• Pitch competition challenges teams of university students to create technology-driven solutions for pressing humanitarian problems
• Charles Sturt student engineers’ ‘SODIS System’ aims to provide a safe and reliable source of drinking water in Timor L’Este
• Charles Sturt Engineering aims to make the world a better place by using creative applications of scientific principles to solve problems

A team of four student engineers at Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) in Bathurst has been shortlisted as finalists in the national Humanitarian Innovation Pitch 2019 competition for Australian university students.

The Charles Sturt ‘Team Sloth’ is one of only four teams chosen as finalists in the Humanitarian Innovation Pitch contest, with the winners to be announced on Friday 16 August.

Lecturer in engineering in the Charles Sturt Engineering program Dr Lalantha Senevirantha said the University is thrilled that their student engineering team is a finalist in the competition.

“The pitch competition and the weekend-long Humanitarian Innovation Hackathon are designed for university students to work collaboratively in cross-discipline teams to create technology-driven solutions for pressing humanitarian challenges.

“Participants are tasked to identify practical solutions for real and current problems that are submitted by the humanitarian disaster organisation, RedR Australia.

“This is a perfect fit for Charles Sturt Engineering because I believe engineers can make the world a better, safer and happier place through the creative application of scientific principles to solve problems.”

The Charles Sturt student engineer Team Sloth members are Mr Ethan Hastings, Mr Zac Stanford, Mr Marcus Dege and Mr James Griffiths.

Mr Hastings and Mr Stanford said, “We’re really excited to represent Charles Sturt Engineering at the Humanitarian Innovation Pitch contest for university students.

“As part of the competition, we have to select a real-world humanitarian problem, based on the focus areas identified, and develop technology-driven solutions, including a demonstration or other proof of practicality.

“Our innovative solution is the ‘SODIS System’, a solar water disinfection system which aims to provide a safe and reliable source of drinking water for use in Timor L’Este and elsewhere.

“Key features of our modular design are that the SODIS System isn’t reliant on mains electricity, can be adjusted to the direction of the sun, and can be used in remote areas and those affected by natural disasters.”

Each student team must submit a short video (no more than three minutes) explaining the problem chosen, and the solution developed. The video can be viewed in the Charles Sturt Engineering Team Sloth Media Folder.

Teams must also submit a written design brief showing evidence of how their solution works.

The Humanitarian Innovation Pitch competition winners will be announced on Friday 16 August, as part of the Professor Ron Johnston Humanitarian Innovation Hackathon in Sydney.

The Hackathon winners will receive the RedR Johnston Rapid Response Prize of $5,000 plus recognition in publications and the media.

The winners will also be invited to collaborate further with a group of experts, possibly to build the next phase of the multi-generation plan, or to develop a sustainable social entrepreneurship or commercial solutions.

The Professor Ron Johnston Humanitarian Innovation Hackathon will be held at The Warren Centre, School of Computer Science, building J12, at the University of Sydney from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 August.