I've spent much of the past month driving, in the name of science. Driving down the highway to the next field site, driving the boat to the next site, driving back to the launch, driving to the next boat launch. And endless number of hours and miles driven by land and water. All in the name of science.
The work we've been doing isn't destructive, exactly, but we are using a lot of fuel to collect the necessary data for our research projects. I often wonder, now and in past projects, if the cost of fuel and the price of emissions is worth the data and the end goal.
Trucks aren't exactly fuel efficient, particularly when towing a trailer, and boats aren't fuel efficient either, particularly not airboats. I've used ATVs in the past as well, and they use less fuel because they're smaller but still use fuel.
In graduate school I studied shorebird usage of rice fields during spring migration, and had to complete my survey rounds every 8 days. I'd drive hundreds of miles every week to visit 100 rice fields every 8 days to do my roadside surveys. I got loads of great data, had some good conclusions, and completed my thesis. But I drove thousands of miles in pursuit of that data.
If I drove 5000 miles in pursuit of that data, the average vehicle emissions is 2.1 metric tons. That's apparently equivalent to 2274 pounds of coal being burned, and 5 barrels oil being consumed.
I used the Car Carbon Footprint Calculator to estimate my carbon emission for field work, and the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator to make comparisons.
The thing that is tricky is that to collect data to make informed decisions and to make the world a better place typically requires some on the ground field work. In the case of my current research, we're studying the effectiveness of coastal restoration projects, and that information/data/modeling has implications worldwide, not just here. So in the big picture, the fuel we're using and the carbons we're emitting are smaller then the bigger problem we're trying to solve.
Except that the climate is changing, the seas are rising, the temperatures are warming, and all of that has additional complex impacts on coastal restoration and monitoring. Emitting greenhouse gases adds to the atmosphere and adds up to increase climate change.
So it's a double edged sword, really. We need to collect the data to solve the problems and make informed decisions, but doing so also feeds the problem.
What's the answer?
I don't think there is a straightforward direct answer. My own guilt about using so much fuel in the name of science can be assuaged by me personally offsetting the carbon. It's not a total fix for it, but it can help, at least.
Finding a reputable organization to buy carbon offset credits is tricky though. There's a lot of moving parts and it's confusing. There's lots of organizations and websites that seem reputable but I'm really not sure how to tell, and they may all be reputable. However, the UN does have a carbon offset program: https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/. And because it's the UN I feel like it has a bigger bat to swing here so that seems like a good solution to me and we know it's reputable.
Not every scientific research project though has a cost of carbon emissions. Some studies require taking of animals, or clipping of healthy plants, or modifying the landscape to study how things react. There's an impact to everything we do, science or no, and I think the key is to do it responsibly and with the utmost care. We need to be aware of the impacts of our research beyond what we are actually studying and to be ethical about our work. Those are the keys, in my opinion.
Each month I donate $25 to a worthy cause and for July I will be using that money to offset carbon emissions. I am continuing my journey to a lower waste lifestyle, and this is another step in the right direction.
RESOURCES:
A Short Guide to Carbon Offsets
UN's Climate Neutral Now Offset Program
Gold Standard
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Littering
I was sitting in traffic the other day, like everyone else who has ever tried to cross the "new bridge"* at any time of day for the entirety of its existence. And in the next lane was a white Lexus, with a guy driving and 3 passengers. And he's SMOKING. With the windows UP. And everyone looks MISERABLE. And then he flicks the cigarette butt out the window. OUT THE WINDOW. All nonchalant like, as if it's no big deal.
And all I could think is, what hateful flavor of asshole do you have to be to think that throwing a cigarette butt out the car window is acceptable behavior? I just cannot comprehend how anyone thinks this way. What trajectory did this guy's life take that he (apparently) thinks littering is acceptable, okay, not dick behavior, and possibly even that his cigarette butt is not his problem?
He must be arrogant, right? To nonchalantly flick trash out a car window, in full view of people, with no apparent qualms about the behavior is a level of arrogance I cannot comprehend. It's arrogant to think that you can do whatever you want, rules be damned. It's arrogant to think that this litter is somebody else's problem.
He must also be ignorant, right? At least ignorant in this realm of things - maybe he's a very nice man or really bright about other things. But in this, he's ignorant. It's ignorant to think that the trash you threw out the window is no big deal, that it doesn't matter, and that since it's gone it's not a problem anymore.
He must also be rude and/or inconsiderate, right? For starters he was smoking in a car with passengers with the windows up. Maybe they were all fine with hotboxing it but they looked unhappy. But also it's rude to throw trash out. And it's inconsiderate of others. This time it's a cigarette, but how many cigarette butts has this guy thrown out his car window? It's inconsiderate of the surrounding area too, because littering is bad but also it's unsightly.
Cigarette butts are bad because they're bite size for wildlife, and can be harmful to them. They're also some of the most common forms of litter, and possibly as much as 35% of all litter is cigarette butts. Also it appears that 75% of smokers have admitted to throwing cigarette butts out the car window [source]. Cigarettes contain toxic chemicals (which should be no surprise to anyone) but includes arsenic, lead, and plastic (these could surprise some). They're not biodegradable in any way either so it's not like they'll just disappear quickly.
In my angry research I discovered that I can report littering! Even cigarette butts out car windows! If you're in Louisiana, the phone # is 1-888-LIT-R-BUG aka 1-888-548-7284. You better believe I'm reporting this shithead behavior next time I see it! Turns out the Keep Louisiana Beautiful group is doing that good work.
That number is only good for Louisiana but turns out there's a list by state of ways to report litter! I don't know how up to date it is but here goes anyway: https://www.greenecoservices.com/state-litter-hotlines/
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*The "new bridge" is the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge that crosses the Mississippi River. It's only new in comparison to the US 190 bridge just north of the I-10 bridge. Locally they're known as the "new bridge" and the "old bridge".
And all I could think is, what hateful flavor of asshole do you have to be to think that throwing a cigarette butt out the car window is acceptable behavior? I just cannot comprehend how anyone thinks this way. What trajectory did this guy's life take that he (apparently) thinks littering is acceptable, okay, not dick behavior, and possibly even that his cigarette butt is not his problem?
He must be arrogant, right? To nonchalantly flick trash out a car window, in full view of people, with no apparent qualms about the behavior is a level of arrogance I cannot comprehend. It's arrogant to think that you can do whatever you want, rules be damned. It's arrogant to think that this litter is somebody else's problem.
He must also be ignorant, right? At least ignorant in this realm of things - maybe he's a very nice man or really bright about other things. But in this, he's ignorant. It's ignorant to think that the trash you threw out the window is no big deal, that it doesn't matter, and that since it's gone it's not a problem anymore.
He must also be rude and/or inconsiderate, right? For starters he was smoking in a car with passengers with the windows up. Maybe they were all fine with hotboxing it but they looked unhappy. But also it's rude to throw trash out. And it's inconsiderate of others. This time it's a cigarette, but how many cigarette butts has this guy thrown out his car window? It's inconsiderate of the surrounding area too, because littering is bad but also it's unsightly.
Cigarette butts are bad because they're bite size for wildlife, and can be harmful to them. They're also some of the most common forms of litter, and possibly as much as 35% of all litter is cigarette butts. Also it appears that 75% of smokers have admitted to throwing cigarette butts out the car window [source]. Cigarettes contain toxic chemicals (which should be no surprise to anyone) but includes arsenic, lead, and plastic (these could surprise some). They're not biodegradable in any way either so it's not like they'll just disappear quickly.
In my angry research I discovered that I can report littering! Even cigarette butts out car windows! If you're in Louisiana, the phone # is 1-888-LIT-R-BUG aka 1-888-548-7284. You better believe I'm reporting this shithead behavior next time I see it! Turns out the Keep Louisiana Beautiful group is doing that good work.
That number is only good for Louisiana but turns out there's a list by state of ways to report litter! I don't know how up to date it is but here goes anyway: https://www.greenecoservices.com/state-litter-hotlines/
-----
*The "new bridge" is the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge that crosses the Mississippi River. It's only new in comparison to the US 190 bridge just north of the I-10 bridge. Locally they're known as the "new bridge" and the "old bridge".
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Shopping Ban: Month 8 update!
It's been ages since I wrote an update about my shopping ban but that's mostly because I've been cruising following my guidelines. I started on 1 October 2018, and I modified the rules of the game starting on 1 April 2019. Since my last update in March, I've traveled a ton for work, took 1 overseas trip to Scotland, visited friends in Denver, and traveled some more for work.
Things I've purchased since my March update:
1. 2 magnets + 1 book while in Scotland
2. New running shoes
3. A dress for a wedding last minute
#1 falls into the travel souvenirs category of which I am allowed to purchase select items while abroad.
#2 falls into the fitness related purchases when necessary category, and new running shoes were definitely necessary.
#3 was a last minute purchase that was demanded by the bride and while I'm aggravated about the purchase I do enjoy the dress so I will get much use out of it in the future (hopefully) at least. Originally I was supposed to wear a dress I already had, which would have been the best option, but I had to abide the bride's demands. So there's that one.
Overall it's been pretty slow on the shopping ban front. I have purchased nothing I didn't need or didn't meet the parameters of the challenge (except the 1 dress). So it's been a bit quiet!
I haven't honestly been tempted except for yesterday when I contemplated buying a tank top to support Skype a Scientist. And I may still do that, but I'm going to continue to contemplate it first. This potential purchase falls into the "Purchases for a cause" category in that the proceeds benefit Skype a Scientist. I've also been contemplating a purchase from Nurdle in the Rough but haven't taken the plunge on that one yet either, which also falls in this category.
I am in need of some shorts because it's a zillion degrees here during the summer so I will be scouring the secondhand shops in the next week or two for shorts that fit!
The good news is that I'm no longer tempted by the average purchases, I have no desire to shop, and I'm way more consciously considering each and every purchase. So I consider this experiment a success and will continue down this path!
Things I've purchased since my March update:
1. 2 magnets + 1 book while in Scotland
2. New running shoes
3. A dress for a wedding last minute
#1 falls into the travel souvenirs category of which I am allowed to purchase select items while abroad.
#2 falls into the fitness related purchases when necessary category, and new running shoes were definitely necessary.
#3 was a last minute purchase that was demanded by the bride and while I'm aggravated about the purchase I do enjoy the dress so I will get much use out of it in the future (hopefully) at least. Originally I was supposed to wear a dress I already had, which would have been the best option, but I had to abide the bride's demands. So there's that one.
Overall it's been pretty slow on the shopping ban front. I have purchased nothing I didn't need or didn't meet the parameters of the challenge (except the 1 dress). So it's been a bit quiet!
I haven't honestly been tempted except for yesterday when I contemplated buying a tank top to support Skype a Scientist. And I may still do that, but I'm going to continue to contemplate it first. This potential purchase falls into the "Purchases for a cause" category in that the proceeds benefit Skype a Scientist. I've also been contemplating a purchase from Nurdle in the Rough but haven't taken the plunge on that one yet either, which also falls in this category.
I am in need of some shorts because it's a zillion degrees here during the summer so I will be scouring the secondhand shops in the next week or two for shorts that fit!
The good news is that I'm no longer tempted by the average purchases, I have no desire to shop, and I'm way more consciously considering each and every purchase. So I consider this experiment a success and will continue down this path!
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