This website represents the culmination of six weeks of work performed by five students and encouraged by three mentors. All eight members of the team are affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; seven are current students and the eighth is an alumna.
Bhargavi Chevva, Freshman «
Bhargavi Chevva was not born in the United States. She hails from India, her place of birth, but was raised in New Jersey. Bhargavi was responsible for designing the system to supply potable water to those affected by the tsunami. Her favorite natural disaster is a tornado, because the ability to defy such a fudamental force as gravity holds great appeal for her. She plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Christine Lee, Freshman «
Christine Lee was born in Florida and raised in Georgia. She was responsible for developing a flexible chain of command. Her favorite disaster is a volcanic eruption, because she "likes it hot." To each his own. Christine is currently unsure of her course of study.
Mahalia Miller, Freshman «
Mahalia Miller was born in Pennsylvania but moved to MIT from Wisonsin. Her role in the project was extensive, and included planning what sorts of foodstuffs and other supplies would be readily stored beforehand and where. Her favorite disaster is a blizzard because, as she says, they're "rather cool." Mahalia plans to study environmental engineering.
Siamrut "Sam" Patanavanich, Freshman «
Siamrut is not native to the United States; he was born in Thailand. Before coming to MIT, however, he lived in Virginia for several years. Siamrut was responsible for the development of evacuee camps and emergency hospitals. His favorite disaster is you, he says, because "you make me feel like a natural disaster." Whether this is meant to be a clever play on words of the classic single "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Carole King is as yet unknown. Siamrut is interested in studying material science and engineering as well as management.
Gil Zamfirescu-Pereira, Freshman «
Gil Zamfirescu-Pereira was born and raised in New York City. Gil was responsible for establishing an overarching distribution network as well as the coding and general organization of the website. His favorite natural disaster is an earthquake, because he enjoys the sheer force that can be emitted by such seemingly harmless material as rock. Gil is unsure about his course of study.
Holly Owens, Junior «
Holly Owens was born in Rhode Island but comes to MIT from Vermont. As an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow, her service to the team was invaluable and cannot be condensed into a few words. Her favorite disaster is an avalanche because avalanches are "walls of white." Holly's ambitious plan is to double major in earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences as well as architecture.
Christina Royce, Senior «
Like Bhargavi, Christina was born in India. And also like Bhargavi, she did not come to MIT from India; she hails from upstate New York. Christina's support for the team was endless. Her favorite disaster is the monsoons, because she likes water. Christina will graduate this year with dual degrees in mechanical engineering and economics.
Marion Rideout, Class of '80 «
Marion Rideout's origins are unknown. What is known is that Marion came to the group with an incredible amount of hands-on experience. Her suggestions were based upon first-hand experience and were always helpful. She has been a wondrous source of information for the team.
"I have worked offshore Alaska, Central, North and South Atlantic, in the field in virtually every EPA region in the United States, and in the field in Canada, remote Alaska, Azores, Belize, and a few other places. My most recent applied technical consulting position was with a company that did a great deal of federal consulting work. I was Principal Scientist, Senior Technical Manager, and served a stint as Manager for the Environmental Sciences and Engineering groups. I was Project Manager on a major combined EPA Region 10, Washington State Dept. of Ecology, and US Navy-Pacific Fleet project. I have been taking college classes toward a 'career shift' into environmental and occupational health and clinical investigations. Ive been studying at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Clinical Investigations and Nursing/Acute Care."