Equitable Technology: Sensors for Clean Water

Context

Diarrhoeal diseases result in approximately 1.8 million deaths each year worldwide, in many cases due to a lack of access to clean water.

In this inter-disciplinary project, we have taken an innovative approach to the development of water monitoring technology in which we have collaborated with communities most affected by the lack of clean water, to co-design, test and validate technology that meets their needs, skills and environment and that engages with community institutions and social structures.

The primary deliverable will be a community appropriate technology that responds to the local context to ensure water safety that improves the health, wealth and well-being of poor and marginalised communities. We will also deliver a generic process for participatory technology development that will ensure science and engineering works effectively for the poor and marginalised.

Aims and Objectives

Underpinned by our expertise in analytical technology, microbiology, critical social science and participatory action research, this project will co-develop effective, equitable and appropriate technologies for testing of water quality in poor and marginalised communities in Vanuatu.

Objective 1: Establish list of technology requirements and user needs through microbiological assessment of community water sources and facilitated community discussions.

Objective 2: Demonstrate microbiological activity sensor(s) and novel biosensor arrays for testing microbial water quality and evaluate in-lab against community challenges, needs and requirements.

Objective 3: Informed by economic assessment, engineer water monitoring prototypes, including development of ancillary components, for use in-community by community members and NGOs.

Objective 4: Validate water sensor technology alongside co-designed community institutions through in-community trials.

Objective 5. Develop and demonstrate a versatile approach for the innovation of equitable technology that embeds end users in technology development and validation.