Terrascope students present and defend ideas and technologies for reducing atmospheric carbon
Terrascope freshman learning community will be presenting their research on specific ways to reduce the concentrations of carbon and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The Terrascopers have been focusing on this problem all year, and during the spring semester they have worked in teams, under the guidance of MIT faculty members, to develop prototypes, models and examples of real, workable solutions.
I've been advising one group of freshmen on their development of a multiplayer card game, in which each country tries to maximize its own economic growth but all have to work together to prevent the catastrophes that could be brought on by high carbon emissions. Some of the other exhibits at the bazaar include:
- A working scale model of a system that would inject carbon dioxide into underground aquifers, sequestering it there rather than in the atmosphere.
- Alternatives to traditional concrete building materials, created in a way that would reduce the amount of CO2 normally released into the atmosphere during construction.
- A prototype of an electromechanical energy-storage system to be located near offshore wind farms, making it possible to have clean energy onshore when it is needed, not just when the wind is blowing.
- A prototype of an interactive, participatory museum exhibit, designed to inform the general public about climate change and ways to prevent it.
