New Advancements in Renewable Technology/Energy

As the world progresses and technology advances, humanity finds new and improved ways to further society. For the past couple of decades, scientists have been working to find a good source of renewable energy. Global warming has affected the Earth greatly, by disrupting the usual balance of nature. More specifically, climate change is leading to rising sea levels, more frequent and severe weather events, and disruptions in ecosystems and biodiversity. The search for a reliable and sustainable source of renewable energy has become paramount in mitigating these effects and ensuring a healthier planet for future generations. 

Recently, engineers have created a new design to make hydrogen gas from water using solar energy and agriculture waste. Previously, extracting hydrogen from water took a lot of energy and time, but this new method developed by University of Illinois Chicago engineers has reduced the amount of energy required by 600%. This new and innovative approach uses biochar, a substance rich with carbon that is made from agricultural waste such as manure and husks, to reduce the amount of electricity required for electrolysis, the process to form hydrogen from water. By utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar power and capturing byproducts for other uses, the process can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero.

This breakthrough not only makes hydrogen production more sustainable and economically viable but also opens up new opportunities for climate-friendly chemical production. Farmers could use this efficient hydrogen production method to become self-sufficient in energy or create new revenue streams, while the clean production of chemicals like ethylene and pure carbon dioxide offers additional environmental and economic benefits. This technology represents a significant advancement in the pursuit of sustainable and climate-friendly energy solutions.

Another new advancement in renewable energy is the creation of a method to convert carbon dioxide into methane, overall reducing greenhouse gasses and increasing the methane production. A majority of the greenhouse gas emissions are formed from boilers, something that is present in almost every household. While each boiler may not affect the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by itself, hundreds of thousands of them will. A recent study done by Poland and Japan displays a new method to convert CO2 into methane gas. This method implements a distributor-type membrane reactor (DMR) that will be able to house chemical reactions and separate gasses. With the DMR, researchers were able to create methane gas and oxygen from water and carbon dioxide. This in turn resulted in a minimized variation of temperature, minimized amount of carbon dioxide emission, and increased production of methane gas.

Overall, as technology advances and humanity is more aware of the issues surrounding climate change, researchers will continue to find alternative solutions to fossil fuels and hopefully one day we will come across a fully renewable energy source.

Yaashika Charity Society

As I said in my last blog, Access to safe drinking water is not just a basic necessity but also a fundamental human right critical for global public health. Water levels in India are very concerning, and making sure people have clean drinking water is really important for keeping everyone healthy. 

The Yaashika Charity Society in India is a non-profit organization dedicated to various philanthropic activities aimed at serving the underprivileged communities in the city. The society focuses on initiatives such as providing education, healthcare, and basic necessities to those in need. Through fundraising events, donations, and volunteer efforts, Yaashika Charity Society strives to make a positive impact on the lives of marginalized individuals and families in Mumbai. Recently, they have been creating water pumps in underprivileged communities in rural parts of Mumbai and Rajasthan. Their continuous work and dedication to providing clean water inspires me to help too. Although I was born in India, I was primarily raised in the US. Because of that, I have always wanted to connect more with my heritage, and providing for the Yaashika Charity Society will both connect me and let me support my country. 

While I may not be living in India, I have found my own way to help support the cause. On March 8th, my band performed with another local band at a church and raised money to donate to both this charity and a local food bank. In total, we raised $850 and donated half of it to each charity. Raising money for charity brought me a sense of joy and accomplishment because we are helping improve the lives of the underprivileged, both locally and globally. Our bands plan on doing another event like this in the future, and hope to raise even more money this time.

Water Quality in India

Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of public health worldwide. With growing concerns over waterborne diseases and contamination, governments and international organizations have established drinking water standards to ensure the quality and safety of water consumed by populations. These standards encompass a range of parameters, from microbiological contaminants to chemical pollutants, aiming to protect public health and promote well-being. 

Many places in India do not have clean drinking water. People live on a day to day basis drinking polluted water. In order to truly gauge the quality of water in different states of India, I looked at different parameters and compared them to the acceptable standards. Following are the important drinking water quality parameters and their standard as defined by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):

pH: pH measures how acidic or basic water is. Water with a pH of 7 is considered neutral. Anything below 7 is acidic, and anything above 7 is basic. For drinking water, pH should ideally be between 6.5 and 8.5 to ensure it doesn't taste too sour or too bitter and is safe to drink.

Nitrate: Nitrate is a type of chemical compound that can sometimes be found in water, especially if there's a lot of agricultural activity nearby. While small amounts of nitrate are generally harmless, high levels can be dangerous, especially for babies and pregnant women. It's important to keep nitrate levels in drinking water below 45 milligrams per liter (mg/L).

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): TDS refers to the total amount of dissolved substances in water, including minerals, salts, and other compounds. While some TDS in water is natural and harmless, excessively high levels can affect taste and indicate contamination. The recommended limit for TDS in drinking water is 500 milligrams per liter (mg/L).

Fluoride: Fluoride is a mineral that's often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. In small amounts, fluoride is safe and beneficial for dental health. However, excessive fluoride intake can lead to dental fluorosis or skeletal fluorosis, which are conditions caused by fluoride poisoning. The recommended limit for fluoride in drinking water is 1.0 milligram per liter (mg/L).

By using data from the central pollution control board (CPCB), I created a program to group the water quality parameters by state, and plotted multiple graphs comparing the values to the standard. The blue lines represent the minimum recorded level for the given parameter for the state, while the orange lines represent the maximum recorded level for the given parameter. The lower dashed red line represents the acceptable standard limit for drinking water. The upper red dashed line represents the maximum threshold before the water is unsafe to drink.

Through this program, I was able to view which states’ quality of drinking water was not great. I was shocked to see so many states suffering from bad drinking water. Both Kerala and Tripura fall under the standard pH; Assam, Chandigarh, Kerala, Rajasthan, and more do not have the standard TDS; Every single state also falls under the standard fluoride level. As we can see, water quality is beyond bad. It is undrinkable. In India, adherence to these standards is essential for maintaining the health and well-being of its people. By monitoring levels of pH, nitrate,, total dissolved solids, and fluoride levels, we can identify areas where water quality may be compromised and take steps to address these issues. Through data analysis and visualization, it's evident that many states in India are facing challenges in providing safe drinking water to their residents, highlighting the urgent need for concerted efforts to improve water quality and safeguard public health.

Citations:

“CPCB | Central Pollution Control Board.” Cpcb.nic.in, cpcb.nic.in/nwmp-data-2022/.

Global Drinking Water Quality Index Development and Sensitivity Analysis Report, https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/pdf/global_drinking_water_quality_index.pdf

“INFORMATION on DRINKING WATER QUALITY of the INSTITUTE.” Iitk.ac.in, iitk.ac.in/iwd/wq/drinkingwater.htm.

Hawaii Forest Fire

Last August, tragedy struck Maui, Hawaii, and a wildfire wreaked havoc on the beautiful town, leaving homes destroyed and lives lost. A natural disaster reported to have low risk of striking the island left Lahaina and Maui wrecked. It has been reported that at least 97 lives were lost. Six weeks after the wildfire swept through Lahaina, the town remained scarred and inaccessible, with National Guard troops patrolling the town. Now these questions stand – How bad was the wildfire? What caused it? Why wasn’t Hawaii prepared? What’s next?

The recent wildfire in Maui, particularly Lahaina, had a deep and severe impact. Only now, after six weeks of severe restrictions, are some residents allowed back to assess the damage to their homes. The town's center, tightly controlled by National Guard troops, displays the seriousness of the situation. The reopening of the westernmost edge of the burn zone is a clear indication of the extensive harm caused, with further areas to follow as safety allows. “As more neighborhoods are deemed safe, they, too, will be opened to residents who show proof of residency and obtain a re-entry permit, officials said at a public informational meeting in Lahaina on Sept. 22.” Maui County authorities providing masks and protective gear highlight the dangerous conditions left in the wildfire's wake. The presence of counselors during the visit emphasizes the emotional toll of the disaster. On top of personal losses, there are significant concerns about the financial burden of rebuilding homes, estimated at a staggering $5.5 billion for damaged areas in West Maui. The economic revival of this tourism-dependent island faces substantial challenges, painting a grim picture of the aftermath of one of the nation's deadliest disasters.

The cause of the devastating Lahaina fire is a subject of debate among experts. Some propose that fallen power lines, activated by strong winds, may have initiated the fire that swept through Lahaina. Maui County officials have filed a lawsuit claiming intentional and malicious mismanagement of power lines by Hawaiian Electric, the state's primary utility, played a role in sparking the flames. Hawaiian Electric acknowledged that its power lines ignited a fire early on Aug. 8 but argued that they were not carrying current when the flames erupted in the midafternoon, destroying Lahaina. Worsening drought conditions, constituting around 16 percent of severe drought in Maui County, likely contributed to the fire's impact. Hawaii's attorney general has announced an external investigation into the state government's response, and a U.S. House committee plans a public hearing on the Maui fires, where Shelee Kimura, the chief executive of Hawaiian Electric, is expected to testify.

In the aftermath of the Maui wildfire, questions arise concerning Hawaii's state of readiness for such an unforeseen and devastating event. Despite indications of an increasing risk and reports citing inadequate funds for mitigation efforts, Hawaii's emergency management agency portrayed wildfires as a low-risk natural disaster in prior assessments. The oversight in the county fire department's strategic plan, lacking essential provisions for fire prevention, further exposes the unpreparedness that manifested when the town of Lahaina faced an unprecedented disaster.

Moving forward after the destructive wildfire in Lahaina poses significant challenges. Residents are worried about the difficulty or even impossibility of rebuilding their homes. To prevent outside investors from taking advantage of the tragedy, officials are thinking about stopping the sale of damaged properties. They want property owners to report any offers to buy their properties that they didn't ask for, as it's seen as wrong to exploit people who have suffered so much. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has a plan to encourage people to visit Maui, but they ask tourists to be considerate and avoid going to Lahaina and West Maui. Governor Green has lifted travel restrictions for West Maui, excluding Lahaina, starting from October 8. Looking ahead, there is a bigger concern about the changing climate. Wildfires have increased fourfold in Hawaii over the last few decades. Invasive grasses make the islands more prone to wildfires, and climate change is making Hawaii hotter and drier in certain seasons, making wildfires spread faster, according to climatologists.

The tragic events in Maui illustrate a tale of destruction, resilience, and the urgent need for emergency preparedness. As Lahaina faces the task of rebuilding, the lessons learned from this devastating wildfire prompts a reevaluation of Hawaii's approach to natural disaster preparedness. The scars left by the wildfire serve as a reminder of the need to take precautions and use resources to protect communities against the rise of natural disasters in our changing climate.

Citations :

Gordon, Isabelle Chapman,Scott Bronstein,Casey Tolan,Allison. “Hawaii Underestimated the Deadly Threat of Wildfire, Records Show.” CNN, 11 Aug. 2023, www.cnn.com/2023/08/11/us/hawaii-wildfire-threat-invs/index.html.

Hassan, Adeel. “Latest about the Maui Wildfires: Emergency Management Chief Resigns.” New York Times, 18 Sept. 2023, www.nytimes.com/article/maui-wildfires-hawaii.html.

Data Science Summer Program

As I said in my first blog, I learned much of the basics of data science through a summer program. The program lasted 2 weeks, and every day I was taught how to analyze data sets and observe certain present patterns. In the first week, our instructors taught us how to code in Python and view different data sets to look at patterns among them. Each day of the first week, we would dive deep into different, small-world issues and how we can use data to help create a solution. As we transitioned into the second week, we focused our learning on a specific world problem. In my case, I focused on world hunger and trying to find a way to feed our overpopulated Earth. We would work in teams of 5 and at the end, we presented our findings.

Throughout the first week, our instructors taught us the fundamentals of data science. They initially helped us with algorithmic thinking to get us to create out-of-the-box solutions. Once we were able to find our solutions for different problems, they introduced us to data science through Python programming. We were given data sets and a problem, and we had to use the data sets to find a pattern and produce a solution. Then, we would arrange the data sets in order of importance to our solution. As the week progressed, we were taught different types of regressions to try and predict if our solution would work, mainly linear regression and logistic regression. All this work we completed during the first week helped prepare us for our second week, where we would use this knowledge and attempt to create a solution for a crucial world problem.

Going into the second week, we were given the option to choose between a variety of different problems. I chose sustainable farming and tried to figure out a way to grow enough crops to feed all 8 billion people on Earth. The lack of efficient farming is the main reason for the demand not being met. Modern-day farming focuses on the expansion of crops, but not the efficiency of them. Our dataset presented us with multiple farms and their microbe count and crop yield. We then trained our program to sort all the farms in the dataset by microbe count and crop yield to find which farms have the highest microbe count and will yield the most crops. Then, we researched many different crops to pinpoint the best possible crop to grow. We looked at the time needed to grow, calories per portion, and the greatest amount per harvest. In the end, the data indicated it was potatoes. Then, through linear regression, we were able to create a model and a line of best fit for our data to predict our crop yield per year if we were to grow potatoes on said farms. Ultimately, we designed a clear and concise plan to slow down the effects of world hunger. At the end of the week, all groups presented their findings and their solutions, and each person voted for which presentation they liked the most. Our group ended up winning and it showed me what power data science has to offer.

Ultimately, this summer program helped build my foundation in data science. The hands-on project we took part in helped show me what the work of a data scientist is. With these basics, I plan to expand my current knowledge and learn more about different ways to interpret data sets and use different regression models. I look forward to learning more about data science and broadening my perspective to use these skills in different fields of work.

Sustainable Farming Project: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oeUVsMjstbw82_Vcy6UNJj5LA85FTLTDbDuCn4pKt0Q/edit?usp=sharing

Start of my data journey

How did I get interested in Data Science? Well, it all started when my business teacher in school asked the class to create a presentation and research paper on a job or major that we were interested in and might want to pursue. I knew that I liked math and science, but I had no interest in pursuing pure computer science. Computer science never had the ability to light a fire in me, but I did find myself to be exceptional at programming, so I considered other options that were in a somewhat related field while also incorporating the STEM fields. I soon found myself fascinated with data science and read as much as I could about this innovative field.

Initially, I was mystified as to what the role of a data scientist was or what their day to day life looked like, but as I started reading more and conducting research for my school project, a passion for data science developed. The beauty of data science is its interdisciplinary nature and its application to a wide variety of industries ranging from business to the medical field to the diverse fields of engineering, marketing, and even education. Through my research I discovered different sub sectors within data science that were inclined to pay a higher salary(keep in mind this was a business class). I ended up receiving a 100% on that project and it sparked my rapidly growing passion in Data Science, but the next question was, “What could I do now that school had ended?”

Before summer started, I scoured the web looking for data science programs I could apply for. One specific program piqued my interest. It was a program where we would learn the basics of data science and AI to then conduct a research project in a field that interested us. With my interest in the environment, chemistry, and biology, I chose to research farming sustainability and what we can do to help grow larger quantities of food to feed those suffering from poverty and malnutrition. This program helped further my knowledge on Data Science and its widespread use in the world. I came out of that program more intrigued and knowledgeable about data science than ever before. I can’t wait to apply to pre-college programs where I will hopefully be accepted to learn more intricate aspects of data science at a college level and experience the hands-on opportunities to make an impact through the world of data.

 In short, my journey into the world of Data Science started with a simple school project that sparked my curiosity. What began as a quest to explore a field that combined my interest in math and science with programming quickly turned into a passion for data science. As I dove deeper into the topic, I discovered the fascinating interdisciplinary nature of data science, with wide applications in everything from business and medicine to engineering, marketing and education. The success of the initial project motivated me to deepen my knowledge, leading me to a comprehensive program where I could explore the synergies between data science and world challenges. practices, such as sustainable agriculture. This experience not only solidified my knowledge but also increased my enthusiasm for the limitless possibilities that data science has to offer. Looking to the future, I look forward to pursuing advanced learning opportunities in college preparatory programs, eager to unravel the complex layers of data science and seize the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. to the world through the power of data.