Final Post in Environmental Science

Throughout this class, we have talked about the 5 pillars of sustainability and how they affect decision-making in the environment.  Today, you receive your FINAL assignment:

Pick one topic of your choice:  energy use, ecosystems, economics, geochemical cycles, water quality, poverty, and agriculture.  Now, pick a specific event within the topic.

Now, apply the pillars of sustainability to the topic.  Create a product that you can share with other people in your class on Monday.


Grading Rubric.

Quality of product:  0-10 (yes, quality does matter)
Is each pillar of sustainability addressed? (0-10)
Is a specific topic addressed and talked about 0-5)
Is EVIDENCE provided for your point of view (0-5)

Personal Post on Energy

Based on your findings on the energy museum boxes, answer the following questions in a webcam interview or a 1 page paper.  You may add to your museum box

References include prior knowledge, but you may benefit from the energy calculators found here
a) Is is possible to have a sustainable energy plan in the US?  in the world?
b) What are you willing to do in your own home to minimize your energy usage.  List at least 8 specific items.
c) Do energy star appliances help in this quest?  Explain, referencing an energy star label
d) Given the choice, what type of energy would be most useful for heating in Iowa?
e) Iowa guidelines for energy include R20 for walls and R30-R45 for ceilings.  Why is there a difference, and what does this mean for old house?
f) Can mining for oil and coal be done sustainably?   Why or why not?   Reference the five pillars in your answer.  What implications does this have for your future?

Museum Boxes

You will be creating a museum box that tells about energy sources and applications.

The box must contain the following artifacts:

a) a comparison of active solar vs. hydroelectric power

b) an explanation of the role of insulation in helping a passive solar system

c) three benefits of a passive solar system

d) an explanation of strip mining, open pit, and subsurface mining

e) a pro-con list of either geothermal, wind, or biomass energy

f) 5 ways to improve energy efficiency

g) your opinion on cars of the future

Accompanying your museum box must be a list of works cited, submitted by your group to marciarpowellATgmailDOTcom

Garden Reflection or Mind Map

So you have planned your garden, planted the seeds, and got ready to reap the harvest.
Then, the bugs came. The rains fell, or didn't. The soil varied depending on the location of your garden.

How would an unchecked population explosion affect your species diversity?

Rank each of your plants as needing a lot, a moderate, or a little water. To do this, think of the final product. Really juicy fruits or veggies need much more water than fibrous or grassy counterparts.

Would you prefer an organic or non-organic means to control your bug or weed population? Explain why.

Based on the size of the garden you planted (remember, you had a 60 x 80 foot area available), what strategies would use for weed control?

How much food do you anticipate raising? Estimate the number of people it would feed.

Would preserving the food using canning or freezing or drying be an attractive choice for you and your family? Why or why not?
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In this unit, we talked about water, agriculture, and the atmosphere. How do the concept maps shown in the original handout affect your garden? For each of these categories, you must provide at least five specific connections to your garden.
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For each of the subcategories, there were misconceptions listed. A misconception is a common idea that is WRONG, but widely accepted. Examine the misconceptions in your handout. At least one misconception from each category can be connected to your garden. Explain how.

Watch the video clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqQVll-MP3I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXmF_erEv1o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVyxMXHbTio&feature=related

Spring is in the Air, and the Gardens are coming

To start with, you'll need to head over to PlanGarden and get an account. You and another person need to create a MEDIUM size or larger garden with a diversity that includes at least 15 species of vegetables and 5 types of herbs. You must effectively utilize the space in your garden, but also remember that aesthetics is a value that is appreciated in the environment.

CHOOSE TO SHARE YOUR GARDEN. Only 2 people per project.

Dimensions of the garden: 60 x 80 You must plant at least one 60 foot row of each and make a digital or scaled drawing.

Make a table of the species you are planting:

Species | Plant Spacing | Seeds or Plants?| # of Plants | Days to Harvest

Now, layout your garden. Use companion species as needed or desired.

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At this point, you need to see Mrs. Powell.

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*Crops impacted
*Organic
*Non-organic