Personal Food Computer: A new device for controlled-environment agriculture

Due to their interdisciplinary nature, devices for controlled-environment agriculture have the possibility to turn into ideal tools not only to conduct research on plant phenology but also to create curricula in a wide range of disciplines. Controlled-environment devices are increasing their functionalities as well as improving their accessibility. Traditionally, building one of these devices from scratch implies knowledge in fields such as mechanical engineering, digital electronics, programming, and energy management. However, the requirements of an effective controlled environment device for personal use brings new constraints and challenges. This paper presents the OpenAg Personal Food Computer (PFC); a low cost desktop size platform, which not only targets plant phenology researchers but also hobbyists, makers, and teachers from elementary to high-school levels (K-12). The PFC is completely open-source and it is intended to become a tool that can be used for collective data sharing and plant growth analysis. Thanks to its modular design, the PFC can be used in a large spectrum of activities.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, Accepted at the 2017 Future Technologies Conference (FTC

Realizing the Promise

UNLV’s Science and Engineering Building is open for business – the business of conducting world-class research. Step inside and find out why some are calling it the most important structure built on campus since the university was established more than 50 years ago

Perspectives of Integrated “Next Industrial Revolution” Clusters in Poland and Siberia

Rozdział z: Functioning of the Local Production Systems in Central and Eastern European Countries and Siberia. Case Studies and Comparative Studies, ed. Mariusz E. Sokołowicz.The paper presents the mapping of potential next industrial revolution clusters in Poland and Siberia. Deindustrialization of the cities and struggles with its consequences are one of the fundamental economic problems in current global economy. Some hope to find an answer to that problem is associated with the idea of next industrial revolution and reindustrialization initiatives. In the paper, projects aimed at developing next industrial revolution clusters are analyzed. The objective of the research was to examine new industrial revolution paradigm as a platform for establishing university-based trans-border industry clusters in Poland and Siberia47 and to raise awareness of next industry revolution initiatives.Monograph financed under a contract of execution of the international scientific project within 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, co-financed by Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (title: “Functioning of the Local Production Systems in the Conditions of Economic Crisis (Comparative Analysis and Benchmarking for the EU and Beyond”)). Monografia sfinansowana w oparciu o umowę o wykonanie projektu między narodowego w ramach 7. Programu Ramowego UE, współfinansowanego ze środków Ministerstwa Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego (tytuł projektu: „Funkcjonowanie lokalnych systemów produkcyjnych w warunkach kryzysu gospodarczego (analiza porównawcza i benchmarking w wybranych krajach UE oraz krajach trzecich”))

Designing an Open Virtual Factory of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises for Industrial Engineering Education

Curriculum of Industrial Engineering program must accomplish the requirement that graduates have the ability to design, develop, implement, and improve integrated system that include people, materials, equipment and energy. However, it is not easy to implement a curriculum that fosters such competencies. One of the strategies to achieve that is using an innovative learning media, so that the problem-based learning (PBL) can be accustomed. In this paper, we design a web-based enterprise resources planning. It is aimed to capture the real problem of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in bottled drinking water industries. The integrated system can be illustrated as ERP application that designed by using free open source software (FOSS). This research aimed to utilize the application to improve teaching methods in IE education. The result of the research can be used to improve the competencies of IE students, especially the abilities to identify, formulate, and solve the activities of the business process improvement in SMEs. Keywords Industrial engineering education, FOSS, innovative learning media, problem-based learnin

E-Science in the classroom - Towards viability

E-Science has the potential to transform school science by enabling learners, teachers and research scientists to engage together in authentic scientific enquiry, collaboration and learning. However, if we are to reap the benefits of this potential as part of everyday teaching and learning, we need to explicitly think about and support the work required to set up and run e-Science experiences within any particular educational context. In this paper, we present a framework for identifying and describing the resources, tools and services necessary to move e-Science into the classroom together with examples of these. This framework is derived from previous experiences conducting educational e-Science projects and systematic analysis of the categories of ‘hidden work’ needed to run these projects (Smith, Underwood, Fitzpatrick, & Luckin, forthcoming). The articulation of resources, tools and services based on these categories provides a starting point for more methodical design and deployment of future educational e- Science projects, reflection on which can also help further develop the framework. It also points to the technological infrastructure from which such tools and services could be built. As such it provides an agenda of work to develop both processes and technologies that would make it practical for teachers to deliver active, and collaborative e-Science learning experiences on a larger scale within and across schools. Routine school e- Science will only be possible if such support is specified, implemented and made available to teachers within their work contexts in an appropriate and usable form

Red Rock Desert Learning Center & Wild Horse and Burro Facility: Newsletter

The mission of the Red Rock Desert Learning Center is to instill stewardship and respect by increasing knowledge and understanding of the Mojave Desert ecosystemsand cultures through a unique experiential discovery program

Innovative Tokyo

This paper compares and contrasts Tokyo's innovation structure with the industrial districts model and the international hub model in the literature on urban and regional development. The Tokyo model embraces and yet transcends both industrial districts and international hub models. The paper details key elements making up the Tokyo model-organizational knowledge creation, integral and co-location systems of corporate R&D and new product development, test markets, industrial districts and clusters, participative consumer culture, continuous learning from abroad, local government policies, the national system of innovation, and the historical genesis of Tokyo in Japan's political economy. The paper finds that the Tokyo model of innovation will continue to evolve with the changing external environment, but fundamentally retains its main characteristics. The lessons from the Tokyo model is that openness, a diversified industrial base, the continuing development of new industries, and an emphasis on innovation, all contribute to the dynamism of a major metropolitan region.Labor Policies,Environmental Economics&Policies,Public Health Promotion,ICT Policy and Strategies,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,ICT Policy and Strategies,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Innovation

CUEBS News, volume 7, no. 3

Articles concerning undergraduate education in biological science

Conceptual Education Master Plan for the Utah Botanical Center: Part One: Natural Resources

The purpose of this study was to assess the needs of four potential target audiences that would be using the Utah Botanical Center (UBC) for educational purposes. The target audiences included school children, college students, nursery and landscape industry, and the general public. The UBC is relocating to a larger site that has wetlands and ponds. The UBC has taken this opportunity to define its mission and goals. Part of its mission is to broaden its educational programming from horticulture based to programming including natural resource conservation topics. This study provides recommendations regarding what educational topics should be covered at the UBC for the different target audiences, and what facilities might be necessary to advance this educational programming. In addition, this study reviews natural resource topics being covered at other botanical institutions, nature centers, and water conservation groups. The process for determining the needs of the target audiences began with the selection of representatives from the target audiences. Data was gathered through group meetings, personal interviews, and completion of questionnaires in which representatives from the target audiences were asked to fill out matrixes about specific topics and reply to open-ended questions. The matrixes asked for information about education topics and facilities, and the questions asked for information regarding the planning process. Data compiled from these matrixes was then analyzed to determine what topics these target audiences found to be important and what facilities they felt would be useful in the education process. Data was also gathered from horticulture and nature centers and water conservation organizations through phone interviews and requests for brochures from their educational programs. The questions asked through the phone interviews determined the facilities being used at these institutions and also solicited suggestions for planning educational programming. The requested brochures provided information about the education topics being covered at these institutions. This data was placed into matrixes that showed the topics and the audiences being targeted. The analyzed data from the target audiences, horticulture and nature centers, and water conservation organizations was then used to make recommendations for facilities and programming at the UBC. Recommendations were provided for each target audience for both topics and facilities. The topics that were recommended to the UBC included water resource management, water conservation, storm water management, wetland ecology, native plants, urban wildlife habitat, fish and wildlife habitat, composting, integrated pest management, residential landscape design, and landscape legacy. The facilities that were recommended included classrooms, an auditorium, hands-on demonstration areas, outdoor lecture facilities, and interpretive trails. In summary, it was recommended that the UBC focus on school children first for educational programming. It is also advised that they start out with a small high-quality program that is expandable. Good quality programing is important to ensure that target audiences return to visit the UBC