The Yale University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders works closely with local communities in developing countries to deliver much needed services and education to people in need. In February 2010, they had the opportunity to invite Leonardo J. Stoute, Founder and President of the LSI Group, to discuss with them the needs and opportunities for sustainable infrastructure in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Professor Stoute, who also teaches at Andalas University in Padang, brought the group up to speed on the aftermath of the devestating earthquakes that hit West Sumatra in the fall of 2009.
Prof. Stoute discussing with Engineers Without Borders at Yale
Prof. Stoute’s presentation began with an introduction to the geography and culture of West Sumatra, Indonesia, home of the Minangkabau, one of the oldest and largest matrilineal societies still in existence today. He touched briefly on the uniqueness of the Minang culture as one of the foundations of other cultures throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, and Southeast Asia. Over 1 milion of the Minang were effected when the magnitude 6.9 and 7.9 earthquakes hit on September 30, 2009. The people, strong-hearted, generous, and welcoming, are currently experiencing the aftermath of a tragic natural disaster, and are still feeling the consequences of the lack of necessities such as adequate shelter.
Brazil has successfully replaced over 40% of its petroleum with ethanol in a largely and increasingly renewable manner, and without impact on staple crops. Can the USA do the same? Although the USA currently produces more ethanol, the current system based on corn lacks sustainability or carbon mitigation, with significant negative indirect effects on global biodiversity and animal feed supply. The emergence of technical capacity to convert celluloses to fuels, opens the use of a much wider range of plant feedstocks that can be grown in our climate, and including plants that can be grown on abandoned land or land unsuited to agriculture. Proposed feedstocks range from restored prairie to highly productive monocultures of perennial energy grasses and trees, depending on the location. Facts indicate that the latter solution on abandoned or degraded agricultural land may come closest to allowing the USA to address all four areas of the title.
