Solutions for the developing world.

A s scientists and engineers engaged in nanotechnology and materials science, we are trained to examine highly complex problems and consider how our understanding can be applied toward a solution. We generally focus on intricate details of a fairly narrow and highly defined realm within chemistry, physics, materials, or other fields. However, it can also be extremely rewarding to apply these skill sets to entirely new problems that are central to the challenges of the developing world. This past month, I was able to take part in such an opportunity as a member of a science team assembled by the Meridian Institute for a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to look at problems that are very real, yet far removed from the direct science and engineering problems that are a part of daily life in a classic academic or research institution. We were charged with examining problems confronting typical smallholder farmers in Africa (i.e., farmers earning $1 $2 per day), with specific emphasis on three important agricultural products: dairy, maize, and cassava. A diverse group of scientists, engineers, and agricultural and food technology experts set out together on a field trip to examine the problems of poor farmers in the rural regions of Kenya and Ghana, with the goal of improving their ability to move products to market, thus increasing their incomes and improving local economies. Many of the problems were ones that could easily be addressed in places with access to capital and strong infrastructure such as well-paved roads, electricity, and plumbed water; however, the solutions needed to be implemented in