This week on Terra Informa we unpack how artificial intelligence, specifically machine learning, and environmentalism mesh. In the episode, Terra Informer Lizzy Barron interviews Dr. Martha White to learn about her machine learning expertise and experience working on the ISL Adapt project in Drayton Valley to make the town's water treatment processes more energy efficient using the specific machine learning technique of reinforcement learning.  Further reading from the episode: The First Nations Principles of OCAPISL Adapt projectTechScape: Turns out there’s another problem with AI – its environmental toll by Chris Stokel-WalkerProgram Log
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Machine Learning and the Environment

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This epsiode originally aired on December 14, 2020: Listeners, we know you're all very upset that Eurovision was cancelled this year due to COVID. So, we decided to host something similar ourselves on the radio. This week, we bring to you the first ever EuroBirdoVision Identification Competition. You'll hear Terra Informers Charlotte Thomasson, Elizabeth Dowdell, and Sonak Patel try to guess the difference between the names of European birds and bands. You'll also hear some bird songs, and bird facts. The bird songs in this episode are from DiBird and Avi-base. The bands mentioned in this episode are: Eugent Bushpepa, Nemra, Lasgo, Irfan, Osmi Putnik, Monsieur Doumani, Priessnitz, Kellermensch, Mana Mana, Poll, Goran Gora, and Telectu. Download the program log here.

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Revisiting: The 2020 EuroBirdoVision Identification Competition

This episode originally aired on June 27, 2022: In this week's episode, Sonak Patel and Hannah Cunningham discuss the Montreal Protocol and the environmental crisis that was the discovery of the depletion of the ozone layer. Did the Montreal Protocol work? Did we save the ozone layer? And, if we did, can we also band together to address the environmental crisis of the 21st century: climate change? Program log. ★ Support this podcast ★

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Revisiting: Did we save the ozone layer? And can we save the climate too?

This episode originally aired on April 18, 2022: This week Elizabeth Dowdell and some other Terra Informers dive into the history of Earth Day, their feelings on the holiday, and show some appreciation for our big (shared) hunk of rock! Program log.

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Revisiting: I <3 You Terra

This episode originally aired on February 11, 2019: 
This week on Terra Informa, Sofia Osborne (a Terra Informer herself) reads us a piece she recently wrote for The Tyee, an independent, Canadian, online magazine. The story recounts Sofia's experience being isolated on Saturna Island during the worst wind storm in BC Hydro history. The storm rocked BC's west coast this past December, while Sofia's article was just released. We’ll chat about the piece, the future of dealing with these massive storms, and journalism! ★ Support this podcast ★

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Revisiting: Dad’s World Was My Refuge

This episode originally aired on November 23, 2020: At Terra Informa, we've talked trash before. Back in 2017, we even went on a tour of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. But, one thing we haven't talked about are the people who do the incredibly important job of sorting and processing our garbage. This week at Terra Informa, we interview filmmaker Anthony Goertz about The Line, a film that focuses on the employees of Quality One Training and Support, a program that connects people with barriers to employment including a criminal record, newcomer status, or addictions or mental illnesses with employment opportunities at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. You can watch The Line here online through Vimeo (rent it for $3.00 or buy it for $8.00). Download the program log here.

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Machine Learning and the Environment

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