Past News
What IF the world ran on 100 percent renewable energy?
January 24, 2019
Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean island will be struggling to rebuild for years. But what does rebuilding look like and how can renewable energy be a part of those efforts? Jorge Haddock, president of the University of Puerto Rico, will address this question in his lecture “What IF the world ran on 100 percent renewable energy?” Haddock, a Purdue graduate and business leadership authority, is in the unique position of leading one of the island’s cornerstone socioeconomic institutions during post-hurricane recovery. He will discuss the global future of renewable energy and how Puerto Rico is approaching the idea. Topics will include the risks and rewards of switching to 100 percent renewable energy in an environmentally turbulent area, Puerto Rico’s short- and long-term plans for renewable energy use, and the island’s ongoing renewable energy research and its participation in international sustainability initiatives.
Too much of a good thing: Venice’s tourism wave highlights industry’s struggle to become sustainable
January 23, 2019
Venice, Italy is the most recent vacation hotspot overrun by tourists, prompting the popular destination to implement a “visitor’s tax” on day trips to the historic city.... “There’s been an interesting change in the way we think about tourism, particularly over the last couple of years,” said Jonathon Day, an associate professor in Purdue University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Too much of a good thing: Venice’s tourism wave highlights industry’s struggle to become sustainable
Third annual Discovery Park Convergence Conference set for Jan. 24
December 20, 2018
Discovery Park will hold its third annual Conference on Convergence and the Future of Research on Jan. 24. The event, which is free and open to the public, will run 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. It will include a Lunch and Learn with Discovery Park Undergraduate Research Internship students and a series of Voss Talks (TED-style talks) presented by the winners of Discovery Park’s Big Idea Challenge, followed by a panel discussion. A reception for speakers and attendees will take place after the discussion.
Third annual Discovery Park Convergence Conference set for Jan. 24
Young, hip farmers: Coming to a city near you
December 4, 2018
If you’ve been to your neighborhood farmers market or seen a small “local” section pop up in your grocery store, you may have noticed a trend: People want to know where their food is coming from, and the agricultural industry is responding. The number of farmers markets in the U.S. has skyrocketed in recent years, but with an aging population of farmers, who’s supporting this growth?
Flint, Michigan, lead crisis should have buried the city in water bottles. So, why didn't it?
December 3, 2018
One hundred thousand residents of Flint, Michigan, could use water only from bottles or filters during a years-long lead contamination crisis, which started when the city switched to a new drinking water source in 2014. As part of a class assignment that grew into a case study, Purdue University researchers found that during the first three weeks of the disaster alone, anywhere from 31 to 100 million bottles were generated as waste. This means that Flint should have been buried in plastic by the time the crisis ended in 2017.
Flint, Michigan, lead crisis should have buried the city in water bottles. So, why didn't it?
Research Study Abroad Experience in Peru
December 3, 2018
A series of short presentations and demonstrations at Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa (UNSA) and Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC) will be part of the visits. Objectives: To develop a deep understanding of renewable energy as well as other potential sources of energy for Peru. To learn to integrate wind energy, solar systems with water nexus, storage, irrigation or other areas (e.g., agriculture), economics and policy. Evaluate the history of Incas Empire in terms of engineering, energy and sustainability.
Study: Who owns and farms land can create barriers to conservation
November 29, 2018
As stewards of vast swaths of land, farmers are important allies in U.S. conservation efforts, but there is evidence to suggest those farming on rented land adopt conservation practices at a lower rate.
Study: Who owns and farms land can create barriers to conservation
Sugarcane plates sweeten the sustainability deal for PUDM
November 14, 2018
Organizers of PUDM collaborated with the Student Sustainability Council in order to ensure the use of compostable plates, which look and operate no differently from paper plates, at the marathon.
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Filley named director of Discovery Park’s Center for the Environment
November 13, 2018
Timothy Filley, professor of geochemistry and soil science in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences and the Department of Agronomy, has been named as the new director of Discovery Park's Center for the Environment. His appointment began Sunday (Nov. 11).
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Discovery Park Undergraduate Research Internship program seeking spring semester proposals
November 12, 2018
Discovery Park has announced that two Discovery Park Undergraduate Research Internship program tracks will be offered for spring 2019. Each track will support undergraduate students while they investigate problems in various strategic areas through faculty-led projects. * Track 1: The traditional DURI program track will investigate problems in the strategic areas of global security, health and sustainability. * Track 2: The Purdue 150th Anniversary - Ethics, Technology and the Future of War and Security track will investigate the ethical, legal, and social implications of technology in the context of war and security. This track is supported by the Purdue Policy Research Institute.
Discovery Park Undergraduate Research Internship program seeking spring semester proposals