It is estimated that only one percent of global freshwater is available to humans, with nearly three billion people living in water scarce conditions. Populations living in impoverished settings are particularly vulnerable to water related illnesses, with approximately 2.2 million people dying each year from to waterborne illnesses. This research uses modeling and field studies to assess the quantity, quality, and economics of distillate produced for drinking water from a brackish water source using two single-sloped, single-basin distillation reactors. The reactors were constructed from adobe and concrete in an arid rural community in San Luis Potosí, Mexico and tested from August to October. The cost of one adobe reactor with an evaporative area of 0.65 m2 is 430 pesos, whereas the same size reactor made from concrete costs 630 pesos. Results show that desalination reactors made from adobe produce 848 mL/m2-day and reactors made from concrete produce 979 mL/m2-day of distillate, while similar reactors made from other materials are estimated to produce over 2,100 mL/m2-day under similar meteorological conditions. These volumes represent approximately 10 percent of drinking water needs of a local family with typical water use habits. The concentrations of total dissolved solids in the source water decreased from 1,102 mg/L to 40.3 mg/L over the study's duration for a removal of 96% which is comparable to current desalination systems (97%). Results suggest that over 90% of a household's drinking water demand could be satisfied (91%) if a network of thirteen distillation reactors were constructed and maintained for ten years when compared to purchasing water from private water vendors.

The project includes a concept for the renewal of the urban situation of Place Lalla Yeddouna in Fez, Morocco, along side with the design of an Artisan's House. Suitable local materials and techniques has been used to create adequate, interesting and sensible rooms. The building by the square will allow the local artisans to work, exhibit, study and teach.

The constantly tightening emission regulations demand the engines to be moreefficient, to get more power out of smaller engines. Higher engine loads andcomponent temperatures are causing more stresses to engine components. Therefore,a company that produces engines wanted to study if it would be possible to increasethe capabilities of the components by optimising the used material. In this final project work, a cylinder head will be studied. The cylinder heads for theengines are made of ductile cast iron. The limits of that material are near safety limits,and therefore a better material is needed. In this work are some previous studiesanalysed and tried to find how to optimise the used material. The optimised materialshould have better thermal conductivity properties combined with sufficient strengthproperties. Previous studies were analysed to gather knowledge of the elements that affect thematerial parameters. Those studies showed that copper, silicon, pearlite fraction, andthe use of chills are the elements to be optimised. Silicon and pearlite fraction waschosen as optimisation parameters because of their effect on the thermal conductivityand strength properties. Copper was chosen as an optimisation variable due to its effecton the pearlite formation. Chills were used to affect the cooling rate and thereby thepearlite formation. The work was made using MAGMASOFT™ simulation software to simulate cylinderhead casting. The simulated cylinder head was divided into 4 parts for the simulations.For those sections were then set targets for pearlite fraction according to previousstudies. The silicon content was kept constant in the simulation, based on the studiespresented in this work. Copper content was simulated with variations from 0 to 0.7weight-%, and chill heights were simulated from 20 to 60 mm and without chills. After simulating the different variables, the results were analysed. Then the selectedcasting simulation result was mapped to finite element simulation mesh to include thelocal material parameters to finite element simulation. With the finite elementsimulation, the estimated lifetime of the component was simulated. By analysing the casting simulation results, an optimal combination was found. Theoptimal material parameters for a cylinder head casting would be copper 0.5weight-%, silicon 1.9 weight-% and chills thicker than 40 mm on the flame plate. Theoptimised material gives more possibilities to develop engines even further when thecomponent demands are growing.

The artist discusses her Master of Fine Arts exhibition, Echoes of Home, held at the Tipton Gallery in Johnson City, Tennessee on display March 15 through April 8, 2022. The author provides insight into concepts and influences relating to the creation of the exhibition with perspective on her intimate connection with place and memory. The exhibit features five installations addressing home, elusive memory, and the change and continuity of cultural traditions over time. The works consist of a series of large-scale wild clay vessels, gestural clay bookends, a wall installation of cups with a line drawing, suspended porcelain slabs, and video projection of clay materials “being breathed”. All works explore how the passage of time and the elusiveness of memory affect psychological connection to place. This exhibit is the culmination of iterative exploration of materiality inspired by exchange among the artist, the landscape, and Appalachian culture.