Environmental solution logo

This website features work from the completion of Phase 1 of the SCALES Project.

We are currently seeking partnerships for Phase 2.

Undergraduate

  • Practical Photovoltaics Design

    You are in charge of designing a solar panel installation for a rural health post. The requirements for the given location are as follows:

    • There is a 220W freezer that needs to run 24/7
    • The health post is open until 9pm, and, on average, they have to turn the lights on from 6pm until they close. Given their needs, it seems that the most adequate installation would be 2 fluorescent lights of 15W each.
    • They have an amateur radio to communicate with the clinic in the city, that consumes 40W, and it is usually on for two hours every day.
    • The health post is staffed every day of the year.
    Read more: Practical Photovoltaics Design

  • Personal Energy Consumption

    Determine your average daily energy consumption (in kWh). For this assignment, you can take into account only the electricity that you use, though you should be aware that there are additional energy expenditures in terms of transportation, heating, manufacturing processes to make the products that you use, etc. You should submit this as a table showing your energy consumption (power x time) for a few days and then come up with an average value.

    Read more: Personal Energy Consumption

  • Current Events

    Review both the national and international media to find a story that affects your D-Lab project country. Some sectors that might be of interest include: the environment, health and sanitation, agriculture, energy, education, humanitarian disaster, politics, economics and information technology. Each person on your D-Lab country team should select a different topic. Write a 2-page summary of the story making sure to comment on its implications for the nation, your D-Lab trip or another affected group. Make sure to properly cite all your sources.

    Read more: Current Events

  • Discussion Questions: Mastering the Machine 2

    Please answer the following questions (maximum 2 single-spaced pages), using examples from the book where applicable.

    1. Do small farms have a place in the future of agriculture? The world economy? Food security? If so, how?
    2. How do the lessons learned from the Turkana rainwater harvesting project contrast with the actions taken during the green revolution?
    3. Why is there so much focus on post-harvest technology, and value-added production?
    Read more: Discussion Questions: Mastering the Machine 2

  • Small is Beautiful Reaction Piece

    Write a one-page reaction piece to the following reading. What did you find interesting? What insights did you gain? Do you agree or disagree with the author? Did you gain any new perspectives? 

    Read more: Small is Beautiful Reaction Piece

  • Stakeholder Analysis Writeup

    Smith, Amy, and Shawn Frayne. "Fuel from the Fields: A Case Study of Sugarcane Charcoal Technology in Petite Anse, Haiti." D-Lab Case Study. (PDF – 1.4MB)

    Blank stakeholder analysis form (PDF)

    Read more: Stakeholder Analysis Writeup

  • Discussion Questions

    Please answer the following questions (maximum 2 single-spaced pages). Make sure to use examples from the reading where applicable.

    1. What 2 major crises did the Brandt Report predict? How accurate were these predictions?
    2. What is the effect of tariffs on raw vs. processed vs. manufactured goods?
    3. On p. 4 the author states: "Never before in history have so many non-technical people exerted so much influence on the advancement, retardation, and movement of technology." Comment on this trend and give an example that illustrates it.
    Read more: Discussion Questions

  • Final Project

    Read the final project requirements. Think about what topic, datasets, and output technique you want to explore for your final project. This could be building on one of the sketches you did before, or starting something new.

    Read more: Final Project

  • Homework 16 & 17: Sketch 5

    Start working on your idea for this sketch, and bring into class: data, audience, goals, and question.

     

    Finish your sketch

    Read more: Homework 16 & 17: Sketch 5

  • Homework 15: Map Somerville tree data

    Use Tableau or CartoDB to make a map of the Somerville MA tree data

    Read more: Homework 15: Map Somerville tree data

Notice something that doesn’t seem right? Want to make a suggestion or provide feedback about how something is classified? 
Please reach out to esi [at] mit.edu and include SCALES Website in the subject of your email.
Feedback and any actions taken with regards to the feedback, will be shared as they are addressed.