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BEST Digs Soil! bESTology Week 4
Healthy soil is the FOUNDATION to a healthy life.  
Soil is the thin layer of material on the Earth’s surface, consisting of weathered rock, organic materials, air and water. Plants establish themselves in soil and grow, providing the world with food as well as contributing to the regulation of water and atmospheric gases. Therefore, healthy soil plays a role in a healthy climate regulation.
Over 20 soil types are found across the United …

The Germination of Agriculture and Farming
More than 10,000 years ago, the transition was made from hunters and gatherers to sowers and harvesters. This evolution allowed the formation of societies, property ownership, political structures, systems of knowledge (writing) and architecture.
From the Mesopotamia where the calendar and wheel were invented, to Europe where the seed drill and crop rotation were implemented, to America where land grant programs and agricultural experimentations began, bESTology will take us back through history so we …

Let’s Talk Farm
Each industry and career field has its own technology and vocabulary. To that end we are beginning to germinate our fields and grow some shared terminology. As we grow into the game in about six months, a discussion of the words will allow all of us to “Talk Farm”
Resources:

Jingle – Wikipedia
Commercial Jingles
Silos – Wikipedia
Types of Silos – Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Farm Basics #603 – Farm Terminology
Farm Terminology by …

Break New Ground – Week 1
Last year “Pay Dirt” embraced if it is not grown then it is mined, “Bet the Farm” embraces the opposite, the living world. We grow the trees used for our desks, the cotton for our clothes and the vegetables we eat.
Evolving from the Fertile Crescent to today’s genetically modified foods and organisms (GMO), the history and advancements of farming and agriculture are immense. bESTology will plant the seeds of knowledge and curiosity that …

We hope you enjoyed bESTology 2015.  The 14 weeks of activities will better prepare each team and student for PAY DIRT 2015.  

Mining and Me! – Week 1
Rock and Roll or ROCKS and COAL? – Week 2
Dirt to Dust.  And Beyond.  – Week 3
Mine Games – Week 4
Dirt Pays!  – Week 5
Who Wants What, When and Why? – Week 6
Round and Round We Go – Week 7
Minerals ORE Rocks – Week …

Mining the Sky – bESTology Week 14 
Houston, we have a problem.  The mining industry is heading towards space and it seems to be full throttle ahead!
But one must ask, what is the future of mining?  Are we limited to mining on earth or do we begin mining on asteroids?  Is there an interest to mine in space? How do we prospect, excavate and transport the commodity?  What is the need and will there be a profit? 
Great minds …

You Call.  BEST Hauls!  bESTology Week 13

During the past 12 weeks, bESTology has dug into the history, exploration and excavation of various mined commodities.  Since BEST mimics business and industry, the next step is to transport and deliver the product to the buyer.
The majority of real-world mined products are transported in bulk, i.e., coal, iron ore, salt, lithium.  The modes of transport often include sea, road, rail, pipeline and air.  Choosing the most efficient transport system must …

Let’s Vent! bESTology Week 12
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, ventilation is the control of air movement, its amount, and direction. Air is necessary not only for us to breathe, but to disperse gases, dust, heat, etc.
Mine ventilation is heavily regulated especially in coal mines and mines with gassy environments. Other contaminants impacting the air quality of mines are blasting fumes, radiation, dusts, battery emissions and more.
To ensure proper ventilation in a mine, downcasts of fresh air and …

Rock of Ages – bESTology Week 11
From the Paleolithic times (mining hematite) to the Stone Age then on to the Iron Age and now in the 21st Century, mining remains hard and hazardous work.
During this evolution the role of humans has changed, just as it has changed in industry.  Robots in factory settings often do the same repetitive tasks and are located away from the operator and power source. But frequently in mines, the robot works in high …

Nurture Nature – bESTology Week 10
Ecosystems are made up of fragile interconnections between biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components. We, as well as all living organisms, depend on abiotic and biotic factors for our existence; therefore protecting our environment while mining is imperative.
Many abiotic factors such as rocks and minerals are mined but upon doing so we must be conscience of the environment. Laws and regulations have been established and are enforced near mining communities to ensure the …

Safety First – bESTology Week 9
 
Accidents bring tears – Safety brings cheers.  A motto BEST embraces 24/7.
Mine safety, classroom safety, competition safety – we can all agree safety is key no matter where we are.  As a bESTologist, let’s examine how and why safety procedures are put into place and how we can play a role in the future of safety.
 Resources:

Creating a Safety Video
Alabama Code for Mine Safety
Mine Safety and Health Administration