The document summarizes various science-related events and activities, including a symposium on biodiversity and sustainable development, chemistry experiments detecting sugars in foods, making soap, experiments with university researchers on microbiology, studying pollution and food properties, a school trip to study Mediterranean flora, and analyzing the pond at a high school.
Between 2016-2019, five European schools worked together on an ERASMUS+ project to develop a virtual curriculum for science subjects. The project aimed to create a common methodology for developing curriculums more flexibly using technology. Based on a model from Cockermouth School in the UK, the virtual curriculum provides students access to lesson content online, including videos of practical experiments and assessments. This is intended to improve learning outcomes by allowing students to better prepare for lessons and review material independently. The project partners collaborated to design virtual curriculum websites for their schools that map to each country's science standards and support flipped classroom learning.
This document discusses several mobile apps that help identify plants and birds. It provides brief descriptions of apps such as Garden Compass, FlowerChecker, Plantifier, Leafsnap, NatureGate, Ciupercomania, GardenAnswers Plant Identifier, TreeID, Ornithopedia Europe, Insect Identification: PestPro, and PlantNet. These apps allow users to take photos of plants and birds to help identify their names as well as learn more information about them. Some key features of the apps include providing care tips for plants, identifying over 20,000 plant species, identifying insects and getting reports on pests, and accessing databases of over 1,100 European bird species.
This document provides guidance on identifying plants through a step-by-step process. It begins with basic information on biodiversity and why plant identification is important. The core of identification is recognizing distinguishing characteristics between species. Keys are then introduced as tools that ask a series of questions to lead to a plant's name. Guidelines are offered for properly using keys and making careful observations of specimens. Experience is emphasized as the most useful trait for improving identification skills over time.
Juniper essential oil can be extracted from juniper berries and needles using a Soxhlet extraction. The Soxhlet apparatus consists of a boiling flask, condenser, porous container, and extractor. Juniper berries are crushed to increase surface area and placed in the porous container along with the solvent in the boiling flask. The solvent is heated to reflux, extracting compounds through repeated cycles of evaporation, condensation, and siphoning back to the boiling flask.
Naturalist expeditions are an important part of the school's educational project and curriculum. The Biology and Geology Department organizes about 12-15 nature-related trips each year to complement classroom learning. Careful preparation goes into each trip, including thorough descriptions and planned activities and observations aligned with students' grade levels. Students are provided field notebooks to guide observations and exercises during trips. Most trips require preparatory work in the classroom as well, and follow-up work is assigned afterwards. The school aims to take an interdisciplinary approach to environmental education through some joint trips combining nature, culture, and their interactions.
The document summarizes various science-related events and activities, including a symposium on biodiversity and sustainable development, chemistry experiments detecting sugars in foods, making soap, experiments with university researchers on microbiology, studying pollution and food properties, a school trip to study Mediterranean flora, and analyzing the pond at a high school.
Between 2016-2019, five European schools worked together on an ERASMUS+ project to develop a virtual curriculum for science subjects. The project aimed to create a common methodology for developing curriculums more flexibly using technology. Based on a model from Cockermouth School in the UK, the virtual curriculum provides students access to lesson content online, including videos of practical experiments and assessments. This is intended to improve learning outcomes by allowing students to better prepare for lessons and review material independently. The project partners collaborated to design virtual curriculum websites for their schools that map to each country's science standards and support flipped classroom learning.
This document discusses several mobile apps that help identify plants and birds. It provides brief descriptions of apps such as Garden Compass, FlowerChecker, Plantifier, Leafsnap, NatureGate, Ciupercomania, GardenAnswers Plant Identifier, TreeID, Ornithopedia Europe, Insect Identification: PestPro, and PlantNet. These apps allow users to take photos of plants and birds to help identify their names as well as learn more information about them. Some key features of the apps include providing care tips for plants, identifying over 20,000 plant species, identifying insects and getting reports on pests, and accessing databases of over 1,100 European bird species.
This document provides guidance on identifying plants through a step-by-step process. It begins with basic information on biodiversity and why plant identification is important. The core of identification is recognizing distinguishing characteristics between species. Keys are then introduced as tools that ask a series of questions to lead to a plant's name. Guidelines are offered for properly using keys and making careful observations of specimens. Experience is emphasized as the most useful trait for improving identification skills over time.
Juniper essential oil can be extracted from juniper berries and needles using a Soxhlet extraction. The Soxhlet apparatus consists of a boiling flask, condenser, porous container, and extractor. Juniper berries are crushed to increase surface area and placed in the porous container along with the solvent in the boiling flask. The solvent is heated to reflux, extracting compounds through repeated cycles of evaporation, condensation, and siphoning back to the boiling flask.
Naturalist expeditions are an important part of the school's educational project and curriculum. The Biology and Geology Department organizes about 12-15 nature-related trips each year to complement classroom learning. Careful preparation goes into each trip, including thorough descriptions and planned activities and observations aligned with students' grade levels. Students are provided field notebooks to guide observations and exercises during trips. Most trips require preparatory work in the classroom as well, and follow-up work is assigned afterwards. The school aims to take an interdisciplinary approach to environmental education through some joint trips combining nature, culture, and their interactions.
This document discusses the benefits of experiential learning through naturalist expeditions. It describes experiential learning as learning through hands-on experience and reflection. Key points include:
- Experiential learning involves a cycle of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. Students have an experience, reflect on it, develop new ideas, and apply those ideas.
- Naturalist expeditions provide experiences that engage all five senses and promote critical thinking, physical activity, social interaction, development of self-awareness, and connection to place.
- The document outlines Kolb's model of the experiential learning cycle and provides examples of how naturalist expeditions can incorporate each
Project Macro Scale Photography aimed to capture detailed images of small objects using specialized photographic equipment. The project leader, GVM, planned to take high-resolution photos between Spring and Fall 2018 using macro lenses, lighting kits, and camera rigs capable of magnifying subjects to reveal fine textures and details not visible to the naked eye. These photos would help document and study minute natural phenomena across a range of specimens.
This document summarizes a study on how technology can be used to enrich children's experiences with and learning about nature. A survey of over 1,000 students across 5 European countries found that most students are heavily dependent on technology like phones and laptops. However, the students also felt that disconnecting from technology provided benefits. The study found that connecting with nature promotes happiness and health. It explores how technology like cameras, microscopes, and GPS has helped connect people to the natural world. The survey showed that students believe outdoor learning enhances education and prefer activities like sports and camps for nature learning. Students use phones and laptops daily but computers are more common in classrooms. While social media connects people, the study looks at how it
1) Children today do not experience nature as much as past generations due to increased urbanization and technology use. Schools have a duty to motivate children to interact with nature.
2) Technology can enrich experiences with nature if used properly. Devices like microscopes and cameras have helped people learn about and connect to the natural world. Social media also connects people and spreads messages.
3) Most respondents believe outdoor learning increases engagement and enhances education. They think technology could enhance outdoor experiences if used correctly but may also worsen them. Most schools utilize outdoors only occasionally for learning.
A BioBlitz involves coordinating many participants over a short period of time, such as 24 hours, to locate, identify, and count as many species as possible within a defined area. It provides an effective way to measure biodiversity and understand changes over time. Participants work in groups led by experts to identify different types of species. BioBlitzes can take place in various natural environments and involve both scientific recording and engaging the public in nature. Citizen science projects like BioBlitzes and iNaturalist help gather large quantities of biodiversity data to advance scientific understanding.
Wild fennel, thyme, and juniper are Mediterranean plants with various culinary and medicinal uses. Fennel contains aromatic substances and nutrients. Its heart, seeds, and leaves can flavor foods. Thyme contains compounds like thymol and carvacrol and is used as a tea or dried herb. Juniper berries flavor meats, fish, and alcohol. All parts of the plants contain beneficial compounds and can be used fresh or dried to season foods and drinks.
This document provides instructions for several chemistry experiments that are demonstrated in videos on a YouTube channel. It describes how to perform experiments to:
1. Oxidize an aldehyde using Tollens' reagent, which is prepared by mixing solutions of silver nitrate and sodium hydroxide followed by addition of ammonia solution.
2. Prepare Schweitzer's reagent by dissolving a copper hydroxide precipitate formed from copper sulfate and sodium hydroxide solutions in ammonia to produce a solution used to dissolve cellulose.
3. Make soap by heating oil with a sodium hydroxide solution in a porcelain capsule for 1.5-2 hours.
This document discusses medicinal herbs and their uses. It begins by defining medicinal plants as plants or herbs that have recognized healing properties and medical uses. Herbal medicine is described as one of the oldest forms of medical treatment. The document then provides background on the early history of herbalism, noting that early humans learned about beneficial and poisonous plants through observation and trial and error. It discusses how knowledge of herbalism developed after the first millennium CE when several botanists wrote on medicinal plant usage. Specific plants are then highlighted, including aloe vera which is used for skin applications, and peppermint which can be used for digestive issues and as a facial wash.
The document describes a school project to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion of organic waste. Students designed and built a simple biodigester system using a water bath to heat the digester. They filled the digester 3/4 full with a mixture of 40% organic waste and water. Analysis of the gas produced through gas chromatography confirmed the presence of methane, indicating biogas had been successfully generated. The students were pleased with producing biogas and learning about an educational system for generating renewable energy from organic materials.
Bioethanol is a petrol substitute produced mainly through sugar fermentation or chemical reaction. It is renewable, reduces greenhouse gases, and is less toxic than fossil fuels. However, large-scale bioethanol production requires significant land and water use, potentially threatening food supply and biodiversity. While bioethanol can be blended at low levels with petrol, higher blends require engine modifications. Some vehicles are now designed to operate on blends up to E85.
Travis Hills' Endeavors in Minnesota: Fostering Environmental and Economic Pr...Travis Hills MN
Travis Hills of Minnesota developed a method to convert waste into high-value dry fertilizer, significantly enriching soil quality. By providing farmers with a valuable resource derived from waste, Travis Hills helps enhance farm profitability while promoting environmental stewardship. Travis Hills' sustainable practices lead to cost savings and increased revenue for farmers by improving resource efficiency and reducing waste.
The technology uses reclaimed CO₂ as the dyeing medium in a closed loop process. When pressurized, CO₂ becomes supercritical (SC-CO₂). In this state CO₂ has a very high solvent power, allowing the dye to dissolve easily.
This document discusses the benefits of experiential learning through naturalist expeditions. It describes experiential learning as learning through hands-on experience and reflection. Key points include:
- Experiential learning involves a cycle of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. Students have an experience, reflect on it, develop new ideas, and apply those ideas.
- Naturalist expeditions provide experiences that engage all five senses and promote critical thinking, physical activity, social interaction, development of self-awareness, and connection to place.
- The document outlines Kolb's model of the experiential learning cycle and provides examples of how naturalist expeditions can incorporate each
Project Macro Scale Photography aimed to capture detailed images of small objects using specialized photographic equipment. The project leader, GVM, planned to take high-resolution photos between Spring and Fall 2018 using macro lenses, lighting kits, and camera rigs capable of magnifying subjects to reveal fine textures and details not visible to the naked eye. These photos would help document and study minute natural phenomena across a range of specimens.
This document summarizes a study on how technology can be used to enrich children's experiences with and learning about nature. A survey of over 1,000 students across 5 European countries found that most students are heavily dependent on technology like phones and laptops. However, the students also felt that disconnecting from technology provided benefits. The study found that connecting with nature promotes happiness and health. It explores how technology like cameras, microscopes, and GPS has helped connect people to the natural world. The survey showed that students believe outdoor learning enhances education and prefer activities like sports and camps for nature learning. Students use phones and laptops daily but computers are more common in classrooms. While social media connects people, the study looks at how it
1) Children today do not experience nature as much as past generations due to increased urbanization and technology use. Schools have a duty to motivate children to interact with nature.
2) Technology can enrich experiences with nature if used properly. Devices like microscopes and cameras have helped people learn about and connect to the natural world. Social media also connects people and spreads messages.
3) Most respondents believe outdoor learning increases engagement and enhances education. They think technology could enhance outdoor experiences if used correctly but may also worsen them. Most schools utilize outdoors only occasionally for learning.
A BioBlitz involves coordinating many participants over a short period of time, such as 24 hours, to locate, identify, and count as many species as possible within a defined area. It provides an effective way to measure biodiversity and understand changes over time. Participants work in groups led by experts to identify different types of species. BioBlitzes can take place in various natural environments and involve both scientific recording and engaging the public in nature. Citizen science projects like BioBlitzes and iNaturalist help gather large quantities of biodiversity data to advance scientific understanding.
Wild fennel, thyme, and juniper are Mediterranean plants with various culinary and medicinal uses. Fennel contains aromatic substances and nutrients. Its heart, seeds, and leaves can flavor foods. Thyme contains compounds like thymol and carvacrol and is used as a tea or dried herb. Juniper berries flavor meats, fish, and alcohol. All parts of the plants contain beneficial compounds and can be used fresh or dried to season foods and drinks.
This document provides instructions for several chemistry experiments that are demonstrated in videos on a YouTube channel. It describes how to perform experiments to:
1. Oxidize an aldehyde using Tollens' reagent, which is prepared by mixing solutions of silver nitrate and sodium hydroxide followed by addition of ammonia solution.
2. Prepare Schweitzer's reagent by dissolving a copper hydroxide precipitate formed from copper sulfate and sodium hydroxide solutions in ammonia to produce a solution used to dissolve cellulose.
3. Make soap by heating oil with a sodium hydroxide solution in a porcelain capsule for 1.5-2 hours.
This document discusses medicinal herbs and their uses. It begins by defining medicinal plants as plants or herbs that have recognized healing properties and medical uses. Herbal medicine is described as one of the oldest forms of medical treatment. The document then provides background on the early history of herbalism, noting that early humans learned about beneficial and poisonous plants through observation and trial and error. It discusses how knowledge of herbalism developed after the first millennium CE when several botanists wrote on medicinal plant usage. Specific plants are then highlighted, including aloe vera which is used for skin applications, and peppermint which can be used for digestive issues and as a facial wash.
The document describes a school project to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion of organic waste. Students designed and built a simple biodigester system using a water bath to heat the digester. They filled the digester 3/4 full with a mixture of 40% organic waste and water. Analysis of the gas produced through gas chromatography confirmed the presence of methane, indicating biogas had been successfully generated. The students were pleased with producing biogas and learning about an educational system for generating renewable energy from organic materials.
Bioethanol is a petrol substitute produced mainly through sugar fermentation or chemical reaction. It is renewable, reduces greenhouse gases, and is less toxic than fossil fuels. However, large-scale bioethanol production requires significant land and water use, potentially threatening food supply and biodiversity. While bioethanol can be blended at low levels with petrol, higher blends require engine modifications. Some vehicles are now designed to operate on blends up to E85.
More from Plugging Into Nature With New Technologies (10)
Travis Hills' Endeavors in Minnesota: Fostering Environmental and Economic Pr...Travis Hills MN
Travis Hills of Minnesota developed a method to convert waste into high-value dry fertilizer, significantly enriching soil quality. By providing farmers with a valuable resource derived from waste, Travis Hills helps enhance farm profitability while promoting environmental stewardship. Travis Hills' sustainable practices lead to cost savings and increased revenue for farmers by improving resource efficiency and reducing waste.
The technology uses reclaimed CO₂ as the dyeing medium in a closed loop process. When pressurized, CO₂ becomes supercritical (SC-CO₂). In this state CO₂ has a very high solvent power, allowing the dye to dissolve easily.
ESPP presentation to EU Waste Water Network, 4th June 2024 “EU policies driving nutrient removal and recycling
and the revised UWWTD (Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive)”
The use of Nauplii and metanauplii artemia in aquaculture (brine shrimp).pptxMAGOTI ERNEST
Although Artemia has been known to man for centuries, its use as a food for the culture of larval organisms apparently began only in the 1930s, when several investigators found that it made an excellent food for newly hatched fish larvae (Litvinenko et al., 2023). As aquaculture developed in the 1960s and ‘70s, the use of Artemia also became more widespread, due both to its convenience and to its nutritional value for larval organisms (Arenas-Pardo et al., 2024). The fact that Artemia dormant cysts can be stored for long periods in cans, and then used as an off-the-shelf food requiring only 24 h of incubation makes them the most convenient, least labor-intensive, live food available for aquaculture (Sorgeloos & Roubach, 2021). The nutritional value of Artemia, especially for marine organisms, is not constant, but varies both geographically and temporally. During the last decade, however, both the causes of Artemia nutritional variability and methods to improve poorquality Artemia have been identified (Loufi et al., 2024).
Brine shrimp (Artemia spp.) are used in marine aquaculture worldwide. Annually, more than 2,000 metric tons of dry cysts are used for cultivation of fish, crustacean, and shellfish larva. Brine shrimp are important to aquaculture because newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii (larvae) provide a food source for many fish fry (Mozanzadeh et al., 2021). Culture and harvesting of brine shrimp eggs represents another aspect of the aquaculture industry. Nauplii and metanauplii of Artemia, commonly known as brine shrimp, play a crucial role in aquaculture due to their nutritional value and suitability as live feed for many aquatic species, particularly in larval stages (Sorgeloos & Roubach, 2021).
Current Ms word generated power point presentation covers major details about the micronuclei test. It's significance and assays to conduct it. It is used to detect the micronuclei formation inside the cells of nearly every multicellular organism. It's formation takes place during chromosomal sepration at metaphase.
Immersive Learning That Works: Research Grounding and Paths ForwardLeonel Morgado
We will metaverse into the essence of immersive learning, into its three dimensions and conceptual models. This approach encompasses elements from teaching methodologies to social involvement, through organizational concerns and technologies. Challenging the perception of learning as knowledge transfer, we introduce a 'Uses, Practices & Strategies' model operationalized by the 'Immersive Learning Brain' and ‘Immersion Cube’ frameworks. This approach offers a comprehensive guide through the intricacies of immersive educational experiences and spotlighting research frontiers, along the immersion dimensions of system, narrative, and agency. Our discourse extends to stakeholders beyond the academic sphere, addressing the interests of technologists, instructional designers, and policymakers. We span various contexts, from formal education to organizational transformation to the new horizon of an AI-pervasive society. This keynote aims to unite the iLRN community in a collaborative journey towards a future where immersive learning research and practice coalesce, paving the way for innovative educational research and practice landscapes.
When I was asked to give a companion lecture in support of ‘The Philosophy of Science’ (https://shorturl.at/4pUXz) I decided not to walk through the detail of the many methodologies in order of use. Instead, I chose to employ a long standing, and ongoing, scientific development as an exemplar. And so, I chose the ever evolving story of Thermodynamics as a scientific investigation at its best.
Conducted over a period of >200 years, Thermodynamics R&D, and application, benefitted from the highest levels of professionalism, collaboration, and technical thoroughness. New layers of application, methodology, and practice were made possible by the progressive advance of technology. In turn, this has seen measurement and modelling accuracy continually improved at a micro and macro level.
Perhaps most importantly, Thermodynamics rapidly became a primary tool in the advance of applied science/engineering/technology, spanning micro-tech, to aerospace and cosmology. I can think of no better a story to illustrate the breadth of scientific methodologies and applications at their best.
Unlocking the mysteries of reproduction: Exploring fecundity and gonadosomati...AbdullaAlAsif1
The pygmy halfbeak Dermogenys colletei, is known for its viviparous nature, this presents an intriguing case of relatively low fecundity, raising questions about potential compensatory reproductive strategies employed by this species. Our study delves into the examination of fecundity and the Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) in the Pygmy Halfbeak, D. colletei (Meisner, 2001), an intriguing viviparous fish indigenous to Sarawak, Borneo. We hypothesize that the Pygmy halfbeak, D. colletei, may exhibit unique reproductive adaptations to offset its low fecundity, thus enhancing its survival and fitness. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive study utilizing 28 mature female specimens of D. colletei, carefully measuring fecundity and GSI to shed light on the reproductive adaptations of this species. Our findings reveal that D. colletei indeed exhibits low fecundity, with a mean of 16.76 ± 2.01, and a mean GSI of 12.83 ± 1.27, providing crucial insights into the reproductive mechanisms at play in this species. These results underscore the existence of unique reproductive strategies in D. colletei, enabling its adaptation and persistence in Borneo's diverse aquatic ecosystems, and call for further ecological research to elucidate these mechanisms. This study lends to a better understanding of viviparous fish in Borneo and contributes to the broader field of aquatic ecology, enhancing our knowledge of species adaptations to unique ecological challenges.