A Though on Education and Sustainability

After various field trips and learning about the current state of the environment and the many things we can do to achieve a sustainable future  this blog is a thought on the importance of educating our society about these issues.

 I have always had an intrinsic knowledge and desire to take care of the environment  and this is in part due to the education I received during my elementary years. We learned to value water as a resource that would be scarce in the future and to also take care of the earth by respecting nature. This early education shaped me for the future and influenced to be a person that was friendlier to the environmental  At a college level, through a class called colloquium  this education has been much more profound and meaningful since I have not only learned about protecting the environment but also the critical state of the world and the importance of sustainability to be able to secure a future for future generations.

That is why education is so important. The same way that I am being educated, protecting the environment and achieving sustainability should be taught in all academic institutions as well as implemented and encouraged at all levels of work. it will be very difficult to achieve sustainability unless there is a society  that understands the importance of this issue and works cooperatively to be successful in protecting the earths natural resources and habitats.

With the population increasing at such a rapid rate, it is not a choice to work towards sustainability, but a matter of survival. I want to share a video about the population of the earth to show the importance of sustainability.

Rookery Bay Reserve boat trip

Rookery Bay Reserve Boat Trip

On February 28th, Rookery Bay Reserve guided us on a boat tour. This was a very interesting experience as we were able to see wild life and islands that have not been disturbed by human population growth. Our guide allowed us to do experiments that tested the pH water level, depth, and water turbulence. We also did net fishing and learned about some fish and how they survive and their importance to the environment. After the boat tour, we sailed in a small island and enjoyed the shore view for some time before it started to rain.

I learned about the red mangrove prop roots, these can grow up to 40 feet tall and are extremely important for millions of fish as a place for refuge and food supply. I also learned that the reserve is a pit stop during the winter months to many migrating birds; since they travel so much the reserve is a supply of energy and helps them reach their journey.

The boat tour was very exiting. Seeing all the beautiful views and many kinds of birds was an incredible experience. Being on the boat made me imagine a world where it's possible to live harmoniously with nature. I also admired all the hard work that people at the reserve have put and how important their labor has been to preserving these areas. 

A visit to the Corkscrew Sanctuary

A visit to the Corkscrew Sanctuary 

A February 6, we visited the Corkscrew Sanctuary. 

There were numerous telescopes placed to observe the different wildlife present

Melissa being goofy and enjoying the scenery

This was one of my favorite spots; three ecosystems could be seen from one location.

As you got immersed in the woods, the trees will be taller and more dense.

In this picture, it's possible to see baby alligators 

The sanctuary was bought in an effort to protect the many species of birds that were in danger. It was a very expensive land since in the past land was not valued by how extensive the terrain was but by number of trees.

The Corkscrew sanctuary offers a unique experience for residents and visitors of SWFL. It is one of the last preserves if not the only one of this nature left in USA. You can find trees 5 to 7 hundred years old. Not only can one appreciate the different wildlife, plants, and habitats in general but it also can be a great experience to learn about history and how humans have affected the environment.

Echo Field Trip

 ECHO FIELD TRIP

This week we went to Echo, a non-profit organization that seeks sustainable solutions to fight hunger. It was a great experience and truly an eye opener that there is an organization that I have never heard of here in SW Florida working for a great cause and with so much success and involvement in the whole world. 

The experience

As soon as we arrived the tour started, our guide (great person) was a PhD that used to teach in the University of Michigan, he showed us many tools that the organization had created and emphasized that they were created targeting communities that had limited access to education and resources.

In this picture, our guide shows us a water pump that uses simple materials and can use tools to not only extract water but also purify it.

One of the many innovations that were exhibited at ECHO.

The guide explained how engineers and missionaries all over the world go to ECHO to learn  and develop sustainable methods to fight hunger. He explained that many of these interns have been successful in learning and taking these skills to remote areas around the world and have impacted their way of living positively. 

Sustainable Practices

While visiting ECHO, we learned many new sustainable methods of growing food that could benefit the earth ecologically as well as making it economically accessible for communities. The tour showed us many ways of growing food that featured different terrains and temperatures around the world. 

Ducks are part of a self sustainable process that provides food for humans , ducks, and Tilapia.

That's me feeding a goat, or tricking her with a plant, she got upset.

A process of watering  inside the terrain allows this crops to use less water and making it possible for communities with limited access to water to plant this crops.

One example of the many terrains that were created to do research.

You could find many vegetables that were eatable in our tour.

An example of crops that could be grown with out much soil and useful for areas such as cosmopolitan areas. 

ECHO's mission was eye opener, not only is their mission very important and worthy of support, but it is incredible to see the work and progress that many volunteers have achieved. It's a great resource for communities around the world and for people that wish to learn sustainable ways to fight hunger. I will definitely plan another visit to learn more and would encourage everyone to visit ECHO and experience something not found in many places around the world. 

University Colloquium: A Required Class at FGCU

1/15/2013

Blog #1
University Colloquium: A Required Class at FGCU

Florida Gulf Coast University campus

University Colloquium is a class that all FGCU students are required to take in order to graduate. It is important to understand the main outcome of this class so here is an excerpt from their description:

 ...it addresses the ecological perspective in relation with address the ecological perspective outcome in relations to other university outcomes and guiding principles. 

 Before attending the first class session, my perception of Colloquium is that of a class whose objective is to represent FGCU  and its ecological initiatives, which helps FGCU be differentiated from other universities and in a way creating a competitive advantage by attracting students with a similar concern over the environment.  

Rookery Bay Reserve 

First impressions and Expectations:

The first impression of this class was very pleasing. After a brief tour of the Rookery Bay Reserve (where we are taking the class), I was amazed as to see the amount of investment many organizations put into protecting the environment. It is incredible to find out that there is a lot to do and that lots of people need to be educated about the serious challenges the earth is facing and how it is also affecting our so called "Floridian paradise".

My desire is to not only learn about the damage that has been done to the environment but to learn how we as individuals and as future leaders of our society can make a positive impact to the environment. I wish this is not a negative class that will tell us that we are doomed but instead teaches us on a positive tone and gives as solutions and tools to reach sustainability in the future.