Field-Trip to Long Island Vineyard
3rd Agricultural Geophysics Workshop at Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center
Reflections
Innovation Unedited
Kenneth Arrow: 1972
Nobel Prize in Economics
Robert Aumann: 2005
Nobel Prize in Economics
Julius Axelrod: 1970
Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology
Stanley Cohen: 1986
Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology
Gertrude Elion: 1988
Nobel Prize in Physics
Herbert Hauptman: 1985
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Robert Hofstadter: 1961
Nobel Prize in Physics
Jerome Karle: 1985
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Arthur Kornberg: 1959
Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology
Leon Lederman: 1988
Nobel Prize in Physics
Arno Penzias: 1978
Nobel Prize in Astrophysics
Julian Schwinger: 1965
Nobel Prize in Physics
Rosalyn Yalow: 1977
Nobel Prize in Medicine
Lindsay Siegel
Executive Director
Zahn Innovation Center
City College of New York
Elizabeth Vilchis
Operations
Homer Delivery
Andrew L. Russell, Ph.D.
Director
Science & Tech Studies Prog
Associate Professor, History
Stevens Institute of Technology
Aaron M. Socha, Ph.D.
Director: Ctr for Sust Energy
Professor: Department of Chemistry
Bronx Community College, CUNY
Theo Vassilakis, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO
Metanautix
I am the author of this post. Researching into this project, i was touched by the several humanitarian organizations including the Government of Japan who have sought to create awareness about this issue and potentially help mitigate the current level of pollution.
I was also intrigued by the millions of dollars(approximately $17 Million) that have been sent down the drain but the Yamuna Action plan I and II. I believe that this is also a huge deterring factor for governments and companies that may want to remediate the issue.
I am glad you touched on some of the economics involved in this project. However, it’s unfortunate that the point you bring up deals with monetary loss. It wasn’t deliberately sent down the drain. I would like to think that it contributes positively in some way or another. Let’s remember that Where there is loss there is opportunity for gain. I think it’s necessary to point out that there is the potential of being a relief pitcher for the project, and putting this issue to rest.
I really like images in this poster. They give an immediate sense of the problem. It’s wonderful that the Japanese government has tried to create awareness on the matter. I’m also wondering, though, how come the first step to cleanup – which as you said is removing solid materials from the river – hasn’t been taken yet. Will the government not invest in this?
Your title is really great – it is intriguing and grabs the audience’s attention. The images that you use also aptly show how detrimental the level of pollution is to the local population – the photos will definitely encourage people to want to know how to help. Maybe you can consider informing your audience of how they can personally contribute to the remediation/awareness efforts. I’d also like to know more about existing government measures to fine/saction factories that pollute the river, if these efforts have taken place. Overall, your poster demonstrates an excellent investigation into a notable issue that not many people are aware about.
The visuals in your poster had an incredible impact in representing the issue at hand. The photos were devastating, and the graphs and table really brought the information together. The remediation ideas were well described and thorough, but one question with that- Are you planning on working with the government or local organizations on this to ensure long-term success? Overall, your poster did a great job of describing the situation and the challenges coming with the potential solution.
I like the background image for your poster. It caught my attention and did a good job of filling what otherwise would have been white space. Your data collection was also very thorough, and the public heath data made it clear how important it is that this river get cleaned up. Your poster was not too wordy, so I did not feel bombarded with information, and the balance between pictures and words was good.
I thought the visuals in this poster did a great job of illustrating both the pollution and the resultant public health problems, and I like the overall balance between visual and written explanation. The one thing I thought that the poster might benefit from is some suggestions as how to prevent the current waste of funding money directed towards cleaning the river.
It was a shame we could not see this poster in person, but the background image seems like a great addition and is not too distracting. It is incredible how many different sources of contamination there are for this river and it makes the task of cleaning and preventing further contamination hard, especially when there are a lot of individuals involved in the pollution for religious purposes. From the maps, it’s not very easy to find where the Yamuna river runs to/from, but I think all other images and graphs fit in nicely. I am curious though if diseases linked to the river had reached a peak in 2007 or if it is just a coincidence for those three years represented.
Very visually appealing – the design and layout are very eye-catching and simple to follow. The images chosen also add much value to the content and understanding of the situation. I wonder why Japan was interested in the cleanup, or remediation, of the Yamuna River, do they have political or economical ties and interests? The financial feasibility and uneducated workforce are real and difficult challenges to overcome, it would be interesting to see how these issues would be solved. Where is this financial aid going to come from?
It was a nice experience working on and presenting my findings in this research poster. It was satisying to let people know and create awareness even in the United States about the level of pollution that humans just like them deal with everyday of their lives. Hopefully, at some point in our existence, we’ll actually put these remediation ideas into work and revive this dead river.
Your poster looks really engaging from a far and, once you get up close, the organization is clear, interesting, and logical. Your background is interesting but not distracting and the pictures you found are incredibly helpful in understanding the intensity of the pollution. While you’ve clearly done extensive research, you also don’t overwhelm the audience with too much information. The inclusion of charts helped me visualize the issues and the inclusion of specific figures made it clear this work is valid and important.
Your poster is incredibly aesthetically appealing. The pictures you used were eye-catching while also providing insight into what the river is really like. I also really like how you broke down a process in identifying the pollution problems, focusing on key challenges and then suggesting steps to both mitigate and remediate the issue.
Your poster design is one of my personal favorites! Besides the aesthetic appeal, you present a lot of specific statistics about the River Yumuna that drew me in. I also like that you included a past similar clean-up effort, which provided a frame of reference to show that the scope of the clean-up is reasonable. The pictures are also very effective in showing the horrors of the river.
The poster’s outlook is amazing. You did a great job in making it visually engaging. Additionally, the topic in general is also very alluring. It is hard to believe that a body of water this polluted is still being used by the public in India. I agree with you that the industries need to start invoking more cleaner disposal protocols for waste, and that the public is in dire need of education and enlightening. However, how are you going to tackle the social importance of the river in the culture and the contamination in the river that people are so blinded from?
The number of water borne diseases during 2007 is a very large number that shows how bad the problem in Delhi really is.
The poster presented the topic thoroughly. There is discussion about how the Japanese government is willing to help but since this has not yet happened, you can suggest what remediation tools other polluted rivers are using. Is there something the local public can start working on instead of having to wait on the government to start helping? River pollution awareness?
The poster shocked me. I would have never thought such a river exists in that extent of pollution. I am glad they are working on it, but the thought that people are thrown in there when they are dead, or dumping children into the river that are of unholy birth … etc is a crime against humanity. non the less against nature.
This poster represents the issue of pollution in River Yamuna very well. The pictures really help the viewers get a sense of what it is like to live there. It amazes me that even though the river is extremely polluted people are still using it. The remediation process is very interesting and is over due. Hopefully one day it will be completely useable again.
I would be interested in knowing other negative impacts caused by the polluted river. Other potential impacts could involve social and economic conditions.
This poster is very well put together. I found it very interesting that people continued to drink from this water in spite of the high levels of toxins and associated diseases. I was also wondering where the industrial effluents will be deposited once the mitigation/prevention techniques are implemented.
Another important aspect that could have been looked at is the cost of damages that the pollution has caused, and that could be another for the government to clean it up.
Your poster looks great with all the images and details contained within. I like the organization and the chronological order that you followed. You stated the problem first, then its impacts, and then the remediation options that can be taken. Great overall work!
This poster looks great! It contains captivating images and displays an organized design.
I could not find the estimated costs analysis for this remediation process? I am also interested in knowing if this type of remediation methods could be applied to other places and projects around the world!
The poster is really well thought out and made, however I will point out a typo under “ULTIMATE GOALS WITHIN BUDGET” where it says “waste-waster treatment plant” instead of waste water.
Aside from that I like the information presented, however I would add possible information on alternative sewage treatment options for residential sewage.
Very interesting and concise poster. Great Job.
Your poster design is really cool! It’s also interesting that you included a past similar clean-up effort, which helped reference that the scope of the clean-up is reasonable.
Your work was presented very clearly and the maps were helpful in understanding the extent of the environmental contamination. Your recommendations on new WWTP’s is a great idea, and a cost plan for the sites should be made to see how your plan could be into action.
Wonderful- I think the use of the graphics you’ve chosen really helps drive home your points about how serious this problem is. One question that I have due to an observation in the Public Health Data I’ve notice a decrease in the number of deaths cased by water-borne diseases from 2007 to 2008 do you think this is due to the clean up efforts up to date or just a lack of reported cases? Again very well written and aesthetically grasping poster.
This is a major disaster for India. Their massive industrial activities need further mitigation and alternatives in order to reduce the impact of pollution to the local and global environment. Based on the graph, the death related to pollution is increasing dramatically. More concrete and wise steps need to be taken by the government of India to reduce its pollution to protect public health and its resources. This poster is a good demonstration on how the death toll is increasing with time from pollution and negative effect on water. The industries that release pollution that exceeds the standard level needs to be modernized with advanced technology.
A visually appealing and though-provoking poster. While beyond the scope of your specific topic, I would be interested in learning more about the conditions further down the river.
It seems to be any clean up effort here will take at least 24 years, given that it took 12 years to clean up a river that is a third the size of Yamuna. Rather begin a clean-up ,I think the first and most important thing to do is address the key factors that have led to this heavy pollution:
1. Assist with sanitation facilities in Delhi
2. Assist with Waste and water treatment facilities
2. Heavy fines on businesses that dump into the river
3. Provide crematoriums and make if affordable
4. Education and public awareness to discourage cultural practices of dumping into the river
Until issues above are adequately addressed, it’s unlikely any expensive clean-up efforts are going to be succesful
The work was very clear and had a clean look to each section along with the pictures scattered throughout the poster. The topic was very interesting and had some information that was pretty shocking. Great job
As the intervention from the Japanese effort indicated, it is not an easy matter to reverse the trend of this serious environmental pollution. While technology and economic resources help to add more STP, believes and attitudes that tolerate even promote the trend are at the heart of the problem. Strategies that don’t target gradual attitudinal change are only bound to be frustrated. Industries should be the ones that should be penalized with hefty sums of money and the proceeds should go to a massive awareness program to people who most need the attitudinal change.
The title really piqued my interest. You’ve done extensive research on the issue and you presented the facts and the solutions in an organized manner. Apart from that, I appreciated the public health data the most, as it really highlighted the effects of the polluted river.
I think that the work done for this poster gives a well rounded explanation to what the problem is, and the statistics behind it, as well as the steps to decreasing the issue. One thing that the poster recognized was the challenges of its solution.
I agree with many comments on the visual of the posters. Images are striking and concise. Since I am new to the topic information is interesting, all I can say is that everything is well presented.though I would like to know more about public health
Loaded with information and the images were devastating. The problems in the Yamuna river have existed for decades and it is actually leading to more pollution in the connecting rivers and affecting neighboring countries like Bangladesh. I wish more people were aware of your research and took action to decrease or mitigate the problem in India and surronding countries.
Good use of images and maps, they create a sense of orientation. The data gives the project substance. Well done.
I like how the poster describes the issues at hand. The images used are colorful. The images demonstrate the pollution in the area and the eminent call for radiation process. The remediation process seems to outlay the design in order to further the clean up process.
the images make me recall what I had seen in China. the research you have done is quite compelling, makes people think about how they had done to the environment.
The poster presents the crisis of Yamuna River pollution by untreated liquid waste in a way that is understandable to the general audience. The suggested solutions are well thought out. However, the authors could have strengthened such proposal in suggesting specific governing bodies to carry out the remediation process
Very complete and informative analysis of the problem and the solution. It may be difficult to stop people from dumping bodies if its for religious rituals but if they were well informed this plan might work.
It is very ironic and heartbreaking to think what we (humans) are capable of doing to our environment that we possibly at one point or another revered as source of life and spiritual beings. If we wanted to be politically correct, it is right that we treat deities with respect, and for that reason, we, not as Americans intervening Yamuna but as fellow humans, should try not to offend the rituals by making sure nobody corrupt this sacred entity.
Thank you, Daniel, for raising awareness to this matter.
The images tell the story quite starkly, and then your extensive research fills in the curious reader.
Unfortunately, the issue with dumping is such a common one. You do a great job describing the extent of the problem in Delhi.
Great poster!
I enjoyed the poster alot. this is a very pertinent topic for many rivers around the world. unfortunately it is not an easy fix. It was not that long ago since several rivers in the US were in a similar situation. it would be interesting to compare a success case from a river here to reinforce what should be the priority as far as stopping the pollution and ultimately cleaning it up.