Internship Seminar by Paulina Vaca

pvaca — 2019-09-18 02:52:46 UTC

rice farmer at work

pvaca — 2019-09-18 04:38:45 UTC

useful ash/silica byproduct

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TRANSPORTATION

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Rice Mill Company

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nearby pollution on the way to the rice mill

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"free" space farmer has to cultivate what they want

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close up of product

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Mushroom Cultivation

pvaca — 2019-09-18 04:43:05 UTC

cattle feed solution in action

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cattle feed solution: blue bins = urea (fertilizer in bags to left

pvaca — 2019-09-18 04:43:51 UTC

curry plants are a thing!

pvaca — 2019-09-18 04:45:01 UTC

fine white rice processing

pvaca — 2019-09-18 04:45:43 UTC

multiple rice products produced for human & animal consumption

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paddy large-scale drying process

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this ain't sand! it's rice husk!

Project Goal:

pvaca — 2019-10-10 00:51:51 UTC

promote sustainable use of rice biomass byproduct in local Vietnamese region to create a CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Problems to Overcome:

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surplus of byproduct, rising CO2 levels, low-income of farmers

Potential Solutions Proposed:

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biofuel
mushroom cultivation
cattle feed
silica (Dr. Ha's idea)
construction material

personal OUT the box solutions...

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[] marketing mushroom consumption
[] more silica products
[] paper products? (Dr. Ha's idea)
[] packaging material?
[] rice biomass biogas?

personal IN the box solutions...

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[] revitalizing strategy plan
[] literature review (promoting ideas)

pvaca — 2019-10-10 01:21:26 UTC

me climbing through a Mangrove forest!

Excursion Events in Brief:

pvaca — 2019-10-10 01:25:03 UTC

Highlights of the trip include exploring a mangrove forest via speed boat, climbing throughout the mangrove forest while trying not to slip and fall, visiting a large windmill farm, visiting an organic shrimp farm, and eating delicious local food.

My Takeaway:

pvaca — 2019-10-10 01:27:23 UTC

This trip forced me to see first-hand the unique beauty of the Mekong. Thus, it must be preserved diligently. It is an astoundingly diverse region of the world. Furthermore, the ability the Mekong has to be a host to such a large windmill farm is quite impressive. The Mekong has the ability to be a model of sustainability for the world. Yet, it was visible to me the problems the Mekong has yet to overcome. Water pollution in the form of floating trash I saw while I was on the speedboat, soil being eroded to an extent not even the mangrove tree roots can fully prevent, and flooding I saw on the streets of Can Tho. Despite all of this, I have hope in sustainable action for the present and future of the Mekong.

pvaca — 2019-10-10 01:37:55 UTC

eating locally caught catfish hotpot (so delicious)

pvaca — 2019-10-10 01:38:22 UTC

close-up of a windmill

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walking through the windmill farm

pvaca — 2019-10-10 01:39:26 UTC

walking in uniform through the organic shrimp farm

Most Interesting Lesson Learned:

pvaca — 2019-10-15 07:32:35 UTC

1) Climbing through the mangrove trees like a monkey taught me how important the trees are to neighboring wildlife. Although there were no monkeys, plenty of local birds make these trees their home. Mangrove forests play a key role in maintaining ecosystems by being a home for various species.

Unfinished Underground Railway

pvaca — 2019-10-15 07:45:48 UTC

this location would have been inaccessible to anyone ten days after we went!

Entering Underground

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"Think Safety - Think Family"

Line 1 Project Layout

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Reflection:

pvaca — 2019-10-15 14:21:42 UTC

I felt very fortunate to be able to closely see the construction of Vietnam's very first metro system. It seems like it will be of great use to the local people of Ho Chi Minh City. Moreover, the train will be running on electrical energy specifically (I had asked). I wonder how sustainable this will be.

! Halfway Point Update

pvaca — 2019-10-16 06:25:43 UTC

We have focused on revising the strategy plan-- one of the in the box solutions-- and have successfully look over its entirety. It was very difficult to revise but I am proud on the quantity and quality of our corrections. For the second half of this semester, I would like on focusing on our of the box solutions. I am still not quite sure exactly how these solutions would materialize, as I would still need to do extensive outside research.

pvaca — 2019-11-20 07:14:57 UTC

Angkor Wat

pvaca — 2019-11-20 07:15:38 UTC

A subtle sunset

Angkor Wat

pvaca — 2019-11-20 07:16:18 UTC

A face on rock

Fried Tarantula, Phenom Penh

pvaca — 2019-11-20 07:17:19 UTC

I could only eat their legs...

Khmer Kitchen, Siem Reap

pvaca — 2019-11-20 07:17:56 UTC

I had some delicious khmer chicken curry and dumplings!

Angkor Wat

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An overgrown tree

Mountain Pass

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On the way from Hue to Hoi An

Night Market, Hoi An

pvaca — 2019-11-20 07:22:44 UTC

Phi Banh Mi, Hoi An

pvaca — 2019-11-20 07:28:13 UTC

If Hoi An has the best banh mi in Vietnam and if Phi Banh Mi is the best banh mi in Hoi An, then I just had the best banh mi in all of Vietnam. It's spilling avocado <3

Giang Cafe, Hanoi

pvaca — 2019-11-20 07:29:58 UTC

Amazing egg coffee and egg matcha!

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi

pvaca — 2019-11-20 07:32:30 UTC

I was enthralled by the temporary gallery comparing Vietnamese and Mexican culture.

Mountain Views, Luang Prabang

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A Beautiful Wat, Luang Prabang

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Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang

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Itinerary:

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Hue
Hoi An
Hanoi
Luang Prabang

Itinerary

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Phenom Penh
Siem Reap

! Final Point Update

pvaca — 2019-12-04 05:14:13 UTC

I have looked into rice straw byproduct over rice husk byproduct for bioenergy implementation in the form of cellulosic ethanol or dry anaerobic digestion. Through a literature review and other outside research, I propose that it is in An Giang's best interest promote further research into these rice straw bioenergies.

Takeaway:

pvaca — 2019-12-05 02:47:29 UTC

It was such a cool jaw-dropping experience to see how the streets of Ho Chi Minh City are monitored. I felt as if in the city no one is never not being watched. Also, I wonder why all the workers were men.