October is an excitng month for Sirona because we participate in two STAR TIDES field demonstrations in Washington DC. STAR-TIDES is a Department of Defense funded program that stands for "Sharing To Accelerate Research-Transformative Innovation for Development and Emergency Support". The program promotes sustainable support to stressed populations – post-war, post-disaster, or impoverished, in foreign or domestic contexts, for short-term or long-term periods. This year the first demonstration is at Ft. McNair from Oct. 1-4 and is open to the public, the second is at the Pentagon from Oct. 6-9.
We enjoy participating in these demonstrations because many solutions are required for stressed populations and integrated approaches to assist these communities are required. For participants like Sirona it is a unique opportunity to network with groups who provide other pieces of the puzzle. We use 1.5 kW solar charging stations to provide basic electricity to homes at the same price as kerosene, others provide shelter solutions, clean water solutions, mapping technologies, etc. The two STAR-TIDES demos allow us to network and rely upon one anther going forward to better assist the populations we serve... and to find new opportunities to improve upon and expand our services to new populations.
Rarely does the non-profit or NGO world mix with the military and foreign policy makers. Add in the relief agencies like FEMA and Red Cross and the interested public (including a field trip of middle-schoolers) and the STAR-TIDES event becomes very interesting and, well, as I started the post, becomes something we look forward to each year. If you are in Washington I would love to meet you at STAR-TIDES!
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