National Geographic - Our World
Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/695862
5 NGL.Cengage.com/impact Explorers appear in readings, videos, and activities throughout Impact. "If you have curiosity, you have to be an explorer. You have to go out and find answers yourself without waiting to get them from others." —Corey Jaskolski, engineer and inventor After you read, work in pairs to answer the questions. 1. Describe Caleb Harper's indoor farm. 2. Why is Caleb's work important? 3. What are aeroponics and hydroponics? 4. What are two problems with traditional farming? 5. What are three ways that indoor farms are sustainable? 20 Before you read, discuss in pairs. Based on what you learned so far and the photo on this page, what do you think the reading is about? 17 Learn new words Find these words in the reading. What do you think they mean? Think about the context of this unit. Then, listen and repeat. TR: 38 18 As you read, think about how what you learned so far in this unit relates to the text. TR: 39 19 Work in groups. Using what you learned in the unit, discuss whether you think Barton Seaver would support Caleb's work. Give examples to support your ideas. 21 Discuss in groups. 1. Vertical farms will help provide food for our growing population. What is another way we can produce more food? 2. Apart from the health and environmental benefits, what other benefits could indoor farming bring to a city? 22 With 80 percent of the world's population living in cities by the year 205 0, we need to consider indoor farming. What do you think of when you hear the word farm? You probably think of a large, open land with lots of different crops growing and animals grazing, right? Well, urban agriculturalist Caleb Harper is working to change how we think about farms. Over the past few years, Caleb has been researching different forms of vertical farming. He has been working to bring farms into the city. His main focus is on two types of vertical farming: aeroponics and hydroponics. With aeroponics, a nutrient-filled mist is sprayed on a plant's roots to help them grow without soil. With hydroponics, a plant is grown in nutrient- rich water. Caleb uses simple computer technologies to monitor his crops. This technology allows him to control climate and provide consistent light, food, temperature, and water. The result is better plant growth and f lavor. This consistency also allows his crops to produce food four to five times faster than those of a traditional outdoor farmer. Caleb's work is important. Right now, we are facing a global food crisis. The world's population is at 7 billion. In 30 years, it will be nearly 9 billion. We will need to produce 70 percent more food to feed these additional people, but there isn't enough farmland. consistent organic sustainable vertical National Geographic Emerging Explorer Caleb Harper and his CityFarm Even if there were, traditional farming can be harmful to land. Overused soil loses nutrients. Farmers use chemicals to treat their crops. These chemicals get into the ground and run off into bodies of water. The polluted water supply threatens the ecosystem and the health of those living nearby. Vertical farming systems can help solve these problems. First, farms in urban areas will allow people to harvest fresh produce year- round. There is no need to worry about threats such as droughts or insects, which could ruin a crop. And indoor farms are sustainable. They use less water than a traditional farm, and with hydroponics, 97 percent of fresh water is reused. Vertical farms use less energy because they don't depend on large farming equipment and long transportation systems to carry the food from farm to city. And all of the crops in an indoor farm are grown without pesticides, so they are fresh, healthy, and organic. So, the next time you hear the word farm, don't just think of that large, open land with crops and animals. Think inside the city—it's the future of farming. It Here , It Here It Here , 50 51 50 Grow ow Eat at Work in pairs. Compare and contrast Jimmy Chin and Kevin Hand. 20 advisor to commute to create photographer scientist Before you read, think about this unit's topic. You will read about two people. Predict what you'll learn about them. 16 Learn new words. Find these words in the reading. Look at each word's ending. Which of the words are professions? How do you know? Then listen and repeat. TR: 28 17 While you read, look for similarities and differences. TR: 29 18 After you read, work in pairs to answer the questions. 1. What are Jimmy Chin's three jobs? 2. Jimmy enjoys traveling. How do you know this from the text? 3. Do you think a lot of people visit the places that Jimmy photographs? Why or why not? 4. Why does Kevin go to Antarctica? 5. Other than being a planetary scientist, what other job does Kevin have? 19 Discuss in groups. 1. Jimmy and Kevin take risks doing their work. Would you want a job where you had to take risks? Do you think it's good or bad to take risks? Why? 2. Do you think it is important to explore outer space? Why or why not? 21 Adventures These explorers love working in extreme places. You're more likely to find photographer Jimmy Chin commuting to Mount Everest than to an office. Not only is he a photographer, he's also a professional climber and skier. He takes photographs and videos in some of the most amazing—but dangerous—places on Earth. Jimmy has climbed and photographed the world's highest mountains in Nepal, Tibet, and Pakistan. And he does all of this while carrying heavy cameras. Why does Jimmy do such difficult work in such extreme places? "Creating films and photographs in situations that few others could experience is my life's inspiration," he says. Jimmy isn't the only explorer working in extreme places. Planetary scientist Kevin Hand drills through the ice in northern Alaska and the Near and Far Jimmy Chin in Yosemite National Park, California, USA Arctic Sea to study microscopic life in the water underneath it. He hopes that studying microscopic life under ice on Earth will help him to find and study life under the ice on Jupiter's moon Europa. Not all of Kevin's work is in cold, faraway places, though. He also works with directors as a science advisor for movies, such as Europa Report. Kevin has even been in a movie! He was a featured scientist in the movie Aliens of the Deep. Jimmy and Kevin make it clear that work doesn't have to be boring! 33 32 5