Carbon Sinks
A “carbon sink” is anything that removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. The great Amazon rainforest is a perfect example of a carbon sink. So is the Pacific ocean. And, of course, so are planters made out of old throw-away sinks found on the side of the road.
Event Details
Immaculata High School students are growing plants in sinks that would have ended up in landfill sites and are giving them a renewed purpose. In a way, each sink made with intention and love has a personality. Each sink is uniquely designed to both highlight a critical issue related to climate change and, at the same time, provide a way you can feel good about making a real difference in your community, or in the world. Sounds lofty… so what. The only question is, which sink is best for you?
Event Info
Contact: Doug Blain, (doug.blain@ocsb.ca)
Immaculata High School
May 23, 2018 ... 9:30 to 2:30
Carousel style presentations and drop in policy
Environmental Focus
Our focus is all about caring, not science. We just want to take care of people and the environment they live in. Our sink is going to grow good food for good people by creating our own mini farm.
Funding Focus
Our focus is on people right here in our own Immaculata community.
Local Solution
- Send Mac student to camp
- Provide vegetables for Mac family
Help Us Grow
Click here to help these students and projects continue to learn and grow.
Carbon Sink #1
MAC Cares
At MAC, we don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk... as lightly as possible. Besides being conscious of the size of our carbon footprint, our carbon sink, "MAC Cares", represents a contract... a signed contract, declaring that we all care and we are going do something about it. Since we are trying to feed people, it just makes sense to plant a vegetable garden in this big sink. Come and join us and eat a "MAC Cares" cucumber on May 23rd and help us send a student from our school to camp and feed a family veggies for the summer.
Team
Caring For Others
- Eric Hamelin
- Chelsea Shango
- Jasmine Fansali
- Shawna Paulson
At MAC, we don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk... as lightly as possible.
Environmental Focus
We are interested in making our carbon footprint small enough so we only actually need ONE PLANET. The focus is to get on a better path.
Funding Focus
Charity begins at home and so does change. Local Solution:
- Send Board student to camp
- Provide vegetables for Board family
Help Us Grow
Click here to help these students and projects continue to learn and grow.
Carbon Sink #2
BOARD Potential
This sink began with boards that were ready for the junk heap. We decided to paint them blue because that was the leftover paint Mr. Blain had in his garage. This sink is going to grow blueberries. Blue, the same colour as the sky. The sky that we are adding all that CO2 to. Even though Green House Gases (GHG’s) are invisible (not blue) and make up only 0.1% of the atmosphere, they are, without doubt, of supreme importance today. Sometimes, little things make a difference, yet... the sky's the limit.
Team
Best of Grade 10
- Fatima Dina Shaib
- Reylene Mendez
- Demetria Michaelis-Joseph
When people have an idea that they can do something that most people think, can't be done.
Environmental Focus
Plant a tree, take a bus, ride a bike and recycle. We just want to do something to make a difference. It seems simple… even elemental. Our focus is on taking action and getting our hands dirty.
Funding Focus
Helping hands. It’s all about giving a hand. We can do it right here in our city and support a kid that wants to go to camp and a family to eat well.
Local Solution
- Send Ottawa student to camp
- Provide vegetables for Ottawa family
Help Us Grow
Click here to help these students and projects continue to learn and grow.
Carbon Sink #3
Elementary My Dear
Can you give us a hand. We painted this sink with more leftover paint but unfortunately, one of the cans was oil based... ouch! Hard to clean up, and no matter how much we scrubbed that paint just stuck under our fingers for days. Guess it would have been better not to use that paint in the first place.
Team
Names say it all
- Immaculate Nyashema
- Angela Carlos
Plant a tree, take a bus, ride a bike and recycle. We just want to do something to make a difference.
Environmental Focus
Water Quality is front and center these days, for good reason. It just happens to be a reactant in the most important chemical reaction on the planet… photosynthesis. So our focus is all about water.
Funding Focus
60% of the human body is water. Carbon makes up about 20%. You can help 100% by donating.
Local Solution
- Send Ontario Province student to camp
- Provide vegetables for Ontario Province family
Global Solution
- Educate a girl in Africa
Help Us Grow
Click here to help these students and projects continue to learn and grow.
Carbon Sink #4
Providence: Pipe Dreams?
Providence:
“the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.”
Pipe Dreams:
"when people have an idea that they can do something that most people think, can't be done."
Our sink is made from old copper, steel and plastic pipes used to carry gas, water, oil... whatever, from one place to another. Really amazing things pipes! They have this ability to connect and transport. Is it just a dream to think we can connect and transport an idea into reality? Let us know. We added a little surprise to our sink... you should come and "listen" to it on May 23rd.
Team
Science Boys
- Jaeden Regglar
- Logan Cantin
- Tristen Kalabric
- Brendan Bays
In Indonesia, the estimated forest cover of 170 million hectares around 1900 decreased to less than 100 million hectares by the end of the 20th century.
Carbon Sink #5
A Forest Nation
Environmental Focus
My focus is on fighting back. If you come to my table on May 23rd, with the support of Ecology Ottawa, you can pick up a tree sapling and take it home and plant it.
Funding Focus
The average Canadian produces 15.7 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide by burning fossil fuels. One tree will absorb 1 ton in 40 years. It’s a start, but not a solution. Please donate.
Local Solution
- Send a Canadian student to camp
- Provide vegetables for a Canadian family
Global Solution
- Educate a girl in Africa
Help Us Grow
Click here to help these students and projects continue to learn and grow.
Carbon Sink #5
A Forest Nation
Afforestation vs Deforestation.
What will we do when we destroy the very things that help rid our planet of carbon dioxide?
In Indonesia, the estimated forest cover of 170 million hectares around 1900 decreased to less than 100 million hectares by the end of the 20th century. Logging and the burning of forests to clear land for cultivation has made Indonesia the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Much of this destruction of the forests is to produce palm oil, which is used in approximately 50% of products on supermarket shelves. No more Doritos for me.
So...what can you do. This sink was made with leftover sheets of wood and varnish. Instead of the wood being thrown out, it will raise money to send a girl in Africa to school. YOU can help support this cause by sponsoring this sink. Please do.
Team
Just Me
- Maddie Day
We took the old scrap metal from the shop in our school and from some chemicals we use all the time in our science lab, like acids, bases stains etc. and created cool designs that we think really show how special this sink is.
Environmental Focus
We are focused on our oceans, specifically ocean acidification, a different but related problem. If you like lobster, you should sponsor this sink.
Funding Focus
According to the New York Times bestseller book Drawdown, considered the most comprehensive plan ever to reverse global warming, educating girls is #6 on the list of the top ten solutions to deal with climate change
Global Solution
- Educate a girl in Africa
Help Us Grow
Click here to help these students and projects continue to learn and grow.
Carbon Sink #6
Leo: a Basic Solution
This sink is a total experiment. We took the old scrap metal from the shop in our school and from some chemicals we use all the time in our science lab, like acids, bases stains etc. and created cool designs that we think really show how special this sink is. Even the hydrangeas planted in each half of the double sink are an experiment. Can you guess which sink has acid in the soil and which has base. Hint: remember litmus paper from when you were in high school?
That's right, red is acidic and blue is basic and as we see it, the solution is also basic. We have experimented enough. It's time to stop playing with this planet as if we are in chemistry class making silly carbon sinks. Let's make a difference.
Team
Classy Chem
- Riley Oremush
- Alex Saucier
- John Corsten
It's time to stop playing with this planet as if we are in chemistry class making silly carbon sinks. Let's make a difference.
Environmental Focus
Our focus is on the environment is getting people out in the environment. We believe that if we create stronger connections with nature we are more likely to take care of it.
Funding Focus
Help us get people more connected to nature. Please sponsor this sink.
Local Solution
- Send Ontario Province student to camp
Help Us Grow
Click here to help these students and projects continue to learn and grow.
Carbon Sink #7
Not Out of the Woods...
We went to camp Kawartha. It was so great. It's a camp just outside Peterborough and has a building that is 100% self-sufficient. Actually it is more than that. The house actually gives back to the grid and makes money. How is it possible to make a house like that and not make all houses like that?
This sink is a product of a clean-up job after the ice storm we had this past month. Hard to think of winter now isn’t it? That’s the problem with climate change too.
Team
Eco Duo
- Amy Coughlin
- Sophia Fabiano
The house actually gives back to the grid and makes money. How is it possible to make a house like that and not make all houses like that?
Carbon Sink #8
Turnip The Beet
Environmental Focus
According to the New York Times bestseller book Drawdown, considered the most comprehensive plan ever to reverse global warming, a plant rich diet is #4 on the list of the top ten solutions to deal with climate change. Our focus is on good food.
Funding Focus
We support local organic farming as a solution. Grow and eat your own food.
Local Solution
- Provide locally grown vegetables for family
Help Us Grow
Click here to help these students and projects continue to learn and grow.
Carbon Sink #8
Turnip The Beet
Our sink represents the fact that farmers are a part of the solution to decrease carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. As cities like Ottawa grow bigger and bigger, things like green spaces and parks are replaced high rise apartments, shopping malls and parking lots. The environment is starting to take a backseat to urbanization.
Local agriculture is very important in Ottawa because it helps keep nature from being driven out of the city. Our carbon sink will put back a bit of GREEN into the urban streets of Ottawa
Team
Physic Elles
- Kira Norgren
- Yara Khalil
- Elizabeth Blakslee
The environment is starting to take a backseat to urbanization.
Carbon Sink #9
Question Able
Environmental Focus
All problems start with a question and as long as we try we will be able to solve that problem. This sink is about solving environmental problems.
Funding Focus
Please help us solve some problems.
Local Solution
- Send a student to camp
- Provide vegetables for family
Global Solution
- Educate a girl in Africa
Help Us Grow
Click here to help these students and projects continue to learn and grow.
Carbon Sink #9
Question Able
This is the first carbon sink made. It sat outside my house for the summer slowly, and I mean slowly, growing tomatoes. I built it because a neighbor was throwing away his sink and I had some leftover wood and dirt from a job I was working on. So... why not.
Well did that sink every get a lot of attention. Some people got the idea, but some people didn't because they never heard the term carbon sink.but they were curious. And that curiosity was enough.
Team
Mr. Ree
- Doug Blain
A neighbor was throwing away his sink and I had some leftover wood and dirt from a job I was working on. So... why not