EARTH MATTERS The annual bulletin of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society • Vol 2, FALL 2016

SUPPORTING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THE WARMING NORTH ATLANTIC

Optimizing conservation with guidance from invasive species Heat and health: Climate models help predict future outcomes Undergraduate entrepreneurs plan to revolutionize food supply in Kenya Contents features Boosting Arctic Resilience 2 Effective policy design in the warming north Atlantic

How to Save a Species Guiding conservation in the face of a 6 changing climate

Stones of Sardinia Exploring the history of an ancient 14 colonial hotspot LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR pg 9

The precipitous decline of Arctic ice on land and sea has Canada, Norway and Denmark have all initiated claims to attracted widespread attention. As of this writing, the enlarge their exclusive economic zones in the far north. Arctic is witnessing a summer ice extent approaching the Introducing: Bathsheba Demuth The Arctic may seem a remote place: a vast, distant, 5 third lowest value ever observed. In Greenland, surface sparsely populated region, capable of absorbing the melting is proceeding rapidly and is on track to reach the environmental damage we inflict through global and local Earth, Itself 2016 second-most extensive melt on record, particularly in the 9 industrial developments. But by rapidly expanding human southwest. The records set during the warm year of 2012 activities in the Arctic, we risk creating a ‘sacrifice area’ have yet to be broken, but the ice has not recovered; it 10 Atwater and Nelson Target rife with geopolitical confrontation, toxic pollution, rapid Brown, IBES as Integrative remains thin and vulnerable. warming and greenhouse gas emissions. Yet avoiding Innovators The dwindling ice cover is a serious threat to Arctic these risks by forgoing development would likewise ecosystems and peoples, and to the globe at large. But deprive Arctic communities of valuable opportunities 12 Forecasting Health in a it has also spurred a “race to the North,” introducing for economic growth and employment. pg 6 Warming World novel opportunities for the shipping industry, minerals The danger, Kaplan (1958) warns, is the propensity to companies, tourism, fishing, and military mobility. mistake success for good. In such a scheme, “vulgar 18 Getting the Lead Out According to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, the pragmatism does not ground values in existence, but takes Arctic likely harbors 13% of the world’s undiscovered as valuable whatever is existent,” and “competitive success 21 Black Flies, Green Feed oil and 30% of its natural gas resources—valuable is taken to be at once the sign and the very substance commodities if we can afford to extract them. The of worth.” 23 Frozen in Time Northern Sea Route cuts shipping distances by 40% Kaplan’s words are both instructive and timely. The rapidly compared to the Suez Canal, saving time and reducing changing Arctic challenges us to take our next steps carbon emissions. Arctic cod are beginning to retreat mindfully if we are to discover and pursue goals that are northward, opening the marginal ice zone to desirable enduring and inclusively good. Sub-Arctic species such as Pacific salmon. Meanwhile, pg 21 Arctic vacationers are steadily growing in number, seeking THEME COLOR CODE everything from sport fishing to cultural education, and Amanda Lynch, Director the balance is shifting toward smaller private craft. Russia, pg 14 food & water health & well-being

KAPLAN, A. 1958. American ethics and public policy, Westport, Connecticut, Greenwood Press. natural systems equity & governance 3 / Fall 2016

BOOSTING ARCTIC RESILIENCE: EFFECTIVE POLICY DESIGN IN THE WARMING NORTH ATLANTIC

In 1986, a massive storm whipped through the small Arctic town of Barrow, Alaska, swallowing the face of an ancient cliff and revealing an archaeological surprise: a human foot, encased in a traditional mukluk, protruding from the reshaped bluff.

An adult polar bear and her cubs roam the shrinking ice in Barrow, Alaska. Photo: Amanda Lynch

The limb’s owner had been buried face-down, indicating in the region. As she tells it, their lingering feelings of and how the ice was going to melt and all of this kind of THE WORK that he had once been a revered elder. Community mourning were palpable. stuff, and he said, ‘How is all this science you’re doing… Today, Lynch works primarily in the north Atlantic members nicknamed their fallen ancestor ‘Uncle Foot’ going to help me? I live here.’ And that really brought region, which includes places like Greenland, Iceland, “The loss of Uncle Foot was really important to the and promptly prepared to rebury his body. But they me up short,” she says. “I thought, I’m writing all of and northern Norway. Her research is guided community in that they hadn’t been able to save him,” were not swift enough; shortly thereafter, a second these papers, but what am I doing that’s really making a specifically by the needs and concerns of local she explains. “And the reason they weren’t able to was storm tore through the region, eroding even more of difference in people’s lives?” stakeholders, mostly in relation to one overarching because of the storm.” the land and sweeping Uncle Foot out to sea. question: What does the retreating ice mean to each of That encounter spurred Lynch to begin collaborating the groups confronting it? Sixteen years later, locals relayed this story to Amanda Thanks to climate change, such Arctic hurricanes have with fellow professor Ron Brunner, a political scientist become especially unpredictable in recent years. “The Lynch, a climate modeler who was conducting research at the University of Colorado Boulder who studies This single question begets multiple answers. elders used to know when [the storms] were coming, policy science and theory. Together they developed but they didn’t know anymore,” she continues. “And a new model of adaptive governance for climate “For the fishing communities in northern Norway they didn’t want to lose another elder like that.” change adaptation, a policy framework that empowers and in Iceland, it’s about the health of the cod and vulnerable communities to develop flexible and realistic the cod fisheries, and the shrimp fisheries, and how THE THEORY strategies that will remain effective in the face of an they’re trading off,” explains Lynch. “For the Saami Amanda Lynch, Professor of Earth, Environmental unpredictable climatic future. [in Norway], who are primarily reindeer people, what and Planetary Sciences and Director of IBES, launched they’re looking for is, how is this going to impact the her illustrious career, almost accidentally, as a highly “My work in adaptive governance is all about trying to terrestrial climate and the fodder for the reindeer? And technical and sought-out arctic climate modeler. But her make policy that’s modest and redundant and resilient,” the shipping companies and the oil rigs are worried focus shifted when she realized that her computations she explains. “And if it’s going to fail, it fails gracefully about how quickly the ice is really going to retreat, and weren’t accomplishing much on the ground. and has resources left over for another try. It’s about how dangerous it’s going to be.” making policy adaptive and iterative over time. And She recalls one particular conversation with an Inupiat Uncle Foot’s mukluk was revealed by a severe Arctic storm. that kind of policy in a situation of high uncertainty is, I Lynch tackles these distinct perspectives one by one, Shortly thereafter, another squall swept his body out to sea. man in Alaska. “We were talking about climate change interviewing representatives from each demographic Photo: Paul Hess think, the right way to go.” 4 / Earth Matters 5 / Fall 2016

to determine what their major concerns are in relation But it does present certain ethical challenges. And to climate change—and what, if any, plans they have in although Lynch may not agree with the goals of certain place to cope with these issues. She and her colleagues stakeholders—native communities hunting whales for INTRODUCING: BATHSHEBA DEMUTH then identify alternatives that might help stakeholders meat, for instance, or minerals companies seeking to accomplish their goals more effectively or efficiently. excavate formerly ice-covered plains—she is a strict along communist, capitalist, and don’t exist, in reality, as fixed, adherent to the principle of the common good. These conversations also inform the research questions indigenous cultural lines, is also unitary systems. They change across subject to a rugged and unforgiving space, based on the ecologies they that Lynch targets when running climate simulations. As she explains, the common good is inherently case- climate that offers little to facilitate are trying to use and change.” In this way, her modeling skills often come in handy; specific and must be determined anew in each situation either industry or agriculture. however, these days, she tends to respect the models and for each population. Demuth’s work is intimately more for their explanatory value than for their Demuth’s research examines the connected to climate change and predictive power. “What I use them for is to understand “You can’t assume, walking in, that you know what the way that both capitalism and its consequences, which are already mechanism,” she says. “Because if we have insight into common good is,” says Lynch. “And that’s why I am communism have evolved against disproportionately affecting Arctic how the system works, then we can have some sense of very clear about, for example, being an honest broker such a harsh backdrop. “It’s a communities. “My research tries where it’s headed—without necessarily being tied to the in Greenland and never saying to them, ‘I don’t think chance to see how two different and to trace how we as a species, and false precision of one projection over another, which you should mine toxic metals,’ because it’s not for me to generally opposed ideas about how as members of the U.S. and Soviet to organize social, economic, and national cultures, came to this point,” have such profound uncertainties.” say that’s not in their common interest. It’s for them to decide that.” Bathsheba Demuth, a former Brown cultural life changed—or didn’t— she says, “while also setting down a undergraduate, returns to campus under the pressures of the Arctic record of what life was like in this Lynch’s commitment to autonomy and empowerment this Fall—this time, as an IBES environment,” she says. place that is changing so radically.” positioned her well to take on the role of inaugural fellow and Assistant Professor of Director of IBES. As both its leader and one of its History. Demuth, an environmental Her efforts have yielded some She looks forward to continuing surprising conclusions. “What I this work at Brown and with IBES. core faculty fellows, she believes that the Institute is historian, has long been interested found is that Arctic conditions often “Having the chance to work with uniquely equipped to promote the ideals of equity and in how human interests in the altered how ideology was performed people from a range of disciplines human dignity. natural world interact with nature itself, specifically in a half-Alaskan, in ways that made the two systems, is really a dream job,” she says. “IBES is the expression of our commitment to the half-Russian region of the western so contrary to each other in theory, “Teaching and researching with a sometimes look basically identical group of colleagues with diverse common good, collectively,” she says. “I might be a little arctic known as the Bering Strait. in practice,” she explains. “It turns expertise, but interested in cross- bit more explicit and theoretical about how and why I This region, already fractured out that capitalism and communism discipline questions, is thrilling.” do that [kind of work], but you can see it in all of the Amanda Lynch flies over western Iceland to survey the faculty; we’re all committed to the common good. And changing terrain. that’s really what it’s about. That’s what we’re building faculty spotlight it for.” Ultimately, armed with an empirical understanding Interested in energy efficiency? KURT “Particularly when it comes to electrical use within their concentration and outside of of local climatic processes, Lynch can apply various This commitment is likely to become even more TEICHERT can tell you exactly how to in the built environment, there are so many it—I can’t imagine they’d get that anywhere “adaptive” policies to her model in order to determine imperative in the decades ahead. As climate change optimize your space. Now a Senior Lecturer investments that can be made that just have a else.” in Environmental Studies, Teichert has always great return,” he says. “That really resonates which is likely to be most comprehensive and resilient advances upon communities with the smallest been interested in reducing energy use in well for students.” For Teichert, integrating sustainability into under future conditions. voices, the fewest resources, and the least power, the buildings. In his course, Sustainable Design analyses and decisions is an ideal challenge consequences of our warming world will hit such Teichert explains that his priorities at Brown for students because it requires critical and As a former climate model designer and programmer, are teaching and advising, above all else. As inventive thinking. “These are such interesting vulnerable groups worst and first. And in Lynch’s view, senior lecturer and advisor, he enjoys helping and pressing issues and there are so many her approach is both exacting and systematic. “If there can be no global benefit while a significant group students find and take advantage of the many interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary there’s anything that I could help quantitative scientists of people remains in a state of suffering. opportunities for engaged learning that the approaches that need to be taken,” he understand, it is that qualitative rigor is a thing,” she University offers. says. “Even if students finish Brown and their work isn’t necessarily directly related to says. “It’s a real thing, and there are ways you can “That’s why I never talk about win-win,” she says. “Fieldwork and field observations that the architectural and engineering fields, measure it.” “Everybody might lose a little, but nobody loses they can make are a bus ride away, if not a I think they benefit that way of thinking and everything. And everybody gets to live with dignity in the Built Environment, he brings together bicycle ride away,” he says. “And the type of problem solving. This field just offers so educational experience is right here for them many opportunities.” THE IMPACT and hope.” students from a variety of disciplines and ■ encourages them to collaborate and examine too. Being at a liberal learning college with This type of work, so fundamentally based in the service sustainability issues and opportunities in new this very open curriculum—where they have of others’ goals and interests, is highly rewarding. and innovative ways. to take responsibility for their program, both 7 / Fall 2016

HOW TO SAVE A SPECIES: GUIDING CONSERVATION IN THE FACE OF A CHANGING CLIMATE

One hundred years from now, our planet is likely to be a very different place. Earth’s climate is already changing, threatening vulnerable ecosystems the world over.

Many scientists consider a major global extinction event flourish in place; others will not be so fortunate. And it to be all but inevitable within the next century. Indeed, is not always easy to determine which is which. Osage orange (Maclura pomifera), whose native range is the south-central region of the U.S., is spotted growing in California. Photo: Gretel Clarke the scientific consensus forecasts a literal decimation of the world’s lifeforms: 1 in 10 species are likely to have “If you show me any two critters and tell me where they vanished from the planet by 2100. live, I can’t necessarily tell you which is going to survive in place and which is going to need to shift and track Sax explains that, for most species, the geographic grow up, let climate change catch up to that population, So what are conservation-minded scientists to do? changes in climate,” says Sax. “And if you don’t know boundary between a liveable habitat and an intolerable and have it poised to be able to reproduce in the future.” that, it’s pretty hard to prioritize conservation decisions.” one is not rigid. Instead, species’ ranges tend to fall on Dov Sax, an associate professor in the department of These types of interventions are part of a strategy known a gradient; that is, some plants tolerate a wide variety Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, has dedicated his One way to learn more about the conditions that a as managed relocation, in which scientists actively move of conditions exceptionally well, and thrive far beyond career to informing conservation policy by identifying given species is able to tolerate is to look at whether members of a species whose native range is threatened their expected climatic limitations. Others may grow, and filling knowledge gaps in the field. Now, he and his or not it is able to grow on its own, in the wild, in a by climate change. Sax hopes to inform the conversation but are unable to reproduce outside of their native range. team are trying to determine which plant species are location different from its expected habitat. These surrounding managed location by determining which Still others may fail to grow at all. most endangered by warming conditions in the United outliers are known as non-native species, and they can plant species are at risk—and furthermore, which of States. tell scientists a lot of information about the potential of These subtle differences in survival potential are those are likely to be savable. different species to withstand changes in their ambient important to understand because they enable This is not a straightforward question. “One of the big environment. conservation scientists to optimize their interventions. EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED problems we have is in understanding which species are It’s a lofty goal; and sometimes, predicting where a plant going to be at risk from climate change,” he explains. “One of the hallmarks of my science career has been “Imagine you have a long-lived organism like a tree that is likely to flourish is all but impossible. For instance, trying to understand what insights we can get from maybe takes 100 years before it can reproduce,” suggests while studying plants native to Europe, Sax and his team PICKING THE PLAYERS non-native species,” says Sax. “We normally think of Sax. “Imagine there is some place you could move it stumbled upon an interesting dichotomy. Plants that Species, even those that live near to each other today, them as a problem—and they often are a problem, but now where it couldn’t reproduce yet, but it could grow. had large geographic ranges in Europe generally thrived are not created equal. Some may be able to tolerate not always. They often have a lot of insights for us. You could move it now, establish a population, have it in areas of the U.S. that were climatically similar; wide variations in climate and will therefore be able to They’re sort of like unplanned experiments.” 8 / Earth Matters 9 / Fall 2016

however, plants with much smaller distributions had FORECASTING THE FUTURE completely unpredictable growth patterns once they In order to determine which species are likely to be the hit U.S. soil. Earth, Itself 2016: most threatened in the coming decades, scientists must do their best to understand exactly how the climate “The assumption had been in the past that if something is going to change. However, climate modeling is an is only in the foothills of the Alps, it’s a climate specialist. ATMOSPHERES inexact science. No one knows precisely how the It’s there because that’s the climate space that’s perfect for world will warm in the future, or how it will warm in it,” explains Sax. “And what that work showed was that 1. Wendy Woodson performs her a given spot. 1 that’s actually not true at all. We don’t know why those original theatrical work, Drift. species are limited just to the foothills of the Alps, but In an effort to account for these uncertainties, Sax and Photo: Corey Marsh it’s not climate.” his team are applying their data to multiple climate 2. Neil Safier, Director of the John models, under multiple conditions. Some species may So what is going on in plants with these mysteriously Carter Brown Library, opens the pass the test for all models, under all circumstances. Friday sessions. small, niche ranges? These species are likely to be safe in their current range. Photo: Alexandra Cerda One possibility is that the distribution of these species Others may fail all tests, and are likely to be unsafe in 3. Presenter Cymene Howe. is, in ecology parlance, dispersal-limited. In other words, their current range. Many others will pass some tests and Photo: Alexandra Cerda when a plant can’t move its seeds around, it will have a fail others, leading to a certain amount of uncertainty. very difficult time spreading—even to regions where it “It’s not so much that there’s an answer,” explains Sax, “as 4. Sound artist Garth Paine wires might otherwise flourish. much as, ‘this is what the range of approaches suggests up for his performance. Photo: Corey Marsh This is the case for some of today’s limited-range plants, for this particular species, or that particular species.’” which originally evolved to coexist with so-called For his part, Sax is motivated to do this work because 3 2 5. Sound program attendees take megafauna, giant animals of prehistory that helped to he believes that the world’s diverse ecosystems have in a unique audio experience. disperse their hefty seeds. But animals that exist today Photo: Corey Marsh immense intrinsic value. “There are a lot of reasons to are much smaller and lack the strength to do the same, not want to lose a major fraction of the species on the which puts limits on these plants’ ability to spread. planet,” he says. Join us for next year’s Earth, Itself event in “This research that I’m doing is pretty basic and fundamental to try and understand how big of a crisis April-May 2017 we’re really in,” Sax continues, “and in trying to decide 4 WHAT FIRE DOES how to prioritize what we do with the limited amount of will feature an extended funds that we have to try to spend on conservation goals.” series of thematic seminars, clustered interdisciplinary This kind of prioritization is an inherently interdisciplinary presentations, and sparks endeavor. As such, Sax sees a larger, collaborative role for of artistic inspiration in his colleagues in IBES down the road. conjunction with Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), whose native range is the Southeastern U.S., is spotted growing in New England. “This particular project is a project for ecologists and Providence WaterFire. Photo: Gretel Clarke biologists,” he says. “But, this project is filling a 5 knowledge gap so that I can come back to this larger set The fact that plants with especially small ranges tend of conservation questions. And for that, I will need the not to correspond with the ambient climate is what Sax sociologists and the political scientists and economists calls a ‘rule of thumb’. He conducts much of his research and the like.” in the service of seeking out similar patterns, with the The ultimate goal is realistic, workable solutions. “How hope that understanding these rules will better inform do we develop approaches that we can scale up?,” he asks. Convened conservation efforts moving forward. “This is one part of that puzzle.” ■ by Lenore Manderson 11 / Fall 2016

lives,” Atwater says, citing a domestic that you gain a lot of knowledge. example to illustrate his point. “If And once you get a lot of knowledge Last year we featured the story ATWATER AND NELSON TARGET BROWN, you’re a miner in Appalachia and and communicate that knowledge, of Peter and Pamela Voss, whose you suddenly aren’t allowed to that the answers start to become a dedication to environmental IBES AS INTEGRATIVE INNOVATORS mine coal, you can’t feed your kids. bit clearer.” research and education helps Environmental leaders can’t just bright young scholars conduct “My hope,” he concludes, “is that say, ‘Don’t worry about that, because new and innovative research each we won’t have to wait for another you’re saving the Earth.’ That’s not year. We spotlighted a handful of colossal disaster to trigger people these undergraduates and early- how things work.” career scientists in the last issue. Institute supporters John into action.” ■ Faculty and students at IBES agree; Where are they now? Atwater and Diana Nelson indeed, the Institute’s primary 2015-2016 VOSS are accustomed to seeking mission is to craft a sustainable cutting-edge, collaborative ENVIRONMENTAL future not only for the world’s FELLOWS solutions in the boardroom. natural ecosystems, but also for “The dual pressures of In recent years, the couple at-risk human populations. Atwater human development and ALEXANDRA SWANSON ’16 has extended their believes that Brown’s academic climate change make is now working as a policy community is uniquely qualified research assistant for the efforts to fostering new water resources a leading Providence City Council. She will to take up such a lofty charge. partnerships—this time, environmental challenge join the Peace Corps in February as an environmental volunteer. in environmental research “You have to have a more integrated of our century. Through and education. approach to figure out the most creation of the new Physical PAUL WOJTAL ’16 is currently equitable solutions,” he says. “And at Hydrology Chair, it is clear living in Portland, Oregon. John C. Atwater has always been Brown, students and researchers are in the upper Midwest, Atwater in indisputable and extraordinary an entrepreneur at heart. After encouraged to integrate all different that both John Atwater and FORMER VOSS found Providence and the academic ways. graduating from Brown in 1983, aspects of these issues so they can Brown University recognize POSTDOCS community new and exciting, but he completed a brief term on “The environment is really one understand the bigger picture.” this critical issue. I am also profoundly inspiring. SARAH IVORY has been awarded Wall Street before moving across of the biggest issues of our time,” Atwater and Nelson are confident excited and humbled by this an NSF grant to continue examining the country to earn his M.B.A. at “Brown, for me, was a sort of he says. that their investment in Brown’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity the long-term impacts of climatic Stanford University. At the age of intellectual and societal awakening,” processes on vegetation. She will Atwater cites a variety of emerging environmental programs will enable to join the world class faculty 29, he founded Prime Group, a real he says. “Minnesota during those bring her project to the Ohio State crises whose origins can be traced its scholars to do just that. To this University in December 2016. estate and finance venture based years was very, very homogenous. and students at Brown and in San Francisco that now owns to global climate change, from end, the couple has endowed a new Diversity was, ‘Are you German or the extraordinarily talented ERIC ROY is now Assistant the ongoing civil war in Syria Chairship in Physical Hydrology, and manages over $8 billion in Swedish?’ And then I got to Brown, and accomplished group of Professor of Environmental and changing trade routes in a role as joint professor in IBES real estate assets nationwide and and the world was so much bigger Sciences at the University of the Arctic to farming challenges and the department of Earth, scholars at IBES and DEEPS.” Vermont’s Rubenstein School of is one of the largest providers of and richer than I ever imagined.” commercial real estate debt in in South America and recurrent Environmental and Planetary Environment and Natural Resources. the country. Atwater has maintained a coastal flooding in Bangladesh. Sciences (DEEPS). The position will be taken up by Laurence C. Smith, REBECCA RYALS is now thoroughly global perspective When considering these issues, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Atwater, a product of Brown’s self- a widely acclaimed climate scientist – Incoming Atwater Chair ever since. Together with his wife he is careful to balance the Ecosystem Ecology at the directed curriculum, knows that his Diana Nelson, he has channeled environmental consequences of and author of climate change treatise of Physical Hydrology University of Hawaii at Manoa. undergraduate education played a that view into international travel, climate change with the social ones. The World in 2050. Laurence C. Smith JOHN ZINDA is now Assistant large role in grooming him for such nonprofit work, and a keen interest an enterprise; but he also credits “Somebody has to be thinking about “I’m interested in empowering real Professor of Development in current events. A consequence of Sociology at Cornell University. the second and the third and the experts to spend full time focusing the University with igniting in him his sustained attention, he explains, fourth level impacts of climate- on these challenges,” says Atwater. a brand new sense of perspective. is a strong conviction that climate based decisions on actual people’s “My belief is if you get the best Having spent his first eighteen years change is altering life on the planet people working across disciplines, 12 / Earth Matters 13 / Fall 2016

the effects of a full spectrum of years like 2050 and 2090 is likely her research will enable cities to temperatures. to overwhelm any modest gains in optimize their weather response health outcomes afforded by fewer plans and, ultimately, to foster better FORECASTING “Cold temperatures are also related cold days. public health. to illness and death,” she says, noting that as the world warms, colder In the face of such predictions, how At a place like the Institute, temperatures will necessarily occur can leaders ensure the best possible Weinberger feels confident about less frequently. “So as you look health for their citizens? expanding her project in this HEALTH IN A to the future,” she asks, “will the direction. “What’s incredible about increases in heat-related illness and Communication protocols like heat IBES is the freedom to pursue truly death be at least partially offset by warnings and advisories play an interdisciplinary research projects, decreases in cold-related illness enormous role in maintaining safe and the access to intellectual and death?” conditions for today’s city residents; resources to support those projects” WARMING WORLD these policies will only become she says. The answer appears to be ‘no’... or, at more vital in the coming decades. Epidemiologist uses climate models to predict health outcomes least, ‘not enough’. Weinberger and Weinberger herself hopes to extend “What interests me is, how can I her group have found that, despite her research into determining the ask questions that are scientifically predicting relatively fewer cold- effectiveness of current policies, as interesting and valuable but that can Intense heat has long been recognized Professor of Epidemiology Gregory mainly on temperatures only related emergency department visits well as identifying the factors that also inform a policy conversation?” as an insidious threat to public Wellenius, and graduate affiliate observed in New England between in the future, the rapid and dramatic improve or worsen their efficacy. she adds. “That’s the goal for me.” ■ health. Indeed, as the mercury rises, Samantha Kingsley, have long April and October. warming forecasted for benchmark In the long term, she hopes that so too do emergency department been exploring similar questions visits, hospital admissions, and even surrounding the public health But as Weinberger explains, the deaths. And as the world continues implications of climate change; future forecast may be more complex than that. She is now building on to warm, such measures of so-called however, their research has focused student spotlight morbidity and mortality are likely to the group’s former work by probing become more prevalent. Despite the state’s modern-day progressive they fundamentally altered the relationships Murphy is careful to note that, despite the leanings, sociology PhD candidate MICHAEL between people of color and the forms of race-based oppression that persist Kate Weinberger, a Voss Postdoctoral MURPHY knows that the history of racial environment. Moreover, he explains, these into the modern era, many people of color relationships are still complex and often do cultivate rich relationships with the Fellow and epidemiologist, wants remain bounded today—but by a notion natural world. He recalls a research project to quantify this increase. Here of race that has evolved alongside the undertaken with fellow IBES graduate affiliate in Rhode Island, Weinberger is ambient culture. Apollonya Porcelli and sociology graduate working with the state’s Department Karida Brown. “In that project, we looked at “To sociologists, race is still patterning human the ways that the environment and nature of Health to evaluate the relationship relationships all the time. It has just changed form an integral part of this community of between heat and poor health form,” says Murphy. “The form it has changed African Americans living in Appalachia—their outcomes. She then uses climate into [today] is one that is less obvious to a worldview, their sense of identity, their sense lot of people—but, it is very obvious to the of belonging,” he says. “And so I want to models to project what these people who deal with the consequences.” be careful not to sound too negative or to numbers might look like in the present too totalizing of an image, because not-too-distant future. He cites an example from his work with there are lots of ways that environment and the Brown Superfund Research Project, nature play a huge role in the identity of an initiative that studies the remediation “How many more heat-related African Americans and other groups.” oppression in Rhode Island is far from benign. of polluted neighborhoods in Rhode deaths could we see in 2050 or Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Island. These neighborhoods often In his dissertation, Murphy hopes to examine 2090, if temperatures increase by European settlers to the region ousted tens disproportionately comprise low-income the variety of ways—both positive and x degrees?,” Weinberger asks. “And of thousands of Native peoples from their inhabitants, particularly people of color, who negative—that race has patterned human have been living amidst contaminated soil relationships to the environment over the what does that mean for local health ancestral territory and enslaved thousands more Africans on unfamiliar lands. and drinking water for decades. As Murphy last three centuries. “Ultimately the goal is departments and policymakers?” explains, 300 years’ worth of racial progress to change how we think about race and the Murphy believes that these actions, has not equipped these individuals with the environment,” he says, “and if you weren’t Other IBES affiliates, including disgraceful and profoundly unjust in their resources to move. thinking about race and the environment, Weinberger’s mentor, Associate own right, also had a subtler consequence: to get you thinking about it.” 15 / Fall 2016

STONES OF SARDINIA: EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF AN ANCIENT COLONIAL HOTSPOT

One fine day in the 9th century BCE, bands of traders and colonists from the Middle East set sail across the Mediterranean Sea, headed for the island of Sardinia. There, they found an indigenous society living among giant stone towers called nuraghi, occupying modest dwellings built into the rocky monuments and herding cattle for sustenance.

Over time, the settlers influenced many fundamental or pioneering influential architecture—who, instead, areas of “Nuragic” life, giving rise to new ways of whiled away their days engaging in relatively quiet yet building homes, farming land, and cooking food— vital tasks like animal husbandry, cooking, or producing Aerial view of nuraghe Su Nuraxi (Barumini), which is one of the best preserved and most comprehensively excavated monuments. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage monument. Photo: Peter van Dommelen permanently altering the Sardinian culture and goods and services. For van Dommelen, unearthing the countryside in subtle ways, and preserving it in others. past represents a way to give voice to these so-called CONNECTED TO THE LAND “people without history.” revealing evidence of a food source that was preferred Thousands of years later, archaeologist Peter van in the local, Nuragic diet. Indeed, despite the changes It isn’t just people that change in the face of foreign Dommelen and his team are retracing these foreign Colonial encounters, like the ones that occurred in so often wrought by colonial settlers, van Dommelen influence; the earth beneath their feet changes as encounters in an effort to better understand the changes Sardinia beginning around 900 BCE, only serve to explains that some local traditions usually persist. He well. The Institute has sponsored an interdisciplinary wrought by colonialism in Sardinia, on both local enrich this study. Indeed, archaeology reveals much and his team are fascinated by the way that colonial branch of van Dommelen’s project in which the team peoples and their land. about the ways in which foreign influences altered the influences mix with native practices to create an entirely is examining the way that land use, geology, and soil lives of everyday people on the island. new culture. composition changed along with the ambient culture COLONIALISM AND CULTURE in Sardinia. Van Dommelen, a native of the Netherlands, has been “You see the culture changing,” explains van Dommelen. “What we’re basically looking at is a community that, by conducting research in Sardinia for over 25 years. His “People start eating in different ways. They change their the 5th or 4th century BCE or so, is still eating cattle as “It’s clear that agricultural techniques are changing,” he fascination with the region stems from its pivotal role pottery, their utensils, everything—their way of life, their ancestors had done,” explains van Dommelen, “but says. “After colonization there are simply more farms in what he calls the “formative moments of the ancient their way of burying their dead.” because of all their new connections, they are eating out in the countryside, so it’s actually a greater intensity their beef on a Middle Eastern flatbread, and enjoying of land use and of agricultural production.” world”: the arrival of Phoenicians from the Levant, the At excavation sites in Sardinia, van Dommelen and his it from plates that are Phoenician-style.” establishment of Carthage, the Punic Wars, and the team have uncovered proof of colonial influences in Van Dommelen is no stranger to the ways that humans subsequent sprawl of the Roman Empire. the form of Phoenician kitchen wares, Greek pottery, “In a way it’s comparable to what you see in our society, have altered their lived environments over the millennia. But his efforts are also based in a desire to shed light and large, Middle Eastern-style bread ovens; however, in cities, where you can go from pizza to Indian to From silty marshland forged due to damming of a large on the ordinary people of classical antiquity; that the researchers have also unearthed large numbers Greek on one street, and find them including native river around 500 BCE to ancient ice cores that show is, those who were not crafting famous works of art of discarded cattle bones alongside their other finds, ingredients like corn and turkey,” he says. evidence of pollution during the times of the Romans, 16 / Earth Matters 17 / Fall 2016

archaeology clearly reveals the historical human maintaining a local museum and accompanying Indeed, after centuries of outsiders reshaping the local influence on both local and global ecosystems. research infrastructure, and providing a safe space culture and heritage, Sardinia has become a melting pot for van Dommelen and his team to store their tools of many different influences: from its indigenous Bronze “That’s where the intersection with IBES is,” he explains. and equipment. In the summertime, local amateurs, Age roots and subsequent Middle Eastern influences to “People in the past engaged with physical landscapes and University students, and high school students even get the Roman Empire and the modern Italian state. The have left traces, built farms, and were working lands— their hands dirty by helping with the excavation. historical marriage of cultures on this small island is not they were transforming their environment.” linear or straightforward, but van Dommelen takes this In honor of the locals’ hard work and participation, van fact in stride. HERITAGE MATTERS Dommelen, his Sardinian counterpart Alfonso Stiglitz, In the Sardinian village of San Vero Milis, van and the rest of the team present their findings each year “Archaeology—seeing those direct remains—is often very Dommelen’s team works closely with farmers who are at the end of the field season, at an event that typically messy, and it confronts you directly with the messiness,” responsible for tending the same fields as their ancestors attracts 100 or more community members. Today’s he says. “Well, life isn’t straightforward and neat; it tends did, gathering information about the way they use the Sardinians are eager to learn more about their forbears’ View of fieldwork at S’Urachi in July 2015. This image shows a view to be messy. And that’s what I think you see in the past land today and describing the relics that have been traditions, livelihoods, and unique cultural relationship of area D, eastern sector. Photo: Peter van Dommelen as well.” ■ uncovered in the area. to the nearby giant stone nuraghe. of single-narrative, nationalist, or otherwise-motivated Van Dommelen is Director of the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World. He is the Joukowsky Family “It was very interesting, the survey that we did with the “The thing that they repeat all the time is that they’re pasts that are being promoted, but archaeology actually Professor in Archaeology, a Professor of Anthropology and Italian IBES funds, talking with peasants and farmers around so grateful that someone is really looking at their reveals that the past is never simple.” Studies, and an IBES fellow. the area,” he says. “They were very interested to hear monument,” van Dommelen says. “That’s how they what could be down there in something that they now regard it: ‘It’s our monument, it’s our ancestors and past.’ think of as their best land. That’s very rewarding.” And we’re coming up with all these details about the past and it’s basically bringing it back to life.” Thanks in part to an enormous stone nuraghe just student spotlight outside of town, locals have a keen interest in their “That’s where I think archaeology is important,” he

own heritage and history. In this way, van Dommelen’s continues, “because it helps people to create a relationship Last Spring, SOPHIE PURDOM ’16 became Christina Paxson and members of the seminar,” says Purdom. “We were wrong on research has become somewhat of a community to their living environment. And the living environment the first undergraduate appointed to the University’s Corporation, Purdom’s idea that estimate; over 100 students showed endeavor. is not just the environment that’s created by the city or IBES Advisory Council; however, this is far became the brand new Brown University up to the first class, and we already have a from Purdom’s Sustainable Investment Fund. waiting list for future years.” the state; it’s also the past that you relate to.” In fact, the village itself has facilitated many of the first advisory role. Over “The Fund is ground-breaking on both an She is looking forward to bringing her unique logistics necessary to the project at large: securing “We don’t live in a vacuum,” he adds. “We go somewhere, the last four environmental and an accessibility front,” point of view to the Institute’s roundtable. the excavation permit, hiring a staff archaeologist, but also we come from somewhere. There are plenty years, she has she explains. “First, it has a special investment “I’ve touched many different sides of the served on the focus on outstanding environmental, social student perspective throughout my time University’s and governance companies. Second, it has at Brown and with IBES,” she says. “I’m Environmental no minimum—meaning that anyone can give well-positioned to bring this perspective Change Task any-sized gift to the endowment.” to the Advisory Council, and am honored Force, headed to be working with the other brilliant and the Departmental Undergraduate Group Purdom also designed a brand new passionate council members.” for Environmental Studies and Science undergraduate course: The Theory and concentrators, engaged in policy negotiations Practice of Sustainable Investing. She spent Purdom explains that she is proud of the at the UN climate talks in Warsaw and Lima, her final semester at Brown teaching the Institute’s engaged, hands-on focus when and more. course alongside Cary Krosinsky, an Adjunct it comes to tackling complex sustainability Lecturer in International and Public Affairs challenges. “It’s fine and well to discuss issues Purdom is especially passionate about whose expertise in sustainable investing is and problematize all day,” she says, “but IBES tackling environmental issues from an internationally renowned. differentiates itself by taking research and economic perspective. After quickly rising learning outside the lab and the classroom, through the ranks to become co-president The course, which includes guest lectures and putting solutions into practice. I think of the student-run Socially Responsible by high-profile luminaries as well as that’s essential.” Investment Fund (SRIF), Purdom became opportunities to research and pitch convinced that the University could apply real-world equities, was in high demand. To learn more about the Sustainable similar principles to the management of its Investment Fund, please contact “We thought that maybe 30 students might be endowment. With support from President [email protected] interested in such an intense, focused, niche Animal bones from the domestic trash deposit at nuraghe S’Urachi, showing (from left to right, and top to bottom) cattle, red deer, pig, sheep/goat, dog, chicken, fish, horse. Photo: Peter van Dommelen 18 / Earth Matters 19 / Fall 2016

faculty spotlight

GETTING THE Carbon dioxide, a persistent byproduct of fossil fuels burned over the last century and a half, is known to be driving the acceleration of global LEAD OUT climate change. But what if

Early lead exposure affects cognitive health throughout the lifespan. CO2 could be extracted from the skies and transformed into a form of stored Until the late 1990s, lead-based energy? These days, TAYHAS PALMORE, an paint was a ubiquitous feature of electrochemical engineer and IBES fellow, is trying to do just that. Rhode Island’s lowest-income rental properties. After the state passed Lead, a common component of water pipes, paint, and, formerly, gasoline, is highly Her approach is a simple one: make use of neurotoxic to children. Photo: Nicola Buske legislation requiring landlords to the fuel cell, a technology known to convert fuels into clean electricity by way of an remove the paint, public health electrochemical reaction. At the heart of this experts predicted that the high “Nationally, maybe 25% of kids decisions. “I think [this research] technology is the catalyst, whose chemical blood levels of lead found in resident ever get screened for lead, and in really does support the notion that makeup and structural properties play a key Rhode Island that number is closer we should be spending money role in the outcome of the reaction. What children would begin to decline. But is most interesting, however, is that when according to Anna Aizer, Associate to 80%,” she says. “We are actually reducing children’s exposure to a fuel cell is run in reverse, powered by a Professor of Economics, children’s getting kind of a universe of kids, lead, particularly disadvantaged renewable form of electricity, CO2 can be so we have a really good picture of children,” she says. turned back into something useful—for lead levels were in decline even instance, a fuel that can be stored for the lead burden in Rhode Island— later use. before the law went into effect. The In this respect, Rhode Island could culprit? Yet another environmental moreso than you do in most states.” serve as an example for other areas. This approach is promising, in part, because source of the same chemical: leaded Aizer’s results confirm the adverse The state has done a particularly renewable sources of electricity, such as gasoline, which had been phased out solar or wind, tend to power down once In the 1990s, Rhode Island passed legislation requiring landlords of low-income housing to effects of early lead exposure on good job of addressing the issue the grid is “full”, even if the sun is still shining of circulation incrementally over the remove all lead paint from their properties. Photo: Kailani Acosta children’s brains, especially for of lead paint in rental homes, she or the wind is still blowing. But, given the preceding 20 years. those who are below the curve explains—and at a cost that is not right catalyst, fuel cells provide a way to turn such renewable energy into stored fuel, Such declines are good news for Aizer sees these types of Aizer is currently working on two academically. “For the average astronomical to landlords. allowing solar farms and wind turbines to kid, it’s not mattering a whole lot,” run 24/7 and ultimately making them more younger generations; however, for environmental health questions projects: one that explores the In Aizer’s view, removing lead she explains. “But for kids who cost-effective. those born before environmental as fundamentally economic effect of childhood lead exposure from children’s environments is sources of lead were addressed, the issues. “Economists spend a lot on test scores, and another that are at the bottom of the test score Palmore herself is motivated by both a moral imperative; however, it scientific curiosity and a desire to make an health effects are very real indeed. of time trying to understand the seeks to determine whether such distribution, lead levels are very is also an economically smart impact in the face of a swiftly warming planet. predictive of how well they do.” Like many heavy metals, lead is determinants of what we refer to exposure predicts future disciplinary decision: “I think targeted efforts She hopes to impart both ambitions to her highly neurotoxic—especially as human capital,” she explains. infractions and crime. There is students: “I would love it if they came up She and her team have also to reduce exposure to lead among with some wild idea that turned into a really in children. High lead levels in “Human capital is everything that a wide base of literature around found that lead levels are, these groups will have long-term exciting discovery,” she says, “because it’s childhood have been linked to a makes you productive, and those can these two topics; but Aizer’s their generation and future ones who are indeed, predictive of disciplinary gains, and that these remediation variety of cognitive health problems be both cognitive and non-cognitive work is especially strong, due in most likely to suffer the consequences of infractions in school and juvenile programs are likely to be very global warming, if left unchecked.” throughout the lifespan. Moreover, skills. And to the extent to which part to Rhode Island’s uniquely detention later in life. much cost-effective.” ■ the burden of lead often falls on the environment influences people’s comprehensive lead screening the most disadvantaged children, development of human capital—that campaign. Aizer is hopeful that her work perpetuating their social and makes it an economic problem.” will help to inform future policy economic limitations. 20 / Earth Matters 21 / Fall 2016

YOUNG SCHOLARS CONFERENCE CELEBRATES DIVERSITY IN SCIENCE BLACK FLIES,

networking, management, and achieving tenure. Most participants hailed from institutions outside of Brown, and more than half identified as belonging to historically GREEN FEED underrepresented groups. Undergraduates’ business revolutionizes Kenyan aquaculture

Institute fellow Meredith Hastings, who headed the conference, explains the event’s targeted efforts. “Research has shown With its white sandy beaches, crystal that women and minorities face additional hardships as they navigate scientific careers,” blue waters, and gently swaying palm she explains. In light of those challenges, she trees, Viraj Sikand ’17.5 describes says, the conference was an overwhelmingly Msambweni, Kenya as the picture of positive experience: “The participants were engaged, eager and full of questions, and they a tropical oasis. Sometimes it takes a village to navigate a arrived at Brown for three days of sessions did a fantastic job of taking advantage of the career in academia. dedicated to “thriving in the academy.” The opportunity to get direct feedback.” But there is trouble in paradise. participants, all senior graduate students Enter the Brown University Young Scholars or postdoctoral researchers, attended The conference, now in its second year, In recent years, commercial fishing Conference. Last May, nearly thirty early programming dedicated to helping them was co-sponsored by IBES and the Brown vessels have moved into the region, career scientists from all over the country explore their options surrounding mentoring, University Office of Institutional Diversity. ravaging the local waters in their quest to harvest small specimens like anchovies and sardines, which are student spotlight important sources of protein for feed formulation on inland fish farms. For decades, modern-day descendants “The environmental interest is something “It makes a huge difference in [Afro- These large trawlers commonly Brazilians’] political activism,” she says. of African slaves have been fighting for that is just so prominent in Brazil in general, displace handmade traps and land rights in Brazil; however, even when but also in the sector that I study,” says “They’re always on a plane. They are always The Kulisha team. Left to right: Lunalo Cletus, Maya Faulstich-Hon, Joseph Nderitu, Eric Katz, they succeed, these individuals and their Dias, a PhD candidate in the department of traveling. And these are people who would damage fragile offshore ecosystems, Viraj Sikand, and Arjun Paunrana. Photo: Naiya Raja. communities often find themselves caught in Anthropology and a native of Brazil. “It’s not never be able to even take a bus to the endangering both marine life and further struggles. Here at Brown, graduate necessarily something that was driving my capital of their state because they wouldn’t the local economy. student PAULA DIAS is studying these question when I first went to the field, but it have the money.” increasingly being heralded for at the University of Michigan. Since was something I just couldn’t ignore.” its potential to replace fishmeal in then, Katz has taken the helm as The consequences of so-called “oil- Now, Sikand and fellow IBES In recent years, environmental policymakers sponsored civil society” are mixed. Although undergraduate Maya Faulstich-Hon animal feeds; it is nutrient-dense, it business advisor, while Sikand, a in Brazil have been working tirelessly to Afro-descendant community associations ’17.5 are determined to provide is inexpensive, it is environmentally Kenyan native, has concentrated now have greater representation in mitigate the damaging side effects of the Kenyan fish farms with a better, sustainable, and it is easy to harvest. on site-specific logistics such as country’s latest economic boom. Thanks in environmental governance, the oil industry part to these efforts, oil companies are now is in a privileged position to frame local cheaper, and more environmentally- Kulisha will raise black soldier fly negotiating land use and making required to fund environmental education communities’ political claims. friendly feeding solution. They want larvae on a large scale and then arrangements with local fish farmers. projects in areas that may be impacted to forget the anchovies altogether; process, package, and sell the Faulstich-Hon, who joined the Dias is very interested to see how these by offshore drilling—including territories resulting feed to local fish farms as project last Fall, has focused her claimed by Afro-descendant communities. projects evolve over time. “Now Brazil is in instead, they are launching a Dias has centered her research around these this economic and political crisis,” she says. business that makes fish food from a healthy and wholesome source of efforts on multimedia advertising projects, which seek to give local community “There is this huge political scandal in the oil insects. sustenance. and product development research. associations a greater voice in decision- industry. There is this pessimism and political unrest in Brazil. I’m really curious about what issues from an environmental angle, as making by facilitating their participation in The business, named Kulisha after Sikand originally conceptualized The team also includes fellow environmental councils, public audiences, and will happen to these oil-sponsored projects side effects of Brazil’s booming oil trade the Swahili verb ‘to feed’, revolves the idea for Kulisha in the summer undergraduates and Kenyan natives threaten Afro-descendant lands, spurring other spaces of participatory environmental in the meantime.” resident communities called quilombos governance. around one simple organism: the of 2015. Struck by the concept’s Arjun Paunrana (UCLA) and Lunalo to band together and give voice to their black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). simplicity, he quickly consulted his Cletus (University of Nairobi), shared demands. This insect, in its larval stage, is friend Eric Katz, a business student as well as Brown engineering

continued on next page 22 / Earth Matters 23 / Fall 2016

Black Flies; Green Feed, continued concentrator Catherine Hebson ’17, students believe that launching their problems and feeding a growing who joined the team last spring. business with so few amenities will population,” adds Faulstich-Hon. Hebson is currently working with ultimately work to their advantage. “But at the same time, in Kenya FROZEN IN TIME Sikand and Faulstich-Hon on a series we’re not going to be marketing our Probing climate history with nitrogen on ice of rapid prototypes for harvesting “At the end of the day, we want to product as ‘sustainable’. We’re going mechanisms. develop technologies that could to be marketing it as a high-quality, be transferrable,” says Sikand. low-cost, nutritionally-adequate feed Meredith Hastings, a biogeochemist The team is sizable, and growing; “Potentially selling this pilot in a because of this huge market demand in the department of Earth, and as with any venture—especially low-tech scenario where we’ll rely for feed.” Environmental and Planetary one that is so global in scope— on things like charcoal fridges and Sciences, has been studying nitrogen maintaining cohesion has its obstacles. for over a decade. Why? “Sometimes I think it’s because nitrogen wasn’t “One of the challenges that we carbon,” she laughs. face is having a team that is so geographically spread out,” explains But as Hastings knows, nitrogen Faulstich-Hon. “Communication has is just as important to scientists’ clearly been a challenge, but it has understanding of climate change, been so great that Viraj, Cat, and I both today and in Earth’s distant are here at Brown.” past. Indeed, ancient nitrogen atoms, frozen deep within the ice sheets of The team’s dedication to Greenland and Antarctica, can reveal collaboration has paid off. Last much about the interaction between spring, both Sikand and Faulstich- nature, humans, and climate over Furthermore, explains Hastings, The nitrogen record compiled by Hon were awarded Brown University hundreds—or even hundreds of “the behavior of them relative to Hastings and her team suggests a Social Innovation Fellowships to thousands—of years. each other, of N-14 relative to N-15, massive spike in human inputs of continue their work during the seems to be different for human- nitrogen over the last 200 years, summer of 2016. The team has Over the course of her career, solar dehydrating—it’s an exciting In the future, the team hopes to made sources than biologically when compared to both the pre- also been awarded funding from a Hastings has spent many seasons opportunity for us.” tackle additional issues in Kenya; made sources.” industrial age and the last glacial- variety of other sources, including camping out on high-latitude plains the Thought For Food Challenge, an improving food accessibility, interglacial period. This additional Ground black soldier fly is a with colleagues, extracting ice cores For instance, anthropogenic sources annual international event held in crafting more sustainable waste nitrogen is primarily sourced from dramatically more sustainable in order to isolate and analyze of nitrogen (such as coal burning Zurich at which Kulisha triumphed practices, and harvesting oils from oil burning in the recent past. product than many other types the relic atmospheric nitrogen and fossil fuel combustion) and over 500 other projects to win the environmentally-friendly sources— of fish feed; however, Kulisha’s trapped inside. natural sources of nitrogen (such Indeed, as you read these words, yet grand prize of $10,000. such as black soldier fly larvae—are greatest allure is financial. “In all on the table. as forest fires and lightning) tend another fine dust of nitrate, carbon, At an atomic level, this nitrogen To date, the team has raised more Kenya, [aquaculture] has grown to produce different N-14/N-15 and other atmospheric particulates generally comes in one of two than $85,000 in total. “This project something like twelve-fold in the But ultimately, they want to make it ratios. Such discrepancies illustrate is settling on the dense snowpack of varieties: N-14, or N-15. These two has been able to develop beyond our past four years,” explains Sikand. clear that feeding the world is not an why examining the characteristics the Arctic and Antarctic plains; in “But the issue is that fish feed is impossible task. types of nitrogen are known as expectations,” Sikand marvels. of ancient nitrogen signatures can this way, the history of our time is super expensive in that country and different isotopes, because although be so telling; when trapped under already being recorded. With support from their various so a lot of it is being imported. It “I would say our mission is to they exist as the exact same element, revolutionize the feed industry the polar ice, they become a kind of awards, the team began building comprises 60-80% of your typical there is one crucial difference: N-15 The question now becomes: What in Kenya... slash, the world,” says striated time capsule that indicates their infrastructure last summer. farmer’s costs.” has an extra neutron. This particle will biogeochemists of the future Faulstich-Hon, with a modest laugh. what kinds of atmospheric events Their current site is modest: a small mismatch causes the two species find in the next generation’s thin “As an environmental science “We’ll start in Kenya.” ■ were occurring at different times. greenhouse on a piece of land to interact with elements of the slice of ice? student, I see the huge potential ■ just outside of Nairobi, with no Learn more about Kulisha at environment in different ways. And in the modern age, the signals of insect-based protein to solve www.kulishafeed.com electricity and no running water. But of human action are undeniable. despite the inherent challenges, the many of the world’s food security 24 / Earth Matters

ARCTIC ARTS PROJECT

The Institute is proud to announce a striking new addition to its walls: the drama of Arctic terrain, captured in two photographs by award-winning artist Kerry Koepping. The prints, Vatna Basin Rain (top) and Akureyri Retreat (bottom), are sourced from the Arctic Arts Project—a collaborative photographic exploration of climate change’s effects on the region. The Project, which is complementary to the Institute’s commitment to interdisciplinary study, aims to bring together artists, scientists, and educators to spark a new conversation about the realities of Arctic change. “In today’s world of visual literacy, I believe that it is important to communicate the science of climate change through a LEADERSHIP Andrew Foster, Economics VISITING FELLOWS medium that all can understand,” says Director: Amanda Lynch, Earth, Baylor Fox-Kemper, Earth, Environmental Geri Augusto, Africana Studies Environmental & Planetary Sciences & Planetary Sciences Koepping, who directs the Project. “It Lenore Manderson, Environmental Studies Deputy Director (Research): Leah VanWey, Justine Hastings, Economics Christopher Neil, Marine Biological Laboratory is how we can make science relevant Sociology Timothy Herbert, Earth, Environmental Siri Veland, Environmental Studies to the masses.” ■ Deputy Director (Education): Dov Sax, & Planetary Sciences Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Yongsong Huang, Earth, Environmental IBES ADVISORY COUNCIL & Planetary Sciences Kathryn S. Fuller, Chair INSTITUTE FELLOWS Robert Hurt, Engineering Craig M. Cogut Lint Barrage, Economics Nancy J. Jacobs, History Barbara Entwisle Bathsheba Demuth, History Agnes Kane, Pathology Nathalie Farman-Farma Scott Frickel, Sociology Karl Kelsey, Epidemiology James B. Garvin Meredith Hastings, Earth, Environmental Jung-Eun Lee, Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences & Planetary Sciences Warren B. Kanders James Kellner, Ecology & Evolutionary Richard Locke, Provost, Political Science Marcia McNutt Biology John Logan, Sociology Sophie Purdom Stephen Porder, Ecology & Evolutionary John Bradley Marston, Physics Taylor Ricketts Biology John Mustard, Earth, Environmental Kenneth Rivlin J. Timmons Roberts, Sociology & Planetary Sciences J. Marshall Shepherd G Tayhas R. Palmore, Engineering Bina Venkataraman TEACHING FELLOWS James Russell, Earth, Environmental Peter S. Voss Cornelia Dean, Environmental Studies & Planetary Sciences Dawn King, Environmental Studies Neil Safier, History Gifts to IBES are used to provide domestic and international research Content Development: Vanessa Janek Kurt Teichert, Environmental Studies David Savitz, Epidemiology Designed & Produced by: Brown University experiences for undergraduate and graduate students, prototype new MAKE A GIFT Katherine Smith, Ecology & Evolutionary Graphic Services research ideas, empower students to pursue learning opportunities, ELECTED FELLOWS Biology and more. Anna Aizer, Economics Peter Van Dommelen, Joukowsky Institute Front cover: Jökulsarlon, Iceland. for Archaeology and the Ancient World Cici Bauer, Biostatistics Photo: Vanessa Janek Gregory Wellenius, Epidemiology Kim Boekelheide, Pathology Back cover: Akureyri, Iceland. For more information on giving to IBES, please contact Terrie Fox Wetle, Public Health Photo: Vanessa Janek Meghan M. Frost at 401-863-1894 or [email protected]. Joseph Braun, Epidemiology Erika Edwards, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology ©2016 Brown University The Institute at Brown for Environment & Society Brown University Box 1951 Providence, RI 02912

XX% Total Recycled Fiber

XX% Total Recycled Fiber