User:CourtneyBrown

About Me

Courtney Brown

Third year full time student at Humboldt State University majoring in Environmental Resource Engineering and minoring in Woman Studies.

Interests in Engineering

• Energy resources which allows the experience of creating efficient and sustainable forms of storing and transferring energy.
• Sustainable Activism: Divesting California’s institutions from fossil fuel.
• Working with underrepresented students who are interested in STEM and granting them resources that will allow them to succeed in their college and professional lives.

Experience in Engineering

• Summer (’13) internship with National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) in their Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK) as a mentor for underrepresented students (3rd-8th grade) in getting them involved with Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). With classroom management this program involved age-appropriate curriculum that engaged students in interactive exercises for the course of three weeks.
• Humboldt State University’s first council representative for California Student Sustainability Coalition whose mission is to unite and empower California’s higher education that will allow collaboration in a nonviolent transformation of ourselves and to our institutions.

• Group Affiliation at Humboldt State University: Society of Women Engineers (SWE), HSU Student Sustainability Coalition (HSUSSC), Indian Natural Resources, Science and Engineering Program (INRSEP) center for academic excellence in STEM.
  • Project with WetLand:Aquaponic System

Portfolio

• For Engineering 215, my team, Hooked on 'Ponics, designed an aquaponic system for the WetLand Project. This is the document we created: Final Doc
• This is a Persian Gulf Imports spreedsheet that I made in Engineering 215.
• This is a sample of an AutoCad drawing for an Engineering 215 assignment.
• This Gantt Chart shows a sample of project-planning software.
• This is a Memo for a sustainable speakers event given by Derek Jensen.

DIY part for Hooked on 'Ponics Appropedia Page

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How To Build An Aquaponic System
Image	Steps
	Step 1Purchase your large materials that will hold up to 1000 liters of water. Hooked on 'Ponics purchased two previously used 500 gallon plastic intermediate bulk containers (IBC).
	Step 2 Find a sturdy location to place your aquaponic system. Make sure there is a covering, no outside water is allowed in or near the system.
	Step 3 Thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the intermediate bulk containers (IBC).
	Step 4 Convert your containers into suitable tanks for your system. This step will vary depending on what kind of containers you have procured. Here we are removing unnecessary components from our containers that would have interfered with the operation of the system. It is important to maintain structural stability while simultaneously providing maximum functionality.
	Step 5 Reinforce your system. This step will also vary depending on the specifics of your system. The Hooked on 'Ponics team had to design for their system to be installed on a barge, so they built a frame to hold the grow bed in place. This may not be necessary if your system isn't on a moving barge! Take precautions to ensure that your system is safe and stable in the location that it is to be installed in.
	Step 6 Cut one of the 500 gallon IBC in 2/3 which will be used for both the grow bed and sump tank. Then paint the exterior of both intermediate bulk containers with paint containing zinc oxide. Sunlight can cause algae growth which can clog plumbing and disrupt water flow.
	Step 7 Once the paint is dried, place the IBC containers for the fish tank back in the stainless steel cage. Use plastic welding glue to attach the water level controller on the IBC valve.
	Step 8 Assemble the auto siphon bell in the granular grow bed which is made out of 1/3 of the second IBC.
	Step 9 Attach a pvc pipe to the bottom of the auto siphon. This will allow water to drain from the grow bed into sump tank.
	Step 10 Attach the electric water pumps on the outside of the stainless steel cage that holds the sump tank. One pump should move water from the sump tank to the fish tank, and the second should move water from the sump tank to the grow bed.
	Step 11 Compile all the main components (grow bed, sump tank, fish tank) into a design that is specific to where the aquaponic system is located and the amount of space available. The system is now complete and steps can be taken to properly grow plants and raise aquatic animals.