- (1)How do you as a designer want to skillfully and creatively meet the realities of the Great Acceleration? (What kinds of projects and actions do you think might be needed)?
As a designer who wishes to skillfully and creatively meet the realities of the Great Acceleration, I end to make a documentary about the Great Acceleration. In more detailed words, the documentary can make full of various materials to skillfully and creatively meet the realities, such as graphs, narratives, interviews, etc. Specifically, the documentary is supposed to keep records of some major indicators of how human beings greatly influence the entire globe during the Great Acceleration. Some typical indicators include how human activities influence global warming, ocean acidification, and endangered species. Via multiple forms of information and vivid visual audio effect, the documentary is supposed to skillfully and creatively meet the realities of the Great Acceleration.
(2) Research the word Anthropocene and write a short description that you would share with a close friend (using your own words, language to explain, not an internet definition). Images are encouraged. How resilient is your hometown ecology to climate change/the Anthropocene? Do people have a relationship with the natural environment today? Gather reported scientific data on climate change and the vulnerabilities of your hometown or region. What human or environmental systems are affected by climate hazards? Are people doing anything about it?
Literally speaking, the word Anthropocene refers to the current geological age in which the activities carried out by human beings have been exerting dominant and significant impact upon the global climate and natural environment. In terms of how my hometown ecology is resilient to climate change, I feel worried about the serious influence caused by global climate change upon my hometown. The reason is that my hometown is at seaside and the global warming can result in a rise in sea level, damage of the city and serious loss of citizens, etc. In the view of how global warming influences my hometown and local residents, it is obvious that people have a relationship with the natural environment today. According to the scientific data, “Furthermore, the warming shows a clear spatial distinction over China: being stronger in the northwest part and weaker in the southeast part” (Fu et al., 2018). Such climate change has been evoking public concern in the society and threatening survival of some species. Therefore, Chinese government and the general public in China have been taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission and reduce global warming, such as policy making to enhance environmental protection.
Reference:
Fu,Y., Lu, R. & Guo, D. (2018). Changes in Surface Air Temperature over China under the 1.5 and 2.0 °C Global Warming Targets. Advances in Climate Change Research, 9(2), 112-119.
(3) Next week we will tour the Donghia healthier material library on Campus to learn about their work. What are you most interested in learning about at the library during the tour? What are two questions that you have for the librarian?
One key point that I feel most interested in learning about at the library during the tour is why it is so important for human beings to have the healthier material education and choice. As the tour about the Donghia Healthier Materials Library which aims to promote material transparency, I thus wish to get a better understanding about its importance and relevance to the human society. Specifically, my two questions about the librarian are: (1) how can material transparency influence human society and the Earth? (2) What are some expectations for material education and choice in next few decades?
(4) Watch 2-3 videos from the Green Science Policy Institutes’s video series (7 videos in total, each about three minutes long) on the “Six Classes of Chemical Concern”. Answer the following questions on your LP and come to class prepared to discuss your research and responses in class.
Which video did you watch?
Explain in detail what was most surprising to you about the videos and why?
Do you use any of these materials commonly in your work or personal life? Which one?
Will you change your behavior as a result of watching this series?
Why do you think so many chemicals exist in temporary design?
The video I watched is the Introduction to the Six Classes Approach. The most surprising thing mentioned in the video I that chemicals can have such a huge impact upon human beings and the natural environment, as well as other living creatures. The reason is that I tend to consider daily used products and relevant chemicals as safe or at least degradable for granted. After watching the series, I learnt that there are 8000 chemicals on the market today and some are harmful; therefore, I will learn more about chemicals and reduce consumption of chemicals. The reason why there are so many chemicals in temporary design is that people fail to have scientific and technological innovations to replace and reduce unnecessary chemicals.
