The UBRP excursion to Nogales, Mexico was a trip not to miss.
In addition to enjoying the pleasures sought out by normal
tourists-street shopping, taco stands, and spicy Mexican candy--those
that went were given a behind-the-scenes look at life in Nogales,
the challenges faced by locals, and the way local and international
students are using research and education to make a difference.
As described by Dr. Diane Austin from
the UA's
Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA),
one of the major problems facing Nogales is air pollution.
Harmful levels of particulate
matter are released into the air by wood-burning stoves, dusty
roads, and barren hillsides where plants were cleared to accommodate
new houses. However, the students of CONALEP (a
technical high school) and the Instituto Tecnologico
de Nogales (a technical
college) -- the two schools that UBRPers visited while in Nogales
-- have made it their personal goal to alleviate their community's
air pollution problems. At both schools, students are engaged
in re-vegetation projects and are learning ways to recover
foliage previously lost to development. Even more interesting
is their interdisciplinary approach in which engineering students
have incorporated their skills by constructing irrigation systems
for the student-planted gardens.
It was insightful to learn about how the Nogales school system
is set up and the requirements they have for their students.
At the Instituto Tecnologico de Nogales, all of the students
were required to take the environmental course through which
they did their re-vegetation projects. In addition, each year,
the high school and college students are required to commit
to hundreds of hours of community service. The students undoubtedly
have a large impact on their community, and many of them plan
to teach family and friends how they can help improve their
landscape and cut down on air pollution.
Now, we couldn't call our venture to Nogales a "field" trip
without getting a little dirty-which is exactly what happened
when making papercrete with the students from BARA. Just imagine
filling the bottom of a 45-gallon oil drum with shredded paper;
add a few gallons of water; potato mash the stuff to a smooth
pulp; toss in some sand and concrete-and presto! You've got
papercrete: an affordable answer to stronger better insulated
homes, and thus a reduced need to burn wood. Papercrete is
just one of the many projects underway by BARA students. Some
of their other very cool and practical solutions include harvesting
water from rooftop runoff, creating compost from toilet waste,
and introducing cheap, clean, and portable stoves, such as
the solar oven, which can be adopted by local residents.
The students of Nogales lack many of the resources that we
may take for granted at the UA. For example, the chemical engineering
students who are working to perfect biodiesel conversion methods
lack safety goggles, and their lab is without adequate fume
hoods. Despite these challenges, the students have persevered
in their education and have exhibited high standards of problem
solving and investigation. Observing how students have used
their education to shape a brighter future for Nogales provides
a motivational reminder of the great things that can come from
all of our studies, whether in the field of anthropology, biology,
or environmental science.
The UBRP excursion to Nogales, Mexico was a trip not to miss.
In addition to enjoying the pleasures sought out by normal
tourists-street shopping, taco stands, and spicy Mexican candy--those
that went were given a behind-the-scenes look at life in Nogales,
the challenges faced by locals, and the way local and international
students are using research and education to make a difference.
As described by Dr. Diane Austin from
the UA's
Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA),
one of the major problems facing Nogales is air pollution.
Harmful levels of particulate
matter are released into the air by wood-burning stoves, dusty
roads, and barren hillsides where plants were cleared to accommodate
new houses. However, the students of CONALEP (a
technical high school) and the Instituto Tecnologico
de Nogales (a technical
college) -- the two schools that UBRPers visited while in Nogales
-- have made it their personal goal to alleviate their community's
air pollution problems. At both schools, students are engaged
in re-vegetation projects and are learning ways to recover
foliage previously lost to development. 
Even more interesting
is their interdisciplinary approach in which engineering students
have incorporated their skills by constructing irrigation systems
for the student-planted gardens.
It was insightful to learn about how the Nogales school system
is set up and the requirements they have for their students.
At the Instituto Tecnologico de Nogales, all of the students
were required to take the environmental course through which
they did their re-vegetation projects. In addition, each year,
the high school and college students are required to commit
to hundreds of hours of community service. The students undoubtedly
have a large impact on their community, and many of them plan
to teach family and friends how they can help improve their
landscape and cut down on air pollution.
Now, we couldn't call our venture to Nogales a "field" trip
without getting a little dirty-which is exactly what happened
when making papercrete with the students from BARA. Just imagine
filling the bottom of a 45-gallon oil drum with shredded paper;
add a few gallons of water; potato mash the stuff to a smooth
pulp; toss in some sand and concrete-and presto! You've got
papercrete: an affordable answer to stronger better insulated
homes, and thus a reduced need to burn wood. Papercrete is
just one of the many projects underway by BARA students. Some
of their other very cool and practical solutions include harvesting
water from rooftop runoff, creating compost from toilet waste,
and introducing cheap, clean, and portable stoves, such as
the solar oven, which can be adopted by local residents.
The students of Nogales lack many of the resources that we
may take for granted at the UA. For example, the chemical engineering
students who are working to perfect biodiesel conversion methods
lack safety goggles, and their lab is without adequate fume
hoods. Despite these challenges, the students have persevered
in their education and have exhibited high standards of problem
solving and investigation. Observing how students have used
their education to shape a brighter future for Nogales provides
a motivational reminder of the great things that can come from
all of our studies, whether in the field of anthropology, biology,
or environmental science.
