challenge projects

Science for Humanity facilitates collaboration between scientists and organizations to find appropriate and sustainable solutions to problems that can enhance the lives of the poorest communities. Our members are involved in projects that range from disaster relief and climate change adaption, to water sanitation and environmental sustainability. You can join any of our existing projects by clicking here or submit a new project to Science for Humanity by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Hexayurt

The Hexayurt project seeks to provide a low cost shelter and utilities solution for use in emergency relief and for the world's poorest communities. The Hexayurt is a new sheltering solution with three main advantages: it can be built with local materials, it can be constructed using simple tools for less than $100, and is in the public domain with no copyright or patent.

Green Charcoal

Based in Uganda, our Green Charcoal project aims to develop alternatives to using wood biomass as energy. The project seeks to find innovative technologies and machinery for transforming crops, such as candlenut seed kernel, palm seed kernel and cotton stokes into green charcoal. A solution to this problem can reduce the dependency on forest mass for energy, avert climate change effects on the Rwenzois Mountains and the Ugandans, reduce the time and energy for people to collect wood biomass, and create employment for local communities.

LifeTrac

LifeTrac is an open source tractor that can be highly relevant to the developing world. LifeTrac's unique features include hypermodularity, interchangeability of parts and design for disassembly, making LifeTrac suitable for agricultural and construction use. LifeTrac is currently in the development stages and requires further scientific input; this project seeks to find innovative ways to integrate technology in order to maximize LifeTrac's interchangeability between devices.

Peru Coffee

The Peru Coffee project seeks to improve soil fertility for coffee production on the eastern slopes of the Andes due to deforestation, insufficient coverage to protect the soil, and agriculture without application of inputs to the soil. Whilst technologies exist to regenerate soil fertility, the solution to this challenge will be adaptable to the reality of small producers articulated to organic markets.

Ecosan

The Ecosan project, initiated by the WAND Foundation in the Philippines, aims to test the concept of ecological sanitation, which explores the response of crops, such as trees, vegetables and coconuts, to Ecosan product treatments, such as urine and feces. A solution to this project can improve food security, reduce water consumption, and decrease the spread of infectious diseases.

Rural Comms

Our Rural Comms project seeks to provide an innovative low-cost communications infrastructure solution for rural areas in developing countries. A solution to this problem can provide rural communities the benefit of connecting to the internet and mobile phones. These benefits include access to medical care via mobile phones, access to market data through the internet, which can help local farmers to make better investments, and opportunity to connect to the global economy for rural entrepreneurs.

Thailand Water

Our water and sanitation project called Thailand Water seeks to improve the water quality of a water filtering and purification system. Whilst the water samples have passed the basic standards for chemical test, further improvements are needed to reduce the harmful bacteria content. A solution to this problem can provide approximately 200 villagers with access to cleaner drinking water and reduce the spread of water borne diseases.