EDAT

EDAT (or Engineering Design and Appropriate Technology) was an undergraduate university course offered at the University of Warwick since 1980, the final students of which will graduate in 2007. Although accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, EDAT's primary focus was on engineering development for third world countries and the impact of technologies on the environment.

Although the course is no longer directly offered by the University, mainly due to key staff retiring, the main aspects of it have been absorbed by other degrees and can now be studied as Mechanical Engineering with Appropriate Technology.

As EDAT students generally only made up a small proportion of each years Engineering intake the students are frequently very close and maintain good links even after graduation. There remains a strong correlation between EDAT students and low energy lifestyles, vegetarianism, and ecological and political campaigning.

EDAT undergraduates who interlocated work placements with their studies were likely to be working in developing countries on appropriate technology projects. Examples include water and manufacturing projects in collaboration with Manicaland Development Association in Zimbabwe, water harvesting in Kenya.

The Development Technology Unit (DTU), a research unit which "concerns itself with the development and transfer of technologies appropriate to rural areas of tropical countries", grew out of the EDAT course.

External links

* [http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/ug/elect/xat/elective/ Appropriate Technology Modules]
* [http://www.eng.warwick.ac.uk/DTU/ Development Technology Unit]