a pipe dream? the efficacy of point of use water systems policy dialogue
TRANSCRIPT
A Pipe Dream? The Efficacy of Point of
Use Water Systems Policy dialogue
Technological solutions from a research
perspective
TG Barnard
Water and Health Research Centre
Established in 2004 – Prof Paul Jagals
Since 2008 – Dr TG Barnard
Originally known as the “Water and Health Research Unit”
Now known as the “Water and Health Research Centre”
Change in direction needed to answer demands from SA water sector
HISTORY OF WHRC
RESEARCH FOCUS: OLD VERSUS NEW
Original research focus
Inter-disciplinary research approach to establish the HESET risk assessment
toolkit for evaluating water related studies
HESET = Health, economical, social, environmental, technology
Adapted research focus
Inter-disciplinary research approach using current expertise available in
Faculty of Health Science
Initial main focus on developing advanced technology for water, stool and
food samples for the presence of bacterial pathogens
RESEARCH AIMS
Research aims:
Detection of bacterial pathogens (qualitative and quantitative)
Public perceptions regarding water, water treatment or water technology
Commercialization of projects
Commercialization of projects topic of presentation:
Personal experiences with the design and commercialization process
My views and experiences – not necessarily the same for all
OUR APPROACH TO COMMERCIALIZATION
Call for multi-disciplinary research to answer needs of country
Including sociologists or anthropologists
Next step include Industrial designer
University of Venda and University of Johannesburg project
Funded by Water Research Commission
Potters-for-Peace Ceramic Water Filter
OUR APPROACH TO COMMERCIALIZATION
OUR APPROACH TO COMMERCIALIZATION
What did we learn?
We need to link science with industrial design
Appointed Industrial designer in the Centre
Working with designer not always easy!
Different backgrounds makes communication difficult
THE DESIGN PROCESS
PRODUCTS SO FAR
HOW DO WE PROJECT OUR DESIGN?
Patenting or licencing?
Do not patent whole design
Patent small parts of the design
Our approach is determined by each product
Do we want to produce this?
Do we licence and “rent” our idea to industry?
HOW DO WE APPROACH OUR PRODUCTS?
What we want and we can do not the same?
Be realistic in what can be done
Need for prototyping
What type of method used to produce the product
Rotor moulding, injection moulding, rapid growing etc.
Looking at cost vs. quality vs. output
What do the community want?
Is it practical to produce and use?
Would they really want to use it?
Would you use your product?
HOW DO WE FUND OUR PRODUCTS?
Look at hidden design costs?
Different moulds can influence your cost
Produce in SA or China?
Decide what you want to do then look for funds
Look at projected actual costs?
Can people afford to buy it?
Can we make it more affordable?
Jay Bhagwan design approach
OUR PROBLEMS?
We have the ideas and designs but we are not business men
When applying for funds:
Business plan/model
Market survey etc.
This makes commercialization difficult!
FINAL THOUGHTS?
Get a good team together
Design what the affluent would want to buy but the poor need to use
Have fun with your project!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Collaborators University of Venda – Prof Natasha Potgieter ERWAT and Rand Water
Funders University of Johannesburg Water Research Commission National Research Foundation
University of Johannesburg Prof Andre Swart Industrial designers: Robin Robertson and Martin Bolton WHRC lab personal and students
We drink tap water….
Do you?