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In this TED talk, Tom Schuler describes how an innovative technique for making concrete can dramatically reduce cement's carbon footprint and save an enormous amount of water.
This new type of concrete could not only reduce the carbon footprint of cement manufacturing, but it could potentially transform it into a carbon sink, making the concrete carbon negative.
The cement industry is responsible for an enormous amount of carbon emissions. This video provides a brief overview of a solution to an often overlooked problem.
The video provides a transcript and subtitles in many languages.
Additional Prerequisites
Although it is mentioned in the Ted Talk, students may benefit from a brief overview of the difference between cement and concrete and how they are made before watching the video.
Before watching the video, consider having students highlight words they do not know or understand on a copy of the transcript and go over any new vocabulary.
Differentiation
Consider printing out copies of the transcript for students to reference while watching the clip.
Students in chemistry classes could watch this video and then learn about the chemical reactions that take place when low-carbon, zero-carbon, or carbon-negative cement and concrete are made.
Engineering classes could analyze the criteria and constraints of this new solution for the concrete industry.
Similar resources include this animated video on concrete production and this video about making concrete production more sustainable.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
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