Driving Question: How can we use biotechnology to solve a current issue in the world?
Reflection
During this project, we researched a real world problem that could be fix or improved with biotechnology. After looking into a variety of world wide issues, including Energy, Ocean Pollution, & Climate Change, my group decided to focus on malnutrition and hunger. Every single day 21,000 people die of malnutrition, and many more are starving. This problem will continue to grow and we will need to produce 50% more food to sustain the 9 billion people by 2050. The current solutions have not worked that well, so we wanted to make any place sustain food. So we decided to fix world hunger and malnutrition, by designing and building a biodome.
We will begin by building a pilot biome in SF Bay area to run tests and get funding. This pilot design will be constructed of high tension steel rods and plastic sheeting sealed down with concrete. It will also have an airlock door to keep the moisture in. Inside the dome there will be 4 soil plots for planting. It will also have a pond that will water the plants through evaporation and will provide nutrients to the soil. There will be a pump to fill the pond with water, solar panels to power airlock door and pump, and three bee hives to pollinate the plants.
Once the pilot design is fully tested and modified it will be implemented in Africa and Asia. It should be able to feed a hundred people or less.
We will begin by building a pilot biome in SF Bay area to run tests and get funding. This pilot design will be constructed of high tension steel rods and plastic sheeting sealed down with concrete. It will also have an airlock door to keep the moisture in. Inside the dome there will be 4 soil plots for planting. It will also have a pond that will water the plants through evaporation and will provide nutrients to the soil. There will be a pump to fill the pond with water, solar panels to power airlock door and pump, and three bee hives to pollinate the plants.
Once the pilot design is fully tested and modified it will be implemented in Africa and Asia. It should be able to feed a hundred people or less.
Concepts
Biotechnology - The utilization of organic materials in manufacturing or testing
Engineering Design Cycle - A series of steps used to find the most thorough solution to a problem.
1. Define the Problem
2. Do Background Research
3. Specify Requirements
4. Brainstorm, Evaluate, & Choose Solutions
5. Develop and Prototype Solution
6. Test Solution
7. Repeat 4-6 as Needed
8. Communicate Results
Malnutrition - Lack of proper minerals and nutrients caused by poor food sources
Crop Rotation - The process of varying crops in a field for the purpose of actively replenishing nutrients in the soil
Photosynthesis - The process of using sunlight to create energy
Evaporation - The process of changing state from liquid to gas
Pollination-the transfer of pollen to a stigma, ovule, flower, or plant to allow fertilization. Usually done by bees
Hunger- to feel or suffer hunger through lack of food
Biodome-a form of controlled, self-sufficient eco-system that closely replicates the natural outdoor environment
Soil Nutrients-three main nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).
Nutrient deficiency- an inadequate supply of essential nutrients (as vitamins and minerals) in the diet resulting in malnutrition or disease.
Third world countries- the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Engineering Design Cycle - A series of steps used to find the most thorough solution to a problem.
1. Define the Problem
2. Do Background Research
3. Specify Requirements
4. Brainstorm, Evaluate, & Choose Solutions
5. Develop and Prototype Solution
6. Test Solution
7. Repeat 4-6 as Needed
8. Communicate Results
Malnutrition - Lack of proper minerals and nutrients caused by poor food sources
Crop Rotation - The process of varying crops in a field for the purpose of actively replenishing nutrients in the soil
Photosynthesis - The process of using sunlight to create energy
Evaporation - The process of changing state from liquid to gas
Pollination-the transfer of pollen to a stigma, ovule, flower, or plant to allow fertilization. Usually done by bees
Hunger- to feel or suffer hunger through lack of food
Biodome-a form of controlled, self-sufficient eco-system that closely replicates the natural outdoor environment
Soil Nutrients-three main nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).
Nutrient deficiency- an inadequate supply of essential nutrients (as vitamins and minerals) in the diet resulting in malnutrition or disease.
Third world countries- the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Reflections
This project was really fun. We knew what we were going to implement pretty early in the project and we usually got our steps done early. There were some things that did not go so well. Some of the things that went poorly were we did not have enough time to finish. So ,we had to take it home. Another thing that went badly was we waited till the last minute to finish the project. we had couple of days where we could have got ahead but we didn't use our time wisely. There were some things that went well in making this project. One thing that went well was we all got along. We enjoyed each others company and had fun researching and implementing this project. Also we worked well in a group. We split the work evenly, and tried to get everything done in time, and we didn't get into any arguments or fights.
During this project I learned new skills, and something new about myself. The skill I acquired from this project was that sometimes if I am are looking for something done in a specific way, I have to do it myself. This was important because i had a vision for the crop rotation and it turned out just how i wanted to. What I learned in this project is the way a biodome works. It seals off from the original environment and creates a new one through evaporation of water . There are many things I can improve on in this project. I should have made sure all of us were on task the entire time. Next time I will get everyone, including myself on task . Another thing I will work on is my leadership. I will try to control the group a little more, to make sure we are using our time wisely to reach our goal and not settle until we reach where we want to be in our project. In all though, it was an fun project.
During this project I learned new skills, and something new about myself. The skill I acquired from this project was that sometimes if I am are looking for something done in a specific way, I have to do it myself. This was important because i had a vision for the crop rotation and it turned out just how i wanted to. What I learned in this project is the way a biodome works. It seals off from the original environment and creates a new one through evaporation of water . There are many things I can improve on in this project. I should have made sure all of us were on task the entire time. Next time I will get everyone, including myself on task . Another thing I will work on is my leadership. I will try to control the group a little more, to make sure we are using our time wisely to reach our goal and not settle until we reach where we want to be in our project. In all though, it was an fun project.