Reading Material to Make you Think

This post is just essays. More essays and PowerPoint coming soon!

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All entries, project titles, and summaries are provided below as they were submitted

Water Quality: Is the EPA letting pollutants flow under the radar? - Meenakshi Sigireddi

It is crucial that we protect and ensure the quality of water in our nation. In order to do so, I have proposed a new method of monitoring water quality. By measuring the rates of fermentation in yeast affected by polluted water, I am able to see quantitative results of pollution’s toll on metabolic functions of eukaryotic yeast cultures.

A Growing Solution for a Growing Problem - Benjamin Endelman

Plants that have been around for millenia can be the solution to the problems that are world faces. Hemp is a harmless plant that has been scapegoated for the last century in our country. together we can get it set right to allow this amazing plant back to grow our agriculture and economy.

Lifeline - Matthew Patterson

My plan consists of three parts. The first part addresses alternative energies, the second part discusses extinction, and the third discusses overflowing landfills.

The Light Project - Divya Varindani

The state of California has implemented a law that requires the strict use of fluorescent light bulbs by the year 2012. Similarly, high school students and community members from the Pittsburgh area, and eventually all of the United Statees, could spread awareness of the benefits of fluorescent light bulbs. These environmentalists would focus on involving the media, or use their own means such as the internet, podcasts, etc. to make candidates consider this topic as part of their campaign slogans.

Industrial Wastewaters - Jonathan Finner

Gives an overview of industrial wastewaters.

The Dangers of, and a Possible Solution for, the Destructive Issue of Deforestation - Jojo Brophy

My entry is a poem describing the negative effects of deforestation, followed by an essay that further explains the problem and then outlines steps that American youths can take to help resolve the problem.

The Green-Up Local Partnership - Jada Lindblom

The Green-Up Local Partnership is a practical way for businesses to learn about greener alternatives to their standard practices and subsequently implement changes that will benefit the environment. The partnership creates a mutually beneficial alliance between businesses and students in their communities. Students serve as free environmental consultants to local businesses and in turn gain excellent hands-on educational experience.

How market forces can be used to protect the environment - Andrew Schein

When people purchase hydrocarbon fuels and products manufactured using hydrocarbon fuels, they pay a small fraction of the full cost to society, the environment, and the future of our planet. A carbon emissions tax puts the hidden costs of climate change out into the open. Addition of such a tax to the cost of these fuels will instill market discipline in the area of conservation and motivate an intense migration to a great diversity of conservation practices.

CRIE out loud - Rachel Carter

This is a grass roots movement to solve the issue of our dependence on oil and fossil fuel domestically and globally. I solved this issue in three steps: 1. Political call to action 2. Research and development action plan 3. Ad campaigns My solution recognizes that efficiency alone is not enough but that innovative renewable energy sources and conservation is a necessity.

Stewardship 3 - Cara Lovell

I propose that the SCA create a new fund to address the needs for scope and sequence in environmental education. Known as the S3 Initiative, it will sponsor creative long-term partnerships between schools and conservation research organizations that are facilitated by a new corps of SCA Interns known as SCA Community Stewardship Fellows. Grants provided by the S3 Initiative will fund scientific research projects that involve students in the process of measuring and assessing changes in their local environment over a period of at least eight years.

Crunchy Candles and Three-Eyed Fish - Elizabeth Gillett

When I was younger, teachers were the ones who fostered my environmental awareness. I propose creating an organization for environmental educators that will allow them to share ideas, information, and materials, as well as encourage creative, hands-on learning. By helping teachers engage students in environmental studies, we can prepare the next generation for the conservation challenges we face now, and those we will encounter in the future.

Green Fargo-Moorhead - Mitchell Calkins

Many cities are developing plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and preserve the environment. This project is such a plan for my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota and its sister city Moorhead, Minnesota.

Planning for the Future: Environmental Planning Internships - Kassandra Hardy

There are many young environmentally conscious people that are filled with passion and drive that need to be a part of the planning and policy teams in real capacities, not just as observant workers. These young potential leaders are the future of our environmental health and welfare. Therefore, we should encourage the inclusion of these well trained young people into management, planning, outreach, policy making, and legislation that would benefit our societies and our earth.

Desert Wilderness Education and Retreat Center for teens - Caroline Pechuzal

I believe that that apathy is one of the greatest challenges we face today in solving environmental problems. My solution for apathy is to create a center in my hometown of Tucson Arizona aimed at reconnecting youth to their natural environment. The center would engage youth by giving them work and outdoor recreational opportunities.

The Pen Pal Project - Margarete Walden

Implemented on the classroom level, American students would be paired with students from a developing country and would be responsible for lowering their carbon footprint to below per capita 1990 levels by the end of the school year. This pen pal partnership is modeled on the Kyoto Protocol so that the pairs can work together to meet their target while learning about international environmental politics. The project’s main goal would be to provide students with a practical opportunity for action on global warming in the short term that would lead to a lifestyle change of great benefit to the environment in the long term.

Developing Support for a Sustainable Planet - Annie Mercy Morabito

Because the student and general youth population is consistently on the internet, it seems the best idea to use an attractive and interactive website to reach people most effectively. Because our food supply and world of agriculture is arguably the most vital aspect of our human population\’s vitality, and is also currently presenting the most detrimental contributions to the environment, the work of making such entirely sustainable is the most significant and influential we can do. This website presents a solution toward developing awareness and illustrating how delightful and rewarding, in addition to being tremendously essential, supporting and contributing to sustainable agriculture will be!

Water Water Everywhere and not a drink to drop! - Regina Bennis-Hartman

Consumption of bottled water has tripled in the last few years creating a ecological crisis from the residual refuse left from the plastic bottles discarded as trash. Recycling efforts of these plastic bottles have failed miserably for a variety of reasons. My solution is one that takes the manufacturing and disposing of plastic bottles entirely out of the equation by replacing or complemeting standard soft drink vending machines with H2OASIS/H2O-AS-IS machines that dispense water into a pre-paid,reusable water bottles.

A Solution to Pollution - Haley Dixon

One of the harshest challenges is pollution with trash and fumes from cleaning products and cars. Many have tried to come up with a solution for non-gasoline cars, but it is just too expensive. One way to help is to come up with a solution to not pay so much for a non-gasoline car and to just ride our bikes to school and work.

SOER: Save Our Earth, Recycle - Laurel Campbell

How much soda and paper do humans consume and use everyday? To think about how many cans,bottles, and newspapers are being thrown away is unbelievable. By establishing schools to start recycling, students can take their knowledge to their homes, friends, and their community to make a better environment.

The Commonweal - Reese Neader

The commonweal is an organizational structure that supplies practical, market based solutions that provide incentives and implement solutions for sustainable growth.

Fertilizer Pollution of Local Lake - Primitivo Garza

Use biodegradable fertilizers and instead of using pesticides or natural predators of pests in order to reduce the number of pesticide pollution. The local lake in our area is infested with foreign species of plants and suffers excess nutrients. With this solution not only would the number of pesticides and fertilizers be reduced thus stopping pests from building up a resistance to them but it will also help our lake return to its natural state.

BLUElab Biogas Project - Dov Lerman-Sinkoff

BLUElab is a student organization at the University of Michigan College of Engineering focused on sustainable development. Biodigesters, which process feces and other organic wastes into combustible gas and odorless fertilizer, are established yet unrefined systems that provide a source of energy in environmentally-friendly manner. BLUElab seeks to promote biodigester use through careful design and innovative accessory technology.

Green Global United - Anthony DeGraff

Green Global United is a global organization whose purpose is to transform the attitudes of individuals and create pro-environment attitudes. By doing this, individuals will take actions consistent with one who cares and love our environment. This will save our planet for future generations.

Food For Thought: A Hands-On School Lunch Program - Angela Mrozinski

Allowing children to get outside and hands on during school by planting a garden to grow food for the cafeteria not only connects them with nature, it also increases their well-being. Growing food on-site is cost friendly for the school and the program will bring together the community. Growing food will bridge the gap that children today are experiencing between their lives and nature.

Ecommunities - Elisabeth Cianciola

Use local resources and community members to start community-based green groups. Leaders select appropriate actions to have all group members complete over approximately 8 weeks. Greenhouse gas emissions and/ or plants/ animals saved by each action will be provided.

Public Domain: Sustainable Development - Rachel Whitermore

The attached essay is a brief history of the vast public domain of the United States that is on the demise. Also included are policies and suggestions as to how to reverse this process.

Construction constraints on geomorphic-unit rehabilitation in a gravel-bed river - April Sawyer

Dammed rivers in California have become incised and decrease suitable habitat for endangered salmon. Periodic removal of riparian habitat can reduce this incision. This paper outlines a plan for removal and riparian habitat improvement.

Required Recycling of Paper Products and Plastics in Corporations, Businesses and Industries - Kathleen Locke

It is a proposed bill to mandate the recycling of paper products in businesses and corporations. It is designed to reduce the amount of waste in land fills as well as reduce the amount of natural resources harvested. It is a practical action-oriented solution to America’s waste problem.

Wind Turbines for Your Home - Lara Froemke

The depletion of non-renewable sources may be a ticking time bomb for your nerves. It doesn’t have to be- secure your home with an infinite source of power by moving towards self-sufficiency. Plan to add a new device to your home that offers a bright, economic future for renewable energy- a wind turbine (or two).

Changing Our World, One School At A Time - Monique Vealey

To create a better recycling program in my high school by replacing disposable dishware and utensils with washable ones. This would decrease the amount of garbage that goes into our landfills. We could also save money for our schools and decrease pollution.

Microfinance to promote conservation - Thomas Krumel

The development of people through the encouragement of microfinance. Microfinance empowers populations and helps to deflate a countries birthrates. This in turn produces a more sustainable world.

Sustainability Games - Robert Greene

My paper outlines the structure of an event in which contemporary environmental challenges are addressed in a comprehensive manner. I propose an annual, three month long ‘International Collegiate Sustainability Games’ where students from around the world are grouped in regional teams and work towards a common sustainability theme each year. The students progress through three phases of design, development and demonstration, and the products of the competition inspire innovation and change on a global scale.

Our Great Battle - Amanda Lawrence

I will explore the psychological implications of global warming in past, present and future. I will use social psychological method to solve the general public\’s resistence to action against global warming. By solving the psychological problems behind this resistence people will be more likely to adopt green living into their lives.

Science Fair: Green Engineering Category - Travis Pennetti

Creating a new category in high school science fair projects called green engineering to increase conservation awareness.