The Survival Shelter Science Kit ("the kit") engages participants to build and experiment with the goal of improving or creating a desert relief shelter. Scientific techniques and engineering solutions are applied to real-world materials and equipment to educate and inspire participants to develop and test their own designs. The kit aims to intersect DIY design with science, and apply lab thinking to the outdoors.
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| Conceptual diagram |
The kit comes packaged in a plywood box resembling a crate to be air dropped into a remote desert region. Participants first experiment with building a parachute to safely deliver the box out of paper, tape, and string. This quick introduction is fun and gives participants some practice with the construction methods used later. Inside the box, participants will find an assortment of lightweight and inexpensive building materials such as mylar faced foam and corrugated plastic.
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| Perspective kit components |
Materials are pre-cut but offer a number of possible construction techniques to explore space and thermal efficiency with simple tape-up construction. Components for a simple water purification system and water contamination test are included. Electronic components include a solar cell, fan, and an led light to facilitate basic and intermediate circuit design and an evaporative cooling system. Finally, inexpensive instruments to evaluate the experiments such as thermometers, a voltmeter, and a water contamination test kit are included along with instructions and record keeping tables.
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| Concept of packaging |
The resulting materials manifests itself as one or multiple shelters built by participants which can be performance tested outdoors. From electrical engineering to chemical testing, the experience partners design, craftsmanship, and scientific experimentation process to safely engage audiences 8 and beyond.
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| Concept of assembled hexayurt |
