Smith, Amy

TEDTALK: AMY SMITH
TED Technology Entertainment Design, BMW, 2006

"MIT engineer Amy Smith designs ingenious low-cost devices to tackle tough problems in developing countries. She received a MacArthur "Genius" Grant in 2004, and was the first woman to win MIT's famed Lemelson Prize. In this talk, she explains the vision behind her inventions, which include eco-friendly charcoal and a laboratory incubator that doesn't require electricity. (Recorded February 2006 in Monterey, CA. Duration: 15:48)"

Fuel from the Fields: A Case Study of Sugarcane Charcoal Technology in Petite Anse, Haiti
Amy Smith & Shawn Frayne, D-lab Development, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2004

Amy Smith's Canecoal from D-Lab MIT and Haiti
Courtesy of David Whitfield, CEDESOL, Aug 3, 2006

Here is a picture of the charcoal being made and apparently the typical cooker.

Charcoal Extruder

A charcoal extruder made by MIT, Amy Smith et al.

Meeting a pressing Need: Project Appraisal of the Oilseed Ram Press and Approaches to Implementation

Fuel from the Fields: A Guide to Converting Agricultural Waste into Charcoal Briquettes Draft

Charcoal Briquette Maker
Amy Smith, D-Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Haiti is in dire need of an alternative fuel source. Currently, wood and wood-based charcoal are the primary cooking fuels in Haiti, but the country 98% deforested. Wood for charcoal is extremely scarce and demand creates soaring fuel prices and environmental devastation. With an average income of about one dollar per day, imported fuels are not a viable option.