Humanitarian Engineering Innovation Lab

An increasingly interconnected global economy demands collaborative opportunities and presents unique challenges to our world, therefore generating the need for broadly educated engineers. Ohio State's Humanitarian Engineering program equips graduates to meet these challenges. The Humanitarian Engineering Innovation Lab space allows for student-driven, proposed solutions to be transformed from conceptual ideas to physical entities. Students gain valuable insights into the viability of proposed community-based solutions while learning through experiment design and research programs. 

HE Lab space

The facility also fosters a sharing of ideas and a collaborative spirit amongst humanitarian-focused organizations around campus. This facility serves as the center hub for students to engage with student organizations, courses, service-learning and capstone design projects. 

We aim to:

  • Provide students appropriate space, resources and tools to develop hands-on skills and act as a piloting ground for projects that have a global impact
  • Support team-based, multidisciplinary, experiential learning opportunities that engage Ohio State students at multiple points, from introductory and survey courses to capstone design and research initiatives
  • Support testing by students teams, exposing students to the skills, materials, and techniques associated with the global challenges in sustainable humanitarian development
  • Provide collaborative space that will foster an inclusive environment that will build community with internal and external partners as it supports planning and design work from concept through prototype 

double-arrowOpportunities

Program Support:

With expanded support for growth and development of the Humanitarian Engineering Innovation Lab, more research and implementation projects can be offered, therefore reaching a broader array of students.

Student Experience:

Additional scholarship support will provide students with access and opportunities for experiential learning. Students can participate in the program through research opportunities or community-engaged learning courses.

To learn more about the lab, contact:

Patrick Sours 
Senior Lecturer
College of Engineering

Humanitarian Engineering Innovation Lab Flyer

"My time in the Humanitarian Engineering Innovation Lab working with Aguaclara [Honduran water treatment facility] has provided me the opportunity to apply skills that I learn in my courses. The self-guided, hands-on atmosphere is not only a refreshing break from the theoretical work of my academics but has also helped me grow as an engineer. On top of this the Humanitarian Engineering Innovation lab and especially the partnership with Aguaclara has shown me different examples of how I can make humanitarian engineering a central part of my future career." - Zachary Smith, Environmental Engineering
Zachary Smith