Lab In A Bag Showcases Cotton Sustainability
April 22, 2024 Sustainability aspects of cotton and advanced applications were highlighted using a mobile laboratory, dubbed “Lab in a Bag,” during the sixth annual Engaged Scholarship Symposium organized by Texas Tech University.
During the sessions, I had an opportunity to present our study “Engaged Research in National Defense, Human Health, and Environmental Protection” to High Plains cotton producers. The research focuses on finding new applications for cotton, developing alternatives to plastics, and exploring opportunities for cotton in defense and industrial sectors.
The symposium highlighted various aspects of engagement such as using theatre plays to simulate disaster days, pictorial representation of a situation, and more. The power of effective engagement with stakeholders was stressed in the event. Presentations involved researchers from arts, engineering, family science and English, all focusing on outreach and engagement.
Our work featured a mobile laboratory using a Lab in a Bag that includes materials to highlight the earth friendliness of natural materials like cotton. The way the mobile laboratory can be easily assembled attracted audience attention and can also be used by different industries to highlight their uniqueness.
Photo: Brad Thomas, TTU
The Lab in a Bag consists of a packet of cotton, cotton nonwoven samples, oil absorption set-up, experimental oil, and safety equipment. This setup can be quickly assembled and can be used to demonstrate new applications of cotton such as oil absorption to school students and consumers, and for promoting the product.
Members of the audience belonging to the education sector inquired about sustainability approaches followed in the cotton sector. Practical demonstrations enhance awareness and interest in sustainable products. In the case of oil absorption by raw cotton, Lab in a Bag projects the scientific mechanism to the audience, as well as how such products are biodegradable. The show and tell aspect engages well with the audience and can serve as great promotional tools.
It was clear that people are aware of microplastic pollution, and the industry must involve in aggressive engagement with society to highlight the positive aspects of cotton such as the development of value-added products, biodegradability, and providing livelihood to many farmers in developing nations such as those in Africa.
It is clear that better messaging and working practitioners in other disciplines such as theater, music, and art can produce positive campaigns to relay facts about cotton and other natural products.
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