Story written by Kian Hagerman, Mesa Legend
For many who seek to affect change in the world, the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program at ASU offers opportunities to do so.
Originating at Purdue University, ASU is one of 20 universities involved in the national EPICS program.
The national program offers methods for any institution to develop an EPICS program; schools have to apply, including information about the class or classes that will be offered and how the standards of the EPICS program are met.
“EPICS is a great opportunity for students to get involved and have a positive impact on their community. EPICS is designed to allow students to work on real projects positively impacting the lives of real people,” said Scott Shrake, EPICS director at ASU. “Students will actively work on refining their design skills, specifically through using a human centered design approach. It’s a strong class for professional development, building group and team working skills, presentation skills, etc.”
According to the EPICS@ASU website, volunteers and students in the program join teams that work on different projects with varying goals for not-for-profit organizations; the team Fiji Lights designed and created prototype sustainable lighting for the populace of Fiji.
“We have almost 40 active projects with 30-plus community partners on a local, national, and international scale,” Shrake said. “Engineering Smiles – a group partnering with the International Medical Alliance is developing a mobile dental surgical clinic for use in developing countries.”
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