Patrick Delaney , IT 2008
Solar Lanterns, an Improved Lighting Source for Nicaragua
Major
Electrical Engineering
Mentor
John Stavig, Entrepreneurial Studies
Brief Bio
I want to bridge the technology gap between the developing and developed countries. I am the founder of the Buckthorn Removal Company.
Future Plans
I am going to India to work with a solar lantern company to learn more about the solar lantern industry. I am going to pursue my own entrepreneurship.
Why Research?
It was necessary to get an in-depth view of where distribution lines are going to exist for these lanterns. What are some creative financing tools that we can use to improve access to these lanterns? It was essentially a business research endeavor.
What Did I Get from Research?
A few of the supply lines we looked at fell through, and we tried to start a project that would ship a small supply of lanterns to Nicaragua. I found there were many people who want the electric lanterns, and worked on opening supply lines to Nicaragua.
How Did I Start?
My partner Trisha found UROP, and John Stavig I had known for a little bit. Then the project went ahead.
My Advice for Another Student:
Listen to your advisor. We did not listen to our advisor as much as we should have. If you have the right experts, they know their stuff and what needs to get done. You will learn more by following their guidance.
There is a lot of bureaucracy in filling out the forms. Prepare your project so it has the best opportunity to get through the bureaucracy as possible. Prepare the project in a way that best suits your project. Do not try to stick one hundred percent to the guidelines you put down in your project. Try to shoot from the hip as well.
Research Summary
Solar lanterns are an emerging technology that has the potential to assist some of the 1.6 billion people who are living without electricity, and on very low finances. It helps by reducing energy costs, and at the same time reducing fire hazard. It also lowers indoor air pollution. Our research has been to find a sustainable method of distributing these lanterns to the largest number of people possible in the most effective way possible. Effectiveness includes finance methods, warranties, and communicating with the users to determine their needs, rather then trying to project our developed world perspective on the people.