Author Archives: Nicky Tynan
Grizzly bears in Yellowstone
Maintaining a healthy population of any species can be challenging. Grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park have been on the Endangered Species Act list since 1975 when the bear population reached a low of 136 bears. With the population now … Continue reading
Posted in Wildlife management
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Recycling: turning waste into a resource
In this TedxSydney talk, Veena Sahajwalla discusses the future of innovation and how we can start thinking about waste as a valuable resource.
Posted in Non-renewable: minerals, Recycling
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Wastewater to energy
Scientists at Virginia Tech have recently identified two bacteria that break down organic matter in human waste. This has allowed them to identify a way for wastewater treatment plants to generate energy. This YouTube video provides a good overview.
Posted in non-renewable: energy, Renewable: water
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Solar power as a backstop technology
Earlier this month, Morocco switched on it’s huge concentrated solar plant, Noor 1. Morocco has historically relied on imported fossil fuels. This solar plant will significantly lower Morocco’s carbon emissions and start a move to a greater reliance on alternative energy. … Continue reading
Posted in non-renewable: energy
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Protecting the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef attracts over 2,000,000 million visitors a year and is a massive natural resource because of the amount of money it brings in from tourism. The reef also holds a significant amount of biodiversity and to damage … Continue reading
Posted in Biodiversity
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Reinvesting resource rents
The Financial Times had a recent blog post comparing Venezuela and Bolivia’s use of fossil fuel rents. Venezuela is suffering today as a result of an earlier decision to use resource rents from oil to borrow heavily and increase the … Continue reading
Posted in non-renewable: energy
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Local property rights: pipeline and eminent domain
Transportation infrastructure, including pipelines, play a role in making natural gas valuable resource. Land is important as a right of way for the pipelines. Plans by Sunoco to build a natural gas pipeline that will pass near Carlisle require the … Continue reading
Posted in non-renewable: energy, Uncategorized
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Crude oil prices
This blog will be a way for us to continue discussion of classroom topics beyond the classroom. It is particularly useful for sharing examples. This first post links to a Vox article by Brad Plummer on why crude oil prices … Continue reading