Centers and Institutes

Science, Social Justice and Poverty: The Water Filtration Project

Wednesday March 16, 2011

Chapel of Saint Joseph

4 PM

ALL ARE WELCOME

Short Description:
The need for safe drinking water is rising at an exponential rate. The need for water has increased six-fold in the last century, more than twice the rate of the world's population growth. Today, more than 1.1 billion people, mostly in low and middle-income countries, lack access to safe water sources within a reasonable distance (1 kilometer) and reasonable quantities (20 L a day) from their home. The lack of clean and safe drinking water has significant medical and economic implications, especially towards women and children.

Most of these diseases can be easily prevented through the implementation of a water filtration system. To address the need for clean water on a small, immediate scale, the Institute of Catholic Bioethics has designed and constructed two slow sand water filters and are in the process of testing them with various contaminants. A team of students, led and sponsored by the Institute, will present the foundation of this project and discuss some of the ethical implications behind the development and implementation of the system as they relate to science and social justice. Bios of the Presenters

Mike Tecce is a Graduate Fellow to the Institute of Catholic Bioethics at SJU and returned to Hawk Hill last year to complete pre-requisites for medical school after earning a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. During his undergraduate years, Mike was very active in both service and leadership roles and more recently was the student leader for the Just Healthcare in Developing Nations class trip to Guatemala in January 2011. The experience of studying the hardships and experiencing the culture of perople in a developing nation, coupled with research in water filtration techniques has further enhanced his interest in reaching out to underserved populations.

Danielle Lucchesi is a Senior Undergraduate Fellow in the Institute of Catholic Bioethics. She is currently finishing up her senior year at Saint Joseph's University, and plans to attend medical school in the fall. Danielle has been involved in a wide variety of service activities on campus, including the Appalachian Experience, Summer Immersion Programs, and the Philadelphia Service Immersion. Through her experiences in Latin America, Danielle has realized the pressing need for increased access to clean water sources, which has fueled her desire to investigate potential solutions to this international issue.

Matt Fadus is a junior biology major with a minor in healthcare ethics. Matt has been very involved in student life at Saint Joseph's, including Hawk Host tour guide, and immersion trips to Guatemala, Ecuador, and the Appalachian Experience. A minor in healthcare ethics, in addition to the course Just Healthcare in Developing Nations motivated his research for the water filter project to provide a clean, sustainable water source for developing countries.

Joe Harrison is a junior Interdisciplinary Health Services major with Biology and Health Care Ethics minors. He is currently a Research Fellow in the Institute of Catholic Bioethics where he co-published an article in December 2010 in the Medical Science Monitor with Peter A. Clark, S.J., Ph.D. and Kevin Capuzzi, Esq. entitled "Telemedicine: Medical, Legal and Ethical Perspectives." Joe is currently working on a team project on water filtration to be implemented throughout the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Tanzania and also on a project analyzing genetic testing with the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden, New Jersey. He is also a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honor Society. On campus, Joe is very active with different organizations, such as the Appalachian Experience, Summer Immersion Program, Philadelphia Service Immersion Program, and Up Til Dawn. After his time as an undergraduate, he hopes to continue his research and study in the fields of medicine and bioethics. Sponsored by the Office of Mission, SJU Interfaith Task Force, Campus Ministry, Faith Justice Institute, Institute for Catholic Bioethics, Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations