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	*iSCAN* Newsletter Vol. 8 June 1999 Spring '99 Meeting, Wexford The iSCAN Spring Meeting and AGM was held on Saturday, 20 April at the EPA HQ, Wexford by kind permission of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Agency's new headquarters building on the Johnstown Castle Estate provided very agreeable surroundings for the meeting and we are grateful to John Feehan of the EPA for making the excellent local arrangements. Eight speakers dealt with different aspects of the theme: Understanding the Environment and reports of their presentations are given below. The AGM included reports of the year's activities and the adoption of a constitution. A copy of the constitution is enclosed with this newsletter. The Spring '98 meeting had been held at the Ulster Museum in Belfast with Dr Graham Durant and Ms Aisling Byrne as main speakers. The Autumn '98 meeting in Galway had been opened by Mr Noel Treacy T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce; the keynote speaker had been Mr Roy Hawkey from the Natural History Museum in London. Thanks to John Donovan and Bill Davis respectively, the iSCAN Webpage had been set up and the iSCAN Directory had been published. The following were elected to the Committee: John Daly, Bill Davis, Joe Dwyer, Ian Elliott, John Feehan, Brendan Finucane, John Flynn, Roy Johnston, Rick LeVert, Byran Maguire / alternative, Sally Montgomery, Caroline Nolan, Carol Power and Noo Wallis. The EPA Exhibition by Geraldine Ruane The Environmental Protection Agency's travelling exhibition, which is based in the exhibition centre in HQ, provides information about current environmental issues in an interesting and lively way, through the use of interactive computer based information, scale models, photographic, audio and video material. The exhibition is providing a very useful element in the Agency's environmental information and awareness programme. The main focus of the current exhibition deals with the problem of waste management and comprises the following exhibits: Large graphic displays entitled 'The size of the Waste Problem', 'The Solution to the Waste Problem', 'Applying the Solution - What's Europe doing?' 'Applying the Solution - What's Ireland doing?' 'The Modern Landfill' 'Waste Licensing Procedures', 'Waste not - Want not' attempt to help the viewer understand the problems of and solutions to the waste problem in Ireland. An interactive model shows the workings of a modern wastewater treatment plant and is backed by information boards which give more detailed information on the process. Computer based exhibits: The work of the Agency's Environmental Monitoring and Laboratory Services Division is detailed on a purpose built graphic display which houses three interactive computer based exhibits. In addition to the Agency's website, users may also access: Ireland's Interactive Environment which allows the user to access information on the environment using interactive maps. The user can select information on bathing water, groundwater, river water quality, waste management facilities or IPC licensed facilities and look at related environmental data. For instance when looking at a landfill location the user can also access information on the geology of the area, the groundwater, river quality and so on in addition to specific information on the particular landfill. Air quality information system presents air quality data on ozone, sulphur dioxide(SO2) and smoke levels in Ireland. The ozone data is generated by the Agency's monitoring activities, while the smoke and sulphur dioxide(SO2) data comes from Local Authority monitoring stations. The ozone monitoring network consists of six stations distributed around Ireland. The sites have been selected to accurately assess ozone exposure risks to humans and vegetation. Ozone levels are recorded on an hourly basis. Currently data for 1996 and 1997 is shown, in the future, however, it will be linked to the monitoring network to provide real-time ozone data. Changing poster displays on international and national environmental issues are also included in the exhibition. Further information: Geraldine Ruane EPA, Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford Tel:(053)-47120 E-mail: g.ruane at epa.ie Making Environmental Information available to the Public by Eileen Lawlor What is Enfo? Enfo is a public information service on environmental matters. The service was established in 1990 and provides easy public access to wide-ranging and authoritative information on the environment. Our function is to collect and maintain up-to-date information on all aspects of the environment and to make it readily available to anybody who has need of it. The Enfo information centre at 17 St. Andrew Street, Dublin 2, offers a wide range of facilities for personal callers and visiting groups. It provides an attractive atmosphere for schoolchildren on group outings or pursuing individual projects. It also offers facilities for in-depth study and research by third level students, researchers, consultants, journalists, environmental groups and others. These facilities include: information leaflets on environmental topics video-viewing facilities for groups or individuals videos available on loan interactive computer games on environmental themes computerised information on the quality of Irish rivers and air reference library of books, journals and reports including a special section for children computerised bibliographic reference system (Enfo database) in the library which enables users to select the most suitable items an inventory of environmental impact statements (full text on microfiche) submitted to Irish planning authorities reports of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on a wide range of environment-related topics (full text on microfiche of over 100,000 reports), . on-line access to international databases access to INFOTERRA international information exchange system operated under the U.N. reading-room facilities, lecture room and audio-visual equipment posters and other display material. Enfo aims to distribute its services on a widespread basis. The query-answering and video-lending services already serve all areas by post, telephone or fax, as appropriate. The information leaflets produced by Enfo are available in many public offices throughout the country including local authority offices and public libraries. Group Visits and Videos Group visits to Enfo are welcome and assistance is provided to meet the requirements of a group as far as is possible. Videos are available to borrow or to view on the premises. Delivery of Information When a request for information on any aspect of the environment is made to Enfo we: provide the information from own resources on a same-day basis in the vast majority of cases, or obtain the information from some other source if we do not have it ourselves and deliver it as quickly as possible to the enquirer, or in a small number of cases of particular detail or complexity, identify the best source of the information and put the enquirer in direct touch with that source. Enfo is open to the public from Monday to Saturday from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Further information: Eileen Lawlor ENFO, 17 St Andrews St., Dublin 2. Tel: (01)-888-2925 E-mail: info at enfo.ie www: http://www.enfo.ie A Brief History of Soil Science at Johnstown Castle by Evan Byrne Soon after the Normans landed at Bannow Bay in 1169 they built a castle at Johnstown, which is about 5 miles outside of Wexford town. This estate has a long and varied history and one of the previous owners Hamilton Knox Grogan Morgan (about 1820) had a laboratory in the ballroom wing of the present castle and was "adept in chemical science". After the death of the last private owner, Lady Maurice Fitzgerald, in 1945, the estate (some 1000 acres of farmland, 400 acres of wood and amenity areas, 3 lakes and buildings) was handed over to the Nation to be run as a horticultural college. This horticultural college, where students studied for two years before finishing at the Botanic gardens, was in operation up to the 60s. Agriculture in Ireland in the late 40s was in trouble because of widespread soil acidity and low soil fertility due to the deficiency of major and trace elements. The fact that lime and fertiliser usage had been inadequate is understandable when one considers that the 2nd world war had just finished in 1945, and the depression of the 30s and the national unrest of the 20s were still having an effect. Crop production and quality was very poor and animal problems were widespread and this national problem had to be addressed. The first National Soil Testing was started in one room of the castle in late 1949, under the Dept. of Agriculture. Equipment was primitive, including the 'famous' bicycle wheel and the medicine bottle. Most of the chemical procedures were imported from the USA and for many years most of the research workers in soil science received postgraduate training in the States. This new testing service and supporting research was headed by the dynamic Dr Tom Walsh. Very son the laboratory procedures were moved from the Castle to renovated buildings in the old farmyard. The extra space and equipment was of great benefit to the fledgling service. In the first year of operation 1000 soil samples were analysed and this annual total rapidly grew to over 100,000, the highest total being when Ireland entered the EEC, with a total of 170,000 soil samples that year. This shows the confidence Irish farmers had in soil analysis and the future of Irish farming. Research work concentrated on pot and field experiments to calibrate the soil tests and to formulate lime, fertiliser and trace element recommendations suitable for the wide range of Irish soils. In 1957 a new purpose built laboratory was opened and the old farmyard laboratories closed. Until ACOT took over, the advisers were under the county committees of agriculture. Only the advisers or research workers were allowed to take soil samples because of the essential need to take representative samples and also to fill in forms with full details of soil structure, depth, underlying geology, peat, colour etc. This field data was used in conjunction with soil tests to give an accurate recommendation. In 1960 Johnston Castle was taken over by AFT (the Agricultural Institute), under its first Director, Dr Tom Walsh, and soil research and soil survey work was developed further. Great emphasis was placed on trace element levels for crops and animals, including elements such as Mo, Se, Co, Cu. In the early 70s a further new laboratory (later called the Walsh laboratory) was opened to accommodate the expanding research programme. By now the soil, plant and other analysis systems were automated and computerised and had earned an international reputation. Teagasc took over Johnstown Castle in 1987 and a new emphasis added to the research and testing programmes was the environment. By now the fertility of Irish soils was high, in some areas excessive, with the danger of fertiliser run-off into rivers and lakes. This was reflected in the new research programmes. Production research was scaled down and more emphasis given on the environment and sustainable agriculture. The long-standing free soil testing service was made fee paying, but continued to enjoy the confidence and support of Irish farming. Now on the Johnstown Campus are Teagasc, the EPA and a section of the Dept. of Agriculture. The old laboratory buildings in the farmyard have been turned into an agricultural museum, which exhibits many of the instruments used in the early days for soil testing. Can we say that the wheel has turned full circle? Further information: Evan Byrne, Johnstown Castle, Wexford. The South Wexford Coast: a case study in environmental interpretation by Jim Hurley The South Wexford Coast is a 40km-long heritage coastline in the extreme south-east corner of the island of Ireland. Known as the 'Model County' and the 'Sunny South-east', this corner of Ireland is unique nationally in that it enjoys the highest mean daily duration of bright sunshine. The coastline consists of two large, south-facing, sediment compartments lying in between three rocky headlands. The Tower of Hook, one of the oldest lighthouses in Europe, marks the pointed tip of the western headland, the limestone promontory of Hook Head. The rounded eastern headland is the granite outcrop of Carnsore Point, the Southeast cornerstone of Ireland. The coastline is largely composed of deep and extensive glacial deposits. It is eroding because of its softness and because it faces prevailing Atlantic weather systems and ocean swells. This results in great diversity of habitats. Environmental quality is high. The South Wexford coastal strip supports fourteen natural heritage sites. Ten of these fourteen sites have been rated of international importance. The inshore waters of the Irish Sea connect all of the sites to each other or together. To have so many sites of such importance clustered together on so short a length of shoreline makes the South Wexford Coast one of the most outstanding heritage features in Ireland and a significant feature of the heritage resources of the Atlantic biogeographic region of Europe. The main biotypes present are wetlands, sediment systems (gravel, sand and mud) and offshore marine islands. In terms of the natural heritage of Europe, the most significant habitats that the South Wexford coastal zone supports are lagoons and sand dune systems. Plant communities are particularly rich in maritime species. The most significant faunal species are waterfowl (including the Bewick's Swan Cygnus colombianus bewickii, Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus and Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons jlavirostris), terns (including the Roseate Tern Sterna dougalii), the Otter Lutra lutra, small cetaceans and a number of species of bats. The combination of having so many important sites clustered together, of habitat diversity being extremely high, of communities being species-rich and of environmental quality being exceptional, result in an outstanding natural heritage resource. From Information Provision to Active Management of the Environment by Caroline Nolan It is one thing to have information on the environment, it is another to use that information to change your lifestyle. This is the challenge facing bodies such as the Strangford Lough Management Committee, whose role it is to advise on all aspects of the management of one of the most important marine sites in Europe. The Committee faces two enormous communication barriers, both enshrined in its title: the fear of the imposition of management matched by scepticism of achieving anything by committee. Yet it has striven to overcome these afflictions of perception through a deep-seated belief in the need to actively engage locals and Lough users in monitoring and managing the Lough's resources. Last year the Committee researched what people knew, and what they wanted to know, about the Lough and its management. In a public survey, most locals said that they did not want more environmental information but would like to know how to use the Lough sensitively - a very encouraging pointer. Results from a series of communication workshops, which for the first time brought together the experiences of very different special interest groups, has also shaped SLMC's approach and formed the basis of its communication strategy. The first task was to raise awareness of the environmental importance of the Lough and issues relating to managing its resources in a sustainable way. The second, but equally important task was to make the marine environment and its management relevant to people, especially when many of its treasures lie hidden beneath the waves. To reach the widest possible local audience, a colourful and informative leaflet was produced and mailed direct to 36,000 households in the area. The leaflet carefully balances human interest with environmental concerns - reflected in the vivid images of wildlife juxtaposed with people using the Lough for recreation and business. The eye-catching cover features an aerial view of the Lough and surrounding houses with the caption "People and Strangford Lough" ie this could be about you. SLMC has also produced a small touring exhibition, available to local groups and visitor centres. Its messages are reinforced through face to face talks and workshops with community groups and organisations, where questions and feedback are encouraged. The Committee has also instigated a £100,000 project to bring organisations together to jointly produce "core" information on the Lough, using research findings to set objectives and determine content. The intention is to rationalise and help signpost people to, existing sources of information and address any shortfalls which no one organisation would fill. One of the most exciting aspects of this "Information Network" is that it will cut across the traditional boundaries between tourism, environmental, economic and management information provision. The Strangford Lough Management Committee is appointed by Government to advise on the strategic management of Strangford Lough. It comprises a wide range of interests, from commercial fishing to conservation, and helps formulate balanced opinion on diverse issues. Further information: Caroline Nolan Strangford Lough Management Committee, 13 The Strand, Portaferry BT22 1LA Tel: 0801-24777-28886 E-mail: cn.slmc at dial.pipex.com The ecos - millennium environmental centre by Billy Reid Billy Reid described a new environmental centre which is being established on the outskirts of Ballymena, Co. Antrim. The centre consists of a special-purpose building on a 150-acre site. The entire development will cost £10 million sterling, funded equally by the UK Millennium Commission and Ballymena Borough Council. The project was originally conceived in 1973 as a town park on an area unsuitable for agriculture. In 1995 the Belfast-based practice of WDR & RT Taggart was appointed to develop a visitor centre where the buildings, displays and surrounding landscape would communicate a central theme of environmental sustainability. The 3000 sq. metre landmark building will demonstrate the use of alternative technology to reduce environmental impact. The building will include a combined heat and power unit fuelled by locally grown willow wood and it will also have solar heating panels and photo-voltaic arrays. A 30-metre high wind turbine will be located nearby. ecos will be home to Northern Ireland's Environmental Centre, providing a central source of information for the province and a gateway to worldwide resources. The official opening is planned for Easter 2000. Further information: Billy Reid Ballymena Borough Council, 80 Galgorm Road, Ballymena, BT42 1AB Tel: 0801-266-666-300. Enabling the Information Society by Bryan Maguire Dr Bryan Maguire, Head of the Department of Science in the recently established Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology spoke about the future educational needs of the information society. Compared to other countries, the opportunities for lifelong learning in Ireland were quite limited. New educational facilities would be required to exploit the potential for mass communication of information made possible by new technology. The Dun Laoghaire Institute was forming partnerships with the local community, RTE and Compaq. In collaboration with the Southside Partnership it was hoped to establish a children's museum on the campus; as well as serving the local community it would provide opportunities for research on learning techniques. The liason with RTE's Education and Learning Channel would help to provide content for the new digital TV channels and research on public attitudes to information technology would be important for the computer industry. All these activities would benefit from the Institute's existing expertise in knowledge and media studies. Further information: Dr Bryan Maguire DLIADT, Carrig Lea Park, Dun Laoghaire Tel: (01)-214-4735 Email: b.maguire at iname.com Growth, Science and Sustainable Development by Ray Wilson The paper commenced by illustrating the importance of precision when describing man's relationship with the environment so as not to generate an illusion regarding either its state, the factors responsible for that state or the real value of mitigating programmes. The exponential growth of the human population, together with the rapid increase in energy consumption and related differentials between developed and developing economic regions were then enumerated to place a scale on the current and projected enviromental dilemma as expressed in conventional terms. Arguments were then proposed pointing to the economic model and the associated pursuit of growth as being both an important value base embraced by modern society and a root cause of the environmental dilemma. Sustainable development, as defined in the EU's fifth programme for the environment, was discussed, with a critique of whether its aspirations were realistically achievable. This was done by reference to the equation: Global environmental burden= GNP per capita x Environmental impact per unit of GNP x Global population The paper highlighted the implications of this equation, using typical numbers for both population and economic growth, on the rate at which environmental burden per unit of GNP must be reduced to maintain the global burden at some constant level. When combined with consideration of the probable significant time lag between cause and measurable effect, the complexity of the environmental problem was confirmed. A number of international action programmes responding to the environmental situation were discussed and the characteristics of and requirements for a formal environmental management system were summarised. The paper concluded by challenging the validity of a policy founded on sustainable development, before having established the many thresholds and interactions within the environment necessary to put dimensions on sustainability. The principle of the precautionary approach, which emerged from the 1992 'Earth Summit', was advocated as a relevant reference for all involved in science, the facilitator of growth in modern society. Further information: Dr Ray Wilson, Gaia Consulting, PO Box 4334, Dublin 13 Tel: 01-839-2484 E-mail: consult.gaia at indigo.ie www: http://indigo.ie/~gaia/consult.html For a copy of the full paper send a A4 SAE to Gaia Consulting. - OTHER NEWS - The Science Bus The world-wide health care group, Pfizer Inc., have recently donated £350,000 towards the establishment of a Science Bus by Dublin City University. The Bus will be equipped with a range of 'hands-on' exhibits designed to excite and capture the imagination of young students aged 9-12 years. Science and technology are perhaps two of the most important elements in developing the economy of Ireland. However, there is a major shortage of suitably qualified people available for employment in this areas. One reason for this is the lack of understanding of the role of science, particularly at a time when young people are making career and subject choices at school. The Science Bus is designed to try and counteract this problem The project may be described best as a mobile interactive science lab which is available to travel to schools and public venues nationwide. Geared initially for senior primary school children, students will have the opportunity to explore science by seeing its everyday applications. Prior to the visit of the Bus, they will be involved in data collection such as soil and water samples for analysis. While on the Bus they will carry out various experiments to investigate properties of materials as well as taking part in some fun demonstrations of the more colourful aspects of science. The project has been designed by The Irish Centre for Talented Youth at DCU. The Centre currently provides a wide range of challenging Saturday and summer courses for over 1200 children per year in areas ranging from Archaeology to Pharmacology. It is anticipated that the Bus will be on the road from September 1999. Further information: Dr Sheila Gilheany Tel: (01)-704-5634 E-mail: gilheans at dcu.ie Science takes to the road The Scienceworks roadshow is an innovative outreach programme which aims to bring science to Irish schools in a fun, entertaining and educational way. The brainchild of Fiona Barbagello, D.C.U and Tadhg Condon, Tralee, the roadshow first appeared in September 1997 and since then has been going from strength to strength. During our one-hour programme we present two twenty-five minute shows chosen by the teachers. There are ten shows to choose from, each varying in suitability for various age groups. Five minutes are allowed at the end of the shows during which any questions that the children may have are answered. Teachers also receive a science activity booklet which allows them to follow up the shows with some simple classroom activities. The ScienceWorks shows are highly interactive, providing children with a platform to get involved in science in an unintimidating and fun atmosphere. Much of the equipment in our shows is inexpensive, can be found around the house and as a result is often reproduced and experimented with over and over again by the children who see our shows. Although only in operation for two years, the ScienceWorks has already begun to expand its services. In addition to performing in schools we have also written shows for semi-state bodies such as The Energy Centre and The Food Safety Authority . These shows were performed by the ScienceWorks during Energy Awareness Week and Food Safety Week respectively affording these bodies an alternative means of capturing a younger audience. Both shows received coverage in the National broadsheets. Requests from children to perform at their birthday parties is probably the greatest testimony to the success of the ScienceWorks, in their eyes we are up there with magicians, jugglers and puppeteers. Maybe it is something we should look into for next year? Aisling Barry ScienceWorks Roadshow. Tel: (086)-848-0128 Tadhg Condon ScienceWorks, 21 Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry Tel: (066)-29855 7 BIG EVENT 3 The British Interactive Group will hold its third hands-on festival at the Herstmonceux Science Centre, Sussex from 22 to 24 July 1999. Activities include Interactive Shows, Best Demo Competition, Soap Box and Fabricator's Day. Enquiries: Vicky Halliwell Garden Flat, 3 Richmond Park Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3AS. Tel/Fax: +44 (0)117-973-4806. E-mail: groovey at compuserve.com Full information on the BIG Website: http://www.big.uk.com/event_99.htm [ vol.1 ] [ vol.2 ] [ vol.3 ] [ vol.4 ] [ vol.5 ] [ vol.6 ] [ vol.7 ] [ vol.8 ] [ vol.9 ] [ vol.10 ] [ vol.11 ] [ vol.12 ] [ vol.13 ]