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
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
3. Reactive nitrogen has important benefits and many unintended consequences.
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.
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
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
7. Nitrogen and Carbon Contributors Orange- Nitrogen Blue w/ white stripes - Carbon Green shading - Overlap
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
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
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)
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