Meera is pursuing an degree in Mechanical Engineering. She participates in Alpha Lambda Delta, Theta Tau, Engineers Without Borders, and the Ballroom Dance Team. She also has participated in Engineering and Humanity week and in the Innovation Gym.
Through the power of engineering—steeped in practical solutions, collaboration with partners, and a commitment to the principles of humanity—we will meet the challenges of the developing world. The inaugural Hunt Institute Engineering & Humanity Week 2011 is vital to achieving the goal of ending global poverty through action
Here at the Lyle School of Engineering we believe engineers are the problem solvers for today's greatest problems. Thankfully, we here at the Lyle school of Engineering have the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity where they tackle some of the greatest problems inflicting the world today, including poverty. Through empowerment, not charity the Hunt Institute aims to shift the foundation of poverty.
To do this, the Hunt institute has three main goals. The first is to educate and prepare engineers of the future like myself on how to solve pressing humanitarian issues. The second is to create connections with businesses, academia, and governments. The third aims to partnership between communities that need innovative solutions and the organizations building those solutions.
In the process, students like me are able to get directly involved. Engineers Without Borders is one organization at SMU which works towards improving the lives of many. They aim their efforts at both the local and international level through innovative technologies. In the past, EWB has benefited a village in Guatemala and a local school suffering from drainage problems.
The Hunt Institute also held the first ever Engineering and Humanity week here at SMU last year. Not only did it bring awareness to global poverty and the innovative solutions aimed at fixing some of the problems, but it also gave students at SMU a first hand experience as to what much of the world experiences on a day to day basis. For one week, students had to live in buildings built for refugee camps without the luxuries of modern technology. I was one of the few lucky enough to participate. While it was a rough week, it truly expanded my understanding of the poverty facing most of the world and it has encouraged me to further help those in need.
Please check out the website for Engineering and Humanity week here, and the website for the Hunt Institute here.