Scientist-Rebecca Hernandez

Q1.

In reviewing the sources, I was particularly found interest in the idea of trying to reduce the conflict between usable lands and creating enough space for solar panels to provide alternative and sustainable forms of energy. I have never really thought about the conflict that exists when people try to create and use available land to install solar panels and other energy sources. The initiative by Dr. Rebecca Hernandez sheds a lot of light on a sector that very few people ever think about. It is important to recognize the some advancements in science and the requirements to have alternative energy sources may lead to the encroachment of agricultural land and other important sectors.

Q2.

Although not directly, the resources highlight the beneficial relationships that create synergies in different situations, such as the digestive system and bacteria. The bacteria in the human digestive system are beneficial, the gut also offers a safe haven for the bacteria in a mutualism relationship. Similarly, using repurposed land such as landfills creates a situation where unusable lands are now converted into areas that support the budding solar energy sector (Gorn, 2016). Degradable land is used in the production of renewable energy, bringing back usability to such lands and creating employment for hundreds of people. The relationship is mutual and very sustainable in the long run due to the synergies created.

Q3

After reviewing these sources, a number of questions emerge:

What other synergies exist when repurposing waste lands for use in facilitating solar power generation?

What are the opportunity costs of repurposing land for use for solar power production versus other uses such as wind energy or as landfills?

Are the alternatives provided by Dr. Hernandez sustainable?

What are the main impacts of the development of solar energy on other vital sectors such as agriculture?

How is the domestic solar manufacturing sector contributing to the energy and environment debate?

Q4.

These resources reveal that people that do science have a particular role in trying to solve daily problems, while factoring in possible tradeoffs brought about by the solutions created for every issue. For example, Dr. Hernandez must consider the tradeoff that emerges when people use agricultural land to manufacture solar energy (University of California, 2017). Here, although solar energy is a sustainable and cheaper form of energy, it also means that the agricultural production is also significantly affected. Therefore, people that do science are constantly in a mode of providing answers to problems that affect people using the nest possible win-win situation at every juncture.

References

Gorn, D. (November 18, 2016). A new approach to energy: Using old landfill sites to generate

solar power. SCPR. https://www.scpr.org/news/2016/11/18/66016/using-old-landfill-sites-to-generate-solar-power/

University of California. (December 19, 2017). Researchers identify nontraditional sites

for future solar farms. Phys Org. https://phys.org/news/2017-12-solar-energy-encroaching-potential-farmland.html