The mission of Universidad Autonoma de Chiapas is research and outreach of alternative energies.
Contact Information
Our Focus
Our initiatives include the promotion of use of improved cook stoves in indigenous communities in the Chiapas State of Mexico.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
There are more than 1.1 million indigenous people in Chiapas. The majority of this population use open fires to cook. In addition to cooking, they have other uses for the open fire, as well as the resulting ashes. There are several cultural customs around the open fire. Therefore, there are several cultural barriers to changing people's way of cooking.
By using demonstrations of different cook stove alternatives and participatory methods, our staff is trying to create awareness among the communities of the health issues generated by cooking with open fire. We are promoting the construction of the improved cook stoves by the users, providing training and information about the most appropriate materials to build the stoves.
We have worked with improved wood stoves focused on Lorena (clay and sand), which is a kind of "Ecostove," but we have also tried some other improved cook stoves to reduce fuel wood consumption.
We are trying to start with monitoring and technology standardization for cooking, heating and ventilation. A lack of training, funding and governmental interest in these issues has hindered the formal start of this activity in the rural communities of Chiapas.
Relevant Publications or Studies
None noted
Our Contribution to the Partnership
We will participate in PCIA through outreach.
