Tag: Poster C7

Indigenous Food Security in the Face of Climate Change

Presenter: Paul Metzler

Environmental Studies

Poster Presentation

C7

Indigenous cultures are often the stewards of areas with the most biologically diverse food crops. Diversity is essential to maintaining food security in the face of changing climates, and yet, indigenous cultures are often the most adversely affected by this change. This paper analyzes the struggles and successes of indigenous cultures in the Americas to maintain food sovereignty in the face of climate change and the influences of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) on more mainstream food systems. By examining existing literature, it is clear that many cultures struggle with food security as a direct cause of climate change. However, many indigenous people have made remarkable adaptations, recently and in the past. These cultures also cultivate underutilized crops which could hold the answers to the nutritional problems many communities experience. Furthermore, TEK gained from indigenous cultures can provide insight global adaptations to climate change.

Recycled Insulation for Resource Scarce Regions

Presenter: Katrina Tran

Co-Presenters: Kyle Plata and Alex Weaver

Mentors: Alison Kwok and Mathieu Deraspe, Architecture

Poster: C7

Major: Architecture

This experiment sought to assess the efficacy of using excess trash as a solution to resource scarcity in the developing world by testing the thermal efficiency of glass bottles as an insulating material. The glass bottles were packed densely with shredded paper and then laid on their sides into a rough wall assembly. The general thermal efficiency of this recycled insulation was tested inside a thermal hotbox using HOBO data loggers, which measured the temperatures inside the “hot” and “cold” sides of the hotbox for twelve hours. The hypothesis was that the recycled insulation could sustain a temperature difference greater than 5°F for at least three hours after applying heat to the “hot” side of the hotbox. The data collected showed a temperature difference greater than 5°F for four hours after the heating period. Once the original hypothesis held true, further testing was conducted using a heat flux transducer in order to calculate an exact R-value for the recycled insulation. The transducer data showed that the recycled insulation has an R-value of 15 hrft2°F/Btu. The results of this experiment indicate that this insulation may be suitable for mild to moderate climates.