Finding references for any research can be difficult. It is especially so when dealing with a year-long capstone project. While I have a lot of resources already from related classes and projects, it is not easy figuring out what sources are going to be helpful for my capstone. In order to get a better grasp on different […]
Finding Focus
After last week, I had a number different directions I could go with my capstone. Was I going to stay local or focus on a more on international agriculture? What sort of technology or crop, if any in particular, should I focus on? And how would I approach the impacts of the chosen technology? With […]
Playing With Place
For my capstone project, this week was all about situated contexts. Over the week, I tried out different framing questions, finally settling on: How can new technology adoption promote global sustainable development? With that framework set, it was time to play with place and see where I can go from my framing question. I chose three different […]
Starting a Capstone: Draft Outline
After years of working towards my concentration, it is finally time to bring everything together for my senior capstone. The first step is to write down everything that has been circling around my head the past several weeks and come up with an outline for my capstone. This “Madlib” exercise provides a pre-made outline, filled in […]
Agriculture Alternatives: Big Data
One popular alternative to the current political-economic landscape of food lies in bringing agriculture to the modern, technologically advanced age though big data. For agriculture, big data is just what it sounds like, collecting vast amounts of data from crop and weed locations, soil and weather conditions, and pesticide and herbicide use. There are several […]
On Building The Ark: Idealism Throughout Environmental History
When thinking broadly about the environment, it is easy to rely on certain ideals. From nostalgia or dismissal of a long gone nature of the past to a utopian or dystopian view of the future, environmentalists often work in extremes. Throughout environmental history, we see this again and again. However, boiling down the complexities of […]
Autonomous Vehicles And Fuel Emission Estimations
Introduction Autonomous vehicles, or self-driving cars, are the transportation of the future if investments from car companies, tech companies, and governments are any indication. Most major car companies and several tech giants including Apple, Uber, and Microsoft are all working on having autonomous vehicles on the market by 2020 (Bansal and Kockelman 2016). In […]
Clean Tech Rises Again, Retooling Nature for Industrial Use – The New York Times
Source: Clean Tech Rises Again, Retooling Nature for Industrial Use – The New York Times BERKELEY, Calif. — A decade ago, a group of biologists, venture capitalists and computer whizzes gathered under the name “clean tech.” They hoped to overturn polluting industries with microorganisms cheerily excreting industrial chemicals through the miracle of reprogramming nature’s genetic […]
Fish Oil Global Commodity Chain
Fish oil is a unique commodity that is known for its high concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids. This health content gives oil use predominantly for use in aquaculture and health supplements. Fish oil is also unique in that it is not produced in isolation. By necessity, fishmeal, or the byproduct fish with the oil taken […]
The Human Body in Relation to Human and Nonhuman Worlds
The relationship between the human and nonhuman worlds plays an important role in defining the development of civilizations. Specific relationships are formed through specific geography and milestones such as the creation of fire, agriculture, and domestication of animals. These factors create unique perspectives and ideas on how the human and nonhuman worlds should interact. However, […]