Kyle Giacobello
Today I was fortunate enough to accompany my peers on a class trip to the Carrara marble mine. Other than the fact that it was an amazing experience that left me with a memorable souvenir, there is a lot to discuss about logistics. In a beautiful area such as Carrara, the mines pose an environmental cost. Dust from the mines is carried through the air and pollutes the area, affecting wildlife. Another pressing issue is the safety of workers. Mining is much safer now than it was years ago, but accidents still occur. Our tour guide mentioned that just six months ago, a truck crashed and rolled down the hill. These risks are taken for the profits that the mines generate. Unfortunately, workers do not see many of these profits, and wildlife sees none, even though they share all the risk. When engineers are debating what materials to use, they should keep these byproducts of marble in mind to choose the correct material that maximizes well-being.
Swanson School of Engineering 