EWB-USA :: Sunflower State

EWB-USA SUN Member Profile: Emily Robbins

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:19:46 -0400

Emily Robbins is the current President of Engineers Without Borders - Sunflower State Professionals. In asking the questions for our recurring Member Profile series — where we delve not only into the professional accomplishments and motivations of our talented group of volunteers, but also their personalities — we learned some interesting things about Emily.

You’ll have to read on to find out about Emily’s secret talent, among other things:

Name: Emily Robbins

Education/Degree/Institution: Environmental Engineering at the University of Kansas (Go Jayhawks!)

Title & Employer: Environmental Consultant at Trinity Consultants

Number of Years Involved: 4 years

Why did you get involved with EWB-USA Sunflower Professionals? Fame and fortune. Just kidding! I wanted to use some of the skills I gained in school to help others. It seemed unfair that not all people have basic necessities.

If you time travel were possible, what year would you visit and why? I don’t think my answer has changed since I was about five years old. I would travel back in time to see dinosaurs! I don’t know what year that would be..200 million years ago or something like that …

What food obsession do you have that you wish you didn’t have? I feel guilty about eating them, but I love Sonic Cheeseburgers

Do you have a secret talent? Greased pig catching - I once won a belt buckle. Look it up, it’s a real thing.

Sustainable Agriculture - 27 March, 7pm

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 23:51:00 -0400

Rain Barrel Workshop for World Water Day 2013

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:46:00 -0400

In support of the United Nations World Water Day 2013, the EWB-USA Sunflower State Professionals are once again collaborating with Douglas County K-State Research and Extension and the Douglas County Kansas Master Gardeners to host our Second Annual Rain Barrel Workshop to teach you how to construct your own rain barrel. Limited spots are available, so please call (785) 843-7058 to register ASAP!

Proceeds from this workshop will go to support the Sunflower State Professionals, a local chapter of Engineers Without Borders USA. EWB-USA is a nonprofit humanitarian organization established to support community-driven development programs worldwide through partnerships that design and implement sustainable engineering projects.

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. The theme for 2013 is International Water Cooperation. The objective of this International Year is to raise awareness, both on the potential for increased cooperation, and on the challenges facing water management in light of the increase in demand for water access, allocation and services. The Year will highlight the history of successful water cooperation initiatives, as well as identify burning issues on water education, water diplomacy, transboundary water management, financing cooperation, national/international legal frameworks, and the linkages with the Millennium Development Goals. It also will provide an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum created at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), and to support the formulation of new objectives that will contribute towards developing water resources that are truly sustainable.

Please feel free to print off our flyer and share with anyone that may be interested.

Many thanks to our 2013 sponsors: Coca-Cola, Advanced Systems Homes and Reeves-Wiedeman!

EWB-USA SUN Member Profile: Scott Luebbering

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:35:12 -0500

On March 23, we are sponsoring our 2nd Annual Rain Barrel Workshop in Lawrence, and Scott Luebbering, one of the main driving forces behind the workshop is also the subject of this month’s member profile.

The idea behind the EWB-USA Sunflower State Professionals member profile is to give you a brief look at not only the accomplishments and dedication of our members, but also their unique personalities.

Name: Scott Luebbering

Education/Degree/Institution: Kansas State University, BS Physics; University of Kansas, BS Civil Engineering

Title & Employer: Vice President, Advanced Systems Homes

Number of Years Involved: 4

Why did you get involved with EWB-USA Sunflower Professionals? I liked the EWB directive to use simple technology to improve the peoples lives and I felt that I could contribute something toward that directive.

If you time travel were possible, what year would you visit and why? 1980; So, when everybody was asking “Who shot JR?” I would secretly know the answer.

What food obsession do you have that you wish you didn’t have? Chicken Gizzards; Chewy, Greasy and Yummy, but oh so bad for you.

If your iPod could only contain music from one artist for the rest of your life, who would it be? The Rolling Stones; Chewy, Greasy and Yummy, but oh so bad for you.

Global Innovations Forum - April 6

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 21:32:00 -0500

What are the keys to success when it comes to international development? How do NGOs move from well-intended charity to lasting sustainable development?

Tune in to a LIVE virtual learning event on April 6 for an interactive discussion with international development experts from Engineers Without Borders USA, iDE and Community Solutions Initiative (IEEE), Bridges to Prosperity, iCATIS and Regis University.

The Global Innovations Forum: Pathways to Sustainability will feature case studies from leaders in the field and will explore the challenges, successes and important lessons learned on the road to sustainable international development. Professionals from Bridges to Prosperity, iDE, CSI-IEEE and the EWB-USA Greater Austin Professional Chapter will share their work in Bolivia, Haiti and Peru, and will engage participants in Q&A regarding their projects.

To prepare for the forum, registered attendees will have access to background materials on each case study as well as the opportunity to pose questions on Twitter for the presenters via #GlobalForum. Visit the Global Innovations Forum website to view the complete agenda and to register for this exciting event. Don’t miss this great opportunity!

Chapter Co-Founder Wins EWB-USA Award!

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 22:07:00 -0500

We’re excited to announce that Jodi Gentry has been awarded the 2013 EWB-USA Professional Founder’s Award!

Jodi’s involvement with EWB-USA began in 2007 and she has grown into multiple leadership roles since then. In 2011, Jodi co-founded the Sunflower State Professional Chapter, and served as the founding president until 2013. She is also active on their first international project in eastern Guatemala, traveling every six months in support of a water improvement project. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Environmental Engineering, with research focused on sanitation and drinking water in developing communities.

Engineering Clean Water - 20 February 2013

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:32:00 -0500

62nd Annual Engineers Week Luncheon

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:40:00 -0500

The Sunflower State Professionals will have a booth at the 62nd Annual Engineers Week Luncheon, Thursday 21 February 2013 at the Kansas City Downtown Marriott Hotel. This event is jointly hosted by The Eastern Chapter of the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers (KSPE) and the Western Chapter of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE). The exhibits this year will open at 10:30 in the lobby and lunch is at 11:45.

The Engineers Week 2013 theme celebrates you—engineers, engineering students, and technicians—and all of the amazing things you do everyday to make the world a better place.

Engineers Week is a call to action for engineers, technologists, and technicians to:

· Volunteer year round to inspire youth and inform the general public about engineering’s positive impact on their daily lives.

· Celebrate our achievements and each other.

· Collaborate with partners to develop and deliver programs and resources.

The National Engineers Week Foundation works year-round to celebrate the engineering profession, inspire and inform future generations to explore engineering via a vibrant and well-resourced pool of volunteers, and collaborate with 100+ partners to develop and deliver programs that represent the breadth of engineering.

Stop by and see us!

Win Awesome Prizes at our 2nd Annual Trivia Smackdown Quiz for a Cause fundraiser!

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:13:20 -0500

It’s right around the corner — and we have tons of amazing sponsors who have donated great prizes. Find out more on our Facebook page!

EWB-USA Year-End Giving Campaign has launched!

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:44:00 -0500

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Engineers Without Borders USA has just launched their 2012 Year-End Campaign and all donations are DOUBLED until the matching funds run out! The Sunflower State Professionals have set a goal of $5000 and we need your help!

Our current project is to provide clean water to a Ch’orti’ Maya community in Matazano, Guatemala. Lack of clean water causes diarrheal disease, which is responsible for 2.5 million deaths a year and is the second leading cause of death in low-income countries. Any contribution donated to our chapter will make a big difference!

Help us to engineer a healthier world! Donate online and share with your friends:

Peace & Prosperity Through Collaboration

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:44:00 -0400

Many thanks to our guest speaker last night, Hyder Al-Quraini, who gave an eye-opening presentation about the challenges of sustainable construction in arid climates. Thanks to Dr. Oswald Chong, the University of Kansas School of Engineering, the student and professional chapters of EWB-USA and USGBC who co-sponsored this event, and an especially big thanks to all who attended last night’s talk!

Hyder Al-Quraini is a chief engineer and project manager with the Ministry of Industry/Al Rasheed State Company. Mr. Al-Quraini works on solar energy systems at Al Rasheed as well as various other renewable energy programs. He holds a Bachelors of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Technology. Mr. Al-Quraini is hosted by Lonnie Coplen at McKissack & McKissack and his scope of work is concentrating on a variety of renewable energy and green building applications over a six-month fellowship through the Iraq Science Fellowship Program (ISFP).

The ISFP is a public-private partnership, funded by the US Department of State (DOS). This fellowship program provides Iraqi scientists and engineers the opportunity to study, research, and work alongside their colleagues at host institutions in the United States in order to increase Iraqi professional and technical capacity while promoting infrastructure and workforce development in the fields of science and engineering. CRDF Global, an independent nonprofit organization that promotes peace and prosperity through international science collaboration, implements the program on behalf of the DOS.

Net Zero Design in Arid Climates - 24 October

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:02:13 -0400

2nd Annual Quiz for a Cause - Dec. 5th!

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 22:49:00 -0400

Coffee & Cocktails - We'll see you next time!

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:57:07 -0400

Many thanks to all who attended our first Coffee & Cocktails event on October 3rd. An especially big thanks to those at the Flying Monkey for hosting us!

The event was such a success that we plan on hosting more of these in the future. We look forward to seeing you there!

You can check out more photos from the event on our Facebook Page.

Join Us For Coffee & Cocktails on Oct. 3rd!

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 04:34:00 -0400

Registration is Now Open - EWB-USA Midwest Regional Conference 2012

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:46:00 -0400

Please join the Sunflower State Professionals at the upcoming EWB-USA Midwest Regional Conference in St. Louis!

Conference will be held at St. Louis University from 2-4 November. Registration is now open, so hurry to take advantage of those early bird rates!

EWB-USA SUN to Speak at K-State!

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 01:55:00 -0400

Kansans Engineering Sustainable Water and Sanitation Solutions in Developing Communities

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:05:00 -0400

Did you miss our talk at the KWEA & KsAWWA Joint Annual Conference 2012 today? No worries, because we’ve posted our slides! Check them out:

Kansans Engineering Sustainable Water & Sanitation Solutions in Developing Communities from EWBUSAsunflower

EWB-USA SUN Volunteer Spotlight - Dan Buonadonna

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:29:00 -0400

Meet Dan Buonadonna. Dan is a current EWB-USA SUN volunteer and former Vice President of our chapter.

“Volunteering is important to me because it helps to provide balance and perspective to my life. Working with others helps me to better see and appreciate my role in the community. I’m a member of Engineers Without Borders USA because it has provided me a great opportunity to engage with other like-minded individuals both here in Kansas, and abroad.”

EWB-USA SUN Cultural Liaison to speak in KC

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 13:13:54 -0400

Please join our Cultural Liaison, Dr. Brent Metz, in Kansas City for a discussion about the historical context behind the challenges we face with development in the Ch’orti’ Maya region where we work. Professional Development Hours (PDHs) available.