Hi, I'm Mardis.
Hi, I'm Mardis.

Today, we're going to  talk about air, water, and food.
Today, we're going to  talk about air, water, and food.

In order to survive humans have to have access  to clean water, air, and nutritious food.
In order to survive humans have to have access  to clean water, air, and nutritious food.

Unfortunately, the seven plus  billion people that we have 
Unfortunately, the seven plus  billion people that we have 

on this planet today don't have access to that.
on this planet today don't have access to that.

Just to give you an example  of how dire the situation is,
Just to give you an example  of how dire the situation is,

more than two billion people don't  have access to reliable clean water.
more than two billion people don't  have access to reliable clean water.

With all the technology and science that  we've developed over the last few decades,
With all the technology and science that  we've developed over the last few decades,

you would think that that kind of problem would have been solved by now.
you would think that that kind of problem would have been solved by now.

But it's not. It's not even close.
But it's not. It's not even close.

So what we want to share in this episode  is how good design, how good science,  
So what we want to share in this episode  is how good design, how good science,  

and how good technology  working together can help us
and how good technology  working together can help us

think of a future where all of us can  breathe, can eat, and can drink water safely.
think of a future where all of us can  breathe, can eat, and can drink water safely.

The role of the designer is to solve problems.
The role of the designer is to solve problems.

We're also connectors.
We're also connectors.

We connect the scientists with the  technologists with the innovations.
We connect the scientists with the  technologists with the innovations.

And we design solutions that  are applicable to everybody.
And we design solutions that  are applicable to everybody.

Designers are here to create abundance.
Designers are here to create abundance.

So you don't have to worry  about the air that you breathe 
So you don't have to worry  about the air that you breathe 

when you walk out the door,
when you walk out the door,

or the water that you're giving your child.
or the water that you're giving your child.

Humans have been very ingenious in creating  ways to give ourselves access to clean water.
Humans have been very ingenious in creating  ways to give ourselves access to clean water.

So let's talk about that.
So let's talk about that.

In the past we as humans would seek out a water source to drink.
In the past we as humans would seek out a water source to drink.

And if it was clean and crystal  clear we would drink it.
And if it was clean and crystal  clear we would drink it.

If it was brown we would avoid it for good reason.
If it was brown we would avoid it for good reason.

And we've kind of learned from that.
And we've kind of learned from that.

The natural world has a great ability to filter.
The natural world has a great ability to filter.

You can even see this in ancient watering  systems of previous civilizations.
You can even see this in ancient watering  systems of previous civilizations.

And we still have an example  in Yosemite National Park here,
And we still have an example  in Yosemite National Park here,

where they've layered rocks on top of  pebbles on top of sediment and sand
where they've layered rocks on top of  pebbles on top of sediment and sand

and used the natural environment to  filter water so you can drink it today.
and used the natural environment to  filter water so you can drink it today.

When we look at the present we have access to  
When we look at the present we have access to  

water filtration systems in  our homes and our fridges.
water filtration systems in  our homes and our fridges.

And these are pretty wonderful because  they remove biological contaminants
And these are pretty wonderful because  they remove biological contaminants

as well as chlorine, salt, and  dirt from the water we drink
as well as chlorine, salt, and  dirt from the water we drink

so that we don't have to worry  about what we put in our bodies.
so that we don't have to worry  about what we put in our bodies.

Unfortunately these types of technologies are  not available to most people on this planet.
Unfortunately these types of technologies are  not available to most people on this planet.

So they fall back to solutions like bottled water.
So they fall back to solutions like bottled water.

The truth of the matter is we have to get  better at cleaning up our water sources.  
The truth of the matter is we have to get  better at cleaning up our water sources.  

One of the technologies scientists are  excited about right now is called graphene.
One of the technologies scientists are  excited about right now is called graphene.

They've taken this material and turned it into  what we call a graphene foam to help filter water.
They've taken this material and turned it into  what we call a graphene foam to help filter water.

And beyond sort of the normal particulates we've already mentioned,
And beyond sort of the normal particulates we've already mentioned,

it can really start to remove potentially  radioactive materials like uranium.
it can really start to remove potentially  radioactive materials like uranium.

Now, can you imagine if we could  deploy this in not only homes
Now, can you imagine if we could  deploy this in not only homes

but in entire cities and countries to help raise 
but in entire cities and countries to help raise 

the standard of living  through better quality water?
the standard of living  through better quality water?

Let's talk about motivation.
Let's talk about motivation.

The first motivation is we want to  give access to clean water, air,  
The first motivation is we want to  give access to clean water, air,  

and nutritious food to everyone on this planet.
and nutritious food to everyone on this planet.

And really for the next generation of people.
And really for the next generation of people.

In the future we might live in other places that go beyond planet Earth.
In the future we might live in other places that go beyond planet Earth.

And we need to provide the  same thing for these people.
And we need to provide the  same thing for these people.

The second motivation is  be in harmony with nature.
The second motivation is  be in harmony with nature.

Nature has shown us how to create ecosystems  that are abundant but also regenerate.
Nature has shown us how to create ecosystems  that are abundant but also regenerate.

We should be able to learn from that and create  artificial ways of doing that for ourselves.
We should be able to learn from that and create  artificial ways of doing that for ourselves.

Nature has been amazing in providing  us with food for millions of years.
Nature has been amazing in providing  us with food for millions of years.

So let's look at what the past, the  present, and the future have to offer us.
So let's look at what the past, the  present, and the future have to offer us.

A great example is what we call locovores.
A great example is what we call locovores.

Millions of years ago people  didn't travel that far for food.
Millions of years ago people  didn't travel that far for food.

They were hunters and gatherers  and it was kind of easy
They were hunters and gatherers  and it was kind of easy

because planet Earth provided  us with everything we need.
because planet Earth provided  us with everything we need.

But as we industrialized and  we grew plants and we gardened.
But as we industrialized and  we grew plants and we gardened.

And even I did it when I was a kid.
And even I did it when I was a kid.

I would garden with my parents.
I would garden with my parents.

And we would eat that food out of the garden.
And we would eat that food out of the garden.

But then we started industrializing it.
But then we started industrializing it.

Suddenly we're buying our food  rather than raising our food.
Suddenly we're buying our food  rather than raising our food.

We're disconnected from the  food source a little bit.
We're disconnected from the  food source a little bit.

But there were also a lot of  really positive things where  
But there were also a lot of  really positive things where  

we could get bananas in the middle of winter.
we could get bananas in the middle of winter.

We can get fruits and vegetables anytime  we want from continents far away.
We can get fruits and vegetables anytime  we want from continents far away.

When we're thinking about the future of food,
When we're thinking about the future of food,

we're trying to find ways to create regenerative  and non-polluting systems that can feed all of us.
we're trying to find ways to create regenerative  and non-polluting systems that can feed all of us.

Replacing animal protein with  plant proteins for example
Replacing animal protein with  plant proteins for example

helps reduce the amount of energy or water  that's being used to raise these animals.
helps reduce the amount of energy or water  that's being used to raise these animals.

We're also looking at other solutions  like lab grown meats which satisfy our  
We're also looking at other solutions  like lab grown meats which satisfy our  

cravings for this kind of protein, this  kind of taste, and this kind of texture.
cravings for this kind of protein, this  kind of taste, and this kind of texture.

Without injecting cruelty in the process.
Without injecting cruelty in the process.

Another way of doing it is integrate  insect protein into our diet.
Another way of doing it is integrate  insect protein into our diet.

They've been shown to be very  nutritious and very abundant.
They've been shown to be very  nutritious and very abundant.

They also use very little resources to grow.
They also use very little resources to grow.

So there are ways to bring that into our diet  in a way that actually sounds very appetizing.
So there are ways to bring that into our diet  in a way that actually sounds very appetizing.

In the past we as humans had a  closer relationship with nature.
In the past we as humans had a  closer relationship with nature.

It was very intimate.
It was very intimate.

We interacted with plants and  animals and we were outdoors a lot.
We interacted with plants and  animals and we were outdoors a lot.

Anything we polluted with our own waste products  were reabsorbed into the system naturally.
Anything we polluted with our own waste products  were reabsorbed into the system naturally.

And it was almost difficult to over-pollute  when we were smaller societies.
And it was almost difficult to over-pollute  when we were smaller societies.

When we look at today we have access to  amazing imagery from space that tells us
When we look at today we have access to  amazing imagery from space that tells us

how much we pollute, where we pollute,  and where the trends are going.
how much we pollute, where we pollute,  and where the trends are going.

And this kind of information is important for  us to know in order to prevent future disasters.
And this kind of information is important for  us to know in order to prevent future disasters.

One of the great things that humans  have created are air filtration systems.
One of the great things that humans  have created are air filtration systems.

Unfortunately most people don't have access to  
Unfortunately most people don't have access to  

these personal ways of filtering  the air quality that's around you.
these personal ways of filtering  the air quality that's around you.

And that has led to rising numbers of  respiratory diseases all over the world.
And that has led to rising numbers of  respiratory diseases all over the world.

All of that technology of air  filtration systems is really just  
All of that technology of air  filtration systems is really just  

a bandaid to the problem of pollution in the air.
a bandaid to the problem of pollution in the air.

If we look to the future, we  like to look at outer space.
If we look to the future, we  like to look at outer space.

So how do we create breathable  environments where they don't exist?
So how do we create breathable  environments where they don't exist?

In the future we're thinking about living  on the Moon, on Mars, or in free space.
In the future we're thinking about living  on the Moon, on Mars, or in free space.

But these environments don't  have any air for us to breathe.
But these environments don't  have any air for us to breathe.

So we need to create it.
So we need to create it.

We can do that by extracting minerals from  these regions and transforming them into oxygen.
We can do that by extracting minerals from  these regions and transforming them into oxygen.

A long term idea that we've been looking  into is terraforming the Moon or Mars.
A long term idea that we've been looking  into is terraforming the Moon or Mars.

And perhaps from developing that  kind of technology we can come  
And perhaps from developing that  kind of technology we can come  

back to Earth and re-terraform planet Earth,
back to Earth and re-terraform planet Earth,

and make it livable for each and every one of us.
and make it livable for each and every one of us.

Our aim as designers is to create  abundance for everyone on this planet.
Our aim as designers is to create  abundance for everyone on this planet.

But at the same time we need to  restore balance with the natural world.
But at the same time we need to  restore balance with the natural world.

Thank you for joining us on this episode today.
Thank you for joining us on this episode today.

Please leave comments below.
Please leave comments below.

Tell us what you think and  share with your friends.
Tell us what you think and  share with your friends.

And until next time, bye bye.
And until next time, bye bye.