[Stoves] Fan assisted stoves in Nepal

[Tom Miles]

We often find that people in different parts of the world confronted with
similar challenges will come up with identical approaches sometimes to the
detail. But I guess we all have a certain pride of authorship so it's hard
to admit that maybe someone else had the same good idea first. We find that
it's always better if the person who is going to use the device thinks of it
first. Then it's just a matter of improving on it. 

Tom
     

-----Original Message-----
From: stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Richard Stanley
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 8:22 PM
To: Simon and Zoe; Discussion of biomass cooking stoves
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Fan assisted stoves in Nepal

  Simon et. al,

Lest we fall into the classic trap of assuming that our ideas are  
Thee source for improved stoves, let me suggest another model of  
dissemination: Give out the stove early and let it evolve with the  
input of the actual user, actively sought and actively  
communicated...This appears a novel concept eh?  I mean involving the  
user as the development of their own appliance....

Or can we really trust that they are capable, they are after all only  
illiterate villagers ...
or...?

Now lest I be taken literally, almost every real innovation, whether  
originated here in our own American bushland or in the real world,   
evolves out of someone's experimentation on the ground. It is not  
about sealing up our technology amongst our group in our conferences  
and workshops to then be "given" to the villager. It is about finding  
ways to include them in the process of development, to utilise their  
experience up front, while we are still learning ourselves (if, that  
is,  we are humble enough  to admit that they might know something we  
do not know).
Only then, should we be building the empirical model and publishing  
it for others . And even at that, the dissemination process requires  
a certain humility to accept that our ideas  will continue to evolve  
and be adapted and will teach us something in the process.

Richard  Stanley

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