UHM Nitrogen Footprint project

Presentation to UHMSC on 215/17.

Transcript

1. University of Hawaii
   Nitrogen Footprint Project
   Team Members (so far):
   Students - Mahealani Wilson, Jillian Cristobal,
   Annika Little, Kelsey Barrow, Alexa Foster
   Faculty - Rebecca Ryals
   

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2. What is Nitrogen?
   Reactive nitrogen is all forms of nitrogen except the unreactive N2
   in the atmosphere. Reactive nitrogen is
   created by natural processes, but its creation is now dominated by anthropogenic activities.
   Humans make more reactive nitrogen than nature, largely through the production of synthetic fertilizers
   and the combustion of fossil fuels
   

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3. Reactive nitrogen has important benefits and
   many unintended consequences.
   

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4. Once in the environment, reactive nitrogen contributes to a
   cascade of negative impacts to human and ecosystem health.
   Understanding and managing sources of
   reactive nitrogen will reduce these negative impacts.
   

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5. What is a “Nitrogen Footprint?”
   ❖ How is Nitrogen Anthropogenically Produced?
   ➢  Combustion of fuels for electricity and transportation
   ➢  Cultivation of legumes w/ biological nitrogen fixation
   ➢  Production to synthetic fertilizers
   

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6. Nitrogen Footprint Project ❖ Measuring sectors of a University
   ➢  Food Consumption and Production
   ➢  Utilities
   ➢  Transportation
   ➢  Agricultural/Fertilizers
   ➢  Research Animals
   ❖ Data input into Nitrogen Tool
   ❖ Analysis of different sectors impacts
   ❖ How can we reduce our impact?
   ➢  Created by University of Virginia
   ➢  Completed by 7 universities so far
   ➢  UH Manoa invited to be in the next cohort
   

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7. Nitrogen and Carbon
   Contributors
   Orange- Nitrogen
   Blue w/ white stripes - Carbon
   Green shading - Overlap
   

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8. What makes the UHM N-Footprint Project unique?
   ❖ Difference from other Universities
   ➢  Geographical Isolation
   ➢  Transportation Factor
   ➢  Food Dependability
   ❖ Unique data
   ❖ Hawaiʻi’s perspective
   ❖ Publishing in scientific journals*
   ❖ Invited to the N-Footprint conference at
   the University of Virginia
   *1 paper published and 3 papers just accepted in Sustainability: The Journal of Record, presentations at AASHE
   

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9. Next steps for the
   UH Nitrogen Footprint Project
   ❖ Contact officials of sectors for data information
   ❖ Collection and conversion of data, if needed
   ❖ Input of data into nitrogen tool
   ❖ Analysis of data
   ❖ Reduction scenarios
   ❖ Promotion of existent projects
   ❖ Implementation of best reduction scenarios
   ❖ Follow up data collection and analysis
   ❖ Promotion of project for other UH-system campuses
   

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10. Timeline
    Data Collection
    (Now)
    Baseline N Footprint
    Assessment
    (Mid March 2017)
    Projections & Scenarios
    (End Spring 2017)
    Presentation at University
    of Virginia
    (June 2017)
    Refine and Examine
    Mitigation Opportunities
    (Fall 2017)
    Implement N Mitigation
    & Repeat (future)
    

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11. UH Nitrogen Footprint Project is collaborative and
    links many sustainability initiatives across campus.
    We look forward to working with you!
    Mahealani Wilson: mwilson2@hawaii.edu
    Jillian Cristobal: jmc46@hawaii.edu
    Annika Little: alittle6@hawaii.edu
    Kelsey Barrow: barrowk@hawaii.edu
    Alexa Foster: alexa4@hawaii.edu
    Dr. Rebecca Ryals: ryals@hawaii.edu
    

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