Drivers and Barriers for Biochar Deployment in Swedish Agriculture

There are several sustainability challenges (e.g., environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity) that agro-food systems face. Simultaneously, agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing these challenges requires socio-technical transformations in the agro-food system. Biochar can play a part in the solution because it is a carbon removal method with co-benefits for agriculture. Despite the goal of the Swedish government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045, biochar has not been adopted widely in Swedish agriculture. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the drivers and barriers that facilitate or hinder biochar deployment in Swedish agriculture, and under what prerequisites an accelerated adoption can take place. The study used a qualitative case study method. The data was collected through 9 semi-structured interviews and participation in a webinar. The data was analyzed with the use of thematic analysis. The multi-level perspective framework on sustainability transitions has been applied to interpret the empirical findings. The results suggest that biochar holds promise to contribute to sustainable agriculture in Sweden, but that there are certain barriers that need to be overcome. Regarding drivers, biochar offers various agricultural and environmental benefits. The Swedish government’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture further supports its deployment. However, there are barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of biochar. The high cost of biochar, along with volatility in biochar and carbon credit price makes it risky for farmers to invest in biochar technology. Financial incentives are essential to make biochar more affordable and attractive for on-farm use. The creation of a stable and farmer-friendly carbon market is crucial to reduce fluctuations in price and ensure economic viability for farmers. Knowledge gaps also exist, highlighting the need for research funding, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among stakeholders and countries. Farmers and researchers should work together to bridge the gap between scientific findings and practical on-farm use of biochar to find its ultimate applications in agriculture. Competition with other carbon removal technologies poses additional barriers as well as perceived resistance from fertilizer companies expressed by a few stakeholders. Lack of supportive legislation for using waste materials and side streams as biomass sources and inadequate financial support for production plant investments also hinder the diffusion of biochar technology. Overcoming these barriers requires learning processes and collective efforts to establish a sustainable and economically viable biochar market that benefits Swedish agriculture and contributes to the government’s environmental goals. The results of this study can be utilized to guide policy-makers and biochar stakeholders on how to enable increased biochar adoption in Swedish agriculture

Effects of liquid and vapor cesium on structural materials

Literature survey on corrosive effects of liquid and vapor cesium on structural materials, and compatibility of cesium as working fluid for Rankine cycle space power plan

Wikiwijs professionalisation portal:Studying teacher needs for using and arranging OER

Hummel, H. G. K., Van Amersfoort, D., Van Buuren, H. J., & Jansen, D. (2010, 2-4 November). WikiWijs professionalisation portal: studying teacher needs and tools for developing and arranging OER. Presentation at the OpenEd 2010 Conference, Barcelona, Spain.In order to better functionally design the ‘professionalisation portal’ for Wikiwijs we have carried out both desk research and an additional survey study. We carried out desk research into most relevant, existing studies that (partially) dealt with this issue, and carried out another - more recent and more tailored - survey study that also questioned the needs and preferences for using digital OER in the future

Far Ultraviolet Fluorescence of Molecular Hydrogen in IC 63

We present observations of H_2 fluorescence at wavelengths between 1000 and 1200 A from the bright reflection nebula IC 63. Observations were performed with the Berkeley spectrograph on the ORFEUS-SPAS II mission. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detection of astrophysical H_2 fluorescent emission at these wavelengths (excluding planetary atmospheres). The shape of the spectrum is well described by the model of Sternberg (1989). The absolute intensity, however, is fainter than an extrapolation from observations at longer ultraviolet wavelengths (Witt et al. 1989) by a factor of ten. Of the mechanisms that might help reconcile these observations, optical depth effects in the fluorescing H_2 itself are the most promising (or at least the most difficult to rule out).Comment: LaTeX file, 7 pages, 1 encapsulated PostScript figure. Uses aaspp4.sty and astrobib.sty. (Astrobib is available from http://www.stsci.edu/software/TeX.html .) The ORFEUS telescope is described at http://sag-www.ssl.berkeley.edu/orfeus/ . To appear in The Astrophysical Journal (Letters

Molecular Lines as Diagnostics of High Redshift Objects

Models are presented for CO rotational line emission by high redshift starburst galaxies. The influence of the cosmic microwave background on the thermal balance and the level populations of atomic and molecular species is explicitly included. Predictions are made for the observability of starburst galaxies through line and continuum emission between z=5 and z=30. It is found that the Millimeter Array could detect a starburst galaxy with ~10^5 Orion regions, corresponding to a star formation rate of about 30 Mo yr^{-1}, equally well at z=5 or z=30 due to the increasing cosmic microwave background temperature with redshift. Line emission is a potentially more powerful probe than dust continuum emission of very high redshift objects.Comment: 15 pages LaTex, uses aasms4.sty, Accepted by ApJ

Quality Frameworks for MOOCs

The hype surrounding MOOCs has been tempered by scepticism about the quality of MOOCs. The possible flaws of MOOCs include the quality of the pedagogies employed, low completion rates and a failure to deliver on the promise of inclusive and equitable quality education for all. On the other hand, MOOCs that have given a boost to open and online education have become a symbol of a larger modernisation agenda for universities, and are perceived as tools for universities to improve the quality of blended and online education—both in degree education and Continuous Professional Development. MOOC provision is also much more open to external scrutiny as part of a stronger globalising higher education market. This has important consequences for quality frameworks and quality processes that go beyond the individual MOOC. In this context, different quality approaches are discussed including possible measures at different levels and the tension between product and process models. Two case studies are described: one at the institutional level (The Open University) and one at a MOOC platform level (FutureLearn) and how they intertwine is discussed. The importance of a national or international quality framework which carries with it a certification or label is illustrated with the OpenupEd Quality label. Both the label itself and its practical use are described in detail. The examples will illustrate that MOOCs require quality assurance processes tailored to e-learning and open education, embedded in institutional frameworks. The increasing unbundling of educational services may require additional quality processes