S.E.A. (Shock Electrodialysis Apparatus)

A grant-funded research project to develop a community-focused desalination prototype.

Background

Backed by a research grant from the DOST-PCIEERD Young Innovators Program, our team’s mission was to develop a practical water desalination solution for Philippine coastal communities.

Technical Approach

Our work focused on adapting shock electrodialysis (SED)—an emerging technology pioneered by the Bazant Group at MIT—for real-world application. We aimed to create a prototype that was both effective and appropriate for the local context.

Project Lifecycle

Our process was comprehensive, covering the full development cycle:

• Community Research: We conducted interviews with residents in Calatagan, Batangas, to understand their firsthand needs.
• Iterative R&D: We designed, tested, and refined multiple Shock Electrodialysis (SED) cell configurations.
• Prototyping: Using our school’s fabrication lab, we built a to-scale working prototype of the S.E.A. system.

Key Takeaways

As a long-term project undertaken in high school, S.E.A. was a formative experience in applying advanced research to solve tangible problems. It was instrumental in developing my skills in user research, iterative design, and hands-on fabrication.