Dr. Tony Pereira - UCLA MAE PhD

Quetsol first Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Quetsol 2010 Summer Internship Program

Quetsol announced its first Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Guatemala. Through the SIP, some of the best engineering students from across the world participate in sustainability projects aimed at improving the quality of life of many of Guatemala's poorest residents through renewable energies and green technologies. Among their activities, the SIP participants will be helping Quetsol improve its product line.

We had an unforgettable Summer of 2010, the memories will last forever. We accomplished a lot and we set forth in motion forces to change dynamically the structure and vision of the community and the entire region and country. We looked at the water quality of Lake Atitlan, the watershed of the region, agriculture, demographics, pollution, pesticide use, ecology, resources, energy, sustainability and quality of life. We also made vast contacts with the local population, non governmental organizations dedicated to the implementation of green, ecological and sustainable practices, and Universities, including the biggest private University in Guatemala, the UVG, la Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. More detailed reports to be posted soon.

The following Engineers and students participated in the 2010 Internship Program.

Prof. Tony Pereira, UCLA ME PhD

Assistant Research Professor - Lamar University

Dr. Pereira, Quetsol's Chief Sustainability Advisor, wrote the engineering methods and the entire sustainability approach for the SIP, and led the 2010 SIP. To view Dr. Pereira’s biography, please click on Bio to the left.

Samantha O'Keefe - MSc MIT Technology and Policy

Samantha O'Keefe is a graduate student at MIT specilizing in Technology and Policy. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from MIT in June 2009 in Environmental Engineering with a Minor in Political Science. She has worked in a variety of fields, including geothermal energy research for the APPA in Spain, public finance for the firm Lehman Brothers, government regulation and policy in Washington DC, and was an intern for Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry. While in school, she was captain of the Varsity Lacrosse team, was Vice President of her Class and was involved in a variety of other student committees.

Jesse Thornburg - MIT MSME Senior

Jesse Thornburg is a senior at MIT in mechanical engineering and comparative media studies. He is especially interested in bringing automation technologies to the third world and advancing service robotics. He is most alive when working and living in the remote corners of Latin America or Africa. When not in lab or the machine shop, Jesse likes to backpack, climb, lift weights, and trail run.

Connie Lu - MIT Environmental Engineering

Connie Lu is an undergraduate studying Environmental Engineering and Urban Planning at MIT, with a minor in Applied International Studies. She has been involved in several international initiatives through MIT, including D-Lab, Global Poverty Initiative (GPI) and the China Educational Technology Initiative (CETI). She enjoys any kind of building project, and has worked on projects including a portable pedal-powered washing machine, a low-cost greenhouse, and global water quality mapping. You can spark her mind with good conversation about water and sanitation, small-scale agriculture and women’s rights, among other topics. Connie has worked in Peru and China, and is excited to explore the beautiful country of Guatemala and the people that she has heard so many good things about.

Antonis Kavvadis - MSc University of Athens, Greece and MSc GIS University Autonoma of Barcelona

Antonis Kavvadis did his first degree in Management of Natural Resources at the Agricultural University of Athens, with a specialization in Water Resources (MSc degree). After graduating in 2008 he worked on map design for the Med SOS network in Athens. In 2009 he completed his MSc in Remote Sensing and GIS at University of Autonoma of Barcelona. Recently he attended a short course at the University College London in Environmental Masterplanning. Simultaneously, the last decade he has enjoyed being involved in composing and performing music by creating various projects and meeting new places and people.

Annie Bastounis - MSc Architecture University of Athens, Greece

Annie Bastounis is a Registered Architect in Greece, and got her education in Architecture at the University of Athens, Paris and Lisbon.

Thomas Leonowens - BSCEng Queens University, Canada

Thomas graduated from Queen´s University in Canada with a BSc in Civil Engineering with a focus in Structural and Environmental. Being from Guatemala, he has always been interested in new and sustainable technology that could be brought back and be disseminated to improve his native country. During university he was involved in being a student leader, being elected House President of an International residence for two years. His hobbies include rock climbing, snowboarding, scuba diving, cycling and backpacking. He intends on pursuing studies in the alternative energy field and green building technology, making Quetsol an amazing experience to get jump started.

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