How to Embrace Humanitarian Engineering in High School

Rising Awareness Through News

The constant stream of 24/7 news has brought stories of natural disasters worldwide into our daily lives. These stories highlight the devastating effects on terrain, climate, municipal systems, and properties, raising awareness about the importance of humanitarian engineering. While these events underscore the need for humanitarian engineering, its principles are also valuable in everyday contexts, including education.

What Is Humanitarian Engineering?

According to The Greek Herald, “Humanitarian Engineering involves designing, building, and using machines and structures to assist at-risk communities.” This field focuses on creating solutions to improve access to essential resources like sanitation, heat, water, and shelter and connecting communities to larger markets. Although “humanitarian engineering” became widely recognized in the early 2000s, the practice has long been essential.

Benefits for High School Students

Many colleges and universities now offer humanitarian engineering programs, preparing students for impactful careers that improve lives. Even for those who choose different paths, exposure to humanitarian engineering in high school fosters a broader understanding of global challenges and enhances their role as global citizens. This awareness can lead to careers indirectly related to the field, volunteerism, or financial support for related causes.

Integrating Humanitarian Engineering into High School Education

Despite limited literature, high school curricula can effectively incorporate humanitarian engineering through various approaches.

Project-Based Learning

A prevalent educational method, project-based learning is ideal for incorporating humanitarian engineering. Real or hypothetical scenarios can provide hands-on experience. Off-campus projects allow students to work alongside professionals, while simulated scenarios using instructional technology help develop problem-solving skills akin to those used by humanitarian engineers.

Distance Learning

Technology enables connections to real-world humanitarian engineering projects. Students can observe and interact with professionals remotely, gaining insights into the field’s practical applications.

STEM/Robotics

STEM classes offer opportunities to explore technological advancements and their applications in humanitarian engineering. These classes inspire students to consider how their skills can contribute to solving global challenges.

Course-Specific Programs

High schools can develop dedicated courses on humanitarian engineering. Vocational schools, too, can include it as a specialized field, providing focused training for interested students.

Cross-Curricular Units

Subjects like math, language arts, science, civics, and social studies can incorporate aspects of humanitarian engineering. Whether it’s understanding the math and science behind engineering solutions, the political context, or the human stories of those affected, these interdisciplinary units offer comprehensive learning experiences.

Volunteering

Humanitarian engineering projects can be integrated into the community service hours required for graduation. These projects provide valuable civic learning opportunities, allowing students to apply their skills to real-world challenges.

Looking Ahead

As humanitarian engineering grows, it will become more recognized among high school students as a viable and rewarding career path. High schools will likely expand their course offerings in this area, making humanitarian engineering as familiar and accessible as traditional fields like teaching, law, and medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is humanitarian engineering?

Humanitarian engineering involves designing, building, and using machines and structures to assist at-risk communities. It focuses on improving access to essential resources like sanitation, heat, water, shelter, and market connectivity, especially in developing regions.

2. Why is it important for high school students to learn about humanitarian engineering?

Exposure to humanitarian engineering in high school broadens students’ understanding of global challenges and enhances their role as informed global citizens. It prepares them for careers that can improve lives and fosters a sense of responsibility toward helping vulnerable communities.

3. How can project-based learning incorporate humanitarian engineering?

Project-based learning can incorporate humanitarian engineering by involving students in actual or simulated projects that address community needs. Hands-on experiences or hypothetical scenarios help students develop problem-solving skills and apply engineering principles to real-world challenges.

4. How can humanitarian engineering be included in existing high school curricula?

Humanitarian engineering can be integrated through cross-curricular math, science, language arts, civics, and social studies units. Dedicated courses, STEM/robotics programs, distance learning opportunities, and volunteering projects can also provide students with relevant knowledge and experience.

5. How can technology facilitate learning in humanitarian engineering?

Technology can connect students with real-world humanitarian engineering projects through virtual observations and professional interactions. It can also be used in simulations and instructional technology to create realistic problem-solving scenarios.

Conclusion

Humanitarian engineering offers a valuable perspective for high school students, providing insights into global challenges and the potential to make a positive impact. By integrating this field into high school curricula through project-based learning, cross-curricular units, dedicated courses, and technological tools, students gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of the importance of engineering solutions in aiding at-risk communities. As awareness and interest in humanitarian engineering grow, more students will consider it a viable career path, leading to a future where more individuals are equipped to address and solve critical humanitarian issues.