This year’s theme focused on Engineering for the Sustainable Development goals — a key focus of the I2D Lab’s mission in providing viable solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

The development of an automated early detection test for preeclampsia was a topic of discussion at the fourth annual Innovation for International Development (I2D) Lab Expo.

This year’s exposition included visiting guests from world-renowned development organizations, including Global Good, Barrett Global Strategies, Soluciones Practicas, Catholic Relief Services, and Save the Children. The Exposition kicked off with a our annual student and faculty Poster Session on Thursday March 29th in the scenic Armstrong Hall Atrium. Over 50 students presented 36 posters on topics ranging from agriculture mechanization technology to optimized kangaroo mother care systems. This year’s winners are listed below:

• 1st — The Purdue Utility Project: Transportation and Power Solutions for Africa
  Team Member(s): Anna Berghoff, Jonathan Bradway, Peter Starr
  Advisor: Dr. John Lumkes, David Wilson
  Affiliations and Partners: Mobile Agricultural Power Solutions (MAPS), I2D Lab, Global Design Team
• 2nd — New Technologies for Specialty Crop Dehydration by Solar Power in Indiana
  Team Member(s): Diana Ramirez
  Advisor: Dr. Klein Ileleji
  Affiliations and Partners: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
• 3rd — Low-Cost, Integrated Sample-to-Answer HIV Diagnostic Team Member(s): Taylor Moehling
  Advisor: Dr. Jacqueline Linnes
  Affiliations and Partners: Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering

Integrating water quality monitoring was one of many topics at the fourth annual I2D Lab Expo.

This year, on behalf of keynote speaker and distinguished guest Maurizio Vecchione from Global Good, funded by Bill and Melinda Gates, we awarded the Global Good Award. As the global leader in the business of invention, Global Good’s mission is to energize and streamline the invention economy. This $250.00 prize was designed to award students’ whose projects exemplify the mission of Global Good. It is given to a team whose research is focused medical or agriculture technology with the most potential for commercialization. The team’s research should be highly focused on scalability, impact, and should demonstrate a commitment to a design that is both affordable and offers a high return on investment. The winner of the Global Good Award was:

• Demand Sensing and Digital Tracking for Maternal and Child Health (MCH) in Uganda
  Team Member(s): Rhoann Kerh
• Advisor: Dr. Yuehwern Yih
  Affiliations and Partners: Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering (RCHE)

The Exposition continued on Friday with breakout sessions featuring Purdue faculty and visiting guest speakers on topic such as Innovation Science Applied to Project Design, Human Centered Design Applied to System Thinking for Global Health Solutions, Engineering Solutions for Drivers of Conflict, and Engineering Education and Technology Platform with Applied Engineering Projects for Vulnerable Students. After an engaging morning, keynote speakers Maurizio Vecchione (Global Good), Julie Barrett O’Brien (Barrett Global Strategies), and Shirley Pazos (Soluciones Practicas) engaged faculty and students from across the university in insightful discussions regarding reverse innovation, business investment, and technology access.

A representative from Engineers Without Borders was at the fourth annual I2D Lab Expo.

As we reflect on our 4th annual exposition we continue to ask ourselves how we can engage more students in the exciting work that I2D and GEP2 does. As the global population continues to grow and we face challenges such as food, energy, and water security, engaging the world’s youth is key to driving innovation and creating positive change. We look forward to the continuing to engage youth in engineering research and design as we look to address the Sustainable Development Goals through innovation.