Sophomore Mana Acosta and Senior Luke Wheeler spent this past summer working with Engineers in Action (EIA) in rural Jatun Pampa, Bolivia to build a suspended footbridge over a river. Prior to arriving in July, Acosta and Wheeler spent the academic year learning about bridge design and the construction process, as well as communicating with EIA to fine-tune plans for their bridge.
Wheeler described the site of the bridge build as “extremely secluded and mountainous,” and explained why the topography made the project more difficult. “We were in a bit of a valley that held the river bed but it quickly rose into decent-sized mountains. This was challenging for moving materials and equipment. There was also a bit of water still flowing in the river despite it being in the dry season so there was that added challenge; we had to move a concrete mixer across and that was extra challenging with the river in the middle.”
While Wheeler and Acosta had diligently prepared plans for the project, they found that there was still plenty more to learn on-site. Acosta learned many new hands-on skills on the trip, saying, “Basically everything construction related we did on site was new to me. I learned a lot, like using a drill press, excavation techniques, and a lot of various ways to take measurements. It was cool to see the real-world application of engineering skills we learn in school.”
Engineers In Action recently celebrated their 100th completed bridge, with bridges in 12 countries built with help from thousands of students from 41 universities, including EMU. These bridges are built in isolated rural areas by students working alongside local people, sharing their skills and knowledge with each other. Spanning impassable rivers, these bridges are connecting isolated people to the broader world, allowing them greater access to healthcare, education, trade, and careers.
Asked what she would say to those considering a trip like this, Acosta replied, “I would tell people, go! Do it! Step outside of your comfort zone and take risks. It’s the best way to learn about the world. International service is inspiring and meaningful. It made me more confident in my major and gave me purpose to keep studying.”
Wheeler agreed, saying, “I would strongly encourage them to go for it and take the chance on the trip! Also, if anyone is interested in a trip like this, we traveled through the Engineers in Action club on campus here and we are always welcoming new members, and they don’t have to be engineers! We would love to have some other people and we need things like media managers and fundraising people, so any major can have a great impact on the build!”
Those interested in taking a trip with Engineers In Action are encouraged to get in touch with the EIA club on campus or go to www.eiabridges.org for more information.
