Students from Professor Jan Wampler's design studio course designed and built portable disaster shelters. Here, junior Gabriel Cira, Harvard student Slobodo Radoman, Wellesley student Lisa Roerick, Wampler, senior Melissa Shin and junior Bill McKenna try out their shelter on Killian Court. Photo / Donna Coveney

Junior Chris Barnes carries his team's shelter on his back while teammate Denver Thomas, a senior, walks alongside. Photo / Donna Coveney

A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on October 18, 2006 (download PDF).