School of Mechanical Engineering Seminar
Monday, July, 2024 at 14:00
Wolfson Building of Mechanical Engineering, Room 206
Or Filc
Engineering Solutions to Address Energy Innovation Africa
Today, approximately half a billion people in Africa live without access to potable water or electricity. For those of us in the developed world, it is hard to imagine such a reality. Simple actions like turning on a water tap or lighting up a room after sunset are almost like science fiction for the remote villages scattered across the African continent. This widespread energy poverty, affecting many countries on the continent, has serious and far-reaching consequences, ranging from direct impacts on public health to limiting children's opportunities for education and their ability to secure a better future.
At Innovation Africa, we aim to confront these challenges using Israeli innovation. Over the past 15 years, we have been actively working in six African countries—Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Uganda—to bring clean drinking water and electricity to as many villages, schools, and clinics as possible. With approximately 980 projects completed to date, our technology has positively impacted the lives of over 5 million people across the African continent.
In this lecture, we will explore the energy challenges faced by millions in Africa and examine how energy poverty affects every aspect of life for these populations. We will also discuss the role of technology in addressing these issues, considering both its potential benefits and the challenges it presents. Finally, we will share practical insights on how Innovation Africa is working on the ground to improve the lives of these communities.
Biosketch:
Or Filc is a Graduate of the Adi Lautman Multidisciplinary Excellence Program at Tel Aviv University. She Holds a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's degree in Environmental Sciences. She was previously active in the non-profit organization “Engineers Without Borders”. Currently works as a Mechanical Engineer at Innovation Africa and collaborates with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel to develop a position paper on the efficient and wise use of green energy.
