Biology & Agri Zero¶
Scientific method¶
Introduction to science of Biology. Scientific method and focus on microbiology.
I started this seminar with a sceptical mindset because I have never studied Biology, so I was a little scared of not being able to follow the classes. I enjoyed learning all these new theoretical things about biology, agriculture, scientific papers, microscopy, etc., but also all the practices because I think that is an easy way to get engaged and learn while doing things with others. Following are some of my favorite practices we did during this seminar and some images I took.
Practice - 18.10¶
Creating a sterile environment and preparation sterile petri dishes. Observation trough microscopy.
DIY Yeast medium
- 10g Bovril
- 20g Aminoacids - build up muscle
- 5g Sugar
- 20g Agar
Practice - 25.10¶
Creating Bioplastics
Article¶
Argiles en el sol: Processos Psico-Quimics¶
by Giovanni Pardini Istituto per la Chimica del Terreno, CNR, Pisa, Italia
Reading scientific papers. Thinking about planetary wellbeing.
The most interesting aspect of the solid phase of the soil is given by the existence, in variable quantities, of clay minerals that constitute the seat of the main physical and chemical properties of the soil itself. The structure and permeability, and also the global dynamics of nutrients and pollutants is strongly influenced by the amount and type of clays present in the soil.
Clay minerals are characterized by having particular properties that depend mainly on their structure and surface charge density. Those with a T-O-T lattice (tetrahedron-octahedron-tetrahedron), better known in soil mineralogy for 2:1 structures, have isomorphous substitutions inside the crystal lattice, so residual negative charges originate that will of being neutralized by cations. Others, with a T-O (1:1) lattice, generally have no substitutions, and the negative charges appear at the edges of the structures, corresponding to the Si-O terminals.
Clays can take on a colloidal character, linked mainly to the dimensions of the particles. A colloidal clay particle, a clay micelle with hydrogen ions as counterions, can be represented as a colloidal macroanion that comes from the dissociation in water of a hypothetical aluminosilicic acid.