On one of our classes on Friday, we were assigned to visit Boston’s Museum of Science (MOS) and to write a blog on some specific topics. It was not my first time visiting there; I have taking my little cousins to the museum more than three times, but I always learn something new every visit. You can always feel mesmerized every time you enter the place and can see how much knowledge you can absorb. The museum of science is a great way for kids to learn and have fun at the some time.

One of the topics that the professor assigned for us to write about was Innovative Engineers. I have chosen this topic because I know I will be benefiting from it and will increase my knowledge in the filed of engineering. When I have entered the section there were several brilliant engineers that have achieved a lot and have changed our world. I got inspired by a woman engineer her name is Helen Greiner. Helen Greiner not only has created a company, but she has created a community of academic and industry leaders.  People who are creating a technology that is saving lives and improving life experiences. Helen has taught me that dreams can become a reality. She believes that technology leaves a positive impact on society. She has inspired me to achieve my goals in life and become the excellent engineer I could.

Helen is the co founder of iRobot (Helen with one of the iRobot robot)

While walking to the MOS I have noticed that they have their own wind turbine to generate their power, which inspired me a lot. Knowing that they devote the museum for teaching the kids and at the same time using their knowledge to benefit themselves. Also I have seen the solar panel that the exhibit has and I was filed with joy; I know that was not my first time seeing it, but each time I see it I still feel joyful because it’s the only big real solar panel I have seen in my life. Furthermore, when I entered engineering I immediately devoted my interest to power. In addition, this section of the museum was very helpful to me. In the museum they have show us why wind and solar power are very important and where each source is located in the United State. Having to absorb this section in the museum I have learned for myself and I have fulfilled the assignment sheet. We have a saying in Arabic (I hit two birds with one stone) meaning that I have benefited my self and did my task at the same time.

It was a great trip to the museum of science with my friends. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot. The MOS visit was very informative and interesting overall and truly spectacular and impressive. By the time it was almost one a clock my stomach started making sounds and I have to shut it down by eating good food (silly) and because of that I left with my friends to get some food after finishing all the assignment that was required.

I have over slept at the day of the trip (Sad face!) and because of that I have not fully experienced the whole trip, but got some information about their lab through their website.

The MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory (MIT-NRL) is leading university laboratory that conducts in interdisciplinary research. MIT-NRL operates a 5 MW nuclear reactor in the United States. Our mission is to provide faculty and students from MIT and other institutions with both a state-of-the-art neutron source and the infrastructure required to facilitate to use of the reactor.

I have found some useful information from their brochure

– What are these? (Observe from left to right):

A) Reactor Top View.                                    B) Nuclear Reactor Core.

C) Reactor Floor View.                                  D) Reactor core with Cerenkov radiation.

E) Silicon area and Prompt Gamma Facility.

G) Control Panel for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Irradiation

H) Fission Converter Process System I) The NRL control room

– Experimental facilities: The MITR operates at full power 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. A typical fuel cycle lasts about 6 weeks. Table 1 is summary of the neutron fluxes of the major experimental facilities.

Table 1.   MITR Neutron Flux Levels at 5 MW

Over all I have wanted to go badly, but sleep was to powerful to handle that morning, knowing that I had to spent all night writing our midterm exam (Ha Ha!).

President Obama has introduced a new national plan to confront the growing threat of the changing climate. Decades have pasted with carefully reviewed science, tells us our planet is changing in ways that will have profound impacts on the world we leave our children with. Already we know that the 12 warmest years on record history have all come in the last 15 years and the last year was the warmest in American history. While we know no single weather event is caused solely by climate change, we also know that in a world that’s getting warmer then it used to be, it, more extreme droughts, floods, wildfires, and hurricanes affect all weather events. Those who already feel the affects of a changing climate do not have time to deny it, they are busy dealing with it, the firefighters who brave longer wildfires seasons, the farmers who see crops wilted one year and washed with the next, western families worried about water that’s drying up; the costs of these events can be measures in lost lives, livelihoods, homes, businesses, and hundreds of billions of dollars in emergency services and disaster relief. American across the country are already paying the price of an action in higher food costs, insurance premiums, and the tab for rebuilding; so the question is not whether we need to act, the question is whether we will have the courage to act before it is to late.

The National Climate Action Plan that the president unveiled will cut carbon pollution, protect America from the impacts of climate change and lead the world in a coordinated assault on a changing climate. Therefore, to reduce carbon pollution the president have directed Environmental Protection Agency to work with stats and businesses to set new standards that put an end to the limitless dumping of carbon pollution from our power plants. The president indicates that America will use more clean energy and waste less energy throughout its economy and to prepare from the impact of climate change that we cannot stop, but we can work with communities to build smarter more resilient infrastructure to protect our homes and businesses and withstand more powerful storms. America will lead global efforts to combat the threat of a changing climate by encouraging developing nations to transition to a cleaner sources of energy and by engaging our international partners in this pipe, while we comate businesses we also share plane too and we must all shoulder the responsibly for the future of America. Together this is the fight America can and will lead in the 21^st century, but it will require all of America’s citizens to do their part. America will need scientists to design new fuels and farmers to grow them, engineers to devise new technologies and businesses to make and sell, will need workers to man assembly lines that come with high-tech, zero carbon components and builders to have earned a place the foundation for a new, clean energy age. Will need to give a special care for people and communities unsettled by this transition and those of us in positions of responsibility will need to be less concerned with the judgment of special interests and well-connected donors and more concerned with the judgment of our children. If you agree with me I need us to act, educate our classmates and colleagues, our family and friends, speak up in our communities, remind everyone who represents you at every level of government that there is no contradiction between a sound environment and a strong economy and that sheltering future generation against the ravages of climate change is a prerequisite for us vote. We will be judged as a people, as a society, and as a country on where we go from here. The plan the president put forward to reduce carbon pollution and protect our country from the effects of climate change is the path we need to take and if we remember what is at stake the world we leave to our children I am convinced that this is a challenge that we will meet.

Sources:

– http://www.whitehouse.gov/energy/climate-change

– http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org

– http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/president-obama-climate-change

To build or not to build the seventeen hundred mile Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry Canadian oil from the northern border to American refineries on the Gulf Coast. The answer should be obvious when you consider that the US spends a million dollars a minute on OPEC oil and the pipelines have proven track record being the safest and the most economical means of transporting oil and natural gas. As the Business Manager of the UA Local 798, Danny Hendrix says: “We design it right, we build it right, we get the right contractors then we don’t have any problem, instead we will have a hundred years pipeline”.

To demonstrate that those who would build the Keystone XL have the skills to successfully complete this critical work, the organization responsible for training them made its case. Pipelines local 798 and the union representing workers in the pipe trades, invited the public in to witness the quality of its training and to hear how it will make the difference “first of all there’s not a better qualified or trained pipeline workforce in the world; we are the best we are pipelines that’s what we do that’s all we do” said the financial secretary of the UA local 798, David Barnett.

The United State currently spends almost one –half trillion dollars a year on oil from OPEC nations. Some say it helps to finance the other side in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Canada on the other hand is proven all and partner with common goals and values. Oil from keystone XL is projected to reduce consumption from OPEC by 12 to 15 percent. In the current economy job creation is the top priority, Keystone XL will put people to work, almost up to 13,0000 construction jobs. It is not jobs only it is generating tax revenue and generating income for everybody along the rout. Supporters at Keystone XL say it is the best way to ensure that America addresses current energy need while making the transition to alternative energy that is sustainable and green it’s. However, by stabilizing the economy in America, by providing jobs, by assuring that America have a reliable source of energy it can transition that technology and it can transition to the alternative sources of energy that is the future of America.

Sources:

– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Pipeline

– http://www.foe.org/projects/climate-and-energy/tar-sands/keystone-xl-pipeline

-http://keystone-xl.com