During our Sophomore year, we AGS students dealt with various global political, cultural, and environmental issues. The goal was to research various topics and examine specific areas in order to demonstrate influences or changes. Within the framework of essays for an Idea book, we should learn to think about the theses put forward, to get other points of view, and to form our own opinion. This was not easy at first, but through more detailed research and questioning, I learned to see the positive aspects of many things that are primarily considered negative.
In these two Short Essays, I explain my perspectives on a specific global situation that we have never known before, and a global technology issue, with which most people have a negative affinity. I wanted to understand contexts, explain pros and contras, and show perspectives.
Global Choice – Influences of the pandemic on School, Work, and Environment
Opportunity for change – The change in our living environment leads to new challenges that offer opportunities for the future. Therefore, despite all the negative news, there are also many good things that arise and positively influence the present and the future. However, many people are afraid of change and try to hide this fear by having a bad view of things. As a result, they don’t see that this is the absolute best time to shape the future better and to learn from mistakes. This can be seen very well using the example of the current pandemic.
Due to the stay-at-home orders, the schools had to develop new ways of learning very quickly. Online learning has been greatly expanded, as on-site learning is not possible or is only possible to a limited extent. That also has advantages! Many people claim that the students are not educated well and get lazy. But it is often the case that the new online learning means that students have greater personal responsibility and have to show discipline. You will learn how to use the new media even more intensively than before. Since there is no longer a trip to school, the students have more time for the many homework and can also take part in the lessons more rested. They can also solve the set tasks at their own pace but have to meet deadlines. It is undoubtedly a fact that social contact with other students is limited. But especially in the last few years, social networks have developed so strongly that even communication across continents is not a problem. And a lot was already running on these digital networks before the pandemic.
There have also been many changes in the economy due to the statutory provisions. The employees were sent to the home office and could no longer work in the offices. This new confidence in people that they can do their jobs properly from home is very good and will continue to prevail in the future. Since the office space is no longer needed, the companies save rent and electricity and can use their profits for other developments. Many people have also lost their jobs, but many new jobs have also been created. The fact that people are now shopping for more things on the Internet has created numerous new jobs in delivery services and department stores.
Since people no longer have to drive to work and students no longer have to drive to schools, air pollution is significantly reduced, which is good for the environment. This is verifiably confirmed by the current CO2 development.
Since people can no longer easily take part in leisure activities in nature, such as swimming in lakes or rivers, the waters are less polluted due to the significantly lower number of bathers. On the other hand, the strong increase in online shopping has put a greater strain on the environment through the production of additional waste, which hopefully leads to new concepts for waste prevention and recycling, which will be good for the environment.
Changes often have a positive effect on the future because, in the worst case, we learn how it doesn’t work, and so we can also learn something from negative facts. Much will not replace the habits of the past, but rather complement them in the future and thus increase the variety and choice.
(For more information:
https://cdn.statcdn.com/Infographic/images/normal/23228.jpeg
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18922-7)
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Nuclear energy – the clean but radioactive alternative to burning fossil fuels.
The burning of fossil fuels is an essential aspect of global climate change. It is, therefore, necessary to expand the existing alternative energy sources, taking into account their efficiency and safety. Nuclear energy is a particularly controversial alternative because, on the one hand, it can significantly reduce air pollution in the context of direct energy generation, but on the other hand, it involves the risk of possible radioactive contamination. In order to be able to assess nuclear energy as an alternative energy source, it is necessary to know how a nuclear power plant works.
How do nuclear power plants work?
A nuclear power plant essentially consists of a nuclear part, in which heat is generated by nuclear fission, and the conventional part, in which the heat is converted into electricity. The conventional part is just like the traditional coal and gas power plants. The big difference, however, is that it produces neither air pollutants nor greenhouse gases when it generates heat.
With the energy that is released when atomic nuclei split, water is heated under high pressure. This creates water vapor that drives a steam turbine that is connected to a generator. This generator generates electricity that is fed to consumers via the power grid. (Swissnuclear 2018).
What is the chemistry like in a nuclear reactor?
In the nuclear section, the reactor core, which consists of long fuel elements, is located in a thick-walled reactor pressure vessel made of steel. These fuel elements, in turn, consist of bundles of thin fuel rods in which the nuclear fuel is in the form of small tablets containing uranium. Nuclear fission takes place in the fuel rods, which are sealed airtight, producing heat. (Swissnuclear 2018).
“The proton-rich uranium isotope 235 plays a central role. The uranium isotope 235 has the peculiarity that it is in two atomic nuclei when one adds such a neutron to it. The result of this split is two positively charged fissure nuclei that feel abstract because of the Coulomb force. The kinetic energy that controls it belongs to 80 to 90 percent of the energy released by nuclear fission. In addition to the two fission nuclei in nuclear fission, another two to three neutrons. These split further uranium isotopes 235, distinguish even more neutrons and energy are released.” (Kernspaltung o. J.).
What are the dangers of nuclear energy, and how can they be reduced?
Nuclear fission is an extremely efficient method of generating energy. But it is criticized because of the possible risks. The radioactive radiation released during nuclear fission is dangerous, so appropriate protective measures must be taken. Even small amounts of radiation can change the genetic material in the cells. Radioactive radiation can also cause malformations in newborns. Higher doses of radioactive energy kill cells directly. In order to reduce the dangers, nuclear power plants are equipped with special safety devices.
Thick concrete walls prevent radioactive radiation from entering the vicinity of the nuclear power plant in the event of an accident. (Kernspaltung o. J.).
However, the risks of radioactive contamination are more likely to be viewed as a consequence of a catastrophic cause that is unlikely to occur in normal operations. The greatest risk is natural disasters or terrorist/military attacks. In the past, there have been disasters that have had global effects (Chernobyl / Fukushima). In Chernobyl, serious construction defects and deficits in the safety culture were the cause of the disaster. In Fukushima, an earthquake triggered the disaster.
Safety deficiencies and construction errors can be classified as human errors and can be reduced by various measures (for example, the principle of multiple eyes). Natural disasters, on the other hand, cannot be foreseen but can be reduced by theoretically running through possible events and developing appropriate security concepts. Risks cannot be completely avoided, but they can be reduced to a minimum!
The transport and storage of nuclear waste also pose a major challenge. Since reactor components and burned-out nuclear fuel continue to emit radiation for several thousand years, particularly safe storage is required. (Kernspaltung o. J.).
Kernspaltung (o. J.): in: https://www.verivox.de/strom/themen/kernspaltung/, [online] https://www.verivox.de [01/14/2021].
Swissnuclear (2018): in: https://www.kernenergie.ch/de/so-funktioniert-ein-kernkraftwerk.html,
https://www.kernenergie.ch/de/so-funktioniert-ein-kernkraftwerk.html [01/12/2021].
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