About the Speaker

Dr. Denis Muthike is an assistant research professor and currently serves as the Interim Director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience at University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Muthike is a climate scientist whose work focuses on how hydro-climatological events affect communities and how data-driven tools can strengthen climate resilience. With expertise in hydro-climatology, remote sensing and geospatial data science, he has developed innovative ways to integrate and analyze large, diverse datasets to guide decisions in vulnerable rural regions in the eastern and southern Africa region where he has led projects advancing food and water security. Dr. Muthike previously spent over a decade with NASA SERVIR in Kenya, where he trained hundreds of a broad range of professionals and mentored emerging climate scientists. His contributions have been recognized with multiple awards for global engineering, resilience, and mentorship.

About the Session

As the impacts of climate change intensify, communities around the world face growing risks from droughts, floods, and other climate-driven shocks. Engineers have a critical role to play in designing solutions that not only protect people and infrastructure, but also strengthen resilience in the face of uncertainty. This keynote will explore two success stories from East Africa where engineering innovations have been applied to manage drought and flood risks, highlighting the lessons they offer for future practice. Beyond technical expertise, the talk emphasizes the importance of human-centered skills: collaboration, cultural awareness, systems thinking, and advocacy - that enable engineers to design sustainable, equitable solutions.

About the Session

This presentation details a "man-in-the-middle" email scam that defrauded the EWB Kenya team of $20,000 during a remote water project. An attacker compromised the email account of a trusted contractor and provided fraudulent bank details for a payment. After losing the funds, the team consulted with cybersecurity professors to understand the technical nuances of the attack. This session will explain how the fraud occurred in an understandable way. Ultimately, we will share actionable strategies and best practices for other chapters to implement to prevent similar cyberattacks in the future.

About the Speaker

Bruce has been an Engineers Without Border volunteer since 2009. During his time with EWB, Bruce has been an REIC and Project Lead, a Mentor to several Student Chapters and the Michigan State Rep for Student and Professional Chapters. Bruce created and led the Project Management Support Committee, is a member of the Mentor Support Committee and was the Professional Chapter Representative to the EWB-USA Board of Directors from 2017 thru 2019. Bruce has been part of EWB’s Financial Stability Committee, the Global Planning Committee, the Board Audit, Fundraising Committees, and Strategic Governance Pillar. Bruce currently leads a team of seven Regional Presidents in the work they do supporting EWB-USA’s 204 Chapters and 8,000 volunteers.

About the Session

Want to keep your volunteers inspired, committed, and connected to EWB’s mission? This session will show you how! Learn how to transform routine, non-mission activities into powerful, mission-aligned opportunities that energize your team, strengthen your chapter, and deepen impact. Walk away with practical strategies to turn everyday tasks into meaningful experiences that not only retain volunteers—but ignite their passion for EWB and position your chapter as a true powerhouse of change.

About the Speaker

Bruce has been an Engineers Without Border volunteer since 2009. During his time with EWB, Bruce has been an REIC and Project Lead, a Mentor to several Student Chapters and the Michigan State Rep for Student and Professional Chapters. Bruce created and led the Project Management Support Committee, is a member of the Mentor Support Committee and was the Professional Chapter Representative to the EWB-USA Board of Directors from 2017 thru 2019. Bruce has been part of EWB’s Financial Stability Committee, the Global Planning Committee, the Board Audit, Fundraising Committees, and Strategic Governance Pillar. Bruce currently leads a team of seven Regional Presidents in the work they do supporting EWB-USA’s 204 Chapters and 8,000 volunteers.

About the Session

Did you know that EWB offers a wide range of tools, guides, and support systems designed to make your chapter’s work easier, smoother, and more impactful? A recent Volunteer Survey revealed that many chapters aren’t even aware of all that’s available! In this interactive session, we’ll shine a spotlight on the full suite of resources at your fingertips—covering everything from project planning tools to chapter management support. You’ll leave with practical knowledge, insider tips, and clear next steps to help your chapter save time, reduce stress, and amplify its impact. Don’t miss this chance to discover how to make your EWB journey easier—and more rewarding—than ever.

About the Speaker

Lee Faraca is a Cal Poly SLO alumni who has been involved in EWB since 2015. He was a team member of the Cal Poly Nicaragua Chapter for 5 years, and continued working with the San Francisco Professional Chapter after graduating. Lee is the current president of the San Francisco Professional Chapter. In his professional life, Lee is a civil engineer who specializes in water and wastewater treatment.

About the Session

Water quality testing is an important due diligence in water treatment and system design. In a presentation put together by EWB's Sanitation Program Approach (WASH), learn about the typical constituents of concern and how to sample for them. Refershers on sampling terminology, best practices, and protocols will have your team ready to perform and/or contract out water quality testing.