5/22 Scion Visit

Friday, May 22

Our day began with a visit to Scion Research Center. We began with a short presentation by Andrew Dunningham who gave an overview of the operations. In 1947 it began as a forest research center but now is government owned and compared to a federal lab in the states. He called it a poor cousin to a United States lab. Research is done in order to make forestry profitable, efficient, and sustainable. He touched on the role of science in society and how science facts would affect policy. Some topics included climate change, genetically modified organisms, along with the use of DET and formaldehyde.
Following Andrew’s talk, James and Richard took us for a walk to the Redwood forests which is called Whakarewarewa Forest. This forest has many benefits. It is used for mountain biking, hiking, socializing, learning, exercise and general fun. The people of New Zealand are willing to pay more money in their taxes for general upkeep. Biodiversity in the forest is well sustained. There are many types of birds as well as the wallaby and the wild hogs. The trees here act as a carbon sinkhole, taking in a large amount of carbon from the atmosphere. We learned about plantation forests that surround the Whakarewarewa forest that are used for lumber. Many trees have been tested to see which would grow most efficiently in the conditions of the area. It was discovered that the Radiata Pines were the best for many reasons. They grow very tall and straight so it is easy to plant a large volume of trees in a small area of land. These are also able to be harvested between 25 and 30 years of age which is rather young compared to the Redwood which can be harvested at about age 60. There had been ideas of using the Redwood forest for timber as well, but there was too much of an attachment to the trees so it was converted into more of a recreational forest.
Christian Walter spoke about the genetically modified Pinus radiata trees. The modifications began roughly 15 years ago. There is an annual increase in demand for wood and so the researchers at Scion are trying to find the best ways to modify the trees in order to accommodate the increasing demand. Over the next 50 years, demand is expected to increase at an annual rate of 1.7% however natural forest wood is becoming less available. Plantation forests take up about 40 million hectares of land which is 1.2 % of all forests. Their study looked at the impact that the genetic modifications have on the organisms that depend on the modified trees. They found that there are no negative impacts on invertebrates, microorganisms, or on the biodiversity in general. The modifications included a selection gene and a stunt on reproductive development. The selection gene encouraged new protein development which had a resistance to antibiotics that are dispersed by other organisms to try and wipe out the species. The concern that was raised by this was that the organisms that live near or on these trees would pick up the resistance and would be able to have an advantage over others. This was not the case. There was no impact on the surrounding organisms or the soil in the field tests. Reproductive development was reduced in order to limit the spread of trees that had been modified. PCR was used to test for the transferal of genes. The trees were cut down before they were able to flower in order to prevent spread.
Alison Slate then spoke about their Waste 2 Gold project. This project is still in the planning stages. The general idea is that organic waste can be converted into something usable in order to reduce costs, generate income and mitigate impacts of things such as greenhouse gases. The waste was placed in a converter where it was converted into either a biodegradable intermediate or into energy which could then be used to power the converter. A bioconversion then would convert the intermediate into either bioenergy, liquid biofuels, or biopolymers. The benefit of this process is the potential to remove 2/3 of the waste from landfills.
An Australian scientist took us on a walk to the test site for making eco-friendly plastics. We learned the process by which plastics are made as well as the modifications that are being tested in order to make the product more eco-friendly. Some of the tests that were run were hardness, pliability, overall strength, and the ability to mold the plastic into many shapes. Styrofoam was made from corn kernel extracts and held many of the same properties of regular Styrofoam. There were also tests using dried kiwi fruit and flax which are abundant in New Zealand, to modify plastic products. They were also testing planters that are able to be planted directly into the ground rather than removed and thrown away. They will decompose as the root system develops in the plant. Another product that was being tested was the spife which is the combination of a spoon and a knife which is commonly used to eat kiwi fruit.
Overall the day was very informative and suggested other ways to think about the environment and the impact that our waste and products have on the environment. The trip to Scion helped to make it more clear that convenience is not always the most important thing and that we need to start making the world a more eco-friendly place before we destroy the things that make our planet so rich in biodiversity.
Reported by Anna and Katie J.