Let's see.....
on the roster is:

   * Switchgrass planting
   * Tesla Energy Demo

This'll just be an hour meeting.  Unless we drum up a speaker....Dr. Colin Martin or Parke Kunkle perhaps?

--Jenny  

--Last edited by Jenny K. on 2008-01-05 17:56:10 --

Since we're doing the switchgrass planting then, perhaps our lecture (if we have one) should be on biofuels.

Yeah, I also think a mini-lecture presentation on Tesla might be warranted as he seems to be a reoccurring source of inspiration.  And I know I'd like to more about him and his discoveries.  

--Last edited by Jenny K. on 2008-01-07 16:55:09 --

True, true.  I'm not familiar with the other man you listed...Dr. Colin Martin.  Who is he?

He's the Biotech LSO.  He actually might be a good person to ask to give a lecture.  He studied stem cells for his graduate work.  

For the next meeting....here are the details I can recall:
Meeting from 2-3pm.  
Tesla Energy Demo and Planting Switchgrass
Perhaps to round out this meeting we could:

* a lecture pertaining to the demo
* a lecture pertaining to the switchgrass

Also, it doesn't look like there's a lot of light under the grow lamps in the 2nd floor science offices, perhaps we should find out how much space we have before we start planting?
Also, have the seeds arrived?  If not they're going to send us some individual packets right?  Should we give them a deadline so we're sure we have something by the time of the meeting?
Bryan, can your friend talk about windmills?
What if the next meetings after this were:

March - food topic
April - windmills
May - fuel cells

Just a thought....or several....

--Jenny K.

I recieved an email from Bobby at Prairie Resto yesterday letting me know that the bulk switchgrass seed has arrived.  It will be packaged and sent out on Tuesday.  He expects it to arrrive at my place by Friday.

that's so great to hear!
Will we have pots by then?
Ben said something about having the money on Tuesday I think?

Um, yeah, about the money... I'll have the paperwork turned in on Tuesday (assuming all goes according to plan), then there will be a 2 week delay. That puts the cash in hand Tuesday, February 5th. My understanding is that we will be planting seed in small pots on the 1st, then will transfer seedlings to the big pots at a later time. Bryan, can you confirm this?

If the timing is an issue, I'll do everything I can to remedy it. I was focused on the exploradome and totally dropped the ball on getting the paperwork for the biofuel project done last week.

My bad,
Benj.

Yup I have some small plastic pots no problem.  We can't fit big pots under the light anyway so this transfer isn't a problem.

lets see .....

-  tesla isn't doing so well as my understanding on what I am doing is limited.  I would not recommend any lecture on this stuff as I consider it interesting pseudo science at best promoted mainly by ummm "amateurs"  with large claims but little in the way of reproducability.  This doesn't negate my interest in this subject however, and we could talk about what little we know mainly claims again.

-  We still haven't completed any sort of working demo and I see maybe 20 hours of work ahead in order to complete this.  I am doubtful as to my ability to accomplish this time investment.  I did spend 3 hours tonight and did not get anywhere.

- we may want some alternative ideas, maybe a field trip?  Raptor center, bell museum?

- my friend is interested in windmills but he has no special knowledge I am sorry.  I do know a prolific researcher at the Mayo he might give a tak on something if he has time.  He has won a couple of awards for publishing the most research.

If we're planting switchgrass, I don't think we should have a field trip.  Perhaps by then we'll have something from the squirrel people?  
Perhaps we could also make plaques/signs for the switchgrass, for when we get it planted into the large pots.

ya I hear you.  Squirrel project is on hold because of temps.  Probably till March

We could also see about making posters to announce info. about the club and what we hope to do this semester to generate interest.
I've got a friend, who came to the last meeting, who's going to come up with a few drawings for us to look at in the next week.
Hopefully it's something we can use and then the fliers will have a bit of continuity and possibly beauty.

Also, we can use that time to start planning the exploradome schedule as it's a big discussion and might be a lot to constrict to our 1hr. officer's meeting.

....although.   I'd love to get a speaker lined up.  Any suggestions?

Since it sounds like the main part of the meeting is going to be about switchgrass, I'd love to have someone speak about biofuels.  I might have mentioned that before, I can't remember.  But I don't know anyone who could do that.

This is my big brain child for the next meeting:
a roundtable discussion on alternative fuels.

Where I'm getting this idea from is it seems like we don't have the resources/time to get a speaker.  But, it also seems revelant and interesting to keep with the switchgrass themes of biofuels/alt. energy.
In 1151 online, Kirk posed a question about the future of air travel and had us do a little independent research to choose which alt. fuel source we though was going to be the most viable.  The conversation was great.
Long and complex, very interesting to read.

I think we should come up with a question, e-mail the group to come prepared to discuss/listen to the question/topic and plant the seeds in the first 15 min.

I'm hoping that Kirk can answer some of the technical aspects of the questions that might arise.  I also got Wendy Naughton, a Chem instructor here, to agree to come as well to offer expertise if/when necessary.

I'd like to also invite 3LF and their advisor, Cathy Geist.

Whata ya say?

That sounds great!  Is this meeting still going to be an hour long?  What if we plant the seeds at the end...so that only people interested in the planting have to stick around?

Yup, that'd be good.  Also good in the beginning too since folks are usually a little late!