Texas A&M engineering team up with students from Myanmar

Texas A&M engineering students are teaming up with a group of students from the University of Technology in Yatanarpon in the city of Mandalay. Their goal is to create a prototype designed to produce electricity for people living in impoverished nations where electricity isn't easily accessible. The two teams will showcase their prototype at the Open Minds Showcase during VentureWell Open 2018 in Austin this weekend.

Both teams recently competed in Texas A&M's Invent for the Planet competition, where teams throughout the world also create prototypes designed to help people living in third world countries. Texas A&M's prototype came in first place, while the students from Myanmar came in second, despite not having power during their 48 hour presentation.

Invent for the Planet judges flew the Myanmar students to College Station. The judges believed both prototypes suited each other well. Both were designed to give electricity to impoverished families.

The students from Myanmar say they can relate to not having power. They say they can see the real world need for their prototype on a daily basis.

"We don't have sufficient electric energy in Myanmar," says Van Lar Ruat, a computer engineering student from Myanmar.

She remembers nights growing up where she had to light candles in order to study. "About 55% of the population doesn't have access to electricity. Even though I wanted to study at night, sometimes it was not possible."

The trip to the United States was the Myanmar student's first time ever getting on a plane, and have never left their country. After arriving Sunday, the students have had an opportunity to experience some American traditions, including laser tag. However, students from both countries say they are grateful for the opportunity to exchange ideas.