Drone Project member Brendan Gibbons on a practice flight with project drone Tiger-1. Photo by Cade Cleavlin

The MU Drone Journalism Program is one of the newest projects at MU, launched jointly by KBIA-FM, the Missouri School of Journalism and the MU Department of IT, using drones as specialized tools for news applications.

The program took off just this year, inspired by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Drone Journalism Lab, which was established in November of 2011.

Bill Allen, professor in the MU Science and Agricultural Journalism program, worked with KBIA content director Scott Pham, who obtained a grant to fund the project. Matthew Dickinson, professor in the IT program at MU, leads a team of engineering students responsible for developing drone systems useable in a news environment, and helping reporters with “flight training”.

As a whole, the project seeks to do with a reporter and remote control what was once only possible with jet fuel and a licensed pilot. Rather than a gimmicky news toy, we hope to prove that aerial footage is feasible for even small organizations, and can add legitimate value to coverage of broad topics like natural resources.

The project is exciting, controversial and a lot of fun, and overall defined by the industrious spirit of a few people to take existing technology, reshape it a little and use it to pioneer a novel application.

What’s in a name?

The project has already encountered issues of nomenclature. The term “drone” is fixed to concepts of surveillance and counter insurgency, but in reality there is yet no good definition for the $600 hobby crafts we’ve put cameras on.

Does a remote-controlled quadcopter (we’ve been toying with the term “J-Bot”) qualify as a drone? Maybe in some sense. But “drone” implies autonomy, persistence and cold indifference, and we are neither interested nor capable of that.

The technology we use is off-the-shelf, operated by standard R/C controllers. The whole system is available to any consumer, ready to fly, for no more than the cost of a DSLR – well within the operating budget of any hobbyist, professional photographer or newsroom.

In our case, the experimental side is the realm of our IT partners, who have the experience to modify the flight controllers and develop a system that is optimized and specific for use in journalism. First and foremost, we are nothing more or less than a team of reporters, trying to find ways to use a new tool to cover difficult terrain.

Legal-unease

One of the challenges we encountered almost immediately is promoting a professional, journalistic image with our use of the drones. When the media first picked up on the project, the reaction was swift and disapproving; “We need to crack down on these amateur reporters who are doing their best to skirt privacy laws and spy on law-abiding citizens,” or some similar sentiment.

While we haven’t earned this reputation, those concerns aren’t completely unfounded. A need does exist need to hold the media accountable for the information they distribute, as well as the techniques they use to gather it.

Earlier this year, a bill was introduced in the Missouri legislature to limit “information gathering by means of aerial equipment”, which we’re watching with keen interest, but privacy laws already exist that protect citizens from being photographed or (dare I say it?) spied on by the media. The only limit we can – or want – to push with drone journalism is the ability to deliver hard-to-get perspectives on subjects that are often difficult to get a good grasp of from the ground.

What’s possible

Many of the world’s most powerful nature photographs were achieved through aerial imaging. The technology is there, and the concept of illustrating the vastness and complexity of ecosystems has already proven effective. One great photograph can alter a reader’s whole perspective, but the problem now is justifying the expense. Jet fuel, news helicopters and helicopter crews aren’t so accessible to cash-strapped news organizations.

What if, through the use of drones, we could prove that cost is no longer an issue? Organizations would have a new approach to survey their own land, news outlets could deliver better perspectives on their local environments, and the public would have more opportunities to appreciate the (almost) immeasurable complexity of their own natural surroundings.

Take a moment and consider what society has already gained from visual documentation of its natural resources, and reflect on what avenues we’ve yet to explore. Imagine what you’d find in terrain reporters couldn’t otherwise traverse. Imagine the possibilities of more precise conservation efforts, better mapping of changes in the landscape, greater accountability against environmental exploitation, and a broader understanding of one’s own natural surroundings, all made possible by a simple camera on a simple craft that’s readily available for the public to mobilize. Imagine the possibilities.

Imagine what you’d see.

Cade Cleavelin is a junior in the MU Science and Agricultural Journalism Program, and a member of the Drone Journalism Project.

Snow geese land in a field at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area. Photo by John Corley.

Environmental reporting might get a boost from drone technology, and the University of Missouri School of Journalism is at the forefront of their deployment. One of the drone class’s first forays tried capturing snow geese on film at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area. With this challenge comes many questions. Do drones stress the geese? What if the drone crashes into the wetlands? It’s something the class, led by KBIA’s Scott Pham and J-School professor Bill Allen, is still learning.

NBC Nightly News Weekend Edition reported on these first baby steps of drone journalism, especially in terms of watchdog environmental coverage.

This is a “bowl and doily” spider.

Spiders occupy diverse niches even within the same ecosystem. Web placement, angle, size and hunting strategies can vary even among spiders of the same designation such as orb weavers. During the evolution of species, it must have been advantageous to have multiple similar species exploit the same environment in different ways.

An ecology student measures a funnel web.

In early October 2012, MU’s general ecology lab collected data on web placement in Capen Park, near the university campus. Many habitats, including forest edge, grassland and streams are found within the park.

Even low-lying funnel webs were clearly constructed in different sizes, at different heights and in different habitats such as leaf litter and shrubs.

In Capen Park, few orb weavers were found, perhaps because the study took place in the afternoon when wildlife and other humans may have disrupted webs. Further, diverse kinds of prey occupy the same habitat type, making it possible for two similar spider species to successfully hunt in the same place by seeking different resources.

Streams intersect Capen Park, and look particularly lovely in the fall.

30-40 dead fish, which our TA must sprinkle with alcohol every half-hour to keep them “fresh.” During the test, we hop from one seat to the next, identifying each specimen by its Latin name. It involves counting scales and recalling which minnow has a dorsal fin in front of its pelvic fin. Sometimes this process is spiced up by a question such as, “what does this fish eat?” Thrilling.

Ok, so really this part is tedious. But the process of learning about fish diversity, especially in our own backyards, is really fun! I have a couple of new favorite fish, and I can impress all my friends at parties by explaining fin functions at parties. And now, with this personal gallery of 59 pictures of preserved fish specimens, you can, too! But really, if you’re interested, check out The Fishes of Missouri by William L Pflieger. The book is no longer in print, but the University Bookstore custom prints them for the spring class. Happy fishing!

Photos all taken from Ichthyology lab specimens at the University of Missouri.

• Week 1: Anti-Road Rage – Learn how not to infuriate drivers! Use the rules of the road to stay safe (April 9).
• Week 2: Mechanical Lore – Learn the mechanical mysteries of your bike (April 16).
• Week 3: Don’t be a tool… – Learn how to use them! Use tools to repair any bicycle mishap (April 23).
• Week 4: Outdoor Bike-venture – Apply your new found know-how in an outdoor group ride around Columbia! (April 30).

MU CAMPUS MASTER PLAN FORUM, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14: MU has committed to sustainable guidelines for managing the environmental impacts of its activities, operations and services. MU is one of the most forward-thinking institutions for energy efficiency and building-space efficiency, and is working to further its positive impact in both directions. The university has chosen a strategy of renovating and re-purposing existing campus buildings because it makes sense both fiscally and environmentally.

Join the conversation about the 2012 MU Campus Master Plan and Climate Action Plan at the Open Forum. Find out more about Mizzou’s Master Plan or download the publication!

FOOD SENSE SYMPOSIUM, MARCH 16-18: Can sensible eating be reconciled with the sensory gratification of taste? And where does our sense of a normal or a healthy diet come from? The eigth annual Life Sciences & Society Symposium symposium will investigate how our taste for food is shaped by biological triggers, cultural norms, economic activity, and social surroundings.

The keynote speech will be gven by Brian Wansink, best-selling author of Mindless Eating and Marketing Nutrition. Other speakers include Shirly Corriher (Good Eats Mad Scientist from the Food Network), Leigh Lockhart (Owner of Main Squeeze Natural Foods Cafe and Juice Bar) and William Ian Miller (Author of award-winning The Anatomy of Disgust).

“DEEP GREEN” & “EVERYTHING’S COOL,” WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21:  Missourians for Safe Energy joins our friends in CCCC in screening these two excellent films at the Boone Gov’t Center, starting at 5:30 p.m. From Mid-Missouri Peaceworks

“KILOWATT OURS” TUESDAY, MARCH 27:  The public is invited to view a free Award-Winning Documentary “Kilowatt Ours: A Plan For Re-Energizing America” and to hear Tom O’Connor PE H2O’C Engineering, Owner: “How I Cut My Electric Bill 80%”.  Tuesday, March 27, 7:00 p.m. Refreshments 6:30 p.m. Columbia Public Library Friends Room.  Sponsors: League of Women Voters of Columbia-Boone County, Osage Group of the Sierra Club & Columbia Climate Change Coalition.  Earth Hour information at: www.ColumbiaClimateChangeCoalition.org

other events to add to your calendar:

EARTH DAY, SUNDAY, APRIL 22:  The Columbia Area Earth Day Festival will be held on Sunday, April 22, with a rain date of April 29. Details TBA. Booth registration going on now at the Peace Nook. For details on this, please see http://columbiaearthday.org/booths

EDIBLE COLUMBIA TOUR, SUNDAY, MAY 6: Peaceworks’ Center for Sustainable Living will be holding a tour of gardens, farms and other relevant local food venues from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on this date. Details TBA.

    Ahhh, Rudolph, If only you could have seen today. Rudolph Diesel was a German inventor and mechanical engineer who created the Diesel engine in and around 1893. Rudolph’s primary goal after living the inefficiencies of steam powered engines, was to create the most efficient fuel burning engine possible. High efficiency is the core principal of engineering.

Initially Mr. Diesel envisioned his engine to use specifically food crop oil. This could have been the forefront of sustainability before the internal combustion engine took its grasp in the world. Unfortunately, Mr. Diesel mysteriously passed away in transit across the English channel in the middle of the night and was later identified by fishermen 10 days later. It is highly theorized that industry competition lead to his mysterious death.

In his memory, I have published this BioDiesel video for viewers to create their own basic Biofuel. Keep in mind this is not fuel grade diesel for use in engines, but this is the basic process that is used to produce BioDiesel.

Some quick facts about BioDiesel:

• http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Myths_and_Facts.pdf
• http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Benefits%20of%20Biodiesel.Pdf
• http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/emissions.pdf
• http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/BTU_Content_Final_Oct2005.pdf
• http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Performance.PDF

This revolutionary, easily integrateable fuel needs to be more widely implemented and it starts with us. Get out there and make your own fuel!

Student Staff meeting in South Hall circa 2010. Photo by Jacob Carah.

Today I get the opportunity to present sustainability ideas to the MU Department of Residential Life student staffers. For two years I worked as a community advisor and treasurer in South Hall, and I lived in Mark Twain Hall as a freshman, so I know what residents enjoy in a dorm experience, what mentality many of them have, and also the funds, challenges and opportunities available to staff when planning events, decorating bulletin boards, etc. I’ve identified roughly three levels of commitment that student staff members can aim for in their dorm or residence hall. They’re all reasonable and simple, but some require more time than others. Others save you time! And sometimes money! And since our biggest goal at the university is to educate our students and prepare them for the real world, any extra sustainability effort is contributing to that. So let’s jump in:

Level 1: The Basics

• “Bring your own cups/bowls/plates/whatever.” Don’t waste money buying plastic or styrofoam kitchenwares that go to the trash after one event. Residents live down the hall. They can grab their own. They might whine at first, but they’ll get used to it because hunger usually conquers laziness. Even better, start this habit early. Freshmen don’t know what to expect from college, so if you start your first day event by telling them to bring their own stuff, they’ll just think that’s what big kids do. Incorporate this into your community plans. Meanwhile, you can use the money you saved on buying more delicious food.
• Push drying racks. RHA is getting at least one for every residence hall, so if you don’t have one now, you will soon. Read this article to learn about their benefits.
• Borrow supplies. Just because each hall has enough money to get their own karaoke machine/hot water kettle (South had two)/grill/name any big item you’ll use a couple times a year, doesn’t mean that’s a wise purchase. Lots of resources go into producing that item, and that money could be used for something else. Ask around to see if RAP or another hall has the item you need.
• Reuse your bulletin board material. This was my favorite trick as a staff member. I kept an Earlybird textbook box under my bed, full of used paper, cut-out letters and some other material. I rarely changed the back butcher board paper. Some months I never had to go to RAP to update my bulletin boards, and it was all in the name of conservation! The result is a punk rock (or, erm, maybe “hobo”) feel to your bulletin boards, which catches more attention than the uniform cutouts anyway.
• To towel or not to towel.Change from folded napkins to rolled towels. Use unbleached paper, because chlorine can pollute.
• Promote Mizzou Dashboard. Even if your hall doesn’t have this energy monitoring system, encourage reduced electricity usage around your hall.
• Be a good example. As a staff member, you’re a role model. You can’t expect residents to change their behavior if you aren’t doing it yourself.

Level 2: Vote with your dollar

Have you heard of the Local Multiplier Effect?  YES! Magazine gives a pretty good overview here. Basically, every time you buy for an event, you have options: Domino’s or Shakespeare’s or Red and Moe or Broadway Brewery. Buffalo Wild Wings or Addison’s. Jimmy John’s or Main Squeeze. Some options give you cheap food. Others give you delicious, locally grown, distinctively “Columbia” meals. I’m no economist, but the chart above seems suited to something like Shakespeare’s. I bet if you bought pizza from the 100% locally sourced Red and Moe, that dollar could get circulated to a farmer who buys from a local hardware store, to pay employees better prices, etc. Clue your residents into Nachos Bianca from Addison’s or the lavendar lemonade from Main Squeeze, and they can wow their friends with their local culinary expertise.

For non-food supplies, try Peace Nook. They have way more than you’d imagine, including paper towels and snack food. The more you spend locally, the bigger impact you have:

I can’t speak for every hall, but the end of each semester, South would have hundreds of dollars left over. Sometimes we blew it on study buck raffle items from WalMart. Ridic. That could have contributed to the local economy!

Level 3: Educational Interactions with the environment in mind

My most memorable EI in Mark Twain was the field trip we took to the MU Power Plant across the street. I learned so much about how they power the campus and what they’re doing to be leaders in energy technology. Hey, do that! Who said an EI always means inviting a professor to come speak in the hall? If you’re fortunate enough to have an adventurous hall, why not tour the power plant, Bradford Farm and its new composting site, MU Campus Dining Services with a talk from chef Eric Cartwright on local produce and nutrition, or even Hudson Hall, which has a ton of LEED-savvy features like repurposed countertops and energy efficient lighting?

You could even take short hikes to local trails!  In less than half a mile, or approximately 7 minutes, Rollins and Bingham area residence can be in Clyde Wilson Memorial Park. Dobbs area residents could be on the MKT trail. Invite a professor or local expert to go on the hike with you to talk about invasive species, stormwater runoff issues or biodiversity. Mike Heimos, the city stormwater educator would love to help your residents with a stream cleanup!  You can contact him at mjheimos[at]gocolumbiamo.com. Spring would be a great time to schedule one of these events.

For the less mobile crowd, invite Mizzou’s Sustainability Peer Outreach (SPROUT) to give a presentation. Former programs have covered energy conservation, local and sustainable food, environmental justice, water rights, and general sustainability tips. To request a program, contact mizzousprout[at]gmail.com.

The Work of 1000 is a 30-minute documentary film that tells the inspiring story of Marion Stoddart, a citizen leader committed to a lifetime of grassroots organizing and coalition building around her local Massachusetts river.

The movie will be shown Tuesday, January 17 at 7:00PM in the Wrench Auditorium of Memorial Union South.  Marion Stoddart will be at the screening and will lead a discussion about her experiences. Filmmaker Susan Edwards (a Mizzou graduate) will also be on hand to discuss the film.  The showing is free with a suggested donation.

In the early 1960s, Marion Stoddart was a housewife and mother of three who decided to take on the impossible–cleaning up the Nashua River, which ran through her town and was then one of the 10 most polluted rivers in the country. During her years of advocacy, Marion organized a massive citizen effort to rescue the river. She lobbied successfully for legislation, including the Massachusetts Clean Waters Act which was the first State clean water legislation in the country and a precursor to the national Clean Water Act and the development of the Environmental Protection Agency. Continuing that record of success, she petitioned the Federal government for millions of dollars of promised funds to fight the pollution–and won. Her dramatic success in mobilizing the community showed people that change was possible, even though they’d lost hope. Today, thanks to the efforts of Marion and the Nashua River Watershed Association (the non-profit she founded), the river is clean and restored, with wildlife thriving and children swimming.

The film is being sponsored by the Missouri River Communities Network and several other local non-profit organizations that work on clean water issues including: Sustain Mizzou, Missouri Stream Team Watershed Coalition, Missouri River Relief, Friends of the Big Muddy, Osage Chapter of the Sierra Club, Columbia Audubon Society, and the Mid-Missouri Chapter of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.  There will be a reception after the film so people can talk to representatives of various organizations and learn more about they can get involved and volunteer to work on clean water stewardship activities in watersheds in their area.

Visit the project web site: www.workof1000.org

Download the flier

If you’re in town and want to promote this event, contact Tina.Casagrand@gmail.com