Sunday, November 17, 2013

View Point - An illustration of agricultural

In my food for thought course, we were assigned to create an four panel illustration, representing the four units of our course. The purpose of this action project was to convey our understanding and envision for the future of agriculture through an illustration. I enjoyed working on this action project.
Below is my poster.

Drawing by GN, photo by Tim Reed.


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Sunday, November 10, 2013

Can the Dancing Plant Help us Produce More Energy and Fight Crime?

In my Bioneers course, we were assigned to identified a specific plant species and research about it. My chose to research the Codariocalyx motorius.  By isolating unique functions and adaptations, I was able to imagine practical applications for my plant's unique adaptations. I created a poster showcasing what I learned from the plant and how that information can be applied for human purposes. My poster defines bio mimicry  as using nature as an example to innovate human inventions.

Can the Dancing Plant Help us Produce More Energy and Fight Crime?
 
The Codariocalyx motorius, commonly known as the Desmodium gyrans, is a tropical Asian shrub. It’s widely distributed throughout South Asia, and is one of the few plants capable of rapid movement. The Desmodium gyrans is a telegraph plant. It is described in detail in The Power of Movement in Plants, a book written by Charles Darwin and Francis Darwin.

Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Codariocalyx
Species: C. motorius

The plant has a useful feature that makes it interesting. The Codariocalyx motorius is famous for its movement of small, lateral leaflets. Each large leaf  is equipped with a hinge that allows it to move, so it can face the sun. Because of the weight of the large leaves, the plant uses lots of energy to move them. Each large leaf has two small lateral leaflets at its base. These small lateral leaflets move constantly along an elliptical path, testing the intensity of sunlight, and directing the large leaf to that area. This is a strategy used by the Desmodium gyrans to maximize its exposure to sunlight by tracking it.

Three things we can learn from this plant:
There are many lessons we can learn from this plant:

a. Working together – trust: Human societies should be built on collaboration/ cooperation. We should recognize our need for help. Nature rewards cooperation. The Desmodium gyrans’ leaves cooperate to take advantage of the best sun.  

b. How small actors can help big ones: The small lateral leaves act as scouts. They test for the intensity of sunlight and direct the larger leaves to it. If it were not for this, the plant would have been wasting its energy.

c. Energy conservation: In order to prevent excessive radiation loss, as an adaptation the Desmodium gyrans has equipped each large leaf with two small lateral leaflets to conserve the plants energy.  We human need to conserve energy. Conserving energy reduces water, air and soil pollution.

You have probably seen calculators with solar cells or surveillance cameras, or wind turbines.
We can apply this plant’s quality to modern problems, including energy generation and public safety.  
a. Solar panels
b. Wind turbines
c. Public security cameras
GN, 2013
Solar panels:
A solar panel captures sunlight and converts it to electricity, much like autotrophs. Plants are able to convert light energy into chemical energy that is used to carry out various cellular metabolic processes. Solar panels turn light into electricity using photovoltaic cells. Sunlight consists of particles called photons. As the photon are absorbed by a solar panel, the photoelectric effect causes the flow of free electrons. A device alters this electricity, enabling it to power electrical items.

Thanks to a new algorithm calculation based on astronomical data, big companies have developed panels with movable mounting that precisely follow the course of the sun. This strategy is used only for large industrial production. My suggestion for smaller applications is to have small panel sensors that will direct the solar panels to the light.

Wind turbines:
Wind turbines or windmills convert wind energy into rotational energy. Wind turbines are controlled by computers. The computer monitors the direction and speed of the wind. The blades are twisted and are connected to a generator. The generator converts the rotational energy into electrical output. Wind turbines rotate clockwise.

Small turbines can be used  instead of the computer to monitor the direction of the wind, so they are locally controlled.

Security camera:
Security cameras are used for crime prevention and evidence. They provide viable images of the perpetrators or criminals. They are placed in high-crime areas to prevent crime and identify criminals. Surveillance cameras provide a sense of security to many. Most security camera are either fixed or move constantly. Small noise and motion detectors can be used to move cameras to events of
interest. This will improve our security/ surveillance system.

                     Works Cited:

  • Darwin, Charles. The Power of Movement in Plants. New York: Da Capo Press, 1966. Print.- 






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Friday, November 8, 2013

Rise Up and Take Action - A Freedom song

  In my Global Peace course, we were assigned to research a civil rights leader or any nonviolent leader. I wrote a Freedom Song that highlighted the struggles of Susan B. Anthony and how she overcame them. Also, we were assigned to reflect on our own struggles. The purpose of this action project is to put ourselves into the shoes of a nonviolent leader, and be inspired by their actions.

               san B. Anthony. (2013, November 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 17:30, November 8, 2013,


FREEDOM FIGHTER:
I wanted to fight against slavery,
Vile, wicked, sinful slavery,
I wanted to speak to the crowds
Who came to abolitionist meetings.
Who, like freedom riders,
Spoke up for the oppressed.
The men said, “It is an abomination
For ladies to speak in public.”
I disagree. I am Susan B. Anthony.

I am strong for the mothers
The wives, and the daughters
I am strong for those profoundly asleep
I am the hinge between freedom and dependence

Once upon a time
A woman could not
Vote
Keep her wages
Own or inherit property
(Unless, like me, she was a “spinster”)
Get a divorce
(Unless her husband wanted one)
Keep her children after a divorce.
I began to fight for women.

I did not live
To see women vote.
But I changed the rest.
The welfare of women
Is the welfare of all.



PERSONAL POEM:
I am caught between worlds.
At home I eat fufu,
And speak French.
At school I eat pizza,
And speak teenager.

I am making a whole
From pieces of two kits.
I learn the lessons
Of my ancestors,
And wear the clothes
Of my descendants.

I am, in myself, diverse.
If I can live with my differences
We can all live
With one another’s differences.
Sarvodaya.

Worked cited: 
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