#welcome to my life as an ecology student

[hylianengineer]

I have exciting Wednesday night plans and no one to share them with. I'm gonna go stand in the back of a truck with a spotlight and count deer. And also I will freeze my ass off.

[frogofalltime]

welcome to my silly little blog :3

(picrew by @paprikaparade)

about me

name: binyameen, it's the arabic version of benjamin. i don't like being called ben, but you can call me binya or bean or bingus or anything like that, i don't mind :)

age: 23

pronouns: he/him and they/them

languages: i'm fluent in english and french, and i am learning mandarin and arabic. i want to learn many more.

gender: i guess a creature of some sort. in a tboy swag kind of way.

sexuality: aspec and poly; these are the only labels i feel somewhat comfortable with right now, but life is a constant journey of self discovery so who knows what i shall find out about myself next :)

neurodivergence: i was diagnosed with autism when i was 15 (although my parents did try to get me diagnosed much younger; i was the "special needs" child with "anger issues") and i now also have an adhd diagnosis.

what i post: A Lot Of Pigeons, because i feed them at least once every week, usually on a wednesday (#pigeon wednesdays). also other animals. i study ecology so i post lots of biology-related things. i like sharing pictures of creatures and fungi that i find in the wild, reblogging things i find cool or beautiful or relatable, and yelling about my special interests and hyperfixations. alas i am very gay so expect a lot of gay posting. i am also a student activist so i often talk about neurodivergence, current events, social issues, queer stuff, etc. sometimes i vent post but mostly i try to keep this space safe and positive. free palestine 🇵🇸

everyone is welcome here, i love you <3

[melanieph321]

Ruben Dias x Reader - Summary Fling Part 4/10

Part 5 and Part 6 are out on my Patreon for free!

Summary - Reader has landed a research job at a marine biology lab in Portugal. She is, therefore, staying with her sister and her sister's Portuguese boyfriend for the summer holidays. There she meets Ruben Dias who is on vacation with his friends after the 2024 Euros. However, the two meet under the circumstances in which Ruben believes that Reader is a prostitute.

Enjoy ☀️

The University of Algarve housed arguably the best marine biology lab in the country. Although this is where you'd be doing most of your research, it was the marine station, located closer to where land meets sea, that excited you on your first day at work.

"Y/N, you made it!"

You were welcomed to the station by a familiar face, Gavin Phillips, who you met earlier at the Zoomarine. He was the first one to welcome you at the door and made sure to give you a thorough tour of the facility.

"This is where we bring in our samples from the sea. We usually gather the data here before documenting our progress back at campus. And as for you, who's doing your research in marine ecology, I'll gladly let you know that this is where you'll spend most of your time."

It smelled like fish, the whole room did. It wasn't a welcoming smell, however, a smell that you'd have to get used to. The lab was impressive though. You watched how the students, dressed in white coats and sterile gloves, were tuned in as they worked at their assigned stations. They looked busy, but with a loud whistle, Gavin had them all drop whatever they were doing, shifting their attention your way.

"Attention everyone! I'd like to introduce our newest addition to this lab. This is Y/N, fresh off the plane from Sydney, Australia." Collective oh's and ah's spread amongst the students, who regarded you curiously. "Y/N is here to add knowledge to our marine ecology squad, so please, anything she needs, I expect you to assist her with that."

"Thank you Gavin." You said, immense heat patting your cheeks. The students all took their time to greet you one by one. One student was even chivalrous enough to let you use his equipment since yours hadn't arrived yet. It was a great first day, one that got you really excited for the future.

"Ugh. What is that smell?"

You returned home quite early that afternoon. You were excited to show your sister the white lab coat you had been given. However, she couldn't bring herself to be in the same room as you until you faithfully rinsed yourself off in the shower.

"And don't forget to shave your legs!" She shouted. "I'm taking you dress shopping."

It was a nice way to spend some quality time with your sister. The last time you were living together the two of you were teenagers, with zero assumptions and worries in life. Although your sister hadn't changed much since then, her financial status definitely had.

"Here, try this on," She said, passing you another outfit through the dressing room curtains. It was Versace and Michael Kors, all brand names that she was urging you to try on.

"Does it fit?" 

"It's too tight." You complained.

"Y/N, it's supposed to be tight. Tight is good."

"No." You pulled open the curtains, showing off your ensemble of stylish clothes. "Tight is painful."

"God, you're gorgeous. You have to wear that out of the store."

"What, no. Maki." It was too late. Your sister was quick to rush over to the counter and pay for your items. You wore it out of the store and shamefully made your way down the street.

"Stop it Y/N, you look stunning. Just look at all the men checking you out."

"I don't want to be checked out."

"No, not even by Ruben Dias?"

She got you there. "Ruben? What about him?"

"Well, apparently he hasn't stopped asking about you since the night you gave him the time of his life."

How could you forget? It was the time of your life too.

"How do you know that?" You asked.

"I dunno, Diogo has been hanging around that Beach Club a lot. It's where famous people like Ruben like to hang out."

"Ruben is famous?"

"Yeah, he's super famous and not just here in Portugal but all over the world.

"Well, what is he famous for?"

"For playing football of course."

"You mean soccer?"

It's not like you didn't know what it was. It just wasn't the most watched sport in Australia, that's all. You had no idea that Ruben was actually a professional soccer player. How impressive.

"He actually just finished playing a major tournament with his country. They got knocked out though."

"Out of the tournament?"

"Yeah, I bet he's totally bummed about it too. You should totally try and cheer him up by sliding in his DM's."

"You think so?" You did have a great time with Ruben, he seemed like such a cool guy. Perhaps it was worth it to shoot your shot?

"Here, let's send a photo of you and have him rate your new outfit."

"What, no Maki."

It was too late. Your sister had already brought out her phone and stepped back to take your picture. You had stopped in the middle of the street, posing against a peach colored wall.

"Yeah, he'll love this." Maki said, inspecting the photo before sending it to Ruben via instagram.

"He's gonna think we're stalking him." You said, resuming your walking. "Not at all. He likes you, I promise."

"How do you even—"

"He replied!" 

You rushed to your sister's side, checking her phone.

"So sweet. Ruben rates your outfit as ten out of ten."

"Really?"

"I told you he was into you and look—" Your attention was drawn back to the screen where three dots had appeared in the corner. "He's typing!" Your sister gasped. 

The dots were soon replaced by a message from Ruben, asking if the two of you were close to a place called Quarteira. Apparently Ruben was there visiting a friend.

"We have to go. It's only a twenty minute drive from here."

"But, Maki. I have work tomorrow." Although Ruben's offer was tempting, you shouldn't get distracted from what you really came to Portugal to do.

"Come on Y/N, I swear we won't stay long."

"Promise?"

"Through thick and thin." She said, once again urging you to seal the deal with a pinky swear. Once you did, the two of you hit the road, off to meet Ruben and his friends again.

**********************************************

Your heart raced as you walked through the streets of Quarteira, a beautiful city near the beach. It seemed like a nice place for a family vacation as plenty of children were seen roaming the streets eyeing the gift shops along the road. 

You were so nervous, but excited to see Ruben again. As you and your sister looked up the address that he had texted you, you were surprised to stumble upon a small villa. Not too extravagant, but actually quite homely looking. You could feel your nerves getting the better of you as your sister rang the doorbell. The door soon opened with Ruben appearing in the frame.

"You guys made it!" He smiled and was even more handsome and charming looking since the last time you saw him. "Please, feel free to grab anything from the cooler. We were just getting started on the grill. I hope you're hungry.

"Yes, starving." Your sister moaned, teasing you as Ruben led the way through the lovely house, overlooking the beach.

"You better not fumble this, Y/N. He is so hot."

"Please, Maki, don't be so vulgar." You said, although you were also thinking it. Don't fumble this. Fortunately the meet up with Ruben and his friends turned out to be a really lovely night. It gave you a chance to get to know him and him you. Ruben was kind and attentive, asking you questions about your stay in Portugal as well as your life back home. He told you about his own life, and his passion for football. And how sad he was about Portugal being knocked out of the European tournament that was still ongoing as you spoke. Nevertheless, you found yourself laughing and smiling throughout the whole night.

As the evening wore on, Ruben even asked if you wanted to stay the night at his place, or in this case, his friend's place. You hesitated, feeling a pang of guilt. You had to work the next day, and you didn't want to be late during your first week.

"I would love to Ruben, but I have to be back early tomorrow," you said, trying to sound casual.

Ruben nodded, understandingly and was actually quite impressed that you were studying marine biology here in Portugal. "No problem, I completely understand. Maybe we can plan another night together soon?"

"I'd love to."

Maybe this was the start of something special. You thanked Ruben for a lovely evening, the two of you saying goodbye with a swift kiss on the lips.

Driving back to Faro with Maki, you just couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement since finding a summer fling had definitely not been on your Portugal bingo card.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

*Part 5 and Part 6 are out on my Patreon for free!

[itzayahuatlmermaid]

~ About Me ~

Hi, welcome to my intro post! I had another acc that had been doing well about a year ago, but I lost my login info! Anyways, here are the basics about me!

I currently go by the name Ev on this blog, which is an abbreviation of my name! <3

I'm located in South Texas, in occupied Carrizo/Comecrudo territory. My paternal ancestry is native to the area, descended from nomadic Coahuiltecan peoples, and my maternal lineage descends from Denmark

I'm an artist! My entire life, I've always loved to express myself and create 💗 I'm a classically trained soprano, though I haven't done much singing lately. I've been in studio dance all my life and am considering minoring in dance! I also perform in plays and musicals! These past 4 years or so, I've discovered and have been cultivating my passions for creating intentional jewelry pieces made with themes and materials that honor the ecology and spiritual connections within the Tamaulipecan environment, in which I am rooted. I also make candles, do embroidery, work with air dry clay, etc. In this time, I have also learned, and am still learning to read tarot for myself and others!

I'm an herbalist and wildcrafter! I've also been pursuing and educating myself in these passions the past 4 years. I especially love to work with herbal medicine attributed female reproductive health! I also particularly love familiarizing myself with plants indigenous to my area that have been and still are used as food and medicine by native peoples <3

I'm very interested in spirituality and can describe myself as an eclectic witch! My spiritual practices and beliefs include those of traditional Latiné and native practices, lunar rituals and manifestation, candle work, cartomancy (tarot and oracle cards), sigils, self-love and glamour rituals, working with oceanic energies, and more!

I'm a student at a univ in South Tx, majoring in Environmental Science! I really want to go into fields like conservation and protection, reforestation, and ecology, so I can do anything I can to help preserve the ecosystems I live in and love 🩷

~ I know this was a pretty long post, but my others will be of my art, herbal and spiritual practices, etc. !

[itsadragonaesthetic]

Forgive me for my rambling incoherent nature for I am very tired and scatterbrained. (Post about finding community and connection as a dummy little white American below the cut)

But like, sometimes... I don't know how I feel about things as an American. In general... honestly. I'm mostly white, raised in a white family. I have zero connection to my genetic ancestry, and I don't know most of it anyway. My mom's side is just, mostly white Americans that go back maybe hundreds of unrecorded years. My dad's side is Italian and Irish Catholics. I could not be more far removed from that culture. I grew up in an ecological community that no one in my family has ever known or cared about until I was born.

I just feel like this creature, abandoned to freedom. I feel like this is a very white American thing to say, but I have no... inherent culture at all. None that was given to me by generations of family, considering they all cut ties with me and my parents a long time ago. Me and my immediate family have just been adrift in the ebbs and flows of American life.

But I meet groups of people who have never been to the place I grew up and they have... a lot of reactions. They tell me they hate it here, mostly. They comment on the light stone architecture. They ask me about the old stone buildings in the middle of nowhere. They think the plant life is ugly. They hate how dry and "dead" everything is. They mispronounce words that I kinda forgot were native or Spanish words. People comment on how much I know about the plants.

I think about it sometimes and I feel really connected to this place. We have special holidays unique to only this city. Its nearly the birding capital of the lower 48. This place is literally covered in art. Every empty building face has a mural. The mountains stand like comforting friends to me. I really do feel like this place is a huge part of who I am.

Sometimes I go by Sentinel Peak. The hill the city was named after (an O'odham word that means "at the base of the black hill"). It was used as a sort of landmark to get to a spring where there were ancient settlements. Some of the houses and grinding bowls still stand and are still maintained by the O'odham. There is actually still a garden there dedicated to giving nursery jobs to the disabled.

Like you can guess, some Christian people built a church and began to kick natives out. The Black Hill became Sentinel Peak; a sentinel lookout for Apache invaders. The mountain is now mostly famous for the giant white 'A' that was built by university students around 100 years ago (giving it its somewhat more common name, "A Mountain"). It is also home to an annual firework display every 4th of July that can be seen from every corner of the city. The biggest problem is that the black hill is covered in invasive cattle grasses that combust easily. Every year, the black hill persists in maintaining its name.

I love that hill to bits. It hurts to think of its past, and I feel guilty for even looking at it from my paved sidewalk just under a giant, somewhat ugly highway that has pretty much destroyed any chance for archeological digs or cultural restoration. But I frequently remind myself that negativity gets me nowhere. I begin to feel humbled for this mountain letting me make not only a physical home, but a spiritual home here too. It's like an infinitely forgiving grandmother who welcomes me with open arms despite any wrongdoing people who look like me have done. It's because of the resilience of this mountain, it's people, and it's ecosystem that I have somewhere that my heart can call home.

Then I pull out my calendar and plan another invasive grass pull at the Base of the Black Hill.

[lgenvs3000w23]

UNIT #2: Teaching Learners

Hey everyone! Welcome to my second blog post, this week our topic is discussing our ideal role as an environmental interpreter. My ideal role as an environmental interpreter is a complicated question because I do not want to be an environmental interpreter as a profession. You may be wondering why I would take a class called “Nature Interpretation” if I have no intentions of being a nature interpreter; well my ideal role is to be a general science interpreter, as I want to be a high school science (biology and chemistry) and math teacher. I believe that many of the practical skills of being a nature interpreter can be applied to other disciplines of science, such as communication skills, teaching learners (utilizing types of intelligences, learning styles, learning theories), and engagement without sacrificing scientific facts and detail. My role as an interpreter would be in a senior-level high school classroom hopefully teaching university-level classes (biology, chemistry, advanced functions, and introduction to calculus). I have always been very passionate about math and science, which I attribute to my very enthusiastic parents as well as having amazing teachers. I have the philosophy that the teacher/professor is often more important to student success than the content itself; the most interesting content can be ruined by bad delivery and likewise, very difficult and possibly “boring” content can be brought to life by awesome delivery. I have heard countless students write off math and chemistry because of a bad experience and a teacher they didn't like, which is just tragic. My dream since high school was to be an overly enthusiastic, passionate, slightly eccentric teacher who is a little too into the content they are teaching. I want to prevent people from avoiding math and science because they think it's boring or feel limited by bad past experiences.

However, I can be as fun and enthusiastic as I want but it won't help student’s understanding and retention of material if I do not have the teaching and interpretation skills to back that up. Specifically, the following skills are important for me to be currently developing: strong verbal and written communication skills, creative thinking for engagement, leadership, teamwork, time-managament skills (you only have ~45-75 minutes of class time), and conflict resolution. This class and the assignments are excellent opportunities to practice ALL of these skills because the qualities needed for nature interpretation are very similar to the ones needed for interpretation of other sciences and math. I am specifically very excited for the challenge of podcasting because it perfectly mimics teaching as we need to lesson plan, deliver content in an engaging but educational manner, and stay within a time limit. 

Although the podcast for the adult group is more applicable to the age group I want to teach, I am also very excited about the podcast for the child group. I think it will definitely be a challenge but also good practice for someday being a parent. I am planning on raising my future children very engaged in nature, and I will act as an environmental interpreter for them someday as my grandpa was for me growing up. From quick fun facts to pop quizzes to long highly descriptive stories, some of my fondest memories are with my grandpa who always captured my attention with his knowledge of EVERYTHING nature-related. Last summer we explored Lake Superior together; where he knows every road, trail, and rock we kayaked by like the back of his hand. He enriched the entire experience with ecological and historical commentary like an actual tour guide. I have to start honing my skills in plant and animal identification, animal behaviour, boat launching/driving, memorizing trails and bodies of water, and overall history (settlements, shipwrecks, fun facts etc.), if I want to someday play this role as he did. His ability to be an excellent nature interpreter has always astounded me and I hope I can play the role for my own kids someday.

Thanks for reading! Take care:)

[mimicrypkmn]

introooo

✨ hiya! i’m chat, 22, right now i’m studying at an EDUCATIONAL PLACE in paldea to learn more about freshwater ecology and water types (that’s vague enough for any school faculty that i won’t get in trouble for my social media image, right?) but unova is my home! they/them pronouns please!

more below the readmore ^^

✨ i do work with other pokemon for academic and ��helping classmates with training’ and demonstration reasons, but my team is all tatsugiri! (don’t ask about how long i hang out and look for them to have found shinies like this. don’t ask) they are as follows:

🤍 twitch, shiny droopy tatsugiri! he’s my first pokemon i caught and own, since i’m not the one who’s the OT for the family pets. he’s really cute-looking but he’s a total manipulator and will steal food right out of your hands if you don’t watch him </3 the others tend to listen to him, so he helps me keep a lid on things when everyone’s out at once! very helpful little guy outside of his shenanigans. if i can only keep one of my pokemon out at a given moment, usually he’s my go-to.

❤️‍🩹 kirby, regular droopy tatsugiri, and towards ME, he’s very sweet. buuuut he’s a bottomless pit and likes to try to hunt a lot though, so i can’t let him hang out around a lot of flying-type pokemons or trainers who specialize with them :[ i’m doing what i can to try to curb and redirect this behavior, any advice from others in a similar boat is very much welcomed

🤎 choco, shiny curly tatsugiri, she’s very much cuddly. note to anyone who hasn’t pet a tatsugiri before: they are slimy-feeling and they keep themselves wet so if they flop on your shoes you WILL get wet socks so keep that in mind when i say she will almost Always curl up next to me if we’re settling for the night and she’s out of her ball and there’s nowhere better (aka, a lake) to sleep.

❤️ figy, regular curly tatsugiri, she’s the biggest of the bunch and is pretty mild-mannered and chill. i think she was a clodsire in a past life tbh... i HAVE made sure it’s not a health issue since at first i was worried it could be some kind of lethargy, but she’s just older than the rest and has a laid back personality, clean bill of health otherwise.

🧡 stripes, shiny stretchy tatsugiri, he is sunny’s big brother! they’re inseparable. they’re the youngest of the bunch, very playful with each other, though stripes is a bit nervous around strangers.

💛 sunny, regular stretchy tatsugiri, she is stripes’ little sister :] she’s a bit more brave with new faces than stripes is, she’s helped get him out of his shell. really likes cheese.

✨ team intro aside, school staff if you’re reading my posts: no you are not <3

✨ clavell if you’re reading this: i promise there will not be another kirby incident and i am making honest efforts to prevent him from chasing after other students’ pokemon. also if you are reading my posts no you are not

✨ if you’re at the academy and taking a class i’m in feel free to hit me with an email if you want to meet up and have our pokemon meet up! (no bird-like ones yet!! i’m sorry) kirby, stripes, and sunny would really benefit from socializing more and we can trade some class notes, maybe?

-----

[[ ooc: ]]

ok that all aside, this is a pokemon irl blog, and i tag all posts as pkmn irl!!

irl i am a biology major, so my activity will probably flux as the semester progresses since it’s the last one before graduation and i can NOT fuck up my grades. if i go inactive dw abt it, i probably got busy or distracted :]

when it comes to my interpretation of pokemon its like schrodingers cat when it comes to People just over-anthropomorphize their behaviors Vs they are all quite intelligent like in the anime. its like the way people talk about cats on the internet but being a cat owner and knowing cats can really be Like That. like yeah tatsugiri are probably very smart but also i do see them as coldblooded little bird eaters and dondozo egg-destroyers being little brood parasites. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

also if it bothers anyone i do hc ppl eat pokemon outside of those that r mentioned in the pokedex bc how else do you get the beef for paldean hamburger patties than the local tauros + miltank. and also bc i think pidgey tenders should be real. i will make an effort to minimize talk of it on the blog fr those that dont hc that or dont like the implications but i am a pokechicken nugget truther

[vdenvs3000w23]

UNIT 10

Hey everyone! 

I can’t believe we have reached the end of the semester and I’m writing my last blog post. I am so grateful to have been able to read so many amazing perspectives and discuss the beauty of nature within so many different elements. I have learned so much from this course and I am thankful to have been pushed out of my comfort zone in order to fully dive into the world of nature interpretation and what it means to interpret nature in different ways. It was nice to be able to have a space where we can all have our own perspectives on the topics presented to us and to be able to discuss them respectfully. As stated in the textbook, personal interpretation is important to allow opportunities for others to simply go out and enjoy the wonders of the world on their own, taking in all the different aspects of the beauty of the world through their senses (Beck et al., 2018 (chapter 5). It was nice to see how everyone views the wonders of the world in their own way. Which blog prompt was the most challenging for you?

When reflecting on my personal ethics in regards to nature interpretation, I think that they mirror the ethics that I follow throughout my everyday life. Everyday I strive to make ethical and moral decisions that are inclusive, loving, understanding, respectful, and mindful. I really want to bring back the topic of privilege, as previously discussed in unit 3. I think that understanding and recognizing privilege is so important for my own ethics within nature interpretation. Realizing that the aspects of my life that got me to where I am right now are not accessible to most and I should never assume that any two people are the same in terms of their privilege. It is so important to properly include groups such as cultural minorities, children, teenagers, older adults, and individuals with disabilities so that they are more inclined to participate more readily when interpreters make special efforts to welcome and better serve them (Beck et al., 2018 (chapter 7)). No one should feel like they are not able to participate in nature interpretation, or anything for that matter. 

Nature interpretation in itself is very personal but it is so special when you are able to share it with others. Interpretation is aimed to provoke a personal connection with things, places, people, and concepts (Beck et al., 2018 (chapter 5)). I believe that inclusivity and respect are important aspects for my own nature interpretation ethics. As someone who has given horseback riding trails and has taught a kids camp, I can say that every interaction is different. It is always up to me to make sure that everyone is comfortable and feels seen and heard. I want to inspire people and get them excited about the parts of nature that also inspire me. 

I also love how this course incorporated science and nature. As a student with a science background, it was nice to see how non-science students and the general public can participate to make the planet a better place. There is more attention being given to an understanding of the learning processes and the capacities of individuals and communities needed to help resolve complex socio-ecological issues (Wals et al., 2014). Through nature interpretation, the general public will be able to recognize and appreciate all aspects of nature with a more clear understanding of why there needs to be change. There is a plea that is made to support the Earth Charter, which embodies a balanced respect for future human generations through principles (Bourdeau, 2003). It is important to realize that we are setting the stage for so many generations to come, if we don’t take care of the earth properly, there will be no nature to interpret. The German philosopher, Hans Jonas, said that we must be guardians of nature and of future generations, whose interests are closely confounded as they are weakened to the point where their persistence is no longer assured (Bourdeau, 2003). We have a certain ethical and moral obligation when it comes to taking care of the earth. 

In all honesty, I didn’t really anticipate this course to challenge me in the ways that it did. I took this course because I love nature and wanted to be able to learn more about the ways we interpret it but I quickly realized that it demands a much more critical way of thinking than I was expecting, and I am glad for this. The most interesting thing I learned is how the ambient sound of an environment mimics a modern-day orchestra: the voice of each creature has its own frequency, amplitude, and duration (Gray et al., 2001). I found the podcast to be a challenge, however, I was super happy with how it turned out, getting to see our hard work turned into a good copy. Doing a podcast was very beneficial, especially considering the way technology has progressed because having interpretive programs being accessible live or recorded adheres to more audiences around the world (Beck et al., 2018 (chapter 8)). This means that more people are able to tune in and learn about nature interpretation even if they are not in a particular area to do so first hand. 

I will definitely be taking so much away from this course and will be implementing the different topics discussed into my life. I strive to continue showing and passing on the love I have for nature to others and inspire those who are disconnected to connect and appreciate the world, nature, and the people in it.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Bourdeau, P. (2003, August 29). The man−nature relationship and environmental ethics. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X03001802?casa_token=Yn8LrDgbqTUAAAAA%3AdVzbvAyyY5cGTPjw5A-3cyYYh2SIvCtywIrl8Zw8tNvUU0-Mp-1c_6iixOV0Se7bQp7Jz3ul

Gray, Patricia M., et al. "The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music." Science, vol. 291, no. 5501, 5 Jan. 2001, p. 52. Gale Academic OneFile

Wals, A. E., Brody, M., Dillon, J., & Stevenson, R. B. (2014). Convergence between science and environmental education. Science, 344(6184), 583–584. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1250515

[davidbysouth]

This is Why the Largest Island in Greece Should be on Your Bucket List

This is Why the Largest Island in Greece Should be on Your Bucket List https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N0BJDlQvdo This is Why the Largest Island in Greece Should be on Your Bucket List In June 2023, we spent 6 days exploring Crete, and we've packed all the highlights into one video. We tackled the challenging hike through Samaria Gorge, relaxed on the unique pink sands of Elafonisi Beach, and took in the stunning views at Balos Beach. Our trip wasn't just about the beaches; we also visited historical monasteries and enjoyed the panoramic scenery from Crete's cliffs. Snorkelling was a highlight, with clear waters and abundant sea life. We based ourselves in Chania, a city rich in history and great local food. This video isn't just a travel diary; it's also filled with practical tips for anyone planning to visit Crete. Whether you're into hiking, history, or just good food, Crete has something to offer. We'll show you the variety this Greek island has to offer and why it's worth a visit. Remember to subscribe to our channel for more straightforward travel advice and insights. Please visit my website to get more information: https://ift.tt/cAh41fe 🔔Explore, learn, and protect! From climate change battles to biodiversity treasures, subscribe for inspiring stories and actionable advice in environmental science. https://www.youtube.com/@DavidBysouth/?sub_confirmation=1 🔗Stay Connected With Me. 👉Instagram: https://ift.tt/qUhBwIo 👉Threads: https://ift.tt/tOyroi4 👉Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/BysouthDavid 👉Linkedin: https://ift.tt/lz4R8v1 👉Website: https://ift.tt/cAh41fe ============================= ✅ Other Videos You Might Be Interested In Watching: 👉 These Areas Are CRITICAL for Biodiversity Preservation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl31bqPz99g 👉 This Farming Practice Can Capture 2 BILLION TONNES of Carbon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mv6-xTRJ0g&t=5s 👉 Climate Change and Indigenous Food Systems: Challenges and Opportunities https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ASjpwakFA&t=9s 👉 You Won't BELIEVE what CLIMATE CHANGE is Doing to These Rivers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_AD_HwZx0o&t=9s 👉 The Nunavut Devolution in 3 Minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZQ6kT8vJRc&t=31s ============================= ✅ About David Bysouth. Welcome to David Bysouth's YouTube channel! Get into the heart of nature with me as I explore the wonders of environmental science, conservation, and biodiversity. From climate change insights to practical advice for environmental science students, my videos aim to educate, entertain, and inspire. With a Ph.D. in ecology and a career in conservation, I'm here to share fascinating stories and essential tips from the field. Whether you're a student seeking guidance or a nature enthusiast craving knowledge, join me on this journey to uncover the secrets of our planet and make a difference together. 🔔Get deep into the wonders of our planet with David Bysouth. Subscribe now for your ultimate guide to environmental science, conservation, and the secrets of biodiversity. https://www.youtube.com/@DavidBysouth/?sub_confirmation=1 ================================= #crete #greekisland #travelvlog #travel #vacation #island #cretevlog #hiking #beachlife #beach #foodie #greece ⚠️Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research. Copyright Notice: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of David Bysouth. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to my YouTube channel is provided. © David Bysouth via David Bysouth https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ZyPtFAKgvbn7bkp2x7iHg March 20, 2024 at 01:47AM

[weeswageningen]

October's WEES seminar by dr. Tim Newbold

Dear All,

We would like to invite you to attend October’s Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Workshop in-person!

The Seminar will take place on Tuesday 17th October, from 16:00 to 17:00 in Orion, C3033. This will be followed by drinks at The Spot and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the Speaker (sign up for diner with Maxence – maxence.longuemare@wur.nl).

The associated Workshop will take place in Orion B4015 from 14:00 to 15:30. The workshop gives attendees the opportunity to meet the seminar’s speaker and discuss about a hot topic both in science and for society. Registration is required for the Workshop, and you can sign up by emailing Maxence – maxence.longuemare@wur.nl

This will be a great event so please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

______________________________________________________________

Seminar: The reshaping of ecological communities globally under land-use change and climate change (October 17th 2023, 16h-17h in Orion, C3033)

Dr. Tim Newbold

Principal Research Fellow

Genetics, Evolution & Environment

University College London, United Kingdom

Biodiversity is changing rapidly under the influence of human actions. Until now, land-use change has been the predominant driver of biodiversity change, but the impact of climate change is now clear and accelerating. Using global biodiversity data and models, my research seeks to understand how land-use change, climate change and their interactions are restructuring ecological communities worldwide. I also explore which types of species are benefiting and losing from land-use and climate changes, and what this means for human societies because of changes in pollinator biodiversity.

Workshop: The role of biodiversity scientists in tackling biodiversity changes (October 17th 2023, 14h-15h30 in Orion, B4015)

In this workshop, Dr. Tim Newbold will lead an engaging and dynamic discussion about the integral roles that biodiversity scientists play in tackling biodiversity changes. This can cover a wide range of topics, including strategies for enhancing the quality of evidence regarding biodiversity decline and its underlying factors, solutions to tackle biodiversity loss, methods for effectively communicating with government policymakers, businesses, as well as approaches to actively engage with civil society, including through activism.

In preparation, attendees are asked to read the following two articles that will be discussed during the workshop:

Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change | Science 

Scientists must act on our own warnings to humanity | Nature Ecology & Evolution

______________________________________________________________

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS, VLAG, and WIAS.

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to weeswageningen@gmail.com and join one of our meetings.

For more information, please visit www.weeswageningen.nl and follow us on twitter @weeswageningen

[evoldir]

Fwd: Graduate position: MontanaStateU.AvianConservationGenomics

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Graduate position: MontanaStateU.AvianConservationGenomics > Date: 27 July 2023 at 09:17:05 BST > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > I am recruiting 1-2 M.S. students to join my lab in the Department of > Ecology at Montana State University in January 2024. While specific > projects will depend on individual interests and career goals, students > can expect to participate in research on the conservation and population > genomics of birds in Western North America and / or the tropical Pacific. > Research aims include describing genomic variation across species ranges, > identifying patterns of dispersal in complex landscapes, and inferring > how populations have responded to habitat loss, invasive species, and > historical climate change. Students will be supported by Graduate Research > Assistantships (GRAs), which provide a stipend of $2,200 per month > for two years, a tuition waiver for up to 6 credits each semester, and > health insurance. Helpful qualifications include an academic background > in ecology and evolution, strong writing and quantitative skills, and > field experience with birds or other animals. I also value curiosity, > perseverance, logistical abilities, and attention to detail. However, > graduate school is a training opportunity, and I encourage motivated > candidates to apply regardless of their specific preparation. > > I am a new faculty member and first-year professor broadly interested in > the forces that shape genetic variation in birds, and their implications > for conservation. Work in my lab (https://elinck.org/) touches on many > subfields of evolutionary biology and ecology, and members will develop > skills in field ornithology, bioinformatics, statistics, programming, > and scientific writing. I aim to cultivate a lab culture and scientific > practice that is equitable and welcoming of diversity in all its > dimensions, including class, gender identity and sexual orientation, > race and ethnicity, and life experience. Montana is home to 12 Tribal > Nations, and I am particularly committed to providing opportunities to > Indigenous students. Montana State University is located in the vibrant > small city of Bozeman, on the northern edge of the Greater Yellowstone > Ecosystem. Bozeman is known for its beautiful natural setting and access > to outdoor recreation, its live music, and a food and drink scene that > punches above its weight. > > To apply, email a short cover letter, a CV, and contact information for > three references to me at ethanblinck@gmail.com. Your cover letter should > include your motivations for pursuing a graduate degree, a description > of your academic / professional background, and some discussion of the > scientific questions that excite you. Please don’t hesitate to reach > out if you have questions about the position, application process, or > life in Montana. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with > a final deadline of 1 October 2023. I’ll reach out to all candidates > with decisions later that week. > > > Ethan Linck, Ph.D. > Senior Research Scientist, Carling Lab > *Department of Zoology & Physiology* > *University of Wyoming* > https://elinck.org/ > > Ethan Linck

[jobrxiv]

PhD position Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University Come explore the evolution and ecology of RNA viruses using computational approaches in my lab at Vilnius University in Lithuania. See the full job description on jobRxiv: https://jobrxiv.org/job/life-sciences-center-vilnius-university-27778-phd-position/?feed_id=47043 #ScienceJobs #hiring #research #phylogenetics #bioinformatics #virusevolution Vilnius #Lithuania #PhDStudent

[freddys-finest]

Une Petite Amuse Bouche

Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya… please prepare to be amazed by a science blog like no other. Kidding, well not about the fantastic blog you are only a mere introductory post away from diving into. Unfortunately, my name is not Indigo Montoya, it is Kalli, or Kallista if you are my mom, a substitute teacher, or a Government Agency. I am a fourth-year science student at the University of New Brunswick studying Biology with a concentration in Environmental Management (now say that 5 times fast). I was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia but spent most of my awkward adolescent years in Victoria, BC with the hopes of finally being able to put an end to timeless ‘west coast best coast’ debate that us North Americans are constantly in the midst of. Let’s just say, I decided to go to university on the East Coast for a reason.

 Enough about me though, let’s talk about the reason you are really here, to indulge in a science blog like no other. My goal for these upcoming posts is to start exploring the relatively uncharted waters of the scientific community and begin unearthing some bizarre research findings that we often don’t stumble across in our daily science news feeds. Throughout university, we spend the majority of our time clustered into boxes moulded to fit a certain area of research. These boxes are then given a label whether it be ecology, virology, microbiology etc. Everything within these boxes aligns perfectly together and aids scientists in forming a clearer picture of the mechanisms powering life on our planet. For my blog, I decided to take a less conventional approach starting with using these categorical ‘boxes’ as kindling to fuel the fire burning inside the mind of curious scientists. No clear predictions, no central topic, and no overarching theme, just a bunch of oddball and interesting corners of recent science research and literature that I believe need to have some light shed on them.

 As it stands, the blog itinerary includes exploring subjects such as the power of the placebo effect, bringing back species through de-extinction, and the discovery of the new mysterious colour known as ultra-black. Due to the crude nature of these topics, the published, peer reviewed literature on them is still few and far between, hence why I have taken it upon myself to help you sort through the rift raft and dig out the real gems in recent research on these mind-boggling topics. You’re welcome.

 So please, put a leg up (or two), sit back, relax, and behold the some of the wonders that the strange science world has to offer.

  Until next time,

-KW

[novel-ecologist]

Welcome to Repairing Ecologies

Hello there. Welcome to Repairing Ecologies!

Do you love getting out into nature? Do you hate seeing forests being torn down to make another strip mall in your hometown? Have you ever lied awake at night wondering how we (we, being the human race) have gotten here (here, being a catastrophic climate crisis)? Have you thought about what can be done to address the changing planet? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are not alone.

My name is Jenna, and I'm a student of Science and Biology at the University of New Brunswick. Since I could remember, I wanted to be a dentist. But this changed during my first year of university, where I was introduced to environmental biology. I fell in love with the idea of working as an ecologist and having nature as my office, wearing a uniform of sunscreen and Tilley hats, and never having clean fingernails. In a matter of months, I changed my life goal from becoming a healthcare professional to someone who gets paid to play outside (sorry, Dad). Once I realized my passion for ecology, I engulfed myself in the world of science and tried to satisfy my thirst for knowledge within this field. 

During some of my summer jobs doing ecological monitoring research, I had the opportunity to work on many incredible projects, but three really captured my interest. The first project was using salmon breeding programs to increase the wild population size of the endangered species. The second was promoting the regrowth of forests in unused trails. The third project monitored the return of animal and plant species to a system that had been converted from a salt marsh to an agricultural field and back into a salt marsh. There is a common thread among these three projects: a part of nature was being returned to its former state through human intervention. In other words, each aspect of the environment was being ecologically restored. Restoration ecology is a growing field and has a lot of potential to help address many of the changes we are seeing in nature through climate change, urbanization, or other anthropogenic causes. When I learned about restoration, I fell in love as it is one of the best tools we can use to help repair damaged ecosystems. This blog will explore the benefits, challenges, and stories surrounding ecological restoration and its potential to impact our changing world.

If you're interested in science, the environment, and alleviating some climate anxiety, then I welcome you to this blog.

Cheers,

The Novel Ecologist

[rockislandadultreads]

Books that aren’t Twilight but you’ll still love: a list

Crave by Tracy Wolff

My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me. Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me. Which could spell death for us all. Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Welcome to Mexico City, an oasis in a sea of vampires. Domingo, a lonely garbage-collecting street kid, is just trying to survive its heavily policed streets when a jaded vampire on the run swoops into his life. Atl, the descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, is smart, beautiful, and dangerous. Domingo is mesmerized. Atl needs to quickly escape the city, far from the rival narco-vampire clan relentlessly pursuing her. Her plan doesn't include Domingo, but little by little, Atl finds herself warming up to the scrappy young man and his undeniable charm. As the trail of corpses stretches behind her, local cops and crime bosses both start closing in. Vampires, humans, cops, and criminals collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Do Atl and Domingo even stand a chance of making it out alive? Or will the city devour them all?

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle L. Gómez

This remarkable novel begins in 1850s Louisiana, where Gilda escapes slavery and learns about freedom while working in a brothel. After being initiated into eternal life as one who "shares the blood" by two women there, Gilda spends the next two hundred years searching for a place to call home. An instant lesbian classic when it was first published in 1991, The Gilda Stories has endured as an auspiciously prescient book in its explorations of blackness, radical ecology, re-definitions of family, and yes, the erotic potential of the vampire story.

The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh

In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of La Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sébastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret. When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface.

[onegirlatelier]

Annie Cardigan | February - March, 2021

Happy International Women’s Day!

The pattern and colours of this cardigan are chosen specifically with Women’s Day in mind, and is named after the first woman to gain honours at Oxford, Annie Mary Anne Henley Rogers. She gained her first class honours in Latin and Greek in 1877, followed by first class honours in Ancient History in 1879, and finally matriculated and graduated in 1920.

A lot has happened in the recent few months which made me re-consider my degree at Oxford, but I have never regretted going there or doubted the value of the experience. I have been taught by so many lovely women teachers and professors and met so many fellow female students—which made me sometimes forget the gender inequality in academia and in schools of all ages—and it almost feels like nothing can make me give up the opportunity to be welcomed in this place where I am expected to actually achieve something.

Aren’t I lucky?

This cardigan is probably my last big project until July, because after a long struggle, I’ve decided to finish what I started—I will need to pass the exams in order to continue my study. Today is one of those good days where I feel connected to the world, and I must cherish my opportunity at Oxford because it hasn’t been an easy fight.

There might be a life waiting for me somewhere. Maybe it’s not going to be too bad. Maybe I just need to push myself a little harder. To eat a bit more, to exercise a bit more (not to. lose weight but to be ready for the long hikes in the summer vacation), and to talk a bit more when I feel like it.

Pattern

Once and Floral by Maxim Cyr.

It was a very simple top-down yoke sweater and the instruction was clear. I set myself a difficult task by deciding to make a cardigan instead and doing the body in flat rather than in the round, which meant doing stranded colourwork from the purl side.

The only problem with the pattern was that the required gauge seemed very odd to me. It was 26sts*30 rows in a 10cm square and the author used a standard fingering weight yarn (400m/100g) and 3.5mm needles. I used a light fingering weight yarn and 3.25 needles, which theoretically should make a tighter gauge, but got around 25sts*34 rows per 10cm. Maybe if I pulled my swatch vertically when blocking, I could have achieved what the pattern asked for, which was very tight in stitch gauge but very loose in row gauge. Thankfully it didn’t create too much trouble for me and I had only a few small mods. (Please refer to the Modification section.)

I am becoming more aware of the accessibility issues of Ravelry, and will try to discover more patterns that are available outside of Ravelry. I have access to books by Japanese designers, but if you know any good source for large, complicated, heirloom lace shawls, please let me know!

Yarn

Isager Alpaca 2, 50% alpaca, 50% wool. 250m per 50g skein.

White: (from the Eco range of Alpaca 2) #E0. I used about 30g (11g left from a used ball), or 150m.

Green: #thyme. I used about 168g (52g left from the four skeins I used), or 840m.

Purple: #52. I used about 10g (44g left), or 50m.

(I find that most skeins are a little more than 50g, so the figures are not exact. The usage of the #thyme also includes two small swatches. The whole cardigan weighs 205g without buttons.)

I’ve worked with this yarn before in my Scandinavian Spring cardigan, and this time I’m very pleased with it as well. It is made of natural fibres and has a nice wooly smell. It creates a thin, soft, and warm fabric that grows and puffs up after blocking. In fact, the Isager website specifically recommends it for cardigans.

The down side of such a soft yarn is obviously that it’s not as hard-wearing as some of the more rustic woolen yarns (such as Tukuwool Fingering). The website does state that it’s not able to handle too much wear and tear, but that is okay for me since both this cardigan and my Scandinavian Cardigan are very special and I do not expect to wear them as everyday garments.

These skeins did have travelled a long way to reach me, so I need to keep the carbon emission in mind. I purchased them from a local yarn store which bulk-ordered from the Isager website, though, so at least that’s better than buying small amounts directly from the Isager store. For this specific project, I only had to buy two more skeins of #thyme and one skein of #52, and the rest came from my stash.

(Can you see the heathered effect on this swatch? I'm swooning 😍)

Other materials

I used freshwater mother of pearl buttons. I’m not sure about the source of these buttons, but I understand that freshwater mussels are very important to the ecological systems in which they live (as are all other species), and I do hope that they come from responsible farming.

As for the thread to sew on the buttons, I opted for Fujix Patchwork Coton #50, which is 100% cotton with a coating that makes it a bit glossier, stiffer, and presumably stronger than the average cotton thread.

Needle sizes

3.25mm for the main body

2.5mm for the ribbing, because I like the ribbing to hug my body snugly and was worried about it being stretched out.

Finished size

I no longer think it’s relevant to take excessive measurements of my finished project, so I will only note the essential figures that might help me (or you) if trying to figure out how many stitches to cast on, how to adjust the yoke, etc.

Underarm circumference: 82cm

Total length of the yoke chart: 16cm

(Three ways to wear the cardigan, and the white bordering with which I'm so pleased - see Mod.)

Modifications

The most obvious mod is of course that I changed it from a pullover to a cardigan. Normally you would still knit in the round and steek the front later, but in order to preserve the yarn, I knitted the body back and forth.

I casted on 110sts instead of 120 because I was hoping for a tight collar. Then in the first row I increased to 120sts.

For the colourwork yoke, there were a few rows where I had only three or four sts of one colour in a repeat and the remaining sts are all in other colours (such as the rows showing the stamen), and for me it wasn’t worth it to carry the yarn of that colour all the way along the row. Hence I used a separate length of yarn to knit those few stitches in each repeat. For the stamen, I cut a length of green yarn for each repeat and knitted it in intarsia.

I did the body first. And then I was hesitant about the design of the hemming, button bands, and the collar, so I did them (in the order I mentioned them) before knitting the sleeves to save some brain power. I had seven button holes, one on the collar band and the rest on the button band, similar to the front of a shirt. The third button was specifically placed to echo the design of the yoke.

The pattern called for 1*1 ribbing, but I did 2*2 as it was stretchier. I did invisible 2*2 bind off with a decorative lining, and the technique is similar to what I did with my Toscana Shrug: after several rows of 2*2 ribbing in green, I switched to white and did one more row of ribbing. Then in white I bound off using the invisible method. You need to knit one row in the contrasting colour before binding off; otherwise it would look somewhat messy.)

You may know that when you change colours, there will be a dotted line on the purl side, and the same thing happens for the ‘purl’ part of the ribbing. I was really worried, but the invisible bound off seemed to have covered up that dotted line, so the result was quite neat—a nice surprise!

For each of the sleeve, I have 74sts on the set up row. I knitted 10 rows, then from next row: (dec 2 for the row, knit nine more rows) repeat five times. So at about elbow length I had five dec rows and 64sts on the needles. I knitted 51 rows to create a straight (instead of tapered) forearm. Then I dec 4 each row for five rows, and ended up with 44sts. I then switched to 2.5mm needles and did 2*2 ribbing. I knitted the ribbing extra long so that I could fold it back, which was the way I preferred.

(Here is a tutorial by Anushka about sewing buttons onto knitted garments, which is very helpful.)

Further Considerations

This was my first time doing colourwork from the purl side and it definitely was not a pleasant job. With more practice I will hopefully become better at it, though! I did reserve knitting (knitting from left to right) instead of purling for a few rows, but gave up as I couldn’t find a way to hold yarn comfortably with my left hand. I might need more practice there, too.

The ribbing is a little bit on the tight side, but at the moment I don’t have a problem with it. If I find it still too tight after some wear, next time I will remember to use 2.75mm needles. The 44sts cuffs are quite snug on my wrists, so next time I’ll do 48sts or more instead.

I still have a fair bit of Isager Alpaca 2 left, and I really need some long gloves to warm my wrists as well as forearms, so I might be knitting a pair of fingerless gloves later.