The SAWBO (Scientific Animations Without Borders) app, developed by Purdue University faculty, has reached approximately 200,000 users since its launch last year and is now sharing research for development knowledge with people around the world, according to an April 16 announcement.
The expansion of the SAWBO app matters because it helps make expert knowledge from institutions like Purdue accessible in hundreds of languages to people who may otherwise lack access. The platform aims to break down barriers related to literacy and language by offering animated videos that explain key topics in agriculture and health.
Barry Pittendrigh, John V. Osmun Endowed Chair in Urban Entomology and Director of the Urban Center at Purdue, said: “We wanted a way to take the expert knowledge you find on campuses like Purdue, package it, and make it accessible to people across hundreds of languages.” Julia Bello-Bravo, assistant professor of agricultural sciences education and communication, highlighted how animation makes content scalable: “You can also easily do cultural adaptations. If people want a different background, we can change the background.”
The SAWBO team selects relevant research for communities in the Global South and converts it into simple video instructions available via Android devices. Over 200 videos cover topics such as solar grain dryers or drip irrigation. These resources are especially important since about 800 million adults worldwide have low literacy skills. Pittendrigh said: “Animation is cross-cultural and can reach wide target audiences.”
John Medendorp, Associate Director at the Urban Center with SAWBO, addressed accessibility: “People at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid globally still have a right to knowledge… If a society is not willing to spend resources, then we’re going to have to drive costs down dramatically so we can try to make the barriers to access almost non-existent.” The team’s new book explores these themes further.
Purdue University Department of Agriculture plays a significant role as a core academic unit within Purdue University according to its official website. Its extension efforts focus on fostering vibrant communities and profitable businesses according to its official website. The department funds innovative projects through AgSEED grants according to its official website, utilizes facilities such as the Agricultural Administration Building on campus according to its official website, and boasts an agricultural engineering graduate program ranked first nationally according to U.S. News & World Report as cited on its official website. Virginia Ferris was noted as its first female full professor serving as an entomologist according to its official website.
Looking ahead, Pittendrigh expressed hope that information from these videos will become common knowledge worldwide: “When drought occurs, our drip irrigation video becomes far more popular… When we get out of bed and have our coffee, we can see the global impact we’re having.”
