Funded Grant Projects: 2003

Nathaniel (Nat) Bletter
City University of New York Graduate Center and The New York Botanical Garden, New York, New York

"Quantitatively Analyzing the World's Collective Knowledge of Medicinal Plants to Discover Those with the Most Potential to Treat Disease"

(Categories: Conservation of Plant Resources and Health)

Diseases such as malaria, diabetes, and dysentery, among others, are prevalent and deadly in Third World countries because affordable treatments are not available. Yet, many of these diseases can be treated effectively and affordably using traditional plant-based medicine. With limited resources and thousands of plants to evaluate, Mr. Bletter has developed a mathematical method that combines traditional plant knowledge with high-speed computational and chemical analyses to discover which plant groups have the most potential to improve human health. With this information, low-cost medicinal plants or plant-derived drugs can be distributed to areas where the diseases are common and current pharmaceutical [or western-drug] treatments are unaffordable. Cultural and wildlife conservationists could also use this information to help them focus their preservation efforts on those plants with the greatest benefits to individual populations.

John E. Breshears
Architectural Applications, Portland, Oregon

"Constructing Wall Systems Modeled on Human Lung Membranes to Improve Indoor Air Quality While Using Less Energy"

(Category: Conservation of General Resources)

Buildings consume nearly two-thirds of all electricity produced in the U.S., creating an annual emission of two billion tons of carbon dioxide, the dominant "greenhouse gas". Additional fresh air and natural light create healthier and more comfortable buildings but require still more energy to operate. More energy efficient climate control methods would provide better indoor environments without further degrading the external environment. Mr. Breshears is developing a wall and ventilation system that uses the human lung membrane as a model. The system he proposes reuses the inside air to pre-condition (heat, cool, dehumidify or humidify) the outside air through a selectively permeable membrane as it enters a building. This new air exchange system will enable larger amounts of fresh air and natural light into a building without increasing energy use, which improves the quality of the indoor environment while reducing the emission of resulting greenhouse gases.

Dr. Randy Gaugler
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

"Producing Biopesticides Through Local Cooperatives in Ethiopia as an Alternative to Using Harmful Chemical Pesticides"

(Category: Agriculture)

One of agriculture's key technological advancements of the last century was the development of chemical pesticides that permitted expanded food production. The downside has been widespread human poisonings, soil degradation and water contamination. Industry responded by developing new less-toxic chemicals, however they are too costly for farmers in developing countries, leaving them to rely on older highly damaging pesticides. Dr. Gaugler proposes using native nematodes (parasitic worms) to fight against the sorghum chafer, an insect pest that reduces vital sorghum yields by as much as 80%. (Sorghum is a key grain across Africa that feeds humans as well as livestock and poultry.) He will introduce an inexpensive mass production technology that will permit developing countries, specifically Ethiopia, to reproduce nematodes locally via grower cooperatives. It is anticipated that new business opportunities will result, as well as reduced use of chemicals, improved soil quality and increased yields and food security.

This Lindbergh Grant in agriculture is sponsored by The Laura Jane Musser Fund.

Dr. Wijaya Godakumbura
National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka

"Promoting the Use of a New Kerosene 'Safe Lamp' in Rural Villages of Sri Lanka to Reduce Accidental Burn Injuries"

(Category: Health)

Kerosene lamps are still used widely in millions of homes in developing countries, sometimes with disastrous consequences due to fire. Godakumbura, a Sri Lankan surgeon, has witnessed the horrific burns and sometimes tragic deaths of the less fortunate of his country's adults and children alike. In his work, he has discovered that the toppling of unsafe homemade bottle lamps causes approximately 30% of the burn injuries in his country. Because the bottles are often tall, thin and round in shape, they can tip and roll easily spilling flammable oil, which quickly ignites a person's clothing causing extensive burn injuries. In his efforts to prevent further suffering, Dr. Godakumbura has developed a 'safe lamp' that is short and heavy, has two flat sides and a screw-on metal lid, to prevent lamps from tipping and oil from spilling. Also key to the lamp's success is its simple, inexpensive design that can be mass-produced at low cost. Foundation funding will assist in an extensive awareness campaign to promote the use of this lamp.

Dr. Gennaro (Jerry) Maffia
Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania

"Using Collagen Fibrils to Economically Recover Ethanol Fuel Produced During Fermentation Processes"

(Category: Waste Minimization and Management)

Renewable sources of fuel will be increasingly important in the 21st century as the global availability of fossil fuels decreases, even as demand increases. Ethanol is a renewable resource fuel that is readily obtainable and effective at reducing toxic emissions, however the cost of production makes the price unappealing in the market place. Dr. Maffia will research how collagen fibrils (strands of protein) found in the tissue under the skin of cattle can be used to concentrate and trap the ethanol fuel during the fermentation process, significantly reducing the cost to extract and purify the fuel. If successful, these by-products would no longer enter landfills and instead, would be used to help generate an economically viable and environmentally friendly, addition to the fuel supply. This Lindbergh/Lloyd grant in waste minimization and management has been made possible by a gift from Maureen Boles Lloyd in loving memory of James Lloyd.

Dr. Michelle L. Sauther
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

"Determining the Effects of Habitat Variation on Wild Lemur Health and Nutrition in Madagascar"

(Category: Conservation of Animal Resources)

More than 14 species of lemurs have become extinct since humans reached Madagascar. It is likely that the lemur population, health, nutrition and gene flow are all impacted by habitat alterations and degradation at the hands of man. It is estimated that the surviving species may face extinction within the next 50 years if adequate conservation programs are not developed to preserve their habitat. Dr. Sauther will use DNA technology to study the health, reproductive and nutritional condition of ringtail lemurs in protected reserves on Madagascar compared to those living in low-quality, fragmented, unprotected environments. Using GPS, she will track the lemurs to study how their behavior responds to various habitat disturbances. This information will be useful in developing feasible conservation programs for the lemurs as well as other endangered primate species.

Shalini P. Vajjhala
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Facilitating Environmental Decision Making by Integrating Local Hand-Drawn Maps and GIS Technology"

(Category: Intercultural Communication)

Worldwide, approximately 10 million people each year over the last 10 years have been displaced by major development projects such as dam construction, urban development, railways, and roads. This figure increases dramatically when displacements due to violence, war and natural disaster are included. Ms. Vajjhala plans to build a new interface for the GIS tool that would connect traditional hand-drawn mapping methods and symbols, familiar to unique people, communities or cultures, to existing GIS maps. The resulting new maps will help overcome both language and technology barriers to local participation in large-scale development planning. This new tool shows information in a format that is familiar to people and communities affected by development, which in turn will improve the ease, speed, and effectiveness of communication between local stakeholders and project decision-makers. This new tool can be used for many projects around the world including neighborhood mapping, larger plans for refugee and re-settlement projects, and for planning the location of major facilities such as electricity generation plants. This Lindbergh/Hallward grant in intercultural communication has been made possible by a gift from Clare Hallward.

Dr. Elsa Valeeva
Russian Academy of Sciences, Tyumen (West Siberia)

"Developing Ways to Reduce the Negative Impact of Energy Development on Aboriginal People and the Land in West Siberia"

(Category: Conservation of General Resources)

The search for oil and gas in Tyumen (West Siberia) over the past 30 years has created significant changes in the terrain and extensive environmental pollution. Within this region is the Numto territory, an area of untouched wilderness with clean streams and lakes, wetlands, and is home to rare plant and animal species. In addition, there are native people who depend on the wetlands for their livelihood. Dr. Valeeva will develop a conservation strategy for the area that will include a scientific analysis of zones within the region that would be suitable for natural gas extraction, while identifying appropriate areas to be protected for Numto's natural and human heritage. In addition, the plan provides an opportunity to ensure oil-related projects are undertaken in ways that are sensitive to the environment. It is Dr. Valeeva's goal that the plan should be approved by local government, regional ecological committees and accepted by oil companies.

Karine Viaud
San Diego State University, San Diego, California

"Assessing the Genetic and Skeletal Variations of the Endangered Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin and Harbor Porpoise for Better Management and Preservation"

(Category: Conservation of Animal Resources)

Black Sea bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises are on the verge of extinction. Industrial expansion, increasing water pollution, diminishing food resources caused by over fishing, live catches for international trade, diseases and physical injury from boat collisions, have resulted in the death of more than 5 million dolphins and porpoises. Yet, previous attempts to place these animals under legal protection have failed due to a lack of scientific information that distinguishes Black Sea populations from Mediterranean populations. Ms. Viaud plans to demonstrate that Black Sea bottlenose dolphins and harbor porpoises are unique in terms of their environment, genetics and/or skeletal make-up, in an effort to help them become protected under international laws.