One way that the International Relations Council strives to make global education accessible to local students is through in-school visits. When the IRC welcomes a speaker to town, we work to match that speaker with area schools that are learning about international topics relevant to the speaker's expertise. If you are interested in hosting an IRC speaker at your high school, please contact Chloe Thomas.

A High School Tournament of Global Knowledge

Saturday, April 1 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT - KU Edwards Campus
 

Join us for this fun and free event, where students answer questions on various international topics as a four person team. The tournament is open to students in grades 9-12, plus a faculty sponsor, from Kansas City-area high schools. Please access the Student Study Guide, which contains all necessary resource materials to participate. Spots are limited, so please find more information and register your team today!
 

Attending High Schools: The Barstow School, Bishop Seabury Academy, Lansing High School, Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, Shawnee Mission East High School, Van Horn High School, William Chrisman High School

Credit: Chisato Kinaka/AP Photo

What's happening?

While food waste and cement seem to have little in common, a student and professor team out of the University of Tokyo have developed a new construction material that shows promise in addressing two global issues: food waste and global warming. Back in June, one of Japan's main newspapers, The Mainichi, published article, 'Japanese researchers look to develop cement entirely from food waste' describing Kota Machida and Yuya Sakai's innovative approach to addressing global warming.
 

To make food waste cement, Machida and Yuya adopted a process first tested using wood particles. The process was later adapted to use food waste and includes three steps: drying, pulverization, and compression. Each food is composed of different particles that require a unique temperature and level of pressure to properly adhere to one another. Once fused, the food waste forms an edible, cement-like substance that is more pliable than regular cement. The food waste cement can be coated in Japanese lacquer to protect it from damage by water and critters.

How does food waste and cement relate to global warming?
In 2019, Japan produced 5.7 million tons of edible food waste. When this food waste decomposes in landfills, it emits harmful methane gases into the atmosphere. According to the UN's 2021 Global Methane Assessment, food waste represents 20% of global methane emissions. According to the Think tank Chantham House, cement production is also responsible for 8% of carbon dioxide emissions. Deconstructing cement structures further degrades the environment by creating incredible amounts of debris and releasing harmful particles into the air. These problems are not without solutions. Many nations have begun addressing food waste emissions by mandating that scraps by composted and turned into fertilizer or anaerobically digested to create natural gas. If food waste cement becomes a viable option for addressing methane and carbon dioxide emissions, the world will have one more creative tool to combat global warming.

How is the research moving forward?
Sustainable solutions to a complex issue like global warming require innovation and perseverance - and these two Tokyo researchers seem to be on to something. Food waste cement may be a promising alternative to both traditional strategies for food waste removal and construction materials, but more research and testing is required to ensure the safety and efficacy of the product.

If you would like to share your thoughts about this article or other global education issues, please email Chloe Thomas.

From Kansas City and Beyond
Opportunities For You and Your Students

 

American Foreign Service Association: High School Essay Contest
Students can now submit their essays for a chance to win the first place prize of $2,500, a trip to Washington D.C., and a full scholarship to the Semester at Sea program! This year's essay requires students to describe how the Foreign Service has been successful or unsuccessful in advancing U.S. foreign policy goals in one country and what actions can be taken to advance U.S. goals moving forward. The application deadline is April 3. For more information, click here.

KU's STARTALK Arabic Program 2023
STARTALK is a federal grant program funded by the National Security Agency that supports innovative programs with strong language learning outcomes for K-14 learners in the following critical needs languages: Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, and Russian. KU will be hosting a free Arabic summer institute with pre and post-camp outreach activities during the spring and fall. Find more information about applying here.

Kansas City Public Library Community Events
Did you know that the Kansas City Public Library has free community events every week? In the month of January, check out 'The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson' with biographical author Jeff Pearlman or 'Venetophilia,' a live musical celebration of Venetian music with four Kansas City area performers. Check out the Plaza Branch events calendar for more information about registering for January events!