The Last of the Essays

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

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Winds of Change - Clint Peters

In an effort to offset carbon emissions I look into wind power as an alternative energy. I sketch a brief history of wind power, discuss wind turbines` components and construction, and explore wind power`s ongoing evolution as an energy source.

Changing America’s Energy Policy - Alex Brotherston

This is a research/argument paper about renewable energy that I wrote for my college writing class. I chose to research renewable energy because I am studying to be an engineer and I want to develop new sources of renewable energy in the future. This paper explains how we can start using renewable energy sources more effectively today.

A Practical Approach to Sustainable Energy - Eric Gibson

To use an affordable approach to solar power homes through long term loans.

Monkey-Wrenching - Natasha Reid

This essay is the analysis of the monkey-wrenching as an environmental advocacy.

Pulling Weeds Out of the American Mindset - Sarah Bhimani

In order to make people change, we must be persistant in our efforts. We must be sensitive to their reservations, and thus show them the benefits of being environmental, for example, showing people how beautiful native restorations can be. And helping the environment can be as easy as pulling weeds out of your garden!

Ecological Destruction: The Human Impact - Ben Lockwood

This essay provides an examination of the underlying causes of ecological destruction. In order to efficiently combat wildlife destruction, we must address certain factors. The emphasis of this essay is on use of resources, economic factors, and overpopulation.

Jagdeep’s personal statement - Jagdeep Singh

i help clean up the silver creek river, thats a mile from my house.

Analysis of the Merits of Carbon Taxation in the United States - Gabriel Weil

Implement a revenue-neutral carbon taxation regime to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create incentives for the production of alternative fuels. A carbon tax would end the unsustainable practice of allowing emitters to spread the costs they create over all of society through the negative externality of carbon emissions. This proposal would also have long-term national security and economic benefits, as outlined in the paper.

Protection, Not Conservation - Matthew Duffy

Conservation efforts have traditionally involved single ecosystem or single species management. The flaws of this way of thinking is becoming more and more obvious. Conservation needs to be done on multi-ecosystem levels, as one is too closely related to another to be adequately seperated.

educate other countries about globle warming - Yonathan Binyam

grow more tree not only in United state in other country like Africa in my experance i have in AFRICA i see many people cuts tree and they use it many things. educate other other country

A Young Adult: Coping with Peer Pressure - Capri Jones

I believe that the environment can also be improved with social aspects. We have to get along with one another to make the world a better place.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Electronics Recycling - Alexandria Shasteen

Electronic waste is one of the many environmental consequences of new technology. Electronic waste is growing two to three times faster than any other waste stream (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] 2006). I will prove that recycling electronic waste is cost effective.

Toxicity and early developmental effects of quantum dots on zebrafish - Matthew Meyer

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing and expanding industry, where new chemicals are made everyday. Avoiding environmental impacts of nanotechnology before they occur is critically important, as prevention is easier and more cost-effective than remediation. I propose to determine the toxicity and early developmental effects of quantum dots (a manufactured nanomaterial) on zebrafish, which will help to characterize risk associated with quantum dot exposure and help protect native populations of fish.

Plant What You Eat - Brittany Fagen

Education on reusing the fresh produce you eat. How to deseed your produce for planting. how to care for your plants to reap the rewards.

Driving with my mom - Robert Donato

It is an essay about my mom and I traveling up and down the east coast. We have important conversations about life and what is has to offer. We talk about relationships, finances, college and how to be successful in life.

Legislating Nature into Schools - Stephen Bontekoe

This is an essay on legislation nature into school grounds and architecture using prior law as a basis. The essay provides some concepts for integration and benefits of integration. A historical approach to education law is used to justify the viability of new nature based learning laws.

The Recycling 50 - Valarie Davis

Recycling as law implemented in all 50 states

Halting the Destruction of the Oceans - Laura Mathis

In order to maintain ocean ecosystems, sustainable yields must be inforced in the fishing industry. Also, people must work to maintain biodiversity and protect against habitat degredation in hotspots, locations around the world where species diversity is the highest. All countries must respect no-fishing zones so that populations that have been overfished will have a chance to recover.

My Summer in the Sawtooth - Jennie Morawetz

Today, the media is giving unprecedented attention to environmental issues, and we have reached a point where people are overwhelmed with information. However, people are also more willing to act than ever if they are convinced that something is a legitimate environmental problem. The challenge is communicating environmental issues in a way that is easily understood and also engaging, and I have used the story of an SCA internship I did a year ago to hopefully provide an example of how to do that.

Identification and Characterization of Vesicular Trafficking Components in Plant Defense against Bacteria Pathogens - Katie Walker

Plants are able to resist pathogen infection by recognizing invading organisms outside the cell and then activating defense responses inside the cell. Vesicular trafficking, or the ability to move proteins and other materials in small vesicles from one organelle to another, plays an important part in implementing these so-called innate immune responses. Dr. Heese’s lab is investigating how vesicular trafficking contributes to the innate immunity of the plant model system Arabidopsis thaliana against invading bacteria. In A. thaliana, perception of the bacterial flagellin by its receptor FLAGELLIN SENDING 2 (FLS2) contributes to bacterial resistance. My project focuses on the protein AtEpsin1 and how it interacts with FLS2 when it perceives the bacterial pathogen.