Abdullahi O. Yusuf University of MN Maham019@umn.

edu

As a University of Minnesota student, majoring in Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, Abdullahi Yusuf finds tremendous satisfaction helping his peers achieve their own successes. In 2006 Abdullahi joined the Southern Minnesota chapter of Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) Youth Computer Training Program (YCTP). The YCTP class is focused on teaching advanced web programming to high school students. Our chapter trains over sixty students each year, meeting for three hours each Saturday over nine months. At the end of our rigorous season,

the top five students are chosen to represent our Southern Minnesota chapter at the BDPA National Programming Competition. In Abdullahs first year participating in YCTP he immediately excelled in the class, quickly learning each programming language that was taught, including HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP server side scripting and MySQL relational databases. What stood out most about Abdullahi was his intense effort and motivation. He eagerly met every challenge and displayed immense creativity. Abdullahi was awarded a spot as an alternate on our chapters National Competition team, a rare achievement for a first year student. After his successful rookie season in YCTP, Abdullahi continued to grow in confidence, ability, and leadership. By his 2nd year in the program, Abdullahs technical abilities and natural charisma drove him to become a leader among his peers. He served as a role model and mentor to other students, putting aside his own ambitions to help others succeed in this difficult course. His leadership and technical knowledge earned him a position on the 2007 National Competition team. To prepare for the National Competition in 2007, the students worked with trainers for up to 30 hours per week throughout their summer vacations, practicing computer programming, project management, presentation, and teamwork. Abdullah's hard work paid off as he helped guide our Southern Minnesota chapter to a first place finish in the nation at the BDPA National Competition in Washington D.C. Abdullahi continued to demonstrate leadership and technical acumen as he again earned a position on the 2008 National Competition team and guided the chapter to its second consecutive first place finish at the National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon returning to Minnesota, Abdullahs endearing personality made him a favorite among local reporters. After two consecutive first place finishes at the Nationals, Abdullahi was determined to lead his chapter to their third consecutive national championship at Raleigh, North Carolina. BDPA Southern Minnesota has earned its place as one of the most respected chapters in BDPA nation. After graduating high school, Abdullahi enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota Rochester. His continued dedication to technology and commitment to BDPA led him to compete in the IT Showcase in 2010, where he placed third with the topic "Robotics, Bioinformatics and Medicine in the Health-care Industry." Abdullahi is returning to participate in the IT Showcase in 2011, presenting his research "How Microbiology and Computer Science Will Lead to a Global Green Initiative." He continues to serve his local BDPA Chapter by volunteering as a student instructor. * Note: in 2011, Abdullahi legally changed his name from Ahmed Mahamad.

How Microbiology and Computer Science Will Lead to a Global Green Initiative Abdullahi O Yusuf aka (Ahmed H Mahamad) University of Minnesota Rochester, MN INTRODUCTION The advancement of technology is a continuous effort that will allow us to prosper for many years to come. Its the very essence of success in our time, the cornerstone of our civilizations. The development of science in addition to the technological achievements of this century will embark us on an adventure that will last. Just imagine the new medical instruments that will be utilized to help patients recover. However the success of our people depends on the environment on which we thrive. Could it be that our planet is in danger of toxins, environmental changes, and inadequate use of energy? This paper will discuss how Science (Microbiology) in combination with the efforts of technology (Computer Science) will lead us to a global green initiative. MICROBIOLOGY/ CONTROL OF WASTE Microbiology is defined by the Department of Microbiology at Cornell University as, the discipline of biology that studies the fundamental nature and utility of unicellular organisms, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, that are too small to be seen with the naked eye, i.e. (Department of Microbiology, 2011). Our environment is more important than ever today. We need to protect it even if its our fault. Microbiology can teach us ways we can clean up the mess made by inadequate forms of energy. Since fossil fuels produce great of amount waste in addition to radioactive materials produced by nuclear reactors, we must find a way to decompose this waste. A certain microorganism will help us solve this problem after further study. According to Nature News, Another strange discovery is a previously unknown Deinococcus a group of bacteria known as the world's toughest capable of tolerating -ray exposures 5,000 times greater than those survived by any other known organism, despite living 15 metres beneath the permafrost. These levels of radiation have never existed on Earth, so the source of the bacterium's resistance is a mystery. Theories put forth so far include that the microbe had an extraterrestrial origin. Blamey says that at this point, no theory has been discarded. (2011) The bacteria can be used to treat radioactive sites due to its resistance to many extremes. Researchers are studying ways to use this unique ability to solve other issues.

TECHNOLOGY Before we discuss the impact of Technology on the environment, we must take into account some definitions. According to Dictionary.com, Technology is the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science. (Dictionary.com, 2011) How can technology produce energy that will sustain our growing population? We can address this question by understanding some of our options. Then we can choose the best form of energy that will produce the most efficient energy while producing the least amount of waste. In addition to this a proposal will be given based on the material covered. NANOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS According to Princeton University, Nanotechnology is, the branch of engineering that deals with things smaller than 100 nanometers especially with the manipulation of individual molecules. (Princeton University, 2011) This technology can be used to build robots that will allow us to accomplish tasks with precession. What better way to solve global energy problems, then with the use of Nanotechnology. According to Argonne National Laboratories, Nanotechnology is being used or considered for use in many applications targeted to provide cleaner, more efficient energy supplies and uses. (Argonne, 2011) The uses for Nanotechnology can be seen in Lighting, Renewable energy, and Power Chips. The use of lighting can be seen throughout the world and its uses are quite important. However, In the United States, roughly 20% of all electricity is consumed in providing incandescent and fluorescent lighting. (Argonne, 2011) We can use light-emitting diodes otherwise known as LEDs. Once the use and research for light-emitting diodes is complete, it can replace the inefficient light we use today. Argonne once again states, Semiconductors used in the preparation of LEDs for lighting are increasingly being built at nanoscale dimensions, and projections indicate that nanotechnology-based lighting advances have the potential to reduce worldwide consumption of energy by more than 10% (Argonne, 2011) Increasing the efficacy of heating in homes can lead to energy efficient alternatives. Argonne points out this potential by saying, Nanotechnology may help accelerate the development of energy-efficient central heating. When added to water, Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) disperse to form nanofluids. Researchers have developed nanofluids whose rates of forced convective heat transfer are four times better than the norm by using CNTs. When added to a homes commercial water boiler, such nanofluids could make the central heating device 10% more efficient. The researchers say that the technology is 3 to 5 years away from commercial home use (Argonne,

2011) Once nanofluid technology is perfected in the heating of the home, the consumption of energy will be dramatically reduced. Nanotechnology has lead to the discovery of Power Chips. What makes this chip different from other is the ability that it can directly convert heat to electricity. The Power Chip is a new technology that uses the physical mechanism of thermionics and quantum thermotunnelling to generate electrical power directly from heat, with no moving parts, and with a higher projected efficiency than any current technology. (Power Chips, 2011)

The use of these chips will allow companies to produce large amounts of energy directly from the sun, and other sources. The potential for these chips will be witnessed in the years to come.

SOLAR Our planet is enriched with abundant sunlight that could power our energy needs. Solar energy is obtained from sunlight using the solar panels that will eventually be converted into mechanical or electrical energy. The Encyclopedia of Earth states that, only one billionth of the energy that leaves the sun actually reaches the earth's surface, this is more than enough to meet the world's energy requirements.(EOEarth, 2011). The hard part is storing all of that energy, but we can use photovoltaic cells that store energy in a clean matter without the assistance of mechanical components.

The diagram above depicts how sunlight is converted into usable electrical energy via photovoltaic cells. y y y y y The light of the sun is gathered by the photovoltaic cells. The photovoltaic cells are gathered on a board connected to each other with a wire in between each cell. The light is then converted into an electric current which is then sent to the charge controller From the control charger the current reaches the battery From there the energy can be sent to a direct current or alternating current

However some solar panels can only sustain energy through the day. However with photovoltaic cells the suns energy can be stored in a battery for later use. A great example of how the sun can be used to power our daily lives. WIND The furry of the wind can be captured as a form of energy. The most common way to harness wind power is by setting up wind turbines. The figure below demonstrates how wind power turbines work.

Wind power is clean compared to fossil fuels, but how much benefit can wind power provide in the two decades? According to the American Wind Energy Association; y Electricity generation is the largest industrial source of air pollution in the U.S. and demand for electricity continues to grow. The United States produces six billion metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. By 2030, this number could reach 6.75 billion metric tons. 40% of CO2 emissions are generated by the electric power sector. Wind power generates no emissions, and displaces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that would otherwise be emitted by fossil fuel-fired electric generation. The clean generation provided by wind capacity installed through 2008 will displace approximately 44 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. One megawatt-hour (MWh) of wind energy produced reduces CO2 emissions by roughly 1,200 pounds. The average turbine installed in 2008 was 1.67 megawatts (MW) in size. A single 1.67-MW turbine would produce over 5,000 MWh of electricity per year and reduce CO2 emissions by over 3,000 tons. (AWEA)

The benefits of wind are indeed striking, however some have doubts. One way we can depict the growth of wind power is by referring to this graph below. This graph depicts the annual growth along with the continuous growth of wind energy by reducing emissions up to the year 2030.

HYDROELECTRIC Hydroelectricity is another way of saying waterpower. Water is abundant on this earth which means it can be used not only for life, but as a form of renewable energy. If hydroelectricity is used effectively it can produce a large amount of electricity that can be used to produce energy. How does Hydroelectricity work? Well according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, A hydraulic turbine converts the energy of flowing water into mechanical energy. A hydroelectric generator converts this mechanical energy into electricity. The operation of a generator is based on the principles discovered by Faraday. He found that when a magnet is moved past a conductor, it causes electricity to flow. In a large generator, electromagnets are made by circulating direct current through loops of wire wound around stacks of magnetic steel laminations. These are called field poles, and are mounted on the perimeter of the rotor. The rotor is attached to the turbine shaft, and rotates at a fixed speed. When the rotor turns, it causes the field poles (the electromagnets) to move past the conductors mounted in the stator. This, in turn, causes electricity to flow and a voltage to develop at the generator output terminals.(Hydroelectric Power, 2011) We can refer to the figure below to better understand how Hydroelectricity works.

NUCLEAR Technology in the 21st century has allowed us to understand the power behind nuclear energy. However there is still controversy on the usage of nuclear energy. Nuclear power produces a very small amount of carbon emissions. However its risks are greater than its benefits. To help you better understand the issue of nuclear power, we must first examine how it generates electricity. The process begins with nuclear fission. According to the Alternate Energy Sources, Nuclear fission is the process where the nucleus (hence 'nuclear' energy) of a 'heavy', fissionable atom is split. Enormous amounts of energy are released in this process. (2010) The enormous energy produced by the nuclear reaction heats up the water around, and then converts it to steam. The steam turns the turbines so it can get the electro-magnetic generator to produce electricity. This electricity can power enough energy to supply a whole city. However these facilities must be kept at safe because the risk of radiation is too high. If the reactors were to blow up it would cause massive chaos. Just like the Japanese incident that was caused by the earthquake in March. The New York Times sates that, In the early days after the earthquake and tsunami, many Tokyo Electric workers had little time to speak out. An explosion had blown the roof off one of the reactor buildings in Fukushima, heightening fears of large-scale radiation exposure. To stabilize the reactors and restart cooling systems, the company rushed to reconnect the power plant to the electric grid. (2011) The radiation can contaminate sea life which is a

way of life for some people. On the other hand it will harm the people that live in the surrounding areas. Refer to the graphic below for a better understanding on how nuclear energy works.

FOSSIL FUELS According to the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural resources such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years. (1999) Fossil fuels can be further classified into oil, gas, and coal. The process of converting fossil fuels into electricity is by burning. This heat causes a generator to produce electricity as well. How harmful can fossil fuels really be? According to Wikipedia, The burning of fossil fuels produces around 21.3 billion tonnes (21.3 gigatonnes) of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, but it is estimated that natural processes can only absorb about half of that amount, so there is a net increase of 10.65 billion tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year (one tonne of atmospheric carbon is equivalent to 44/12 or 3.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide). Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that enhances radiative forcing and contributes to global warming, causing

the average surface temperature of the Earth to rise in response, which most climate scientists agree will cause major adverse effects. (2011) If fossil fuels were consumed at this rate, we would end up damaging much of our planet. The Energy Information Administration created a graph to illustrate where most of the carbon dioxide emissions are coming form.

Proposal
As stated earlier we will choose the best form of energy that will produce the most efficient energy while producing the least amount of waste. To illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of energy production refer to the table below. Reasons for these choices will be explained in the presentation. Type of energy production Waste Safe Renewable Solar Wind Hydroelectric Nuclear Fossil fuels

No Yes Yes

No Yes Yes

No Yes Yes

No No No

Yes No No

PROPOSAL I plan to develop a wind turbine that has the base covered with solar panels, and on top very aerodynamic turbines. The tower will collect solar power through its panels. The panels will help turn the turbines constantly when wind is relatively unavailable. In addition to this hybrid wind turbine a hydroelectric plant will connect to the turbine incase of an accident. A filed of solar panels will be placed near by in order to produce additional energy to power the system. The goal behind this idea is to produce energy without harming the planet. If this method was applied in a large-scale format then the use for fossil fuels and the risk of nuclear reactors will be minimized dramatically. This will eventually lead to a global green initiative. Due to the limit of this paper, examples of this plan will be presented at the conference.

References subject. (n.d.). Antarctic microbes live life to the extreme : Nature News. Nature Publishing Group : science journals, jobs, and information. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110404/full/news.2011.207.html American Association of Petroleum Geologists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Association_of_Petroleum_Geologists BELSON, K. (n.d.). Panic and Heroism Greeted Crisis at Japan Nuclear Plant - NYTimes.com. The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/asia/31workers.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 Department. (n.d.). Microbiology. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.micro.cornell.edu/cals/micro/department/ Elcock, D. (n.d.). Potential Impacts of Nanotechnology on Energy Transmission Applications and Needs. Environmental Science Divisio. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://corridoreis.anl.gov/documents/docs/technical/APT_60861_EVS_TM_08_3.pdf

How Does Nuclear Energy work? - In Essence It Is Simple. (n.d.). Alternate Energy Sources For A Flourishing Future. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.alternate-energysources.com/how-does-nuclear-energy-work.html Power Chips plc. (n.d.). Power Chips plc. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.powerchips.gi/index.shtml Technology | Define Technology at Dictionary.com . (n.d.). Dictionary.com | Free Online

Dictionary for English Definitions . Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/technology Wind Power and Climate Change. (n.d.). Wind Power and Climate Change. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.awea.org/learnabout/publications/upload/Climate_Change.pdf WordNet. (n.d.). Princeton.edu. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=nanotechnology Images http://integratedgreenenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/diagram_solar_power.gif http://www.solarpowernotes.com/non-renewable-energy/how-nuclear-power-plant-work.jpg http://clearlyahead.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/how_wind_turbine_works.jpg http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/graphics/hydroturbine.jpg http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggccebro/images/New%20Fig%203.gif http://www.powerchips.gi/power_chip1.gif