Notes from 1/23/2011

The night's to-do list:

1) Pre-semester forms

2) Post-assessment forms

3) Email Joshua Knight

4) Professional mentor interest

These goals were mostly accomplished. Also, we discussed ways to improve the speed of our project. We will start having regular, weekly meetings. During the week, we should research latrines and bring something new to discuss at every meeting. Begin building.

Reminders:

Everyone fill out the doodles that David sent! Also, brainstorm outside-of-meetings group bonding events!

Sarah: (1) set a date for meetings (2) find a place we could begin building- ask Mark, Dr. Linder, Dr. Wilkie, and/or farmer? (3) contact Jon to ask about the mentor section of the post-assessment forms (4) research procedures for getting money (5) research closing out project and if we need to do such (6) In the 512, should we talk about what we've done with our grant? Ask Mark and/or Dr. Linder.

Notes from 1/6/2011

Hey Team!

Here are the notes from last night's meeting along with a short list of people and what they need to work on as a reminder at the end:

• Pour-flush latrine - cost effective; adequate water? (ask Polin)
• Tube is a few feet away from the digester
• Squatting plate - expensive - how to reduce cost? (ask Polin)
• VIP latrine - net keeping mosquitoes out
• No light on plate or down tube
• How can we help people who can't afford a digester? Offer a composting or stand-alone latrine; design a stand-alone latrine that could be easily converted to a biogas latrine if family were to later obtain a digester.
• Earthbags as stairs (rice bags filled with dirt)- *advantage: clay and dirt dug up for latrine can be used in the bags

Characteristics:

1. Raised to accommodate flooding
2. Piping: elbow or straight
3. Pour for biogas latrines
4. Opening at top for ventilation
5. Privacy wall- entrance should not face W or E
6. Thatched roof, possibly with metal sheet underneath
7. Stand-alone: double chamber, straight pipe, same infrastructure

Reminders:

Sarah- contact Columbia; return "Comparing Biogas Digesters" email?

Jon- finish Post-Assessment forms

David- email Polin about the following items:

(1) NBP and SC model breakdowns

(2) Squatting plate varieties

(3) Cost of rebar, barbed wire, and metal sheet