Humanitarian Engineering

Episode 18: Dr. Fabio Duarte and Dr. Simone Mora, from MIT Senseable City Lab, talks about his research projects on data gathering in informal settlements

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:11:04 +0200

In this episode of the Humanitarian Engineering Podcast, we explore the groundbreaking work of the MIT Senseable City Lab in gathering and analysing data within informal settlements. The Lab’s research pushes the boundaries of urban science by using innovative sensing technologies and participatory methods to better understand the dynamics of urban communities.

Episode 17: Michele Di Marco, from WHO Téchne, talks about his experiences in designing infectious disease treatment centres

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 21:00:00 +0200

In this episode, Michele Di Marco from Téchne WHO shares his insights on developing Infectious Disease Treatment Modules (IDTMs) and the Health Emergency Facility (HEF) providing rapid deployable, easily transportable, extendable, self-contained and self-sufficient treatment centre for infectious diseases. He also highlights the importance of collaborating with academia, and explains the various projects he is conducting with UT students.

Episode 16: Programme Directors Talk About Humanitarian and Spatial Engineering: Differences, Synergies, and Real-World Collaboration

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:24:15 +0200

In this episode, Thomas Groen, Programme Director of the MSc in Spatial Engineering, and Peter Chemweno, Programme Director of the MSc in Humanitarian Engineering, discuss the vision behind each programme, their unique approaches, and where their paths cross.

Visit the official websites of the MSc in Humanitarian Engineering and the MSc in Spatial Engineering to dive deeper into each programme.

Episode 15: Norden Wangchuk and Ngawang Chojey from Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, Royal University Of Bhutan

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 13:38:50 +0200

On this episode of the Humanitarian Engineering Podcast, we welcome Norden Wangchuk and Ngawang Chojey from Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, Royal University of Bhutan. They discuss their collaboration with CSOs on sustainable community projects focused on waste management and the vital role of cultural appropriateness in combining traditional and innovative values to build earthquake-resilient houses. Tune in to explore how engineering solutions can drive positive change in local communities while respecting cultural heritage.

Episode 14: Dr. Eefje Hendriks, Assistant Professor in Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Assistance at the ITC faculty (University of Twente), over her projects with underserved communities in the humanitarian aid field.

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:54:18 +0200

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering group interviews Dr. Eefje Hendriks, an Assistant Professor in Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Assistance at the University of Twente's ITC faculty. Eefje shares her insights on Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Resilience, emphasising how underserved communities can more effectively recover from disasters. She also highlights the crucial role of careful listening before taking action.

Episode 13: Humanitarian Engineering PhD Candidate, Zikambiyani Haanyika, talks about her past experiences working with rural communities in Zambia

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Thu, 16 May 2024 14:41:43 +0200

In this episode, Zikambiyani talks about her past experiences working with rural communities in Zambia, the challenges of co-designing with different community groups, and her reasons for starting a PhD project at the University of Twente on the topic of design for social justice in humanitarian engineering.

Episode 12: Students Teodora and Mariam talk about their humanitarian engineering assignments abroad

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 23:50:10 +0200

How to learn to create an impact in underserved communities as students? Teodora Citia and Mariam Diarra talked about their BSc thesis and internship assignments they had carried on in Nepal and Madagascar. How to work with the communities from a socio-technical standpoint.

Episode 11: Arash on accelarating behaviour change to support developmental efforts

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0100

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering group talked with Arash Kargar, a consultant and trainer with years of experience in capacity building for refugees in Jordan and Afghanistan
He shared a few practical examples of why shifting focus from only supporting soft skills development to changing local community beliefs and identities can positively impact developmental work, and how this can supported through neuro-linguistic programming. We also discussed the need to understand local communities before implementing solutions for them.

Episode 10: SDG1 - No poverty. Where do we stand?

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 09:53:42 +0100

The Humanitarian Engineering Research Group at the University of Twente reflects on SDG1 - No Poverty, discussing where we stand right now regarding achievement and the priority to move forward.

Episode 9: Dr. Cheryl De Boer, coordinator of Climate Change Center at University of Twente, over the impact of Climate Change on underserved communities

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 16:59:35 +0100

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering group talked with Dr. Cheryl De Boer, Climate Change Center coordinator at the University of Twente.
We talk about how climate change is affecting the most marginalised and underserved communities and the possible cooperation opportunities between the Center and Humanitarian Engineering group.

Episode 8: Godliver from Busitema University in Uganda about working with local farmers

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 09:28:33 +0200

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering group talked with Dr. Godliver Owomugisha from Busitema University in Uganda about working with the local farming community.
We talk about her experience working with smallholders on the topic of image recognition of crop diseases. Challenges when working with the farmer community and local structures have also been covered.

Episode 7: Amy and Jeff from Shenandoah University (US) reflect about the connection between liberal arts Colleges and Humanitarian Engineering master programmes

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:54:25 +0200

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering group covered many interesting topics with Amy Sarch, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, and Jeff Cooker, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, at Shenandoah University.

We talked about the possible interaction between the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and the master in Humanitarian Engineering.
Which ways of connecting liberal arts education to humanitarian engineering education?

Episode 6: Ilaria about innovations in humanitarian engineering from the industry point of view

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:52:01 +0200

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering group covered many interesting topics with Ilaria Carrara Cagni, Managing Innovation Research and Partnerships at Siemens. We talked about the importance of intercultural competencies and sustainable innovations. We also talked about the Tec for Sustainability Campaign where we met Ilaria. If you want to read more about this year´s campaign, visit ecosystem.siemens.com/techforsustainability.

Episode 5: Special episode from East Africa on working with communities

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 21:00:00 +0200

The Humanitarian Engineering group visited three countries in East Africa and recorded a podcast episode about our guests' experiences working with communities in those countries. For the podcast, we have been joined by 5 guests, Dr. Ildephonse Nibikora and George Kilama from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology of Busitema University in Uganda. Dr. Kinde Anlay and Prof. Ancha Venkata Ramayya, both are faculty staff members at Jimma University in Ethiopia. Dr. Simon Marandu from the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering department of Dar es Salaam University in Tanzania.

Episode 4: Student organisation WOT about their passion for technology and development

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0200

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering group speaks with Janke Maat and Allard Braakhuis, alumni of the student association called WOT which tests and designs affordable technologies for use in developing countries. We talk about the international projects that they were involved in, what surprised them most when working with local communities, and how somebody can join the WOT. Visit the WOT website to learn more about their activities and watch their Youtube videos.

Episode 3: Dr. Ayat Nashwan on humanitarian engineering and the refugee situation in Jordan

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Sat, 27 May 2023 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering group speaks with Dr. Ayat Nashwan, Head of the Department of Sociology at the University of Sharjah. We talk about a joint project on refugee education, the Edubox, developed at the University of Twente and currently being used in Jordan to facilitate refugee education, and the unique challenges of working with refugees, especially the most vulnerable women.

Episode 2: Prof. Mascha van der Voort, Prof. Aydin Ciano and Prof. Victor Jetten on humanitarian engineering education

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 09:22:38 +0200

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering Group talks to three vice deans for education from the University of Twente, Prof. Mascha van der Voort from the Engineering Technology faculty, Prof. Ciano Aydin from Behaviour, Management and Social Science faculty, and Prof. Victor Jetten Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. We discuss the importance of humanitarian engineering education and why the world needs more engineers that can work in the complex socio-economical contexts of underserved communities.

Episode 1: Prof. Washington Ochieng on the importance of culture in Humanitarian Engineering

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 12:03:11 +0200

In this episode, the Humanitarian Engineering Group talks to Prof. Ochieng, Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Imperial College of London. We discuss his work on navigation and wayfinding systems for the ageing and visually impaired, his take on humanitarian engineering and the importance of culture, and his achievements for the Sustainable Urban Economic Development program in Kenya.

Humanitarian Engineering Introduction

Humanitarian Engineering Group — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 13:27:15 +0100

In this episode we introduce the Humanitarian Engineering initiative of the University of Twente. In this series we talk about Humanitarian Engineering actions and their importance to society.