DR. AVIVA PRESSER AIDEN, AN AFFILIATE OF HARVARD SCHOOL OF ENGG.AND APPLIED SCIENCE AND STUDENT OF HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL HAS DEVELOPED A MICROBIAL FUEL CELL BASED CHARGING DEVICE THAT CAN CHARGE CELL PHONES EASILY WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. THE DEVICE DERIVES ELECTRONS FROM NATURALLY OCCURING SOIL MICROBES DURING THE COURSE OF THEIR METABOLIC PROCESS.SHE ALREADY HAS TESTED IT TO POWER LED LIGHTS IN A LAB FOR 14 MONTHS. NOW SHE IS READY TO TEST IT IN A SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN REGION WHERE 22% OF WHOLE POPULATION WHO USE CELLPHONES LACK ELECTRICITY IN THEIR HOME ( THEY HAVE TO WALK LONG DISTANCE TO CHARGE THEIR PHONES FROM CHARGING STATION ). ACCORDING TO DR. AIDEN THESE PEOPLE CAN BUILD THEIR OWN SUCH CHARGER FROM HOUSEHOLD SCRAPS WITHIN A FEW MINUTES FOR LESS THAN A DOLLAR WHICH WILL FULLY CHARGE A PHONE WITHIN 24HRS. THIS PROJECT RECENTLY RECEIVED A GRANT FROM BILL & MELINDA GATE’S GRAND CHALLENGES PROGRAM
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