Impact Stories
Making change happen across Australia and Asia Pacific.
Engineer by profession, engineer in spirit
Picture this; you’re an undergraduate university student working on your first introductory engineering assignment where you are required to draw a bridge for a remote village in Cambodia. Or you are a Master’s student designing a HVAC system for households in Nepal, with variable temperature, pressure, and elevation levels to consider. University teaches you the basics – the software, the calculations, and how to write the report at the end – but how can you be sure that it’s fit for purpose in those locations? Do you really need to understand the socio-technical and cultural aspects of building something for a community you might never visit?

Engineer by profession, engineer in spirit
Picture this; you’re an undergraduate university student working on your first introductory engineering assignment where you are required to draw a bridge for a remote village in Cambodia. Or you are a Master’s student designing a HVAC system for households in Nepal, with variable temperature, pressure, and elevation levels to consider. University teaches you the basics – the software, the calculations, and how to write the report at the end – but how can you be sure that it’s fit for purpose in those locations? Do you really need to understand the socio-technical and cultural aspects of building something for a community you might never visit?

Exploring opportunities for native plants at the ‘Nguluway’ Local Design Summit
The cultivation of native grains through careful land management was once central to Aboriginal life. However, following colonisation, the shift to European foods and farming methods damaged native grasslands and reduced biodiversity.
At Nguurruu farm, 40 minutes north of Canberra, Murray Prior is working with Ngambri custodians to implement regenerative farming practices and revive native foods and land management. Farming practices at Nguurruu are informed by Indigenous knowledges and seek to restore biodiversity and reverse ecological damage.
The second iteration of the EWB ACT Chapter’s ‘Nguluway’ Local Design Summit, held earlier this year in collaboration with Nguurruu farm, gave university students and industry professionals a firsthand insight into regenerative farming practices on Country.
Lazio Miranda – Introducing a Timor-Leste leader
Lazio Miranda - Introducing a Timor-Leste leader.“I chose engineering, because I wanted to contribute to the infrastructure development of my young country.”Meet Lazio Miranda, a Production Engineer with Community Housing Limited (CHL). CHL is...
Developing Global Citizens – EWB’s Design Summit Program
Developing global citizens and empathic humans - EWB's Design Summit program Public speaking can be a daunting experience, especially if you are talking about some of the worlds' greatest social and environmental challenge and you are speaking to those affected most....
Pete’s CEO Blog No. 1
Get the latest from National Office with CEO Pete Baynard-Smith's fortnightly blog. This fortnight I have been travelling to Sydney and Canberra, including preparing for the National Council Collaboration is Key event which we are now able to...
From Student to Field Professional – Becky Watt’s EWB Story
From Student to Field Professional: Becky Watts talks about her journey with EWB Australia When ANU student Becky Watts first started her engineering degree, she never imagined she’d land her first job in a city more than 7000 kilometres across the world. But the...
New Colombo Plan – Funding students to travel and learn with EWB
The New Colombo Plan - Funding students to travel and learn with EWB Australia.By Mikaela Day (Reproduced with permission from Mojo Correspondent)The opportunity for Australian university students to travel as part of their degree while leaving a sustainable...