From Oil to Soil: the shift, "a podcast that plants trees!‪"‬ Eamon Durkan

What is Biodiversity and Education?

Drawdown states, in their “Protect and Restore Ecosystems” section of their website, “Let nature be nature is a powerful principle—let peatlands, grasslands, and forests continue to do what they do best by protecting them from human disturbance. Where ecosystems have been degraded, restoration can help them recuperate form and function, including absorbing and storing more carbon over time.”

Who is Dr. John O’Halloran?

John O’Halloran is a proud alumnus of University College Cork. He graduated with a degree in Zoology in 1984, a PhD in 1987. He has published almost 250 research papers and a number of books.

In September 2020 he was appointed Interim President at University College Cork. Prior to taking up that role he had served as the Deputy President and Registrar since 2018.

His discipline is biology, and his main area of research is ornithology with a particular interest in both swans and dippers. He has also undertaken a significant body of research on forest ecology and forest biodiversity and has led a number of research projects with considerable input to local and EU policy and practice in the area of human influences on environmental change.

You can find out more about him by visiting www.john-ohalloran.com

What are the solutions of Smart Thermostats, Home Water Savings and Distributed Solar Photovoltaics?

Smart Thermostats

Drawdown explains that, “Thermostats are mission control for residential energy use for heating and cooling—9 percent of energy consumption in the United States. At present, the majority of thermostats require manual operation or preset programming, and studies show people are notoriously unreliable in doing either efficiently. Smart thermostats eliminate the capriciousness of human behavior, thereby driving more predictable energy savings.

Smart thermostats detect occupancy, learn inhabitants’ preferences, and nudge users toward more efficient behavior. The newest technologies also integrate demand response; they can reduce consumption at times of peak energy use, peak prices, and peak emissions. The net effect: Residences are more energy efficient, more comfortable, and less costly to operate.”

Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

Rooftop solar is spreading as the cost of panels falls, driven by incentives to accelerate growth, economies of scale in manufacturing, and advances in PV technology. Innovative end-user financing, such as third-party ownership arrangements, have helped mainstream its use. Yet, costs associated with acquisition and installation can be half the cost of a rooftop system and have not seen the same dip.

In grid-connected areas, rooftop panels can put electricity production in the hands of households. In rural parts of low-income countries, they can leapfrog the need for large-scale, centralized power grids, and accelerate access to affordable, clean electricity—becoming a powerful tool for eliminating poverty.

Who is Larissa Johnson?

For the last fifteen years, Larissa Johnson has dedicated her life to working with and for communities; helping people create sustainable, walk-able, bike-able, healthy neighborhoods that cultivate and invigorate the communities’ livelihood.

Prior to receiving her MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, she worked predominantly in the field of nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention and what she gleaned through her work is that the environment is at the center of literally everything we do in life. Without clean air to breathe – how do we stay healthy and combat preventative illnesses? Without clean water – how do we grow nutritious, locally produced food? And without green spaces – how do we learn to play and enjoy the outdoors again the way it was intended?

She is a huge proponent of working smarter, not harder and the only way to accomplish big things with limited funds and limited time is through partnerships. As a leader within the Climate and Energy Savings Movement in Maryland, she hopes to cultivate meaningful relationships that will benefit Marylanders from the mountains to the coast and across political and socioeconomic subgroups.

To find out more, check out her website: www.MontgomeryEnergyConnection.org

What is the solution of LED Lighting?

LEDs work like solar panels in reverse, converting electrons to photons instead of the other way around. They use 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs for the same amount of light, and half as much as compact fluorescents, without toxic mercury. By transferring most of their energy use into creating light—rather than heat, like older technologies—LEDs reduce electricity consumption and air-conditioning loads.

The question about LEDs is not whether they will become the standard in lighting fixtures; it’s when. The price (per watt equivalent) is two to three times higher than incandescents or flourescents, but falling rapidly. Virtually any bulb currently in use can be replaced by LEDs.

Who is Larissa Johnson?

For the last fifteen years, Larissa Johnson has dedicated her life to working with and for communities; helping people create sustainable, walk-able, bike-able, healthy neighborhoods that cultivate and invigorate the communities’ livelihood.

Prior to receiving her MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, she worked predominantly in the field of nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention and what she gleaned through her work is that the environment is at the center of literally everything we do in life. Without clean air to breathe – how do we stay healthy and combat preventative illnesses? Without clean water – how do we grow nutritious, locally produced food? And without green spaces – how do we learn to play and enjoy the outdoors again the way it was intended?

She is a huge proponent of working smarter, not harder and the only way to accomplish big things with limited funds and limited time is through partnerships. As a leader within the Climate and Energy Savings Movement in Maryland, she hopes to cultivate meaningful relationships that will benefit Marylanders from the mountains to the coast and across political and socioeconomic subgroups.

To find out more, check out her website: www.MontgomeryEnergyConnection.org

Happy Earth Day, Listeners!

Today's Minicast explores a poignant poem by the Ecologist/Poet, Wendell Berry. Along with this is features a mid-length prose piece, "The Carbon Story" by one of the founders of the podcast, Eamon Durkan. 

This Minicast concludes with a less known piece by the wonderful American poet, Mary Oliver, called "Such Singing in the Wild Branches." 

We hope you enjoy!

-The Oil to Soil TEAM

What is the Drawdown Solution of "Education"?

Drawdown states, “Climate and social systems are profoundly connected, and those connections open up solutions that are often overlooked. Some initiatives, designed primarily to ensure rights and foster equality, also have cascading benefits to climate change. It is critical that human rights are always centered, that gender equality is the aim, and that benefits to the planet are understood as positive ripple effects of access and agency.”

Who is Angel van Lawick?

Born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Angel van Lawick is the granddaughter of the inspiring primatologist, Dr Jane Goodall. Raised in a nature loving family, her fondness of nature and animals started at a young age. At the age of 18 she took a gap year to do voluntary work for the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots Youth Programme in Europe and the United States of America encouraging young people to take action on issues that mattered to them. Eager to further her studies, she then applied for a bachelor’s degree at The University of Cape Town, South Africa. In 2018 she graduated with A Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, triple majored in Social Anthropology, Sociology and Gender Studies.

As the granddaughter of Dr. Jane Goodall, she had always felt a strong attachment and responsibility towards the Jane Goodall Institute, not only did she feel responsible, but she also felt a connection with her grandmothers’ mission of creating a world where humans, nature and animals can live in harmony. In 2019 after completing her studies, she then embarked on a journey and co established Roots & Shoots in Cape Town, South Africa. Roots & Shoots is the Jane Goodall’s institute’s youth led program, “that helps young people become the informed generation of compassionate citizens that the world urgently needs”. She works with various schools from different communities and encourages and educates students to make a difference on an individual level. Angel hopes to continue inspiring young people, not only in Cape Town but around the world, as she believes that young people are capable of making a positive difference.

Website link: http://www.rootsandshoots.org.za

Instagram page: @rootsandshootscpt

Email: angel@rootsandshoots.org.za

What is Marine Permaculture?

According to the Climate Foundation, “Kelp forests are one of Earth’s most vibrant biomes and dynamic carbon sinks, drawing down more CO2 from the atmosphere by area than land-based rainforests do. They comprise a major tool in the fight against ocean acidification, climate change and biomass loss and hold the potential to help reverse global warming. In addition, kelp forests are the habitat and foundation of the food chain for countless of the fish and crustaceans many of us consume.” To learn more, please visit their website: www.climatefoundation.org. 

Who is Dr. Brian Von Herzen?

Brian Von Herzen obtained his A.B. in Physics, Magna Cum Laude, from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in Computer and Planetary Science from Caltech where he was the recipient of the prestigious Hertz Fellowship (http://www.hertzfoundation.org).

While at Princeton, Brian spent four years working closely with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.  At Princeton, his dissertation on global climate models demonstrated how changes in the Earth's orbit affects climate.  During his Caltech years Brian worked on models of the overabundance of carbon in Jupiter's atmosphere.

Much of Brian’s career has been in Silicon Valley, where he developed innovative technical solutions for companies like Pixar, Dolby, Microsoft, and others. Among other projects, he designed field programmable gate array (FPGA) applications considered to be among the world’s fastest at the time.

Brian leads projects on land and sea with  individuals and groups in all parts of the world, including India, Africa, and the USA. He is the founder of The Climate Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to halting global warming in our lifetime.

His work has also been featured in the new documentary, "2040: Join the Regeneration" You can find out more about him by visiting www.climatefoundation.org.