides advanced knowledge fully applicable to situations of both domestic and international infrastructure development. The course components include: 1) conducting academic research into a specific topic of developing nation need along the researcher’s interest area – must include an analysis of the political, social and economic environment needed to make the proposed technology sustainable; 2) visit the region of study in order to understand the background research in real context; and 3) develop a written proposal, with input of the local site personnel, to implement a workable sustainable solution.
