our project, people & partners
the darfur stoves project
The Darfur Stoves Project works to create sustainable solutions to humanitarian problems in Darfur by utilizing technology that is respectful of the culture and environment. We provide technical assistance and training with a focus on multi-faceted and practical solutions. Our stoves improve personal safety and food security while addressing environmental impact issues and providing jobs within Darfur. We work in partnership with a number of diverse NGOs to ensure our goals become reality.
The Darfur Stoves Project is the first project of the nonprofit Technology Innovation for Sustainable Solutions (TISS). The TISS vision is to create opportunities to research, develop, and promote the use of appropriate technologies and innovations to benefit the health and welfare of communities in developing nations. TISS marries engineering/technology expertise with a business model that creates “turnkey” projects for NGOs, and for start-ups aiming to serve the base-of-the-pyramid, "BOP" segment of the global population. The aim is to develop technology innovation to the point where it can go to scale, and make a large positive impact.
executive team
Ashok Gadgil
President and Principal Investigator
Dr. Gadgil is Senior Scientist and Group Leader for the Environmental Energy Technologies Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor with the Energy and Resources Group at University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Gadgil has authored or co-authored more than 70 papers in refereed archival journals and more than 100 conference papers.
Dr. Gadgil has received many awards and honors for his work, including the Pew Fellowship in Conservation and the Environment in 1991 for his work on accelerating energy efficiency in developing countries, the World Technology Award for Energy in 2002, and the Tech Laureate Award in 2004. He serves on several international and national advisory committees dealing with energy efficiency, invention and innovation, and issues of development and the environment. He is also a member of the STAP roster of experts of the Global Environmental Facility. In the 2004-5 academic year, Dr. Gadgil was the MAP/Ming Visiting Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University.
Amy Callis
Executive Director
Ms. Callis is a marketing & communications professional specializing in non-profit and community relations initiatives. Her work has garnered a number of awards including the 2000 Points of Light Award from the President of the United States and the 2002 WMA Best Educational Website. Ms. Callis has also volunteered extensively overseas including with Mother Teresa. She graduated magna cum laude (high distinction) from Berkeley with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies (Public Health and International Development) and a minor in Global Poverty and Practice. Most recently, Amy was selected as a Clinton Global Initiative scholar and as one of the White House Project's Women Rule Leaders with Vision. Ms. Callis is completing her MPH at Emory University.
Ken Chow, P.E.
Director of Engineering
Mr. Chow is a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has managed and performed the engineering for several large Department of Energy engineering projects and was group leader for a fast-turnaround engineering services group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Mr. Chow volunteers on appropriate technology projects for developing communities and is a member of the San Francisco Professionals Chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Mr. Chow received his B.S. in Physics from Yale University and his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Ken Chow is a registered Professional Engineer in California.
meet our:
who created the stove?
True to our philosophy, the creation of the Berkeley-Darfur Stove, was a collaborative process.
Ashok and a team of engineering students at Berkeley with professional engineers from LBNL designed the original stove. Volunteers from the San Francisco Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders worked on enhancements to improve the stoves efficiency and functionability.
We are currently enhancing the design further to make production more cost-effective — which means we can deliver more stoves to the people who need them.