Overpopulation,

Lack of Space on Earth,

& the Need to Terraform:

A WebQuest

Ms. Williams

John F. Kennedy High School

Introduction:

If humans continue to reproduce at our current rate, our current population will explode to ten billion in the year 2020. The surface area of the Earth will be unable to accommodate our numbers. Already, humans have encroached upon vast areas of wilderness and threatened to surburbanize what was formerly habitat for indigenous plants and animals. Food resources will be limited as we prohibit photosynthesis from occurring by our constant paving of land. Where will we go? What will we do? Human beings have faced the issue of exploring the outer planets before. We've met with limited success. Yes, we have walked on the moon. But current human space exploration has not yielded the expected outcome. True colonization of other planets has not occurred.

How do we replicate the conditions on Earth required for human sustenance.

Agricultural encroachment into the rainforest has devastated the Amazon habitat. Ecology worldwide has been impacted, weather patterns have changed, oxygen supply has been reduced, temperatures have risen. We may reach a point where humans have caused the Earth itself to become uninhabitable. Certain countries have tried to limit human population, China, for example. Technological advances in birth control allow for families to choose the number of children that they will have. However, for all of our efforts, human population is still on the rise.

You realize that the Earth is going to be destroyed soon and are determined to get out. You will have to become an expert on the problem of overpopulation and the resulting destruction of habitat. Creating new habitats of sustainable environments is one possible answer. (Of course, preserving our Earth and limiting our population is another solution, but we haven't had too much success with that yet.) You will also need to design future habitats in order for humanity to survive. It's a big job but somebody's got to do it. Humans must plan ahead now for the colonization of the outer planets. How will we terraform these currently inhospitable planets to make them suitable for human life? Should we devastate the ecology of an unknown region. You are aware of such experiments as Biosphere II, and are enamored with the geodesic dome greenhouse concept. You start to think that if the Earth goes down, I will safely occupy my own little bubble of life. This bubble will be a test case for Earth and hopefully will be suitable for relocation on Pluto when the time arises.

So let's start building. Study the properties of the sphere, its surface to volume ratio; investigate how plants grow, hydroponics, gardening, and the construction of geodesic domes. Research the Eden Project. Is it truly possible to replicate the exquisite balance that nature has provided us with? Get to know the nine planets in our solar system. Pay particular attention to Mars. Investigate the results of our space probes and manned space missions. Is it really possible for us to terraform one of these planets? Investigate the heterotroph hyposthesis of evolution. Discover how soil is formed. How long will it take for non-native organisms to take over? What will be our new home? Choose a planet to terraform and explain why. Start doing experiments: temperature, gas, availability of water. Watch the movie "Red Planet." Do you believe that our science fiction aspirations will come about? Why or why not? Okay, our survivalist scientist, the future of all of Earth's humanity is up to you! Should you succeed, it will be like the visions of Star Trek, and we will boldly go where no one has gone before.

Task:

Your tasks are the following:

I. Make a Web page, which explores the problems of human overpopulation and habitat encroachment and explains your proposed solution(s).

II. Make a model geodesic dome and grow plants in it.

III. Write a short essay describing the possibility of terraformation of different planets.

IV. Make modifications to the classic Stanley Miller experiment of evolution. The heterotroph hypothesis supposes that a series of interrelated events resulted in the formation of the basic molecules necessary for life on Earth. Can we simulate life-forming evolutionary conditions for the other planets as well.

Process:

1. Define the problems of human overpopulation and habitat encroachment on Worksheet 1.

2. Gather evidence of these problems on Worksheet 2.

3. Identify causes of these problems on Worksheet 3.

4. Visit the Websites listed below to evaluate these projects as solutions in terms of effectiveness and feasibility. List your findings on Worksheet 4.

5. Choose the best solution on Worksheet 6.

6. Summarize your own original solutions on Worksheet 5.

Resources:

Visit the following Websites to research the problems of overpopulation and habitat encroachment and their solutions.

for overpopulation:

http://www.environmentdirectoryoverpopulation.com/

for habitat encroachment:

http://www.canisius.edu/

for the Eden Project:

http://www.edenproject.com/

for Columbia University's Biosphere 2 project:

http://www.bio2.columbia.edu/index.html

for terraformation:

http://www.whitchurchschool.org.uk/generalinf/newsitems/nasaproj/Partial%20Terraformation.shtml

for photosynthesis:

http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/les4/photo.html

for the Stanley Miller evolution experiment:

http://www.accessexcellence.org/bioforum/bf02/awramik/bf02a2.html

Evaluation:

To get an A, you will complete all four of the components of the Task above:

1. Make a multilinking Web page, which explores the problems of human overpopulation and habitat encroachment and explains your proposed solution(s).

2. Make a model geodesic dome and grow plants in it.

3. Write an essay describing the possibility of terraformation of different planets.

4. Make modifications to the classic Stanley Miller experiment of evolution.

To get a B, you will complete three out of the four components.

To get a C, you will complete two out of the four components.

To get a D, you will complete one out of the four components.

To fail, you will complete none of the four components.

Conclusion:

By examining these issues and making models, you have laid the groundwork for future human terraformation of a Class M planet. Perhaps you will enjoy the benefits of your research within your lifetime. If not, your children or grandchildren will think lovingly of you when they recall stories of a small blue planet far, far away, from which their ancestors came.