Lesson 14: Which of the 10 Smart Growth Principles is most important in the town where you live?
The Smart Growth Principle most important in the town where I live is: "Create walkable neighborhoods". The young adult demographic in my town is growing rapidly, and there are many families with young children. It is important to create neighborhoods with walking paths because kids need places for recreation, people need paths for exercise, and pets need paths to go on walks.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Semester Project #2 Blog #4
This week, to wrap up my Semester Project #2 (Project Squirrel), I completed two squirrel surveys to meet the four survey minimum for the program. I did the first survey early this week, on Monday, when it was sunny but chilly. The other survey was completed on a rainy day (I wanted to see if weather affected the number of squirrels outside).
Here are the last couple questions:
7) How is the volunteering going this week?
This week volunteering is going well. I completed two surveys and will be wrapping up the project with this blog post. There have been other animals moving into my neighborhood as it becomes warmer, such as rabbits. The majority of squirrels in my neighborhood are fox squirrels.
12) Will you continue your citizen science project after this class? Why?
I will not continue my citizen science project after this class. Project Squirrel was a good introduction into the world of citizen science volunteering, and I would like to try a new program. Project Squirrel is something I can do at any time, so if I was to contribute in the future that option is still open.
Here are the last couple questions:
7) How is the volunteering going this week?
This week volunteering is going well. I completed two surveys and will be wrapping up the project with this blog post. There have been other animals moving into my neighborhood as it becomes warmer, such as rabbits. The majority of squirrels in my neighborhood are fox squirrels.
12) Will you continue your citizen science project after this class? Why?
I will not continue my citizen science project after this class. Project Squirrel was a good introduction into the world of citizen science volunteering, and I would like to try a new program. Project Squirrel is something I can do at any time, so if I was to contribute in the future that option is still open.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Semester Project #1 Blog #4
I have been continuing my footprint reducing strategies, and here are my answers to the last questions:
8) What are you learning in this project?
From the ecological footprint reduction project, I am learning how to reduce my ecological footprint in easy ways. I have also learned in combination with the class that living a sustainable lifestyle is better than a wasteful one is almost every aspect (it cost less money, is better for the environment, your health...). This project also made me aware of all the waste I put into the environment on a daily basis and the large number of resources I use to sustain my way of living.
9) What would you recommend to others who may attempt ecological footprint reduction?
To others who want to reduce their ecological footprint, I would suggest starting with easy stuff- turning off lights or cleaning your car, because even though they are small tasks, they have real environmental benefits. I would also say choose strategies that fit your schedule- don't choose elaborate strategies if you can't keep it up over time, because the smaller tasks do the same job and become habit after enough time.
10) Will you continue your 4 strategies after this class? Why?
Yes, I will definitely keep up the strategies after this class, because they are easy to do and have environmental impacts! This project and class has opened up my eyes and made me realize you can take simple steps to lead a less environmentally-impacting life. The strategies I chose are easy enough to maintain at college next year, so I want to keep remembering to do them.
That's it for PROJECT 1!
8) What are you learning in this project?
From the ecological footprint reduction project, I am learning how to reduce my ecological footprint in easy ways. I have also learned in combination with the class that living a sustainable lifestyle is better than a wasteful one is almost every aspect (it cost less money, is better for the environment, your health...). This project also made me aware of all the waste I put into the environment on a daily basis and the large number of resources I use to sustain my way of living.
9) What would you recommend to others who may attempt ecological footprint reduction?
To others who want to reduce their ecological footprint, I would suggest starting with easy stuff- turning off lights or cleaning your car, because even though they are small tasks, they have real environmental benefits. I would also say choose strategies that fit your schedule- don't choose elaborate strategies if you can't keep it up over time, because the smaller tasks do the same job and become habit after enough time.
10) Will you continue your 4 strategies after this class? Why?
Yes, I will definitely keep up the strategies after this class, because they are easy to do and have environmental impacts! This project and class has opened up my eyes and made me realize you can take simple steps to lead a less environmentally-impacting life. The strategies I chose are easy enough to maintain at college next year, so I want to keep remembering to do them.
That's it for PROJECT 1!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Semester Project #2 Blog #3
I am on Spring Break in Florida this week, so for my Citizen Science Volunteering Program (Project Squirrel), I observed the squirrels in the area.
I did not see any fox or black squirrels in the area I am staying (Southwest Florida). Here are some questions I answered this week:
8) What are you learning in this project?
I am learning the basics of a Citizen Science Volunteering Program. Project Squirrel also opens the doors to other possible programs I could join. I am learning how to record data about squirrels, including the surrounding environment, and how all of that national data comes together.
10) What do you find rewarding about citizen science volunteering?
Citizen science volunteering gives me a chance to participate in programs that help real scientists collect data and better the world through their studies. There are programs for everyone and most can be done from anywhere. Project Squirrel can be performed anywhere in the world, so it was convenient to keep up with it even in Florida.
I did not see any fox or black squirrels in the area I am staying (Southwest Florida). Here are some questions I answered this week:
8) What are you learning in this project?
I am learning the basics of a Citizen Science Volunteering Program. Project Squirrel also opens the doors to other possible programs I could join. I am learning how to record data about squirrels, including the surrounding environment, and how all of that national data comes together.
10) What do you find rewarding about citizen science volunteering?
Citizen science volunteering gives me a chance to participate in programs that help real scientists collect data and better the world through their studies. There are programs for everyone and most can be done from anywhere. Project Squirrel can be performed anywhere in the world, so it was convenient to keep up with it even in Florida.
Semester Project #1 Blog #3
Two weeks ago I cleaned out the back of my car, which had accumulated a bunch of crap over the year. I hauled everything inside (all seven Harry Potter books, three posters, a pile of plastic plates, and trash) and weighed everything. The total weight of extra items in my car was twenty-five pounds! Now that there isn't that extra weight in my car, I will get better gas mileage.
Questions:
4) Why did you choose these four strategies?
I chose my strategies because they not only helped reduce my ecological footprint and better the earth, but also had a direct benefit for me/my family. 1) Turning off lights reduces the electricity bill, 2) cleaning my car increases gas mileage and increases the time between each fill-up, 3) taking care of my possessions means I don't have to buy new items, 4) taking shorter showers reduces bills, and 5) reducing the amount of hazardous waste I produce is better for my long-term health.
5) How are you progressing in your footprint reducing strategies?
I have a steady progress in my footprint reducing strategies. I try to complete one big task a week (cleaning my car, cleaning the art room, reducing waste). The next step is to implement all the strategies full time.
6) What do you find challenging in reducing your footprint?
Laziness is the biggest roadblock I face. My footprint reducing strategies aren't hard by any means- it just takes motivation to do them. Reducing the amount of hazardous waste is the most challenging to implement because there is a lot of extra paint used in my art process and sometimes it is hard to break old habits.
7) What do you find easy in reducing your footprint?
Turning off the lights and taking shorter showers have been the easiest strategies to keep up. It isn't hard to turn off the lights when you leave the room, and taking shorter showers has been easier to do than I thought, since I realized I used to stand in the shower for an extra five minutes (wasting water). It's easier to reduce habits if they have direct benefits.
Questions:
4) Why did you choose these four strategies?
I chose my strategies because they not only helped reduce my ecological footprint and better the earth, but also had a direct benefit for me/my family. 1) Turning off lights reduces the electricity bill, 2) cleaning my car increases gas mileage and increases the time between each fill-up, 3) taking care of my possessions means I don't have to buy new items, 4) taking shorter showers reduces bills, and 5) reducing the amount of hazardous waste I produce is better for my long-term health.
5) How are you progressing in your footprint reducing strategies?
I have a steady progress in my footprint reducing strategies. I try to complete one big task a week (cleaning my car, cleaning the art room, reducing waste). The next step is to implement all the strategies full time.
6) What do you find challenging in reducing your footprint?
Laziness is the biggest roadblock I face. My footprint reducing strategies aren't hard by any means- it just takes motivation to do them. Reducing the amount of hazardous waste is the most challenging to implement because there is a lot of extra paint used in my art process and sometimes it is hard to break old habits.
7) What do you find easy in reducing your footprint?
Turning off the lights and taking shorter showers have been the easiest strategies to keep up. It isn't hard to turn off the lights when you leave the room, and taking shorter showers has been easier to do than I thought, since I realized I used to stand in the shower for an extra five minutes (wasting water). It's easier to reduce habits if they have direct benefits.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Semester Project #2 Blog #2
I just completed my first survey for Project Squirrel. In my observation, I saw one black squirrel and five fox squirrels. Squirrels regularly feed on the bird feeders in my backyard and seldom feed on the trees. In my backyard there are seed-bearing trees such as maple, and down the road there is a cottonwood tree. We also have five pine trees on the side of our house.
Questions:
9. What do you find easy/challenging about citizen science volunteering?
Project Squirrel isn't hard to participate in, because basically all you have to do is look out your window and walk down the street to make observations. There isn't anything that stands out as challenging-the hardest part is probably making the time to actually do it. Other than that, Project Squirrel is a fun citizen science volunteering project and it's made so anyone can participate. In general, citizen science volunteering is challenging because you have to be accurate about your results-real scientists are using the data you collect in their experiments or studies so you want to report the most accurate observations possible. Most citizen science projects encourage a lot of people to participate so they have "easy" elements to draw people in. Overall my project is not challenging, but fun.
11. Would you recommend your project to someone else who wanted to try citizen science volunteering? Why?
Yes, I would recommend Project Squirrel to someone who wants to get their feet wet in citizen science volunteering because it is relatively easy and can be done from anywhere. Project Squirrel doesn't take much time out of your day, but it is still a citizen science program that helps produce real scientific results. It is a good program if it is your first citizen science volunteering program (like me) because it expands on something you do everyday: watch squirrels.
Questions:
9. What do you find easy/challenging about citizen science volunteering?
Project Squirrel isn't hard to participate in, because basically all you have to do is look out your window and walk down the street to make observations. There isn't anything that stands out as challenging-the hardest part is probably making the time to actually do it. Other than that, Project Squirrel is a fun citizen science volunteering project and it's made so anyone can participate. In general, citizen science volunteering is challenging because you have to be accurate about your results-real scientists are using the data you collect in their experiments or studies so you want to report the most accurate observations possible. Most citizen science projects encourage a lot of people to participate so they have "easy" elements to draw people in. Overall my project is not challenging, but fun.
11. Would you recommend your project to someone else who wanted to try citizen science volunteering? Why?
Yes, I would recommend Project Squirrel to someone who wants to get their feet wet in citizen science volunteering because it is relatively easy and can be done from anywhere. Project Squirrel doesn't take much time out of your day, but it is still a citizen science program that helps produce real scientific results. It is a good program if it is your first citizen science volunteering program (like me) because it expands on something you do everyday: watch squirrels.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Hazardous Waste (Semester Project #1 add-on)
After viewing the Chapter 10 lectures on Waste and Waste Solutions, I realize how much hazardous waste I have put in the environment in the past through acrylic paints. Last weekend I was working on a new painting and I put a lot of the excess, watery brown paint in the trash. Reading the lectures, it made me realize that those actions had consequences beyond what I could see. I've decided to add another Ecological Footprint Reduction strategy to my Semester Project 1 on top of the ones I already have:
1) take shorter showers
2) have only what I need in my car
3) take good care of my possessions
4) turn off the lights when I leave a room
and
5) reduce the amount of hazardous waste I produce in my home (in the form of paints).
Adding on this fifth objective is manageable, and I'm excited to practice it in the coming weeks.
1) take shorter showers
2) have only what I need in my car
3) take good care of my possessions
4) turn off the lights when I leave a room
and
5) reduce the amount of hazardous waste I produce in my home (in the form of paints).
Adding on this fifth objective is manageable, and I'm excited to practice it in the coming weeks.
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