Harrison Schmachtenberger
  • mechanical engineering
  • Class of 2017
  • Denver, CO

USD Students selected to compete as finalists in Oxford Global Challenge

2017 May 17

USD students Mei Li Heyc and Harrison Schmachtenberger (Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2017) will go to Oxford to compete against the finalists from other universities in their outline of a social problem, the current solution pool and the levers for change for the chosen issue.

The Global Challenge asks students to demonstrate a deep understanding of a pressing social or environmental issue by mapping the landscape of the current solutions and identifying missing opportunities for positive change.

On March 24, USD student-led semifinalist teams presented to a panel of judges convened by the Center for Peace and Commerce. The Challenge engaged a number of faculty as judges, including from the Kroc School of Peace Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Law and SOLES.

Hey and Schmachtenberger were selected by judges to represent USD at the Global Challenge final taking place at Oxford University from April 30th to May 1st, 2017.

This project, outlining the problem of landmine victims' barriers to using pit latrine restrooms, was originally conceptualized with input from Engineering professor, Dr Frank Jacobitz and engineering students, Caleb Avery and Shannon Bailey.

Hey and Schmacthenberger have been working on this issue for their last several years at USD, formerly entering the Social Innovation Challenge with a proposed solution in the form of a "Simple Seat".