Hacking in envtl science

Question 1

what is science

Answer 1

robust, defensible, hypothesis driven, peer reviewed, we ask Qs about the world around us

Question 2

whats dogma

Answer 2

transliterated in 17th century from latin philosophical tent - ‘which one thinks is true’
-those subject to dogma may be less willing to rationally discuss other options for doing the same thing

Question 3

whats a flux tower

Answer 3

where edicovarients are made - study of atmospheric exchange of climatically relevant gases between the land surface and atmosphere.

• measure wind flow and gases through canopy
• can then work out carbon budget of an area
• cost about $2million - expensive

Question 4

who is Tim hill and what did he do 2016

Answer 4

questioned edicovarience approach
-said its unfair on poorer countries - thus uneven distribution of these flux towers

solution:

• lower cost of flux towers so can have more
• quantity over quality - better to have more cheap ones
• for the cost of one $2mill one, you can buy 200 of Tim hills (only $10,000) and distribute them over landscapes

Question 5

problem with flux towers

Answer 5

• 600 sites globally, but few in LEDCs
• probem cus climate models aren’t always representative of everywhere
• we have least data for places we would expect most change
• therefore dogma is a problem

Question 6

e.gs of low cost microcomputers and components

Answer 6

• raspberry pi = $8-12
• arduino - $10-20

do the same job, but not run by big corporations
this new generation of microcomputers allow hacking to be seen as a positive endeavour
goal is to encourage users to hack it and use for their own personal projects e.g.link to light sensor - cheaper than buying one

Question 7

define hacking

Answer 7

a neutral term used when you turn something into something that it wasn’t originally intended for

Question 8

whats a hackerspace

Answer 8

community operated often ‘not for profit’ workspace where people with common interests, can meet socialise and collaborate

Question 9

free software movements

Answer 9

allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change and distribute the software and any adapted versions

Question 10

open source coding

Answer 10

open for everyone to access and everyone feedbacks

e. g.map app project - phones contain remote sensing system
e. g. collaboration with scientists and volunteers such as abc stargazing live