Sponsoring Research in Appropriate Technology

Abstract

Dr. Christopher Papadopoulos, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez CampusChristopher Papadopoulos is an Assistant Professor in the Department of General Engineering at the Uni-versity of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez (UPRM). He earned B.S. degrees in Civil Engineering and Mathematicsfrom Carnegie Mellon University (1993) and a Ph.D. in Theoretical & Applied Mechanics at Cornell Uni-versity (1999). Prior to coming to UPRM, Papadopoulos served on the faculty in the Department of CivilEngineering & Mechanics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).Papadopoulos has diverse research and teaching interests in structural mechanics, biomechanics, engineer-ing ethics, and engineering education. He is PI of two NSF sponsored research projects and is co-authorof Lying by Approximation: The Truth about Finite Element Analysis. Papadopoulos is currently theProgram Chair Elect of the ASEE Mechanics Division and serves on numerous committees at UPRM thatrelate to undergraduate and graduate education.Dr. William Joseph Frey, Univ. Puerto Rico - MayaguezWilliam J. Frey has taught research, business, engineering, and computer ethics at the University of PuertoRico at Mayaguez since 1990. He is a member and former director of that university’s Center for Ethics inthe Professions. He and a team of ethicists have worked with different universities in the Latin Americancontext on faculty development workshops for identifying issues in engineering ethics, developing coursemodules in this area, and designing curricular strategies for integrating ethics across the engineeringcurriculum. His publications cover moral psychology, moral pedagogy, and engineering ethics in PuertoRico. Most recently, he has been working on the GREAT IDEA project, an NSF-funded project thatexplores research in appropriate technology and community development.Marcel J. Castro-Sitiriche, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez¨Marcel J. Castro-Sitiriche is a professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico inthe Mayaguez Campus (Recinto Universitario de Mayag¨ ¨uez). His research efforts contain academic, ed-ucational and service activities. Some of the research areas of interest include appropriate technology,engineering education, power electronics, computational intelligence, electric motor drives, and renew-able energy systems. He is the co-coordinator of the Social, Ethical, and Global Issues in Engineeringprogram at the College of Engineering in the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. He is chair of the¨IEEE Engineering Education Western Puerto Rico chapter, and member of the International Network onAppropriate Technology. One of the current research projects combine most research interests and isbased in the concept of appropriate technology. The project title is ”Graduate Research and Education forAppropriate Technology: Inspiring Direct Engagement and Agency (GREAT IDEA)” and it is funded bythe NSF (http://greatidea.uprm.edu/).Joann M Rodriguez, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez CampusJoann M. Rodriguez is currently a second year graduate student in Environmental Engineering at the Uni-versity of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM). Her research is focused on the biological mechanisms in thebiosand filter technology. Previously, in 2012, she completed a Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineeringand a certificate in Environmental Engineering at the UPRM. She is interested in water quality testing andin water treatment systems appropriate for rural areas and developing countries.Mr. Jeffrey SantiagoMr. Tyrone Medina, University of Puerto Rico at MayaguezTyrone Medina was accepted and enrolled to pursue his bachelor’s degree in the University of PuertoRico at Mayaguez in 2007. He earn his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and graduated Magnac American Society for Engineering Education, 2014