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Sustainable Impact by Design

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Sustainable impact by design

The STEM Equals Summer Scheme won funding to mark COP26, and so ten Strathclyde staff members were able to work with diverse young people in Ayr and Girvan over five days of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities, talking about their research and how it can limit climate change.

We had a lot of fun!

Dr Jane Essex
STEM Equals Project leader
Photo of Jane Essex
Project
Credits
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Part 1: Lithosphere

Today, the construction sector represents one of the main contributors to the carbon global emissions. Conserving existing buildings represents a more sustainable future.

The lithosphere means all the rocks on planet Earth

How sustainable is stone?

We looked at pictures of monuments, and matched the samples of stones under the microscope with the building based on their colour.

How does the weathering process work?

We took some pieces of stone used to build Bern Cathedral and dropped them into sample tubes. We then moved outside, and we could see the effects of erosion in person.

A group of people are sitting around a table with cups of water.

Solar cells

Aruna’s work looks at how we can make better solar panels, which will let us make electricity without burning fuel. She showed us how to use juice from berries to make solar cells and, to our surprise, they worked!

A group of people sitting in chairs and watching a presentation.

Managing electricity

Hong showed us how to make circuits that would control the electricity made in different ways, so that we always have electricity when we want it.

This is so cool. I can’t believe we’re actually doing real science! - Fraser

Listen to a story

Princess Lithosphere’s West Tower

One of four stories narrated by storyteller Allison Galbraith and illustrated by Gaston Welisch

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Part 2: Atmosphere

If we pollute the air, animals and plants will die, so this isn’t sustainable. Rui and Agusti showed us how air currents can be used to make electricity. Rockets, like the ones we made with Christie but much bigger, can be used to investigate the atmosphere high above the Earth.

A group of young people working together on a table.

Which bottle rocket will fly best?

We made bottle rockets using water, vitamin C and Seltzer tablets. We tried mixing them in different amounts and placing them differently so they would fly well.

Atmosphere means all the gases over the Earth, and the gases trapped inside it

Not rivalling NASA just yet

None of them went into space but a few of them jumped!

Making electricity without air pollution

We introduced how the offshore wind power is generated, transmitted, and supplied to households to light bulbs. We emphasized what we can do to tackle climate change to encourage children to engage in renewable technology. 

Engaging in renewable technology

We helped students understand why we need modern technology to control the wind power.

Rui and Agusti showed us how air currents can be used to make electricity, instead of burning fuel.

Listen to a story

King Atmosphere’s North Tower

One of four stories narrated by storyteller Allison Galbraith and illustrated by Gaston Welisch

King Atmosphere's North Tower
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Part 3: Hydrosphere

Hydrosphere means all the water on, and in, the Earth. This includes seas and rivers, and water in air like clouds and rain.

Water turbines

We made water turbines, which can be used to create electricity with the power of water.

We tested a lot of different designs and saw which were most efficient.

Fermentation and biogas

Bacteria and yeast are useful as they break down food (in our gut) or waste material (in our sewage) and make methane gas. The gas can be burnt, so the bugs are helping us to get energy, or making farts!

Cola volcanoes

The cola experiment showed us how gas can be pushed out of liquid very quickly.

Did it work?

As the sea warms up, due to climate change, it gives out carbon dioxide, which causes even more warming. This is a problem for sustainability.
Two young people kneeling down in the dirt.

Giving out carbon dioxide

This is what happens in volcanoes and also happens in the sea as it warms up.

Listen to a story

Prince Hydrosphere’s East Tower

One of four stories narrated by storyteller Allison Galbraith and illustrated by Gaston Welisch

White squares on a white background.

Part 4: Biosphere

We went to Dumfries House and looked at different living things (moths, lichen plants) that are affected by pollution. If species are killed by human activity, the planet isn’t sustainable any more.

Biosphere means all the living things on Earth.

Bio-indicators: moths and lichen

Moths and lichen are bio-indicators, which means that they can show us the quality of the air around us. We determined that the air in Dumfries House was clean!

Digestion

We did a cross-reality (XR) Virtuali-Tee activity to explore how their own body works to sustain itself. Volunteers wore custom Curiscope T-shirts, whilst the learners explored the different interactive features of the body using a phone app.

Worms

Listen to Dr Margaret Cunningham explain how they experimented on different types of worms and the optimal environments for the blackworm which survives in water.

We must consider if there are any toxic effects of drugs that cause harm to life. Translating these concepts to the environment and contamination of natural water supplies... became its own reflective exercise for the learners to consider. - Dr Margaret Rose Cunningham

Painted stones

The learners tested their skills at rock painting with messages of sustainability. One of the highlights of the rock painting session was discussion on the theme each learner had chosen to paint on their own rock – for example, the sustainability of Harry Potter and his broom vs driving a car!

Listen to a story

Queen Biosphere’s South Tower

One of four stories narrated by storyteller Allison Galbraith and illustrated by Gaston Welisch

White squares on a white background.

Conclusion

The student voted for the most sustainable character in the stories, and left a drawing or note for future students in a time capsule.

Handwritten text in purple ink reads, "Think with your hearts & look after every creature on this planet.
The students decided that recycling was the most sustainable activity, and it was something that they could do at home, so it was important to them and today's society.

Sustainability award voting

Should Queen Biosphere should win the sustainability award because her tower produced flowers for the bees, as well as fruit to feed people at Culzean Castle, or should Thomas the servant win because he recycled rubbish, and re-used it to make useful things like a pen-knife?

And the winner is...

Thomas the servant was the winner. Thomas was given extra votes because he was an ordinary boy, and because he cared for the injured duck. His love for wildlife and his smart use of rubbish to protect the duck’s nest made Thomas the clear champion.

Look at other case studies

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