Juliana Mitkiewicz is an environmental engineer who is currently completing part of her PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems at MIT. Through her work at MIT D-Lab (Development through Discovery, Design and Dissemination Lab), she has collaborated with regional partners to develop sustainable energy solutions and promote successful and just economies. Working in Mongolia, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia, Mitkiewicz has been developing a small solar-biogas hybrid energy systems to test it in frontline communities. MIT Climate sat down with Mitkiewicz to discuss her technology’s impact, the gendered nature of climate change, and developing sustainable economic ecosystems.
Mikaela: You’re currently completing your time at MIT D-Lab. How would you describe your research interests more specifically?
Juliana: Climate justice and renewable energy sources as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and gender imbalances. Since I started at D-Lab, my interest more directly has been women empowerment. In the end, it is not about the final goal (the PhD thesis) anymore, which is just a piece of paper and a Doctor name, it is about processes and the pathways that really transform peoples’ lives.
Mikaela: Describe the small scale solar-biogas hybrid energy system you have been developing, and how it can impact different communities.
Juliana: When I started my PhD, I didn’t just want to follow the academic path, publishing papers and articles --- but also wanted to cause a real impact with my PhD research. After doing a one year Advanced Studies in Sustainable Energy System in Portugal program (MIT Portugal Program), I realized that it is possible to use local resources to tackle local needs, which could reduce costs and most importantly empower local communities. Then, I decided to design a system that could tackle two basic big challenges in vulnerable communities: energy and sanitation. I saw that using local materials and local resources/waste, it is possible to extract thermal power from the sun and produce biofuels to energy supply a community. At the same time, it could provide a sewage system and biofertilizer as a by-product for these communities.
In short, my sustainable energy system is a concentrating solar collector combined with a biodigester that converts organic matter into biogas. These two energy sources run an external engine, and this engine can provide mechanical power (pump water), electricity and provide heat (to cook, to heat water). Basically, when the sun isn’t shining or providing solar energy for the system, the biogas is available as a backup system.
Mikaela: What are the social impacts of this technology?
Juliana: Through providing energy and sanitation, it is possible not to only reduce disease, improve health, and improve the environment surrounding the community, but also change behaviors and reduce gender imbalances. Electricity also has a ripple effect: through powering TVs, radios, and phones, information and education is spread. It also allows the community to develop business and products through technology. So, this system doesn’t only provide them with technology, but knowledge and opportunities to foster self-determination and empowerment.
Mikaela: In previous interviews, you have discussed the disproportionate impact environmental issues have on women. What issues are women specifically facing in the communities you work with?
Juliana: In Mongolia for example, the population that live in Yurts, which used to be a nomadic type of housing meant for easy assembly and disassembly use coal to heat their homes, during the winter. Unfortunately, this nomad house became a permanent housing structure within big urban areas, where there are not restroom facilities in or proper air ventilation. Since women are the ones that stay at home they suffer much more with air pollution and sanitation.
There is this concept of climate change as a wide-scale, global issue, but climate change affects communities and people in a very direct way. In Nicaragua and Ethiopia, women are often excluded from conversations on water usage, despite being impacted by water issues the most due to taking on domestic tasks.
Mikaela: How do you develop sustainable solutions that work within each region’s context and culture?
Juliana: Throughout Central America, Asia, and Africa, each community has their own needs. It’s really important to interact with the community and understand what they want/need in order to collaborate with them to create the best solution for each specific community, or give them the tools and technical skills to create the solutions by themselves.
I see my project as an opportunity to not only tackle climate change and energy issues, but to empower minority groups. My approach is the opposite of an NGO; I want to set up sustainable ecosystems that empower communities to provide for themselves without donations, charity, or foreign interventions. Solutions that leverage their way of life. Through energy access, communities can develop business and projects, and access information, communication.
I also think, it is important to not just ask what the problem is, but ask how they envision their lives. We are usually very problem-solving oriented, but approaching from an aspirational angle allows for greater impact. Through looking and mapping at their dreams and aspirations, the community can see what cluster or niche they want to start working with to create more impactful change.
Mikaela: How can the gendered aspect of poverty be addressed within the framework you just described?
Juliana: Considering the gender equality piece, it is important to include ideological change. It’s not just providing communities with hard skills such as engineering. We also have to promote an ideological mindset through education. We must start with a concept of a non-patriarchal, non-violent, sustainable society and help women understand themselves as key players who can make a change. I have learned this concept with the group of women I have been working with in Nicaragua. They have a strong ideological approach as one of the key pillars that sustain and work as a foundation of this incredible organization called Fundación Entre Mujeres, which means Foundation among women.
However, this not happen everywhere. I went to Mongolia, most of the women I met had never used hand tools like hacksaws before. When they learned that they could use them, they felt empowered. It is really as simple as that. However still exists the gender power inside them that stereotyped male and female behaviors. In that case women are still not seemed as capable to do some type of work, like construction.
So, in my opinion, in contrast with almost all the research papers and articles I’ve read, economic aspect is not the main solution to empower women. I agree, it is important, but first, the women have to see themselves capable and free to do whatever they want without being judged as inferior, fragile, underpowered. In summary, we are equal and we, women, should not fight for our rights, because I think it is not a war that we have to win, but we have to dialogue with all gender in other to have a mindset change.