Primary schools in Australia on environment and sustainable education

PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN NSW AUSTRALIA

NSW "Solar" Schools: The schools below are currently being approached by the FCIA to determine if they wish to receive With Compliments, the World's smallest hydrogen fuel cell powered car and its own solar hydrogen refueling station-Berala Public "Solar" School and Bringelly Public "Solar" School were issued their H-racer kits before 8/11/2006. Mawarra Public School has received their h-racer kit on the 23.11.06, Camden Environmental Education Centre received their two kits by the 06.12.06, and Bourke Street Public "Solar" school on the 8/12/2006.

K-4 / Science and technology have been practiced by people for a long time. Men and women have made a variety of contributions throughout the history of science and technology. Materials can exist in states-solid, liquid and gas. Some common materials like water can be changed from one state to another, by heating or cooling. Some resources are basic materials like air, water and soil; some are produced from food , fuel and building materials; and some resources are nonmaterial like quiet places, beauty, security and safety.

5-8 / Substances react chemically in characteristic ways with other substances to form new substances (compounds), with different characteristic properties. In chemical reactions the total mass is conserved. Substances are often placed in categories or groups if they react in similar ways; metals is an example of such a group. Energy is a property of many substances and is associated with heat, light , electricity, mechanical motion, sound, nuclei, and the nature of a chemical. Energy is transferred in many ways. Science and technology are reciprocal. Science helps drive technology as it addresses questions that demand more sophisticated instruments and provides principles for better instrumentation and technique. Technology is essential to science ,because it provides instruments and techniques that enable observations of objects and phenomena that are otherwise unobservable due to quality, distance, location, size and speed. Technology also provides tools for investigations, inquiry and analysis. Many individuals have contributed to the traditions of science. Studying some of these individuals provides further understanding of scientific inquiry ,science as a human endeavor, the nature of science, and the relationships between science and society.

TEACHERS: Science / technology education: Suggestions

Middle school year focus for environmental education like the early years of high school, focus on the valuable issues of sustainable development, energy and atmospheric pollution. Concepts of per capita and pollution "footprint" or "signature" are covered well with various tasks, projects and research activities. Waste recycling and smart ways to consume energy are as well taught so students develop efficient processes to live by in their futures.

Environmental education in primary schools (middle class) along with the early years of high school, now have something else to factor in. Technology education has been looked at for some time from a cyclical perspective, which is understandable of course. Many new technologies are presented and marketed every year or so. A new "Era of non-combustion" is now presented before us, represented by the non-combustive technology of fuel cells. There is no need to worry about cycles as there was only ever two(2) ways to produce energy in this sense, and we have used one(1) since the industrial revolution (combustion), and now we begin the ultimate journey (non-combustion).

Year 2007 objective:

A critical objective must be achieved in Australian schools before year 2007.Micro-fuel cells to power all portable electronic devices like mobile phones, laptop computers, PDA's, digital cameras and so on, will be commercially released to the world in year 2007.Australian school students must NOT pick up these micro-fuel cells at that time, and think they are another battery ! We have a task ahead indeed - 30.11.2005

Background for technology education in Australia http://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/area/technology/

Social impacts of Global Warming: Our children over the last decade have been observing more information on the impacts of global warming. The impacts particularly of late have graphically been depicted on national television and the internet, on numerous occasions. Glaciers melting and sliding into oceans along with pessimistic reports from eminent scientists, "paint " a gloomy picture of the future for our children to see. No wonder the students are asking questions regarding the efforts being done to counter global warming. The socio-economic impacts of global warming are thus something Australia should investigate as soon as possible.

The FCIA has Australia's first micro hydrogen fuel cell power source, powering a small bike light as below left. The A2 torch below is now commercially available, whilst all other units below are pre-commercial. As a power source these micro hydrogen fuel cells supply much more power than batteries and do NOT need a power socket, potentially liberating billions of portable electronic devices over the next decade. Superior sustained power supply to products giving convenience of use along with being environmentally friendly, make these new micro hydrogen fuel cells a very strong counter to global warming.

Primary School Teachers:

Moonshot 2010 - The Australian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Science / Technologies Education Program:

1 Introduction – “Moonshot 2010”:

In 1969 a “Moonshot” took place representing the greatest technological “step” ever for humanity. In year 2009 Honda Japan will commercially release a motor vehicle of equivalent power and range to that of existing cars, that will not emit any pollution, and will not combust or burn its fuel. The “Era of Non-Combustion” is formally represented in year 2010 by this event via the FCIA, and this is the reason the program will be called “Moonshot 2010 –The Australian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Science/Technology Education program”, starting in year 2006 in NSW, and Australia during years 2007/8 and onward.

The program is needed for primary schools (middle class), to complement the already twenty [20] high schools in the South Western Region of Sydney, which have received model fuel cell powered cars plus instruction as at November 1 2005.The University of Western Sydney-(Kingswood campus) and Mt Druitt Tafe College as well have the model cars plus instruction. http://www.fuelcells.org.au/Hydrogen-fuel-cell-education-in-Australia.htm

The pollution created by transportation is a major problem for our environment. We have used fossil fuels like petrol and diesel since the industrial revolution. We have combusted or burnt these fossil fuels in transportation, but now we have new fuel cell technology for transportation, which does not combust or burn fuel so there is no pollution with high efficiency.

1.1 What the world has planned:

There are now hundreds of fuel cell powered cars throughout the world, with three (3) hydrogen fuel cell powered buses currently operating in Perth Western Australia. The Australian federal government have an AUD$67m program starting October 2004,to establish ninety (90) fuel cell buses and hydrogen depots across Australia by year <2010. http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/ecobus/1206.asp

GM (US) will commercially release their fuel cell powered vehicle in year 2010 and Honda (Japan) in year 2009 .Most of the world’s car manufacturers’ currently have fuel cell vehicle programs. Fuel cell powered motor bikes will be commercially released in June 2007, and micro-fuel cells to power mobile phones, laptop computers, PDA’s, digital cameras and most other portable electronic devices will happen from Jan 1 2007 http://www.fuelcells.org.au/Micro-fuel-cells-Australia.htm. Large stationary fuel cells along with wind and solar, will supply power to housing and industry at an ever increasing decentralised rate, to combat pollution from centralised fossil fuel fired electricity generation.

2 Australia?

Students need to know that there is a new technology for transportation designed to reduce pollution dramatically and help their future environment. Students need to know that “big people” do care about the environment and their futures, proven by such new technology. Students need to know the connection between solar energy and water which can be used to make the renewable fuel (hydrogen) for fuel cell powered vehicles.

Whilst small micro-fuel cells powering portable electronic devices from Jan 1 2007 are similar to batteries, they are not batteries and students need to be aware of this important difference. Most of all a new “Non-combustion era” has begun where our future energy will not come from the burning or combustion of fossil fuels, and this is depicted in year 2010 via transportation and the commercial release of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) by GM (US).

2.1 Next “Steps” in Australia:

The education system in Australia needs such new technology and science education within its curricula by year 2008 ending. Primary schools (middle class) and high schools need appropriate common linkages. Vocational training needs planning in Tafe colleges and universities with specific modules dedicated to hydrogen and fuel cell science/technology in year 2006, to commence in year 2007.Primary school teachers:

Fuel cells are not batteries, but generate electricity like batteries.
As long as a fuel is supplied to the fuel cell, electricity will be generated by the fuel cell.
The fuel cell does not burn or combust its fuel when generating electricity.
Solar energy in schools can make a renewable fuel( Hydrogen from water )for a fuel cell type (PEM fuel cell).
The production of hydrogen for fuel cell operation and demonstration before students in class, can now be done safely.
Fuel cells will help reduce pollution and thus global warming, giving students a positive future.
Hydrogen and fuel cell science/technology should be topic/s in science/ technology syllabuses as soon as possible.
Commercial small fuel cells to power most electronic devices like mobile phones, will be released from Jan 1 2007.
Perth WA currently have three(3) hydrogen fuel cell buses in operation.
The Australian government plan to release ninety(90) fuel cell buses and hydrogen depots around Australia from years 2007/8.

2.2 Awards and awareness for the program:

The hydrogen and fuel cell science/engineering education program has been in three (3) local regional Fairfax newspapers during year 2005.These were The Fairfield City Champion Newspaper, The Liverpool City Champion Newspaper and The Campbelltown-Macarthur Advertiser. Sydney and Australian newspapers are anticipated in year 2006 onward.

The program has been visible internationally on the Fuel Cell Today global Internet portal, The International Hydrogen Energy Association’s (IHEA) website, and pictured front page of The International PowerTrain Review October 05 edition.The program has been communicated to federal MPs in Australia over the last eighteen (18) months, and Ministers’ of Education throughout Australia. The Departments’ of Education in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia all have the new model fuel cell car lab kit for evaluation purposes as at December 1 2005.

The NSW Office of The Board of Studies is formally aware of the program, and the NSW Department of Education ratified the start of the program with Fairvale High School in June 2004.The program was a short listed finalist in The NSW DEUS 2004 Energy and Water Green Globe Awards, under the category of “Education and Awareness”. FCIA was awarded a framed certificate for “Education and Awareness Award”, “For achievement in promoting sustainable energy use through education” in the recent Energy and Water Green Globe Awards 2005.Numerous state and federal politicians are now aware of the program, and the FCIA will be seeking state and national newspaper coverage before the school year starts in year 2006. http://www.fuelcells.org.au/NSW-DEUS-AWARD04.htm

AWARDS:

2.3 Program and costs:

The FCIA designed and built Australia’s first model hydrogen fuel cell powered cars. A new model fuel cell car kit has been developed and manufactured in China as a result, and is now available for the Australian market. European manufactured fuel cell kits for educational purposes, are still quite expensive (AUD$350-$400) compared to the new model fuel cell car kit below, costing AUD$100.The new model fuel cell car kit includes a book (see below).

A sum of AUD$10,000 by example from a sponsor would allow fifty (50) primary schools in the immediate region, to receive the new model fuel cell car lab kits. The FCIA would visit each primary school from Feb.2006, and inform the relevant teachers involved (Cost including GST & delivery A$6000.00). This new model fuel cell car lab kit can thus be universally adopted and adapted into primary, secondary and tertiary curricula.The FCIA would as well supply an appropriate solar panel with each kit; so solar energy can be used as a renewable energy, complementing existing solar education in NSW schools. (Cost A$1500.00). The remaining sum of A$2500.00 would cover travel, office, and phone expenses.

2.1 Other funding:

The FCIA will as well be asking for support from sponsors, to cover that region with the same program. An application has been issued to The NSW Department of Environment and Heritage for ~A$12000.00,to expand and formalise the program within the twenty [20] high schools already done, in Feb.2006.The program will expand through NSW during year 2006 and Australia during years 2007/8;Further support is now called for by FCIA to expand the program through the whole of NSW during year 2006.

New model fuel cell car lab kit for the Australian educational market.