Humanitarian engineering is research and design to directly improve the well-being of poor, marginalized, or under-served communities, which often lack the means to address pressing problems.
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Training for one who participates in humanitarian engineering incorporates history, politics, economics, sociology, language, as well as rigorous engineering basics. Several universities in the United States focus efforts on Humanitarian Engineering: Penn State University integrates engineering design and research with a strong social entrepreneurship thrust. Colorado School of Mines as well as the Missouri University of Science & Technology offer Humanitarian Engineering as a minor. The Ohio State University, which also offers a minor in the field, has many local and international service projects, courses, and research in Humanitarian Engineering. Arizona State University offers a 3-course humanitarian engineering/entrepreneurship capstone as a part of the GlobalResolve program.