Jeremy Smith

Hi All -- an interesting piece here from the latest RedR newsletter on HumEng in a post covid-19 world, with reflections from three perspectives - https://issuu.com/consultingmatters/docs/2020_oct_consulting_matters/28?utm_source=RedR%2BNewsletter&utm_campaign=4fcc8f2a41-EOY%2B2020%2BEnews&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a13640fa4f-4fcc8f2a41-108511029

Thanks -- Jeremy

The Understanding Risk (UR) Global Forum is a biennial conference that convenes experts and practitioners from all around the world to showcase the best practices and latest innovations in the field of disaster risk identification as well as to facilitate non-traditional interactions and partnerships.  

The 2020 edition also marks the 10th anniversary of UR community, and we are celebrating its achievements and the advancements of the field during the past decade.  Register now, and if you have any queries you can see the FAQ page, we look forward in seeing you. 

Topics to be covered include
AI/machine learning | Art | Cities | Data, including earth observation data | Data visualization | Decision-making | Early warning systems | Emerging technologies, including Internet of Things, drones, quantum computing | Fragility, conflict and violence settings | Inclusivity | Infrastructure | Nature-based solutions | Risk assessment | Risk communication | Risk finance | Stakeholder collaboration | Transport | User-centered design | Youth and young professionals

For details and registration see -- https://understandrisk.org/event/ur2020_forum/

Thanks -- Jeremy

Hi All -- a number of events, resources and links were mentioned in the Engaging with Humanitarian Engineering webinar with Mariela Machado (from E4C) and Peter McArdle (from Australian Red Cross).  This are:

Impact:Engineered event - https://www.impact-engineered.org/agenda

E4C reports and background - https://www.engineeringforchange.org/what-we-do/introduction-to-egd/

More details on Mariela's ICT4D work - https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/news/project-examines-value-new-information-resource-medical-providers-rural-latin-america

Sphere Standards mentioned by Peter - https://spherestandards.org/

Human-centred Engineering mentioned by Peter, from EWB - https://ewbchallenge.org/human-centred-engineering-0

Thanks for those who made the webinar, and to Peter and Mariela for their time,

  Jeremy

Hi All -- great to see CoP members Tanja and Nick presenting on the Humanitarian Engineering in Australia through the US-based Engineering for Change (E4C).  Details are below.

Seminar Series: Teaching Humanitarian Engineering, An Australian perspective

December 9th | 6PM ET | Free registration

Dr. Tanja Rosenqvist and Dr. Nick Brown, co-leads of the Humanitarian Engineering Lab at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, will present their experience developing Humanitarian Engineering into a field of research and practice.

Join this seminar to learn how Humanitarian Engineering is defined in Australia and why Humanitarian Engineers are the engineering equivalent of a GP.

https://www.engineeringforchange.org/webinar/seminar-series-teaching-humanitarian-engineering-australian-perspective/

Impact.Engineered is organised by ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and Engineering for Change (E4C) that will provide a critical platform for knowledge exchange, meaningful connection and celebration of the individuals and organizations advancing the role of engineering in social innovation and sustainable development.
The event will feature a two-day program with a series of panel discussions and networking, along with an awards ceremony where we will recognize social entrepreneurs, engineers, industry leaders, and rising stars who are shaping the future of purposeful business and engineering.  

E4C's Program Director Mariela Machado will be one of two panellists for the HumEng CoP Webinar on Nov 26.

Hi All -- the Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) has announced its most recent funding round for early stage development or implementation of innovations for humanitarian settings.

Details available at https://www.elrha.org/news/hif-call-for-proposals/

Thanks -- Jeremy

The US-based Engineering for Change is compiling a set of regional reports on education for what they term "Engineering for Global Development", effectively what we'd call Humanitarian Engineering in Australia.  An Australian report was completed in 2019, with a report for Latin America released in 2020 and attached here.  Interesting to see a wide range of terms and approaches used, as well as a significant local and rural focus as well as engagement with North American organisations.

State-of-EGD-Latin-America-Full-Report-July-2020.pdf

August 19 2020 was UN World Humanitarian Day, to celebrate and acknowledge people who contribute to a range of humanitarian actions.  Here are a couple of articles to do just that from an engineering perspective, featuring some of the CoP members:

Engineers Australia - https://www.createdigital.org.au/4-engineers-share-passion-humanitarian-projects/?utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EDM-20200820

RedR Australia - https://www.redr.org.au/news-and-publications/latest-news/what-is-humanitarian-engineering/ and https://www.redr.org.au/news-and-publications/latest-news/real-life-heroes/

Thanks -- Jeremy

Systems Engineering, Risk Engineering and Engineering Education in the same group, and taken them a lot longer to get to that so I think we're certainly doing well.

While not focused on covid-19, one of the attached papers (available from ASEE PEER) looks at the high-level (goal level) linkages and tries to prioritise them.  I do find that tries to "linearise" them whereas potentially a holistic systems approach is more appropriate given the relationships.  The second paper extends the "systemigram" (an influence diagram of sorts) to develop a CLD (causal loop diagram) to explore the feedback loops involved, which helps to look at potential intervention points to have the most impact but utilising the feedback loops present.

Would agree that thinking in terms of system dynamics and feedback loops is an important part of humanitarian engineering practice, although like any tool needs appropriate training and practice.  SESA (Systems Engineering Society of Australia) are starting to look at this from a slightly different starting point, but perhaps there is a good opportunity for a joint discussion in the first place on that.

a-methodology-to-model-the-integrated-nature-of-the-sustainable-development-goals-importance-for-engineering-education.pdf SDG Systems Zhang et al 2016.pdf

Thanks Nick, looks good, may be one other around how you got into HumEng, always some interesting and personal stories, and could highlight some pathways for others interested in the area.

Hi All -- an invitation for a webinar on IEEE SIGHT opportunities in Australia, as Australia does not have an IEEE SIGHT Chapter:

Hi All -- a new student-led initiative based on simulations scenarios running in September 2020.  Has a security focus, but looking for mentors with backgrounds in security and crises response in case of interest to anyone -- https://australian-crisis-simulation-summit.com/

Good points around the research focus, I think if a 6-digit code under Humanitarian Engineering for training/education, should be focused on capacity building not university education. As highlighted, other 4-digit codes don't have their own education sub-code.  Looking other related codes for is good, and potentially then more consistent.

Hi All -- a discussion on the role of the technical sector, including engineering, in climate change in Melbourne in February

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/reimagining-the-role-of-the-technical-sector-in-the-face-of-climate-change-tickets-86300209249?fbclid=IwAR0_nkX3RWtZn-2N410wunL2esYfygmcRL0nhnJ8fO9_GBXCOp5xjCDcIaE

Potentially goes to some of the questions around leadership for (or from) the engineering sector in climate change.

Thanks -- Jeremy

Hi Nick -- sounds good.  A couple of other suggestions for 6-digit codes could be:

• capacity building and training
• monitoring and evaluation
• human factors
• technology transfer
• Disaster Management

I suspect that the "discipline" aspects would already be covered in other areas.  For example, we would need to include WASH, energy, housing here, or could activities be split between the discipline area and then then "humanitarian engineering" aspect.

The details for the 2020 Humanitarian Innovation Awards organised by the Warren Centre are available - https://humanitarianinnovationawards.com.au/ -- includes an Innovation Pitch for ideas and concepts due in April and a Humanitarian Hackathon July 24-26 in Sydney.  The program and events are supported by RedR Australia and open to students and professionals.

Here is an update from md-2019 from David Walker at the University of Wollongong on either existing Humanitarian Engineering courses and plans for a new minor in the area.  Comes out of the mining program and includes an ongoing collaboration in Rwanda:

https://www.uow.edu.au/about/learning-teaching/academic-portfolio-update/news-archive/david-walker-gives-students-a-humanitarian-edge.php

A summary of education and research mostly at universities in Australia attached here.  This was prepared by Rhys Keogh,, based at UTS, who I think is Australia's first "Engineering for Change Fellow".  These are competitive short-term research fellowships from the US-based Engineering for Change (EfC).  This report was prepared by Rhys as a snapshot of education and research in the area (Humanitarian Engineering, or Engineering for Global Development as I think E4C call it).  Certainly highlights again the rapid growth in the area in Australia and NZ.  Certainly highlights the potential role of this CoP and collaborations across universities, organisations and EA.

State-of-EGD-Aus-NZ-Full-Report_2019.pdf

In December the relevant Federal Government Minister announced a call for submissions to feed into a new Australian Development Policy to:

"This policy will drive the Government’s international development efforts in support of security, stability, prosperity and resilience in the Indo-Pacific."

Submissions are open until January 31 from individuals and organisation in case of particular interest to anyone.  Details are here - https://dfat.gov.au/aid/new-international-development-policy/Pages/default.aspx

Previous recent strategies on AustralianAid have included the 2018 - 2021 Innovation Strategy, which certainly had a focus on technology and its role in development (attached here) 

DFAT-Innovation-Strategy-FINAL.pdf

In 2019 a review and consultation was started for the Australia and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC).  From the documentation:

"The Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) is a set of three related classifications developed for use in the measurement and analysis of research and experimental development (R&D) undertaken in Australia and New Zealand. ANZSRC is used both in the public and private sectors. It allows the comparison of R&D data between sectors of the economy (e.g. general government, private non-profit organisations, business enterprises and educational institutions)."

As part of the changes, Humanitarian Engineering was a new field that was added to the 09 Engineering Field of Research (FoR) classification.  This is great recognition of the emergence of the area and would allow further investment, activities and research to be undertaken and recognised.  These are important for tracking and justifying investment and activities in broad areas of research. 

Comments on the proposed changes are welcome from individuals and organisations until February 10, 2020.  Could we have an agreed submission on the proposed changes from this group, to advocate for this change?  Should Humanitarian Engineering actually be a separate 4-digit category with then multiple 6-digit categories for specific areas (such as contexts) and activities (such as appropriate technology, M&E, capacity building, ...)?

All the proposed changes and details are attached,

anzsrc_consultation_draft_for.xlsx anzsrc_consultation_draft_seo.xlsx anzsrc_review_consultation_draft_indigenous_research.pdf anzsrc_review_consultation_draft_paper.pdf