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In Sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 200 million people rely on communal hand pumps for clean drinking water—yet over 100,000 of these pumps are currently broken. When a water system fails, children miss school to fetch water, economic opportunities stall, and entire communities lose access to a basic necessity.Researchers Prof. Chengcheng Zhai and Prof. Alfonso Pedraza Martinez from the University of Notre Dame are collaborating with local engineers, water pump committees, and MBA students in Malawi to solve this crisis. By leveraging historical data and mathematical optimization modeling, their team identifies when and where water points are likely to fail, enabling proactive maintenance, better spare part distribution, and longer-lasting clean water access.00:00 Water infrastructure challenges in sub-Saharan Africa 00:26 Notre Dame's data-driven approach 00:47 Applying mathematical optimization to maintenance 01:08 Local community engagement & capacity building 01:19 The broader social and economic impact of reliable water 01:44 What would you fight for? | Notre DameLearn more about Notre Dame's work fighting for universal access to clean water: https://go.nd.edu/FFWaterAccess

When an earthquake strikes or a building collapses, first responders face a life-or-death challenge: how do they locate trapped victims without putting rescue crews at greater risk?Researchers at the University of Notre Dame and MIT Lincoln Laboratory partnered with Massachusetts Task Force 1 first responders to develop SPROUT—the Soft Pathfinding Robotic Observation Unit. The flexible, inflatable “vine robot” combines soft robotics, acoustic sensors, and real-time mapping to maneuver through debris and give rescue teams a safer way to search disaster zones.

When an earthquake strikes or a building collapses, first responders face a life-or-death challenge: how do they locate trapped victims without putting rescue crews at greater risk?In search and rescue operations, reaching confined void spaces beneath concrete and rubble is often one of the most dangerous parts of the response. Seconds count, but traditional tools cannot always reach narrow gaps or unstable areas safely.Researchers at the University of Notre Dame and MIT Lincoln Laboratory partnered with Massachusetts Task Force 1 first responders to develop SPROUT—a Soft Pathfinding Robotic Observation Unit. The flexible, inflatable “vine robot” combines soft robotics, acoustic sensors, and real-time mapping to maneuver through debris and give rescue teams a safer way to search disaster zones.00:00 The danger first responders face in structural collapses 00:16 The challenge: Locating trapped victims quickly and safely 00:39 How soft robotics navigate hazardous spaces 01:18 Using acoustic sensor technology to map collapse zones 01:28 Why field-testing with first responders matters 01:44 What would you fight for? | Notre DameFor more information on the vine robots and Professor McGuinness' research, visit: https://go.nd.edu/FFRoboticSearchandRescue

How can artificial intelligence bridge the gap for nonverbal individuals and their caregivers?At the University of Notre Dame, Prof. Jarek Nabrzyski and his research team are developing Human-Centered AI technology designed to interpret nonverbal cues—such as facial expressions, body movements, and heart rate. Partnering with family caregivers like Ed Fennell, who has spent 19 years advocating for his granddaughter Haley, this project aims to create affordable, accessible AI tools that empower new caregivers with empathy and dignity.00:00 Ed and Haley’s story: The challenge of nonverbal communication 00:24 19 years of caregiving for someone with PIMD 00:35 Partnering with Notre Dame on AI research 00:54 Voice4PIMD: Augmentative and alternative communication technology 01:25 Supporting caregivers and continuity of care 01:48 Fighting for nonverbal communication | Notre DameLearn more about Prof. Nabrzyski's research: https://go.nd.edu/FFNonverbalCommunications#Notre Dame #AI #Accessibility #ArtificialIntelligence #AssistiveTechnology