With climate change escalating the frequency and intensity of El Niño, a five-member team from Yacht Tech University in Ecuador has developed an advanced monitoring software which uses satellite data to track and predict the evolution of El Niño. Shirley Vasquez, Alexia Tana, Antonio Bodero, Dario Cabezas and Rashell Mayacela employ real-time monitoring and complex algorithms to analyse weather patterns and forecast potential scenarios. Easily accessible for users, their software also sends notifications and alerts about significant changes, thereby enabling immediate and informed decision-making and ensuring better preparedness.
What is El Niño?
The term El Niño refers to an irregular climatic phenomenon which recurs about every 2–10 years. El Niño brings above-average sea surface temperatures to the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The winds which normally blow from east to west along the equator (easterly winds) weaken or, in some cases, start blowing in the other direction (westerly winds). This climatic upheaval is linked to extreme weather events which vary according to geography. Countries may experience phenomena such as severe drought, wildfires, heatwaves, floods or cyclones.
The five engineering students were competing in the hackathon run on World Engineering Day on 4 March by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations with UNESCO support. This year’s hackathon saw an impressive turnout of over 2,500 young engineers from around the world who submitted 200 innovative ideas.
The teams were invited to tackle three pressing challenges: delivering a climate-positive transition; promoting climate-positive action through innovation and, thirdly, shielding the most vulnerable from the scorching heat in refugee camps and temporary shelters.
Green solutions which alleviate extreme heat in refugee camps
Second place went to Eco Cool, a team of four engineering students who focused on alleviating the plight of refugees. Their solution is a cost-effective cooling system that uses water-based ventilation powered by solar panels. The crux of their innovation lies in constructing walls with clay, a material known for its high heat conductivity, and running water through these walls. This technique was inspired by traditional methods used to keep food storage units cool through water evaporation. Eco Cool’s innovative approach not only provides a sustainable and affordable solution but also brings much-needed relief to those enduring the harshest conditions.
The four-man team from Eco Cool comes from as many tertiary institutions. Mathus Jirapunyawong, Thunyapat Silpsamrit, Kumkab Keeratisiwakul and Passapan Sanguanchua are studying at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (United States of America), Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan), Rice University (United States of America) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong, China), respectively.
Third prize went to Green Space, which also chose the theme of combating the impact of extreme heat in refugee gamps. Their pioneering Sustainable Phyto-fence solution combines the forces of nature with human creativity. The students have introduced a bio-fencing concept that utilises microalgae cultivated in treated human urine to cool the walls of refugee shelters.
The team from Green Space comes from Batangas State University - The National Engineering University in the Philippines and is composed of Jose Luis A. Valencia, Nathaniel M. Regodon and Maureen H. Fadullo.
About World Engineering Day
Since 2019, UNESCO has celebrated World Engineering Day every year on 4 March in partnership with the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). Established under UNESCO’s auspices in 1968, WFEO represents around 30 million engineers across 100 professional institutions worldwide.
This partnership with UNESCO has proven essential in the successful celebration of World Engineering Day, addressing both local and global challenges. Ever since its proclamation in 2019, World Engineering Day has shed light on the vital role that engineering plays in addressing climate change and promoting a sustainable and resilient environment for all.
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