ABE Visits Bangang, Cameroon
Professor John Lumkes traveled with ABE students; Austin Bello, Craig Blough, John Gibson, and Jacob Oswalt, from May 17 through the 26 to Bangang, Cameroon.
The trip was to assist the African Centre for Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology (ACREST) with developing affordable transportation for rural areas in Africa. During the Spring semester the students were members on a student design team advised by Dr. Lumkes. The team focused on designing and building a basic utility vehicle (BUV) for developing countries, with an emphasis on vehicle use in Cameroon. In addition to the transportation project the Purdue group also helped with renewable energy projects including wind and water electricity generation, and pressing oil from local seeds (jatropha, castor, and avocado) for use as a renewable biofuel source for the vehicles.
During their time in Cameroon the Purdue group repaired and improved a demonstration BUV for ACREST, sketched designs for a cross-flow hydroelectric turbine, discussed the formation and layout of a local micro-factory to produce BUVs using local parts, participated in the national day festival and a funeral celebration, ate a wide variety of local foods, met with faculty and staff at the University of Dschang, hiked to several waterfalls, and made lasting friendships with the members of ACREST. The trip was a joint effort with college of Agriculture, the college of Engineering, ACREST, the Institute for Affordable Transportation, and the Agricultural and Biological Engineering department.
The goal is to continue developing a sustainable partnership with ACREST in the areas of affordable transportation, renewable fuels, sustainable agriculture and food preservation, wind and hydro energy generation using appropriate technology for local villages, and soil and water environmental projects. If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved, please contact Professors John Lumkes (lumkes@purdue.edu), Klein Ileleji (ileliji@purdue.edu), or Rabi Mohtar (mohtar@purdue.edu) for more information. Student of all levels from engineering, agriculture, and management are welcome to participate. There are also opportunities for summer internships working on-site at ACREST.