Science and the environment
Agriculture and the Environment: An Economist’s View
Andrew Barkley, Professor of Agricultural Economics
Our nation’s food supply is produced by altering the physical environment. Modern food production requires the inputs of soil, fossil fuels, chemicals, and machinery. This presentation looks to the future by considering how agriculture and food production will change in the next several decades. Food safety, soil depletion, and agricultural chemicals will be considered with an emphasis on audience participation.
Bioenergy Crops
Humberto Blanco, Assistant Professor in Soil Science
Interest in producing cellulosic ethanol from renewable energy sources is growing. Potential energy crops include row crops such as corn and perennial warm season grasses. Impacts of growing dedicated energy crops as biofuel on soil and environment have not been widely disucssed. This lecture will discuss the: 1) impacts of crop residue removal and growing perennial warm season grasses on soil and environment, soil organic carbon (C) sequestration, and water quality and 2) performance of dedicated energy crops in marginal lands. Excessive crop residue removal may adversely impact soil and environmental quality as well as crop yields. Growing perennial warm season grasses can be potential alternatives to crop residue removal as biofuel. The perennial warm season grasses can improve soil properties, reduce soil erosion, sequester C, reduce net emissions of greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, and N2O), and improve wildlife habitat. The perennial warm season grasses have more beneficial effects on soil and environment when grown in marginal lands than when grown in croplands or natural forests.
Biofuel Feedstock Production
Scott Staggenborg, Researcher of Cropping Systems
Biotechnology
Andrew Barkley
The genetic modification of plants and animals has increased tremendously in the past few years. This presentation focuses on the benefits and costs associated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The presentation emphasizes that all technological change results in both positive and negative impacts on the economy, the environment, and people.
Carbon Sequestration
Humberto Blanco
Soil organic carbon (C) is an important component of the terrestrial C pool. More C is stored in the soil compared to either in the terrestrial biomass or in the atmosphere. Excessive plowing and burning and removal of crop residues deplete the soil organic C concentration and increase the atmospheric C concentration. Soil organic C stabilizes the soil against soil erosion and increases or maintains crop production. Accumulation of C in the soil not only purifies the atmosphere but also maintain water sources clean by absorbing and filtering point- and non-point-source pollutants.
The soil C lost through human activities (e.g. plowing, deforestation, etc) must be brought back to where it belongs. Soil conservation practices are strategies to store C, reduce soil erosion, and improve crop productivity. By leaving crop residues on the soil surface and reducing soil disturbance, no-till farming is one of the top innovative practices that can promote C storage. It promotes soil aggregation, which is essential to store and protect organic materials from rapid decomposition. No-till benefits to increasing C sequestration are, however, site-specific. Increases in soil C in no-till are mostly confined to the soil surface where residues are concentrated. The total C pool between no-till and plow tillage practices for the whole soil profile may not differ.
Crop rotations, intensive cropping systems, cover crops, crop residues, manure application, agroforestry, and high-biomass producing bioenergy crops are practices that increase soil C while conserving soil and water. Reclaiming degraded lands with growing vegetation is a potential alternative for increasing C pools in terrestrial systems. The stored C is tradable and has an economic value. The more C is stored in the soil, the greater the opportunities for trading C units. The C trading system is developing and it is expected to become important to conserve soil and manage C.
Challenges of Producing Biofuels
Scott Staggenborg
The process involved in making fuels out of biological materials—bioenergy—appears to be one solution to skyrocketing energy prices. In most cases, the biological materials include corn stalks, grass, corn and soybean grain, and even landfill refuse. The lecture will briefly cover some of the processes necessary to convert these materials into fuel. We'll also discuss how this industry could be a part of students’ future professional plans.
Chaotic Fluid Motions: How Sparrows Affect the Weather
Larry A. Glasgow, Professor of Chemical Engineering
Since the publication of the classic paper of Edward Lorenz in 1963, scientists and engineers have come to a greater appreciation of the consequences of nonlinearity with respect to familiar events. In particular, the complexities of atmospheric phenomena and the sensitivity of such fluid motions to initial conditions are now better understood. In this presentation, we look at trajectory constructions in phase space to aid comprehension of system dynamics. Some simple physical demonstrations are used to help explain concepts like steady-state, stability, and catastrophe. The probability of successful long-term prediction of the weather is the focus on concluding remarks.
Chemistry in Outer Space
Kenneth Klabunde, University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
What chemistry goes on in outer space? We will start with the Big Bang Theory and discuss how atoms form, then stars and planets, and how molecules form in outer space. We will also discuss how similar processes can be mimicked in the chemistry laboratory.
Climate Change: Are You Ready?
Ken Barnard, Professor of Aviation
The Earth is the only planet known to support life. It is our home, and from it we get all the materials and resources we use, everything we eat and drink. The metaphor of Spaceship Earth is useful in understanding our energy needs and limitations since spaceships must carry all the resources they require and are complex systems that require a constant supply of energy to power all of its systems. Conditions in spaceships are carefully controlled to suit human life with many components working together as a whole. If conditions in a spaceship change too much or too fast they can become unsuitable for human survival.
The game, Galaxy Gamble, will encourage students to think about how we use energy, why energy conservation is important, and what they can do at home and at school to save the planet. The game includes interaction and group discussion.
Climate Change: Causes and Solutions
Chuck Rice, Professor of Soil Microbiology
Concern has been mounting about the considerable buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere as it contributes to climate change and global warming. At present, the amount of CO2 in the air has increased 40% since the mid 1800’s. The increase in CO2 is largely due to industrialization and the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). Kansas has much to offer in helping to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. To reduce the burning of fossil fuels, Kansas can provide alternative sources of energy including wind and biofuels. People can learn to conserve to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. Another Kansas and global option is carbon sequestration in soil. Soil carbon sequestration is among the most beneficial and cost effective options available for reducing greenhouse gases, particularly over the next 30 years until alternative energy sources are developed and become economic feasible. Increasing carbon in soils as soil organic matter has additional benefits of enhancing soil and water quality. Sustaining the soil resources are the base for a healthy and sustainable food chain
Conservation Tillage
Humberto Blanco
This lecture will focus on conservation tillage, which is an alternative to conventional tillage The goal of conservation tillage is to conserve soil and water, improve environmental quality, and sustain crop production. Any tillage system that leaves at least 30% of residue cover on the soil surface is called conservation tillage. While the 30% of residue cover may be appropriate for some soils, it is insufficient in others to reduce soil erosion to permissible levels. When combined with prudent management of crop residues, crop rotations, and cover crops, conservation tillage is a useful technology for protecting soil and increasing/sustaining crop production. Conservation tillage such as the reduced tillage is an evolving system of farming and is not based on standard or fixed tillage systems. The principles of conservation tillage have evolved since 1960’s and are becoming widely accepted. The optimum conservation system should have enough vegetative cover or crop residues to increase soil surface roughness and improve the infiltration capacity, prerequisites for reduction of runoff and soil erosion. A conservation tillage system must be specifically designed for each soil based on site-specific criteria (e.g., farm profitability, severity of soil erosion, soil type, topography, climate).
Energy Solutions
Kenneth Klabunde
Environmental Ethics: Decision Making in Uncertain Times
Ken Barnard
From Molecular Sociology to Smart Materials
Christer Aakeroy, Professor of Chemistry
How do molecules communicate with each other? Why do some molecules like each other and others do not? Any biological system relies on molecular recognition, binding and function, and if we could improve our understanding of these processes we would be able to build new materials that are faster, smarter or cheaper than current alternatives.
This lecture will (a) present some strategies for how we can begin to build new molecular architectures and (b) describe how these structures can be used for materials applications including molecular filters that will selectively capture and destroy a variety of toxins.
Galaxy Gamble: An Interactive Game to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Ken Barnard
Going Green for Your Classroom or Business
Donita Whitney-Bammerlin
At a time when society has concerns about the ozone layer and global warming, appreciation and awareness for our environment is higher than before in history. The mass media utilizes words such as ‘accountability’ and ‘responsible use’ as a means for emphasizing the fact conscientious consumption of our natural resources and recycling is everybody’s business. Individuals or groups can not participate in this effort unless they are aware of the need and know some strategies for integrating environmental awareness in their daily lives. This workshop accomplishes two objectives: 1) Explains the benefits of knowing factual information related to nature and our environment and 2) Provides practical ideas of how individuals in your organization can be conscientious consumers. Many organizations do not reinforce or reward environmental awareness. There are few formal trainings that teach reuse and recycling and much of society views these activities as something that is everyone else’s responsibility. This workshop will share ways your entire organization can be a part of these efforts without a huge budget, hiring on extra staff, or implementing time consuming programs.
How Lasers Work
Christopher Sorensen, University Distinguished Professor of Physics
We will look at lasers and other light sources to determine what is special about lasers. We will then delve deeper into the nature of light, its color and how it is created. We will also discuss feedback and how it can be used to create very intense light. All this comes together when we take a laser apart to see how it works. Time permitting we will explore some applications of laser light. This talk is very demonstration intensive and has proven to be very entertaining for both the students and the lecturer.
Introduction to Nanotechnology
Kenneth Klabunde
We will discuss future uses of nanoparticles in solar cells, magnetic tapes, and as new absorbents for poisonous substances. The world of the future will include nanotechnology in many ways, and we will discuss how and why.
Minimizing the Impact of Biofuel Production on the Environment
Scott Staggenborg
Soil: Sustaining Food, Energy, and Human Health
Chuck Rice
Soils are a vital part of the geosciences. In the Year of the Planet Earth the awareness of soil as a resource goes beyond the traditional view as a support for food production. Soils are also involved in biogeochemical cycles, energy production, and the hydrological cycle. Humans are directly exposed to soils, which can adversely impact public health in terms of what we eat, drink, and breathe. Soils are vital to human health through nutritious food but also through a treasure trove of new drug chemistry from microbes that thrive in the soil. Soils aid in regulating climate, flooding and disease. Soils act as an interface between the atmosphere and the groundwater providing a filter for air and water. A change in soil due to global change could result in a loss genetic resource and the ecosystems services supplied through the soil.
Some Serious Fun in Fluid Mechanics
Larry A. Glasgow
This presentation consists of an introduction to rheology and elementary flows; the material is related to everyday physical experience through numerous examples and demonstrations. For example, flow regimes (laminar and turbulent) are discussed with the introduction of the Reynolds number and examples of both are brought forward. Basic features of lift and drag are described within the context of sports – the behavior of balls in flight can be used to explain a number of important concepts in fluid mechanics. Also, a number of common rotational fluid motions (vortices) are described with examples. This talk should make it possible for audience members to explore their environment with appreciation for the importance of dynamic fluid behavior.