Stories of Impact and Change
At the Blum Center for Developing Economies, we are driven by a shared mission: to innovate, inspire, and empower solutions that tackle global poverty. Explore our latest stories, ground-breaking research, and impactful programs that bridge the gap between theory and action.
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Global Poverty & Practice
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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded a grant to Berkeley in July 2019 to support the scaled-up production of the LoaScope, a mobile phone-based microscope developed by Blum Center Chief Technologist Daniel Fletcher and researchers in his bioengineering laboratory, to enable mapping of Loa loa prevalence and intensity in Central and West Africa.
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Christelle Rohaut, a master’s student at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, was inspired to address the lack of affordable and flexible workspaces in 2016. Observing crowded coffee shops and empty living rooms during her daily commute, she identified an opportunity to bridge the gap between isolation at home and expensive co-working spaces.
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A delegation of Pinoleville Pomo Nation and Santa Clara Tribe students visited UC Berkeley as part of a summer STEAM program. Highlights included hands-on learning in maker labs and emotional moments engaging with Pomo artifacts at the Hearst Museum. The visit aimed to inspire Native youth to pursue higher education and connect with their cultural heritage.
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The Blum Center’s Faculty Salons explored interdisciplinary approaches to development challenges during the 2018-2019 academic year. From AI and automation to rural electrification and climate change, UC Berkeley professors debated solutions for global issues. These discussions emphasized the importance of technological innovation, policy design, and equitable implementation for sustainable progress.
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How do you become a social entrepreneur? The question has been the subject of many articles, books, and TED talks. For applicants to the Big Ideas social innovation contest, however, the answer is fairly simple: motivation and mentorship.
Development Engineering
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The Development Engineering PhD designated emphasis at UC Berkeley integrates technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and social impact to address global poverty. Recent graduates' research includes projects on cookstove efficiency, nitrogen recovery, LED lifecycle management, and fluoride removal. The program trains scholars to create scalable, sustainable solutions for underserved communities worldwide.
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Recent research from UC Berkeley economists Ted Miguel and Catherine Wolfram challenges the assumption that rural electrification is a straightforward pathway out of poverty. A multi-year randomized control trial in Kenya revealed limited socioeconomic benefits from subsidized electricity connections, citing high costs, unreliable grid service, and low appliance usage as barriers.
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A visit to Autodesk's Technology Center at Pier 9 revealed how the company integrates advanced manufacturing tools and sustainability strategies into innovative design processes. Blum Center-affiliated students explored technologies like generative design and carbon calculators, learning about Autodesk’s efforts to reduce environmental impact and foster collaboration in sustainable design projects.
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The Anti-Trafficking Coalition at Berkeley hosted a panel on using AI and machine learning to combat human trafficking. Experts highlighted how algorithms detect vulnerabilities and expedite case handling, reducing backlog times from 30 days to 24 hours. They stressed the importance of inclusive datasets and encouraged students to contribute their technical skills to this vital human rights effort.
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How do you convince people to drive less? When a team of University of California-Berkeley students considered the problem in the city of Berkeley–where traffic is increasing despite the city’s reputation as a bastion of progressive politics–they focused on how to improve the experience of riding the bus.
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After a semester studying housing, transit and other issues plaguing the Bay Area, a group of UC Berkeley students has some unexpected solutions. Free buses, anyone? How about a podcast on homelessness?
Big Ideas
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The Big Ideas Contest at UC Berkeley was launched in 2006 to democratize entrepreneurship and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among students. By supporting a diverse network of innovators from all academic fields, the contest aimed to break traditional boundaries and foster holistic solutions to global challenges.
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The Berkeley Coffee Project, under the Blum Center-sponsored Anti-Trafficking Coalition, empowers students to make ethical coffee choices through its "Conscious Coffee" app. Led by Global Studies senior Sophia Arce, the app helps users find ethically sourced coffee near UC Berkeley while educating on labor practices. With plans for rewards features, it aims to make ethical choices accessible to all.
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The Hacking4Local course at UC Berkeley empowers students from diverse disciplines to tackle complex social issues in Oakland, such as affordable housing and equitable health access. Through interviews, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration, students design real-world solutions while gaining professional skills in teamwork, communication, and navigating ambiguity.
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A Blum Center Faculty Salon analyzed the challenges faced by NextDrop, a mobile intervention for water delivery notifications in India. Despite early success, its scaled operations in Bangalore showed minimal impact on household welfare due to inaccuracies from valvemen and cultural barriers. Professors Isha Ray and Alison Post emphasized the importance of human intermediaries in development interventions.
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Higher education is evolving, driven by STEM advancements that transform society. The Blum Center explores equipping development professionals with interdisciplinary skills like technology management, evidence-based assessment, and cross-cultural collaboration. As global challenges grow complex, integrating STEM with social sciences and humanities is crucial for societal impact. Share your thoughts on shaping this future-focused training.
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According to a UC Global Food Initiative report, 44% of UC undergraduates face food insecurity, and 5% experience homelessness, a figure that doubles at UC Berkeley due to the Bay Area's high cost of living. At a Blum Center event, experts discussed addressing these intersecting challenges through holistic wellness and collaborative support for students and staff.
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The use of machine learning in poverty alleviation offers exciting potential but also raises significant challenges, according to Joshua Blumenstock of UC Berkeley. At a Blum Center Faculty Salon, he highlighted how big data, such as mobile phone and satellite imagery, can provide cost-effective insights for development. However, issues like biased algorithms, over-reliance on digital credit, and socio-cultural complexities demand careful integration of social sciences with machine learning to ensure equitable outcomes.
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The 25 students enrolled in UC Berkeley’s newest class are shooting for more this semester than a good grade. In addition to earning an “A,” they intend to help solve the Bay Area’s housing shortage, prevent wildfires in the East Bay hills and slow climate change.
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Kara Nelson, a UC Berkeley professor of civil and environmental engineering, has dedicated her career to solving global water and sanitation challenges. By championing "aspirational technology" and interdisciplinary approaches, she develops innovative, sustainable solutions for low-resource settings while mentoring the next generation of development engineers tackling critical infrastructure and environmental crises.