Earth University

Mobile Machines

2009-01-08T07:34:00.000-08:00

Mobile Earth

2008-12-27T16:35:00.000-08:00

SNAPSHOTS

PRESENTATION

INTRODUCTION

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RESEARCH TOOL

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TOURISM TOOL

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Las Ventanas Research and Production Facility

2008-12-22T13:24:00.000-08:00

DIVERSION + REGENERATION a water resource management strategy for earth university

2008-12-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

The Guanacaste region of Costa Rica experiences a dramatic six months of wet conditions and six months of dry conditions. EARTH University recognizes the need to address and manage this extreme fluctuation of water resources at La Flor. By considering both the abundance and absence of water on site, specific interventions in the form of diversion can redirect water in ways to both hold and move water across the site. These diversions create opportunity to avoid flooding, recharge the aquifer, irrigate crops, increase wildlife habitat, and facilitate recreation.

Farmer's Market

2008-12-16T17:57:00.001-08:00

LA FLOR VISION 2020

2008-12-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

Download PDF version
Download Flash Movie version

structures for cultivation

2008-12-16T15:44:00.001-08:00

Agriculture and Conservation Land Trust

2008-12-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

Sugarcane Closed Loop System

2008-12-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

Describes a closed loop system involving using the waste products of sugarcane to produce cellulosic ethanol to fuel the harvester. Also involves cattle and a biodigester and modifications on the existing harvester to collect the sugarcane waste.

Finding Footings

2008-12-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

This trip to Earth was extremely important, but not for the reasons I expected. I now know through the visit we are all finding our footing, truly building the foundations for the school to make their initial moves. Without the trip to the campus we would never fully understand the resources on the ground available to Earth to move forward.

Alvan Blanch Development Co. - Sustainable Agriculture Solutions

2008-11-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

I'm working on improving the sugarcane harvesting process at Earth (balancing production levels, energy requirements, emissions, and labor considerations), and I found this.

Alvan Blanch is a British manufacturing and project
engineering company with a global outlook, specialising
in the design, production and supply of quality machines
and completely integrated systems for the primary and
secondary processing of agricultural produce and waste
materials.
www.alvanblanch.co.uk/

Before today I thought we're going to make a conference center.

2008-11-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

Now I am thinking much more specifically about what the criteria for a green conference center should be.

This isnt about visiting the site, its really about coming together and the energy that creates.

2008-11-19T18:18:00.000-08:00

This process shows how design can help the mission of La Flor, not just by making a paradigmatic building, but through educational outcomes.

2008-11-17T18:17:00.001-08:00

I don't care about buildings. I care about people and what buildings do for people.

2008-11-15T18:15:00.000-08:00

2008-11-13T06:45:00.000-08:00

The greatest insight that I uncovered throughout our meetings is that Earth must remain a unified, integrated campus should they expand their past position as an agricultural university. As a reaction to this problem, three important things came up regularly in conversation: Inspiration, Innovation, and Active teaching. I would like us to move forward with the project by using these three things to define a developmental framework for all aspects of Earth. All participants at La Flor (be they businesses, students, teachers, etc), should find inspiration in the agricultural practices and environment specific to Costa Rica to foster creative innovation, and they should then share what they have uncovered as both entrepreneurs and advocates.

Conservation through symbiosis can also serve as a commonality on campus. Earth’s resources, such as waste by-products, water, and knowledge must circulate continually from one place to another and become adapted to new uses. The surrounding community, too, must be viewed as an important part of this symbiosis. We must collaborate with the community to find an appropriate application of our knowledge as it applies to the culture of Guanacaste.

Our conversations also left me wondering how these commonalities might influence Earth’s development, both short term and long term. If the institution is going to develop as a money maker, potentially through tourism or product development, they should use Inspiration, Innovation and Active Teaching as the vehicles to get there. These short term goals should not prevent Earth’s long term development as an integrated campus for sustainable innovation.

As The Hollies once said, "The road is long..."

2008-11-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

The main insight that I came away with is that Earth La Flor is going through an identity crisis. They know loosely what they want but are unsure of how to get there. I think each of our projects rang true on some levels of what they wanted (curriculum, innovation, advocacy, etc.) but how the pieces fit in were fuzzy. Community engagement and advocacy seemed to be a large part of their commitment but they seemed to shy away from political and controversial issues (perhaps because they are still building enough political capital to approach these issues). This strengthens my belief for the need of innovation research and ethical advocacy should to be a part of that. I believe that through the development of research based solutions, they are capable of approaching these issues in an influential way.

2008-11-13T06:24:00.000-08:00

EARTH University at La Flor could be realized as the integration of living and learning. They could be an example to the local community by providing a threshold where sensory impulses are slightly unique. With awareness of this shift visitors could see, hear, and taste with new appreciation. The local community can be reached, their access made welcoming and their need for jobs, waste management, land and water planning can be addressed. A projection of La Flor is a place where you may live and learn in connection with the land, waking up with the monkeys at 5:30 in the morning, drinking juice from the fruit you work to harvest and gathering as a community which will learn how to embark in a process of lifelong learning.

The industrial park to the south will be an established, integrated entity of living, working and transportation. One remaining challenge is the integration of that independent entity with the academic and social components of EARTH’s program. Because education is about the people we may receive them through their cultural sensibilities. Our decisions could be inspired by the local historical architectural methods of sun doors, ventilation windows and floor boards, Boreque walls, compact calcium dirt roads and a community meeting under Guanacaste trees.

earth / trip reflections

2008-11-13T06:04:00.001-08:00

EARTH inherited a neglected property that will always be seen as the former President's jewel. In its neglected state, and without a guide or transfer of previous knowledge, this incredible responsibility/opportunity fell into their hands. The enormity of the site and the lack of an overall understanding are both disheartening and inspirational on a scale I never imagined. The challenge of regenerating the site, creating a viable income source, and maintaining the holistic balance between EARTH's mission and operations becomes apparent as soon as the biogas is ignited and the 'odorless' byproduct of concentrated sheep and pig waste penetrates the depths of your nostrils.

EARTH's willingness to apply their innovative practices and knowledge to existing systems and structures is laudable. They have begun a process of regeneration at La Flor. The vision we proposed to EARTH was a large scale integration and stewardship of the bordering riverine ecology. With the experience I gained, and the exercises carried out, I would begin designing from within by focusing on a strategy for roads and bridges, as well as water treatment and energy production from existing agricultural facilities.

Reflections from La Flor

2008-11-13T05:55:00.000-08:00

From our very brief time at La Flor, I have found myself reconsidering, adjusting, and expanding on a few of our ideas and preconceptions. One aspect that I had been interested in pursuing, though we had not yet had the opportunity or the resources, was the local community. The health and success of a university is dependant upon numerous issues, however, the relationship with the local community is one that can sometimes go unnoticed.
Through discussions, I have come to understand that the demands from Guanacaste which would be attainable by Earth, would include jobs, the establishment of a main transportation corridor to increase land value as well as provide further opportunities for employment, and further educational facilities, whether it be technical training schools or local elementary and high schools. There are also further issues that the surrounding community will look to Earth for leadership with Land planning, waste management and resource management. These are three issues that are more complicated and potentially too political or too costly for the campus to take on independently, but it is something to be remembered and considered.
The easiest way for Earth to impact these more difficult demands would be to lead by example. In this way, they are removed from the political implications of a more active role as advocate or guardian, but are still working to improve the local conditions. If the focus continues to be an aim at replicable practices, then as Earth shows success of these practices and maintains an open door policy in terms of sharing that knowledge, it will become the people that are empowered. Therefore, as we move forward in our designs, we should continue to push and question every step and every facet of designs under the criteria of financial feasibility, material accessibility, local demand and application, educational benefit, and sustainability over both the long and the short term.

Looking back on our visit

2008-11-12T22:37:00.000-08:00

After viewing the community that surrounds Earth on the outside, in comparison with Earths campus inside, I realize how important it is for there to a be a connection between the two. Earths land and resources is so vast with space and vegetation that visualizing areas of the built environment must be chosen with good reason and with some constraint to preserve as much of Earths natural habitat. Driving along the main road at Earth, and viewing Adastra in relation to everything else, despite its unappealing design, doesn't make any relation to its surroundings at Earth or even Earths landscape. The area of land that was cleared on the way to the river gave me a similar feeling that whatever gets constructed there must not lay on the surface but must interact and try to become one with the land and surroundings that it is disrupting. I almost wish I could visualize earth from a ariel view, which could give a different understanding of the land and its surroundings.

After visiting earth, I realize how the campus is at the point where it could go in many different directions. This could mean that what we produce as RISD students could actually give important insight to how they go about planning in the future. I find there is so much free room for ideas of what could be thought of or what could be implemented at Earth. I find that my final project can be very open and explore a broad range of ideas. Although I personally didn't find a lot of answers to my questions to what I am specifically interested in, I did find contacts that will be very useful in my research. As hard as it was to come up with ideas away from Earth during the first half of the semester, and although we visited Earth, I find it will be just as hard to complete final projects away from the campus. Being at Earth and being an on-sight researcher would be much more ideal to come up with a final idea that works. Overall, I would like to contribute to Earths new campus plans by producing a material that could be produced on campus and using natural materials.

Insights from EARTH

2008-11-12T16:29:00.000-08:00

A series of insights remain with me after visiting La Flor. One important notion is that a two-year curriculum is more applicable in the developing world in order to address the urgency of conditions. Specific local needs in Guanacaste include jobs, waste management, land planning, security and water. As designers we should be thinking in terms of rainy seasons in addition to quarterly seasons as cycles of importance to sustainable agriculture curriculum, and to all local systems.

Ultimately people must come first as our impetus for design. Local citizens should act as stewards of the land and buildings should be designed as vessels or tools to support people through active education. The campus in this regard becomes a demonstration ground for a paradigm shift to establish a new way of life, leading to innovation for passers-by. Global issues will be addressed through local application. The land, its people, and the University as a sustainable cultural institution should all be inextricably linked. Integration should be sought through a variety of systems, including curriculum (with a goal of disseminating knowledge), transportation (in terms of the proposed road and on-site public transportation), water (to address and manage wet and dry seasons), and materials (that are culturally and locally applicable).

In sum, the idea of replication comes to the forefront of how the Innovation Studio should approach the components of the master plan. Our proposals should be simple, work sufficiently, use appropriate technology, and ultimately have the ability to be replicated by the local community. We can achieve this by creatively responding to the local culture and conditions.

RISD to Earth

2008-11-10T18:09:00.000-08:00

Ecovillages

2008-11-01T17:56:00.000-07:00

(recycled wine barrel houses at Findhorn Ecovillage, Scotland)

Ecovillages are intended to be socially, economically and ecologically sustainable intentional communities. Some aim for a population of 50-150 individuals because this size is considered to be the maximum social network according to findings from sociology and anthropology. Larger ecovillages of up to 2,000 individuals exist as networks of smaller subcommunities to create an ecovillage model that allows for social networks within a broader foundation of support.

(more on Wikipedia)

(Living Routes - info on ecovillages)

Model: Social Sustainability

2008-10-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

Links:
Green For All
Sustainable South Bronx

Frameworks Presentation

2008-10-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

Visitors included the Director of the La Flor Campus, the Head of the Earth University Foundation and the Campus Architect.

Educational institutions are vital labs for creative inquiry, entrepreneurial force and experimentation.

2008-10-07T03:38:00.000-07:00

So says, Mariana Amatullo, co-founder and director of Designmatters at Art Center College of Design in a very interesting piece about advocacy design at Core 77. Have a look, if not exactly in line with the work that we are doing, it is quite inspiring.

Sustainability Frameworks

2008-10-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

Together the La Flor and Innovation Studios are identifying different mental models for sustainability. Our intention is to use these frameworks to identify different ways of focusing or directing the development of the La Flor campus. While these frameworks are not mutually exclusive, by defining them in opposition to one another we are better able to determine their characteristics and the logical outcomes of their implementation.

Carbon Neutral PPT

2008-10-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

Abundance Model

2008-10-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Scarcity - ppt

2008-10-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

Biome - ppt

2008-10-05T15:30:00.001-07:00

Agriculture and Sustainability

2008-10-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

Model of Sustainability: Industrial Symbiosis

2008-10-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

By Mike Eng and Carolyn Spinney

"Sustainable development meets the needs of the current generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

2008-10-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

-- Gro Harlem Brundtland

Arup's Sustainability Practice

2008-10-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

Marie Read and xx, of ARUP's sustainability group, shared their approach with the La Flor and the Innovation Studios.

In ARUP's model the integration of ideas, spaces and systems is critical to sustainable practices. The goal of this integration is to reduce the "global footprint" of projects (and ultimately the planet) to ameliorate the growth in the world's resource consumption. In 2004, for example, the World Wildlife Fund estimated that we were exceeding the planet's biological capacity by 20%.

In Arup's practice they seek a level of whole systems thinking to allow the products (both principal products and by products) of one system to be used by another. To accomplish this they focus on several sustainable design principles:
1. Land Use and Transportation -- Aim at creating Community (Healthy, Secure, Engaged)
2. Access & Mobility -- Designing infrastructure to maximize options.
3. Water Resources -- Water Neutral Development.
4. Energy Use -- Reduce Energy Needs on way to trying to achieve energy independence.
5. Materials --Design to reduce material's use throughout the buiilding's life cycle.
6. Waste Management -- Manage and divert waste.
7. Economic & Community Sustainability -- Maintaining economic diversity within communities.
8. Governance & Civic Engagement -- To ensure that long term changes are made.
9. Foresight for Climate Change
10. Habitat Improvement

Working in the developing world, or the global south, is an unusual opportunity as the conditions are often "blank slates" from a planning point of view, and allow for the creation of new economic engines and applicable paradigms for the regions you are working in.

They also shared with us some current masterplanning projects that they are working on.

Precedent Research

2008-10-01T04:12:00.000-07:00

The examination of precedents is intended to uncover interesting working models, new frameworks for thinking about the project and sometimes random inspiration. The precedents explored here fall into 4 categories: (1) educational models, (2) business plans and facilities, (3) agricultural concepts and practices and (4) environmental designs.

Biomes: world of relationships

2008-09-30T23:10:00.000-07:00

Laredo Blueprint Farm - Think globally, Drink Locally

2008-09-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

Asian Women's University

2008-09-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

Precedents - Manufacturing/Business - Kalundborg

2008-09-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

Master Plan for Curitiba, Brazil

2008-09-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Precedent - Las Gaviotas Project

2008-09-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

open city, amereida

2008-09-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

Precedent-School 2.0

2008-09-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

Precedent-Lewis Center @ Oberlin

2008-09-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

Precedent - Cow Power

2008-09-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

Precedent: Middlebury College

2008-09-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

Precedent-MAS Holding

2008-09-30T04:02:00.000-07:00

Precedent: Terracycle

2008-09-30T00:53:00.001-07:00

Precedent--Permaculture

2008-09-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Systems Research

2008-09-26T04:20:00.000-07:00

Many of the strategic areas of focus for the development of the La Flor campus are centered on the technical systems. The systems explored here include energy, water, and waste – all important to the development of the campus plan. In addition there are studies of agricultural and architectural systems.

Students in both La Flor and Innovation contributed to this research.

carbon

2008-09-25T22:59:00.000-07:00

storm water management

2008-09-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

Systems Research: Biomass and Ethanol

2008-09-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

Hydrogen

2008-09-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

Bio-Digesters

2008-09-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

Some Crazy Idea on Energy...

2008-09-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

Geothermal... It's like a sauna, but for the world.

2008-09-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

Systems - Energy - Water

2008-09-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

Living Systems

2008-09-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Systems - Wind Power

2008-09-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

Sunlight Shading Devices

2008-09-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

Waste Water Processing

2008-09-25T15:42:00.000-07:00

Systems-Afforestation & Reforestation

2008-09-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

Lo-till agriculture

2008-09-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

System - Wastewater Recycling

2008-09-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Systems - Hydroponic Farming

2008-09-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Systems--Organic Farming

2008-09-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

Systems - Stormwater Management

2008-09-25T04:04:00.000-07:00

Service Design & education

2008-09-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

Engine Group UK's School of the future

Dott07

Demos International Survey on Co-Design

Materials Research

2008-09-24T04:32:00.000-07:00

The materials research is primarily focused on food and agricultural products that are currently being grown at either the Limon campus or the La Flor campus. In addition to information about the nutrititional benefits of the foods, these studies also examine growing processes and waste products. Our intention is to identify potential synergies between these processes and products and/or synergies with other industrial processes and products that may take place at La Flor.

fruits, nuts, tubers

2008-09-23T23:03:00.000-07:00

Passion Fruit presentation board

2008-09-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

Materials Research: Sheep and Sheep Products

2008-09-23T21:41:00.000-07:00

Bokashi and Compost

2008-09-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

Enjoy Rice...

2008-09-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

Material--Hay

2008-09-23T19:07:00.000-07:00

Materials - Sugarcane

2008-09-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

Materials-Pineapple

2008-09-23T16:58:00.000-07:00

Materials-Passion Fruit

2008-09-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

mango and mango byproduct

2008-09-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

Citrus

2008-09-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

Material - Solid wastes in Costa Rica

2008-09-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

Materials - Cashew

2008-09-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Bananas!

2008-09-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

Cattle

2008-09-23T04:19:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica Agricultural Stats

2008-09-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica Agricultural statistics

FOA Satistics

Costa Rica General Country Information

2008-09-20T22:25:00.001-07:00

CIA report on Costa Rica

Panel Discussion

2008-09-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

On September 18th the studiios were joined by Larry Carney (Liberal Arts), Claudia Ford (International Programs), Enrique Martinez (Architecture) and Colgate Searle (Landscape) for a discussion about their trip to La Flor over the summer, an introduction to Guanacaste as a laboratory for ecological renewal, a discussion about designing at a distance, and other topics.
Stay tuned for more details.

What to do with a Mango

2008-09-18T03:42:00.000-07:00

Mango Salads

Mango's mango goes

2008-09-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

Go, Man. Go.

2008-09-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

ways to move mangos

2008-09-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

Mango Skin

2008-09-17T19:04:00.001-07:00

. Blend, Paste and Transport : Wash and Eat .: Compost

Mango Carrier

2008-09-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

Mango Package

2008-09-17T17:50:00.000-07:00

Mango box

2008-09-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

Mango Carrier

2008-09-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

MANGO CARRIER

2008-09-17T14:40:00.000-07:00