The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Engineering Service Learning Team has partnered with the Fresno Discovery Center (Fresno, CA) to design and create a museum exhibit that aims to educate the public about Permafrost. Permafrost refers to the frozen earth found underneath the Arctic regions. This frozen soil captures carbon dioxide and methane, and as the name implies Permafrost remains frozen all year - or it is supposed to be. Due to global warming Permafrost has started to melt, which has resulted in carbon dioxide being released back at faster rates into the atmosphere. The museum exhibit designed by the UAS Team will provide an interactive learning experience that explains the origins of Permafrost, the perils of it melting, and how global warming affects Fresno and surrounding areas with wildfires. The Impacts of the exhibit designed by the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Engineering Service Learning Team can be categorized into five categories: Economic, Social, Political, Environmental and Physical.
Economic
The exhibit is designed for easy maintenance, it will be easy to move, operate, and store. Set up will take approximately 30 minutes, and powering the exhibit on or off can be done with a switch. The Permafrost museum exhibit will reduce the Fresno Discovery Center’s need for an environmental science exhibit. It saves time, and space. Teaching people about the effects of global warming can inspire them to make informed decisions, like supporting green initiatives- which benefit consumers monetarily.
Social
The community will see the museum exhibit as an educational tool that teaches children about Permafrost. Everyone will benefit from having an educated society, teaching the next generation about the dangers of climate change and the ways scientists are working to combat it will help them make informed decisions. Teaching children about how Scientists are using new technology (like drones) to collect data samples and about how they are making new discoveries, can help the children envision a positive future for the planet. It can even inspire them to become scientists, or at the very least support the scientists doing the work.
Political
The social and political standing of the Fresno Discovery Center will not be negatively affected by this exhibit. The attendees expect science exhibits from them, so anyone who is anti-science is unlikely to come across the exhibit.
Environmental & Physical
The project will have no negative environmental effects, it will be recycled at the end of its lifecycle. The exhibit will have physical interactions, in order to promote engagement. The museum exhibit about Permafrost covers climate change and the ways to combat it, one way to do so is to be environmentally conscious. By showing the attendee's how even the exhibit can be recyclable, they can be motivated to be environmentally conscious in their own lives.
