200 Earths

Statement of Need

The Problem:

• • Uncertainty about the scale of environmental impact from human activities

  • Gaps in hands-on STEM education for high school students, particularly in environmental science

  • Gaps in environmental computer simulation accuracy

  • Costs, both energetic and financial, to utilizing ecotrons

Target Partnerships:

• College and high school students (NH Seacoast area)

• Researchers (UNH, EMSL, Biosphere 2 and more)

Project Description

Objectives:

• • Build grow domes to simulate controlled ecosystems for ecological research and education

  • Provide high schoolers with access to hands-on experiments and STEM mentorship

  • Advance UNH’s capacity for sustainable ecological research through engineering innovation

Activities (spanning 5 years):

• • Collaboration with UNH to explore off-grid ecotron technologies

  • Construction of 4 grow domes (diameter depends on funds - goal is 33 ft)

  • Setup of control and experimental ecosystems (+CO2, +heat, +fertilizer)

  • Development of educational modules for high school students

What is Comparative Biospheromics ?