Who we are[edit | edit source]

Parras 06 group near perote. The album.php?set albumName=Parras06 gallery has more photos

See the Parras Invitation for initial information on the program. In addition, please browse the user pages, project pages and other working pages below to see more about us and what we are doing.

Our definition of Appropriate Technology[edit | edit source]

Appropriate Technology is an analytical, iterative and cooperative approach to supporting health and happiness by:

  • effectively leveraging local knowledge, materials, wealth and labor
  • strengthening symbiotic relationships between individuals, communities and their environment
  • employing biomimicry and cradle-to-cradle design
  • encouraging transparency, equality and empowerment through education
  • considering cultural, political and historical context
  • effecting fun, sexy and functional solutions

to bolster local economy and workforce, reduce environmental impacts and improve current conditions for the future.

List of Projects[edit | edit source]

UTC Solar Distiller
An ongoing project designed and implemented at Universidad Tecnològica de Coahuila in Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila México to provide safe drinking water purified by the process of solar distillation.
by Angela Crane and Jeff Kinzer
El Jardín Mágico de las Niñas
Two students continue to help veggies and children grow through organic gardening, environmental education and friendships with young girls from disrupted families at an asilo/foster home.
by Juliana Goldstein and Irene McNaughton
DIF Adobe Senior Center
Students and community members made 1000 adobe bricks, and started the construction of Adobe Senior Center at Parras Desarollo Integral de la Familia (DIF).
by Ana Mari Arruabarrena and Ariana Verona Madappa
Parras Solar Hot Water
Repair of a solar hot water heating system for residential showers in Parras. Construction of a solar hot water heating system for a hotel pool in Parras.
by Aaron Antrim, Tybie Fitzhugh and Ben Grimes
Photovoltaic vaccine refrigeration at Centro de Salud
Acquisition and construction of a system for vaccine refrigeration at Centro de Salud utilizing photovoltaic energy.
by Daniel Colman, Mark Ambrosino and Lauren Lamet
Construction of a pilot wastewater marsh
by Tressie Word and Kendra Cecil

Discussion[View | Edit]

Missing Components of AT Definition[edit source]

  • Sexy
  • Fun
  • Thinking
  • Cradle to cradle design
  • Helps involve and strengthens community
  • Encourages self sufficiency
  • Includes locals in the process and allows them to make co executive decisions.
  • Meets the goals and uses the ideas of locals.
  • Makes changes with consideration of the source of the problem and sensitivity to the history of the area.
  • Conscience for future generations
  • Implementation of technology keeping in mind its impacts
  • Self-questioning
  • Doing our best to discover what works
  • Logic
  • Beauty
  • Functionality
  • Effectively utilize local wealth
  • Fiscally self-sustainable
  • Expresses the culture of local people
  • AT is possible through education
  • Necessary for the future of a sustainable planet
  • Affordable (be able to be repaired or replaced)
  • Understood by those that operate it and the community
  • Make shorter and more concise
  • Reconsider the limitation of the word HUMAN in human health and happiness. Maybe it should include more of the rest of the world. Ex: Animals, water, plants, sun..
These are all good, but many relate more to sustainability. I would suggest that we keep in mind that the definitions of Sustainability and Appropriate technology are separate, when we describe these terms. Sustainability is an important part of being "appropriate," but it is only one part, and the sustainability of a certain solution (e.g. solar power) may be outweighed by the cost... though another sustainable solution may be possible which is more affordable (e.g. perhaps a generator running on biodiesel). --Singkong2005 (now known as Chriswaterguy) t - c 20:35, 30 July 2006 (PDT)

Current proposed definition[edit source]

Appropriate Technology supports human health and happiness through:

  • effectively utilizing local knowledge, materials, and labor to improve local economy and workforce
  • finding, creating and utilizing symbiotic relationships between individuals, communities and their environment
  • mimicking nature to reduce environmental impacts while seeking to improve current conditions
  • encouraging transparency, equality and empowerment through education

while being sensitive to cultural and political context.

New proposed defintion[edit source]

Appropriate Technology is a analytical, iterative and cooperative approach to supporting health and happiness by:

  • effectively leveraging local knowledge, materials, wealth and labor
  • strengthening symbiotic relationships between individuals, communities and their environment
  • employing biomimicry and cradle to cradle design
  • encouraging transparency, equality and empowerment through education
  • considering cultural, political and historical context
  • effecting fun, sexy and functional solutions

to bolster local economy and workforce, reduce environmental impacts and improve current conditions for the future.

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