Global Engineering

My experiences at Michigan Tech and my work with Engineers Without Borders have created in me a sense of global citizenship that is critical in an increasingly smaller world.— Patrick Miller

For senior ME student Patrick Miller, engineering is a way to effect change on a global scale. He says, “I have discovered that engineering is more than lab work and equations; it is a tool that allows me to personally impact the lives of people worldwide.”As a member of the Michigan Tech chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Miller has witnessed fi rsthand the impact of engineering work.

In 2007, he took part in the group’s fi rst complete project, which involved the planning and construction of wells in two Guatemalan border villages. As the project’s Engineering Leader, it was Miller’s responsibility to coordinate the design of the wells with consideration of the remote location and lack of equipment.

After months of research and development, Miller and the team devised a cement ring method that proved successful despite challenges presented by location and confl ict between the villages. “Before we installed the wells, the villages used a contaminated, open-pit water source that was the cause of widespread waterborne illness. We found a solution to a seemingly impossible problem, and, through engineering, were able to change lives.”

The success of the EWB project gave Miller the confi dence to tackle a diffi cult senior design project, an ambitious endeavor to create an alternative rotary engine sponsored by inventor Alex Van Holstyn. It also provided direction for Miller’s future: eventually he plans to start a company that works with non-profi ts and other groups to determine appropriate engineering technologies to solve basic problems in developing nations.

He explains the factors involved, saying, “The human aspect is equally as important as the technical constraints—planning and design must be done using materials available, with a process that is mindful of location, political climate, and a variety of other factors. It is a well-rounded engineering process that holds the greatest potential to improve the quality of life in the farthest corners of the world.”

Miller will graduate in 2008. He believes his time at Michigan Tech has prepared him well. “My experiences at Michigan Tech and my work with Engineers Without Borders have created in me a sense of global citizenship that is critical in an increasingly smaller world.”