Water Scarcity in Kenya: Decentralized Desalination Using Renewable Energy

This program will tackle the global challenge of water scarcity by harnessing solar power to desalinate water in rural and peri-urban communities in Kenya. Students will partner with Austin-based nonprofit Give Power and South Eastern Kenya University to implement decentralized desalination systems, while also examining the socioeconomic impacts of solar water farms.

Faculty team members:

• Manish Kumar, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
• Lucy Atkinson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Stan Richards School of Advertising, Moody College of Communication
• Patrick Bixler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs

Faculty team members: 

• Kelsey Nyandusi- Marketing, Micheal Ayele- Management Information Systems
• Aarya Nair- Corporate Communications and Unspecified Business, Suhani Gajera- Neuroscience, Shriya Mukkavilli- Public Health
• Bella Tran- Public Health, Davina Tran- Biomedical Engineering, Jayline Garza- Nutritional Sciences & Health and Society 
• Jennifer Pierce- Chemical Engineering, Elena Talarico Ribeiro- Sustainability and Geography, Shrika Paramasivam- Mechanical Engineering and Religious Studies, Rama Hamoudah- International Relations & Global Studies (International Political Economy) and Government

International partner:

• South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya