Ecobaby News January 13 2003

Please note the link to our main site:
http://www.ecobaby.ie

Ecobaby Limited is pleased to report that a study of the composting of Eco Nappies
won the Intel Junior Environmental Award - Biological and Ecological, 
at the Esat BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at Dublin's RDS at the weekend.

The Study was undertaken by students at East Glendalough School, Wicklow.

The winners were: Sam Kirwan, Jack Fleetwood, Oliver Galbraith
Project Title:    Using Worms to Compost Toxic Waste

L to R: Oliver Galbraith, Jack Fleetwood and Sam Kirwan from East Glendalough
School pictured before their award.

What they did:
They investigated the possibility of using earthworms to compost Eco Nappies using
a wormery constructed according to the plans published on the Ecobaby website.

They got their 'used' Eco Nappies from the family of a staff-member at
East Glendalough School. The nappies were composted in the wormery using tiger
worms.

Dick Ahlstrom in the Irish Times (January 10 2003, page 9) reported that although the project 
ran between October and December, with wormery temperatures between 7 and 11 celsius,  
the nappies were in fact being broken down by the composting process. 

The students said that worms prefer 18 celsius. They also confirmed that worms prefer slightly
alkaline conditions, whereas their compost was slightly acid.

(note: acidity in composting and worm composting can be prevented by adding a handful of
ordinary garden lime occasionally, and ensuring the compost does not become waterlogged. also
make sure the compost is an aerated pile and not a solid, airless block!)

Ecobaby's involvement in the project:

Ecobaby Limited was first involved with this project AFTER it was completed.

We understand that the scientific process is not always best served when there is a connection 
of any sort between the scientists and 'sponsors' who may be providing funding or other facilities.

So, lest there be any doubt about it, Ecobaby Limited had no influence over any aspect of this project.

These Young Scientists have shown a keen interest in asking questions about solutions to big
environmental issues facing our World. East Glendalough School places a strong emphasis on good
environmental practice. Students there are quite aware of environmetal issues and the need
to look for solutions. Their teachers have pointed them towards the only possible way forward: good science.
Always question, always check, always prove by analysis. Their simple solution
to a big problem (treatment of toxic waste using worm composting) shows that the most important answers
are not necessarily the 'flashiest'.

More than anything, Young Scientists like Sam, Jack and Oliver deserve encouragement - they're too young to
understand the idea of a 'commercial associate' - life and tribunals will teach them all about that, Gerry.

Now that the study is finished, Ecobaby Limited has offered to provide the lead student in the group, Sam Kirwan,
with a computer, running Linux and Open Source software. With this he will be able to familiarise himself with
Linux and software running on Linux. According to recent trends, he is increasingly likely to need Linux skills
in the future. 

He will also receive the full suite of Open Office software: he will be able to open and share documents created
on computer systems different  to his own, and need never worry about licensing issues. (That's why more and
more schools are choosing Open Office software: never pay another software license fee again!)

And, to help with his hand-eye co-ordination, we'll install some really cool open source games!

Useful Links

http://www.egs.ie/  
East Glendalough School, Wicklow, Ireland - The Winners!

Scientific Research and Business:
http://www.esatys.com/science_set.htm - the ESAT BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2003
http://www.fondazionebassetti.org/0due/docs/economist-conflicts-of-interest2.htm - Does Money Corrupt Science?
http://www.sgr.org.uk/SciencePolicy/ScienceFunding.html - How Should UK Science be Funded?
http://www.researchprotection.org/COI/COI.html - Alliance for Human Research Protection - article on conflict of interests
in human research.

Linux Software Links
http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT9585754743.html - Alternative Computing in Education by Michael C. Barnes: a 'must read'
for anyone in teaching / education faced with audits, rising license fees, and sleepless nights wondering when the boogeyman 
will come to the school.
http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT4572551019.html - Alternative Computing Solutions for the Home by Michael C. Barnes: Don't
dump all those old computers: they're great around the house, as long as you use Linux and don't have to buy loads of licenses!
www.linux.ie - Linux stuff in Ireland - mostly technical
http://www.linuxlinks.com/Beginners/ - a good place for beginners to start finding out about Linux.
http://www.gnu.org/ - what the whole Open Source / Free Software Foundation thingey is all about. A 'MUST READ!'
http://www.linux.org/ - find out more about the operating system that is causing a revolution in the world of computers
http://www.ltsp.org/ - schools (or anyone else for that matter) can save a fortune by turning old 486s etc into perfectly fine clients
on a Linux network.
Schoolforge's mission is to unify independent organizations that advocate, use, and develop open 
resources for primary and secondary education.
http://linuxpr.com/releases/4752.html - Linux Enables Safe Computer Donations to Schools
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=6562&mode=thread&order=0 - Interview with a Grandmother - now a Linux user!

www.ecobaby.ie

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