The Pi Mile Run is an annual race approximately 3.14 miles (5 kilometers) in length designed to raise money for projects undertaken by Engineers Without Borders. EWB was founded in 2000 as a non-profit organization whose mission is to help developing areas worldwide with their engineering needs, while involving and training a new kind of internationally responsible engineering student.
The Case chapter of Engineers Without Borders is most known for their work in Cruce de Blanco, where they are developing a water system to provide clean and safe drinking water for a community of 600 in rural Dominican Republic. EWB is beginning a second international project in Thailand, to provide drinking water and toilets to a rural school and hostel. Locally, EWB is using the University Farm as a testing ground to develop appropriate technology for third-world irrigation, and they plan to begin additional research in labs on the Case campus.
EWB provides Case students an opportunity to engage the international community as practicing engineers before they have completed their undergraduate engineering education. Many EWB projects involve the design and construction of basic infrastructure projects (sanitation, waste-water management, clean energy), and all EWB projects integrate students, faculty, professional engineers as well as members of the communities in which projects take place.
Because projects are conceived and implemented by students, EWB members gain first-hand experience in overseeing engineering projects through to completion. Many of the projects seek to educate local communities to ensure solutions are maintained after EWB leaves the region. This allows students a chance to interact closely with citizens of other countries, as well as an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of engineering fundamentals through education. In effect, through its efforts to provide appropriate and sustainable engineering solutions to the developing world, EWB prepares its members to face the challenges of tomorrow’s engineers.