Hello! My name is Mackenzie Bowden, and I'm 23 years old. I am a graduate student at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, where I study sustainable engineering for international development. I grew up in Halifax, Massachusetts, but I've spent the past several summers traveling to Italy, India, Indonesia and Madagascar studying water, energy and sanitation in rural settings.
I originally wanted to become an archaeologist because of my curiosity about the world and the diverse cultures within it, but I fell in love with chemistry and chose to pursue engineering instead. Now, I've found a way to mesh my passion for science with my love of experiencing foreign cultures by returning to Indonesia for a year-long study about renewable energy from agricultural wastes!
Many rural families use firewood or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking and lighting their homes. However, this can be expensive, bad for the environment and cause health problems, especially for women and girls. A large number of rural Indonesian families are farmers, and it is possible to generate fuel from the plant wastes from their crops. I hope to study the feasibility of this renewable energy generation, and how it affects rural communities, economies and the environment.
I'm excited to share my scientific journey with you as we both learn more about Indonesia and its culture!
