Launched in collaboration between CITRIS at UC Davis, the Blum Center for Developing Economies, the Center for Regional Change, and the Institute for Social Sciences, the Tech for Social Good small seed grants competition supports pilot projects on the UC Davis campus that promote healthy, sustainable, prosperous, and equitable livelihoods within underserved communities in the United States and abroad.
We are delighted to announce the inaugural Tech for Social Good awardees for 2016. This year, 12 teams submitted proposals and 5 were chosen for funding. The winning proposals support development of UV-based water purification systems in refugee resettlements, youth entrepreneurship in South Sudan, women’s access to breastfeeding education, climate change awareness, and a quadriplegia-friendly tricycle for people with physical limitations.
More information on the Tech for Social Good small seed grants competition is available at https://citris-uc.org/techforsocialgood/.
Congratulations to the following 2016 Tech for Social Good awardees!
Assessment of a photovoltaic powered UV-based water purification system for refugee resettlement in Northern California
Shiyun Yao, Jillian Holloway, Vanessa Wai, Xijia Li, and Prof. Bassam Younis
This project will design and install a robust ultra-violet light based water purification system using a photovoltaic power bank to provide secure and recyclable water for growing food crops and vegetable washing. This will benefit underserved communities such as refugee resettlements in Northern California and in undeveloped countries and rural regions. The system will also couple with operation and maintenance manuals as well as a treatment feedback system.
Building BAB: Youth Entrepreneurship Through Alternative Financial Infrastructure in War-Affected South Sudan
Christian Doll, Ty Beal, Sophie Ellerby, and Prof. James Smith
Building BAB is supported through a partnership with Gai Makiew Gai in South Sudan to build and expand the network of money transfer centers run by his organization, BAB for General Trading and Investment. BAB’s innovative use of cell phone technology for money transfer allows them to run a lean, targeted, alternative financial infrastructure that connects people living in war-torn towns and aims to reduce dependence on aid by encouraging entrepreneurship among South Sudanese youth. Through the Tech for Social Good funding, Building BAB will oversee BAB’s launch of three new financial centers, co-develop a plan and implementation of financial trainings targeted at youth, and formulate a long-term strategic plan.
MomKit
Anna Sadovnikova, Anita Gunaseelan, Angela Nguyen, and Dr. Shadi Aminololama-Shakeri
LiquidGoldConcept is a health tech company that develops customized and comprehensive breastfeeding education technology for parents and providers with the goal of improving the health of mothers and newborns by 1) training health providers with a lactation simulation model and 2) empowering parents with a mobile application, MomKit. MomKit is a mobile and web-based breast massage toolkit that empowers parents to take control of their breastfeeding experience via customized breastfeeding technique education.
#OurChangingClimate
Prof. Nina Napawan, Prof. Brett Snyder, Prof. Sheryl-Ann Simpson, and Diego Verduzco
Our Changing Climate is a digital humanities and environmental design project that encourages diverse communities to observe and critique their everyday environment through the lens of climate change, and to share those experiences through social media. You can learn more about the project at www.ourchangingclimate.us.
Quadriplegic-Friendly Tricycle
Aaron Shaw, Vivian Lin, Andy Wu, and Dr. Jason Moore
A quadriplegic-friendly tricycle will allow individuals with extreme physical limitations to participate in an activity that many of us know and love: bike riding. Cycling represents a social and recreational outlet that people with quadriplegia could benefit immensely from. By developing an adaptive cycling solution, we can help the sufferers of quadriplegia lead more active and fulfilled lives.