Danielle A. Quon

This is my interperative for ENVS*3000 - Thoughts on nature and environmental issues.

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Disclaimer

This blog was created for the course ENVS*3000 (W'25 semester) at the University of Guelph. 

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph. 

The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.

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Final Blog Post - Sense Making

Through the making of these blog posts, I was able to dive deeper into my own ideas and read about my peer's perspectives. This has allowed me to learn and become more understanding on how to navigate interpretation. At the beginning of the course, I described an ideal nature interpreter as engaging, knowledgeable, and adaptive. At the time, I was unsure if those were the right traits for an environmental interpreter. But now, after the readings and blog posts, I can confidently say, this is the type of interpreter I hope to be. 

Personal ethics are constantly changed based on a person's experience. They are principals that guide our actions. As interpreters, our personal ethics are used to shape how we interpret and what we share with our audience. My personal ethic that shapes who I am as an interpreter is creating an adaptive and inclusive space for everyone. This creates the greatest audience reach while maintaining a welcoming environment. Nature interpretation is greater than sharing scientific facts. Interpreters have to use their beliefs and acknowledge their responsibilities to personalize how they approach interpretation.

One of my beliefs that guides interpretation is the power of connections and community. Building relationships between people and the natural world encourages a sense of shared responsibility for the environment. Interpretation serves as a bridge that strengthens the connection between individuals and their surroundings. This further inspires actions to protect and serve the environment. Chapter three of the textbook highlights the benefits interpretation has to society. It emphasizes the positive impact on public welfare including community unity (Beck et al., 2018). When communities are well-informed, they are equipped with the ability to make informed decisions that contribute to the well-being of the people and environment. Knowing that interpretation can have this power is important to guide our work.

Another belief I bring to interpretation is that interpreters should have a personal passion for their work. Interpreters play a vital role in fostering connections which are enhanced by having passion. Interpretation is most effective when it engages a diverse audience which captures their interest through storytelling and relatable experiences. Passion for nature often stems from personal experiences that create a lasting appreciation for the environment. During my time as a camp counsellor, I used my enthusiasm for the environment and science to interpret the natural world to curious children. Their excitement provided an opportunity to share knowledge with genuine enthusiasm, creating an engaging and memorable experience for everyone. When interpreters bring personal connection to their work, it inspires the audience to develop their own connections to nature. This emotional engagement leads to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the environment, ultimately encouraging lifelong love and stewardship for the natural world.

Interpreters have responsibilities to themselves and their audience. They have the responsibility to recognize and address privilege when engaging with their audiences. Privilege shapes access and experiences in outdoor environments, influencing how individuals connect with nature. I recognize the privilege I had growing up with parents who provided opportunities to appreciate and respect nature. However, not everyone has similar experiences. As interpreters, it is essential to acknowledge that visitors come from diverse backgrounds and ensure they are treated with equity. As discussed in unit three, privilege impacts our actions and decisions which often leads to unconscious bias. By being aware of these biases, interpreters can create inclusive spaces where all voices are valued (Beck et al.). Using personal privilege can amplify underrepresented perspectives and create opportunities for others in nature. This helps foster a deeper collective appreciation for the environment. Recognizing privilege strengthens interpretation, making it more meaningful and accessible to everyone.

Interpreters also have a responsibility to encourage a sense of place and inclusivity, offering audiences an opportunity to develop a deeper connection with nature. By creating a safe and welcoming environment, interpreters encourage curiosity, awe and understanding. Chapter one of the textbook highlights how interpretation enriches experiences by sharing the full story of a place which gives it meaning and personal significance. Interpreters can help facilitate finding a sense of place through connections with their environment, culture, and history (Beck et al.). Recognizing and respecting these connections, including diverse perspectives, is essential for inclusive interpretation. Cultural sensitivity ensures all voices are valued and represented, contributing to a more meaningful understanding of the environment. Interpreters that facilitate a space where individuals feel seen and respected empower audiences to build personal connections with nature. 

Approaches that I would bring as an interpreter would include a hands-on, collaborative approach while presenting myself as an interpreter who encourages participant-driven learning. Recognizing that people have diverse learning preferences involves using many communication methods. This includes utilizing museums, art exhibits, music, websites, and trail signs to include a wide audience. By accommodating different learning styles, opportunities for more effective communication and deeper connections are created (Beck et al.). Additionally, instead of positioning myself as an authority figure, I would act as a guide who promotes discussion and curiosity. This allows for meaningful interactions and challenges the perspective of the audience. 

Encouraging dialogue and participant-driven discovery not only enhances the visitor's experience but also promotes lasting enthusiasm and interest. When individuals actively engage in learning, they form stronger and more personal connections with nature. This sense of connection can inspire commitment to environmental connection. Through inclusive and thought-provoking interpretation, I hope to empower audiences to continue exploring, questioning, and appreciating the world around them.

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Publishing LLC. https://sagamore.vitalsource.com/books/9781571678669

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Hi Isabella!

I loved all the wise insights you were able to provide for this week’s blog posts. I’m sad that this is the last time we will all get to share our thoughts and ideas with each other. Like you mentioned, I found this exercise so important when it comes to discovering “who I am as an interpreter”. We were all given the opportunity to reflect and share our ideas on a variety of subjects we would have never given 500 words to such as nature and art, personal prejudices, and many others. What a privilege it is to get to do such personal reflections! 

One idea that really stood out to me in your post was how you talked about curating a “shared sense of responsibility for the environment amongst your community”. I feel like very often as environmentalists we feel as though the burdens of the ice caps melting, forest fires, and pollution are ours alone. This is so far from the truth! It’s said that many hands make for easy work. That is exactly the mindset I want to take with me as I grow as an environmentalist, and interpreter. 

Finally, I wanted to comment on your point about passion for the profession being an important factor for the success of interpretive programs. In my post I discussed at length how your motivations for working (any job, not just as an interpreter) need to be grounded in care. If you don't care about what you do, this will shine through to the public! 

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Blog 10

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. 

I have learned much about nature interpretation throughout the last 10 units, blogs, textbook readings, and additional sources. After reflecting on this week’s prompt, I have concluded my role as a nature interpreter. Many values influence my interpretation. As an interpreter, my goal would be to connect my audience with nature through a meaningful and educational experience. Throughout this course, we have connected nature interpretation to art, history, science, music, technology, sustainability, and much more. Each of these connections proved to be important, considering everyone interprets nature and learns in different ways. As an interpreter, I aim to incorporate each of these in some way to cater to the different learning styles and learners. 

What beliefs do you bring?

Inclusivity is something I strongly believe should be considered as a nature interpreter. The audience will include people of various ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Beck et al. 2018, mentions an important takeaway from the educational theory which all interpreters should know: information is processed in a different way by different people and at different life stages (ch.6 pg.122). I want everyone in my audience to feel like they can share their thoughts and ask questions despite these differences. Interpretation is meant to be an educational experience and by asking questions and sharing, your audience becomes more involved, ultimately enhancing their learning. Since nature interpretation involves the presence of nature, I think everyone should be respectful of the nature we are interacting with. Interpreting nature does not need to involve disruption of the ecosystems and wildlife we are observing. I would love to be able to teach my audience how we can appreciate the beauty of nature around us without harming it. Respect can also be applied to how we interact with the group we are interpreting with. I would stress the importance of respecting everyone’s questions and opinions, even if they differ from yours. Every interpreter starts somewhere, so a respectful environment can make each member of the audience more comfortable with the experience, enhancing their learning. Furthermore, how we interpret will vary from person to person, some elements of nature may foster different memories for each person, so we should respect that the same elements might not mean the same thing to everyone. 

What responsibilities do you have?

As an interpreter, I think it is my responsibility to be knowledgeable about the nature and area I am bringing my audience to, as well as its cultural history. I should not only be able to answer my audience’s questions to aid their interpretation, but I should be able to inform them about where we are and what the space means. Chapter 15 of Beck et al. 2018, showcases the importance of history in interpretation. Past events come to life through interpretation, helping us shape our values for the future (Beck et al., 2018, ch.15 pg.326). Interpreting history is also beneficial educationally because it helps the audience make connections between the history and their own lives (Beck et al., 2018, ch.15 pg.326). 

It is also my responsibility to help my audience connect/ make connections with the surrounding nature. At the beginning of this course, I was not familiar with the importance of interpretation and just how important it has been to my childhood and now early adult life. I struggled with the first blog prompt about my current relationship with nature which I described as complicated. After learning more about interpretation and the different ways to interpret I have noticed my relationship with nature improving. The most significant piece in bettering my connection with nature was acknowledging where I developed my sense of place (Beck et al., 2018, ch.1 pg.10). As an interpreter I would like to educate my audience on developing a sense of place because it was transformational for me while trying to connect with nature and would hopefully help them make connections as well. 

What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

As I mentioned above, one of my responsibilities as an interpreter is to foster connections between my audience and nature. Getting to know your audience allows you to be of greater help and relate to them (Beck et al., 2018, ch.7 pg.128). Personalization would be a suitable way to approach this. Based on the dynamics of my audience, I could draw on topics like childhood, children, or culture to make the experience more personal for my audience. Making them think about something more personal might allow them to open up their thinking and find something of deeper meaning in the nature around them. Personally, childhood would be a great topic to foster a connection between myself and nature. I spent the majority of my childhood immersed in nature, whether it was at the cottage or in Girl Scouts. Forcing me to think back to these times of my life would help me see my surroundings differently and think about how important they were to my childhood. This would encourage me to interact with nature more often because it had such a positive impact on me when I was younger. 

In Unit 2 and Chapter 6 of Beck et al., 2018, I learned I am a hands-on learner. They stressed the importance of learning style differences and how each interpreter should learn to cater to these differences to foster connections within their audience (Beck et al., 2018). Therefore, a hands-on approach would also be suitable for me. A hike, walk, or interactive activity in nature would be the best way for me to make connections. Even though you can’t necessarily interact with most nature physically while interpreting, being in the presence of it rather than just seeing photos or reading about it would allow me to make deeper connections. 

Overall, interpreters play an important role in their audience’s connection with nature. As a developing interpreter, I would bring various beliefs and have several responsibilities and approaches. I have a lot of respect for interpreters and the dedication, knowledge, values, and personalization they incorporate. This course has taught me so much about my relationship with nature, and I look forward to applying my learnings to establish deeper connections in the future. 

P.S. I have attached some of my favourite photos in nature throughout this blog!!

Kayla:

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Hey there Kayla!

Great post, I can't help but feel sad that this is the last week we all get to share our ideas and stories with each other! I think a lot of our ideas are similar and we hold similar perspectives about the world. As an example, I really liked how you talked about having respect for nature, this is a belief I also hold very near and dear. When I was a kid in Girl Guides, I was incessantly told “leave nothing but footprints, and take nothing but pictures”. Teaching others to have the same respect for the natural world as I (and so many other environmentalists) do has been one of my life’s goals for many years now. Your ideas about teaching participants to respect each other as well as the environment brought great comfort to me. I think a lot of the time in educational spaces it can feel like a competition of who knows the most, or who can answer the most questions. Leveling the playing field at the beginning of the expedition is a great way to make everyone feel welcomed and at ease with asking questions, no matter how basic. Finally, I wanted to touch on your acknowledgment of the different histories that exist no matter where interpretation is happening. In my own post I briefly mentioned the subject, but I realize it was more of a failure not to have mentioned it in detail. I hope we can all see the value of at least acknowledging the traditional (Indigenous) lands that we work, play, learn, and stand on. 

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🌺Final Blog Post🌺

I think that this prompt is a wonderful exercise in imagination and exploring “what ifs”. What if I was a professional interpreter, in the Guelph Arboretum for example. What would my programs look like? What values would I want to express, and what information do I hold most valuable? More importantly, why do I have these values and why is certain information more important for me to convey than others? These are all questions I hope to reflect on in this post as well as the topics outlined in the prompt for this week. 

🌼What are my ethics as an interpreter? 

In order to tackle this question, I found it necessary to split my ideas into two separate streams of thought: My ethics on an internal level, and what core moral messages I would want to convey to the public. 

When I talk about ethics on a personal level, I mean to ask: what do I expect from myself as a person?.. Not just an interpreter. The standard to which you hold yourself will be seen through your work, and that’s why it’s so important to start my reflection with this question. When I was in elementary school, my parents would never plainly punish me for getting a bad grade on a test. Upon seeing a bad grade they’d always ask me first: “Did you try your best?” This taught me that even if you studied your hardest and still ended up failing, you can still stand tall knowing you worked hard. I now take this mindset with me everywhere I go in my adulthood. If I were to work as a professional interpreter, it would be most important for me to always try my best to create meaningful, interactive, and interesting programs. The work of interpreters is important, so you need to act like it. 

It’s also important to understand where your motivations are coming from. This is a concept I’ve learned in therapy that has also helped me in my professional and academic lives. Your motivations always need to, firstly, come from an internal sense of motivation. Secondly, your motivations should not come from a  place of anxiety and worry. As environmentalists we face a lot of anxiety and worry everyday, as outlined in (Rodenburg, J., 2019). This worry can unfortunately be translated and perceived through our work as interpreters, in turn, invoking anxiety in your audience. “Ecoanxiety” can make us shut down and feel hopeless, we want to be training people to be strong, intelligent eco warriors! The best way to spread messages of hope and success is to ground yourself through love and care. 

From an outwards perspective, the main message I would want my audience to receive is one of humility and respect for the environment. This has been an ongoing theme in my blog posts all semester, as you all have probably noticed. I firmly believe adopting this perspective is what allows us to make correct environmental decisions and actions. When you see yourself as indebted to the earth which provides for your life, you get to act from a place of gratitude, as you would to your biological parents. This is the moral story I wish to pass to everyone I meet, although some might not find it particularly uplifting. 

🌼What beliefs do you bring?

This question allows all of us to reflect on our privileges once again, when it comes to interacting with nature. For me, my skin colour, body ability, and any of my other identities have never had me excluded from spaces of nature or learning. I have always had transportation and the finances available to explore and learn about nature in ways that pleased me, as well as having the finances available to study the environment as I am now at the University of Guelph. 

To my core I believe it is so important for everyone to interact with the environment, as I have said so many times before, we’re all a part of it not just experiencing it. It’s so important that as interpreters that we all unpack our “invisible knapsacks” (Gallavan, 2005) and lay out on the table what perspective we all are coming from. 

🌼What responsibilities do I have?

Continuing with our theme of privileges, I think it’s the responsibility of people who work in the public service/experiences/speaking industries to interact and for connections with people who do not share the same life experiences as them. If in the position I would do my very best to reach out to Indigenous groups of the areas I was interpreting, differently abled people (ie. deaf people, wheelchair users etc…), as well as children and the elderly. These people have experiences and challenges in this moment I don’t understand, and couldn't possibly remediate properly unless I plainly ask them how! To put it short, I feel it’s my responsibility to “interpret to the masses” (Beck et al., 2018) and make sure everyone gets to experience the environment in a positive way. Doing so helps in the overall safety of the trip, which I find to be another important responsibility of nature interpreters. Not only are people meant to have fun, but they expect not to experience any bodily, or psychological harms! 

🌼What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual? 

Our reading for this week's (Rodenburg, J., 2019) made me think of this phrase that sums up how I think environmental education should be run: “UNLEASH THE CHILDREN!” As I have previously been a fan of the “walk and talk” style of interpretation for many years now, I’ve realized that a more organic style of teaching resonates with me. I now think that environmental education should be heavily based on discovery of the participant. If I were to run a program for children (and even adults) now, it would probably follow this structure to some degree: 

Let’s imagine this is an interpretive walk about insects

Preliminary SHORT talk and background information/safety protocols. 

Allow participants to explore an area with set boundaries, and bug hunt for themselves.

I would be there during their exploration to answer questions and supervise the activity.

We would all reconvene at the end to discuss what the participants had discovered during their time in the field. 

🌼Sources:

Beck, L., Cable,T.T., Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture. 

Gallavan, N.P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Gale Academic Onefile, https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=guel77241&id=GALE%7CA137921591&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE&asid=9fe2f151

Rodenburg, J., (2019). Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope". Creative Educational Networks.

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Plank Alkaloids

This semester, I am taking a botany course about plant metabolism. Recently, we learned about plant alkaloids and how plants, animals, and humans use these alkaloids for survival. Alkaloids are naturally occurring chemical compounds containing nitrogen that play a role in plant survival, as well as aiding other species around them, including us! When interpreting an interesting compound like alkaloids, it is important to recognise they are not just defensive tools, but also have significant ecological, medicinal and cultural importance. They can be toxic to some and beneficial to others, exploring the idea that nature is highly adaptive. 

Plants face many natural enemies such as herbivores, insects, and environmental stressors. To survive, plants have developed chemical defenses such as alkaloids. They have a very bitter taste, making the plant undesirable for herbivores, some being toxic to animals. An interesting example we discussed in class was Jeruit bark that contains quinine, an alkaloid that not only serves as a deterrent to herbavors but also has been beneficial for human medicine. Quinine is used for the treatment of malaria! It is also the key compound in tonic water, and fun fact: Tonic water will glow under black light due to the fluorescence of quinine! Quinine’s bitter taste discourages herbivores, while for humans, it became a life-saving treatment against malaria. This dual-purpose role of alkaloids, acting as both a plant defense mechanism and a valuable resource for humans, underscores the intricate connections within ecosystems.

Similarly, Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is a plant that produces alkaloids that are anti-cancerous. The alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine, extracted from this plant, are used in chemotherapy to halt the growth of cancerous cells.   In this case, the plant's natural defense mechanisms also have life-saving benefits for humans, highlighting the broader implications of plant chemistry in the medical world.

Alkaloids also play a key role in the animal kingdom. An intriguing example is the Ithomiine butterflies, which have evolved to feed on plants that produce alkaloids, particularly from the nightshade family. These butterflies can store alkaloids in their bodies, making them distasteful and toxic to predators. This fascinating adaptation demonstrates a mutualistic relationship, where an animal benefits directly from the plant's chemical defense system. The butterflies' ability to exploit these plant chemicals for their own protection showcases the intricate connection of interactions between plant chemistry and animal behavior.

Plant alkaloids represent one of nature's most brilliant evolutionary tools. These compounds are not just defensive, they shape entire ecosystems and human societies. Whether serving as a deterrent to herbivores, a tool in human medicine, or a protective mechanism for insects and animals, alkaloids demonstrate the remarkable versatility of plant life. They are an amazing example of the way plants adapt and interact with their environment. From life-saving drugs like quinine and vinblastine to the surprising ways animals exploit plant chemistry, the world of plant alkaloids reveals the extraordinary ways nature works to protect and sustain life on Earth!

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Hey there! What an amazing post! I had never heard of these chemicals before and it was super interesting to read about something new! I am also very interested in plants, but i’ve never taken a botany course before, mostly I like to study how plants interact with our environment and not so much their inner workings. Either way, I wanted to try a new format for this week’s replies. In my own post I wanted others to use criteria outlined in this week’s readings to evaluate how well I did in terms of explaining my topic of choice. Please excuse the following unsolicited advice! 🙂

Delivery: How did I enjoy your writing style?

Your post was very interesting to read from a scientific perspective, but leaned heavily on the factual side of things. As an interpreter in the real world I wonder how you could better tailor this content in a way that is more relatable for non-scientists?

Did you achieve your objectives: Did I understand the subject matter you were touching on?

I definitely understood the points you were trying to get across, but I also come from a scientific background. As well as making the content more relatable, I think that you could have made the subject easier to understand. What kind of “introduction” or “background information” would you include if you were to present this to a non-scientific audience, or even children? 

Reaction: How did your writing make me feel? Did I feel engaged? 

Overall I was thoroughly engaged with your post! I loved the subject you chose, it definitely made you stand out from the crowd! Great job!

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Can Trees Talk?!?

One of the most amazing things about nature, to me, is something that almost seems straight out of a sci-fi movie. Look no further than James Cameron’s Avatar for proof that this concept has inspired movie makers and story tellers. In the movie, the Na’vi people tell the human protagonist that the trees on this fictional planet of Pandora are all connected: one living being instead of multiple disconnected individuals. We see many examples of this throughout the movie, with the viewer even being offered scenes containing glowing tree roots underground connecting other trees to the main Tree of Life, like in the photo below (Fandom, n.d.). 

Caption: A scene from James Cameron’s Avatar showing glowing tree roots underground connecting other trees to the main Tree of Life. 

One of the main scientists in the movie, Dr. Grace Augustine, says, “What we think we know - is that there's some kind of electrochemical communication between the roots of the trees. Like the synapses between neurons. Each tree has ten to the fourth connections to the trees around it...” (IMDb, n.d.).  

But what if I told you Dr. Augustine was on to something... The link we understand about trees today isn’t 100% electric in nature, as Dr. Augustine suggested, but more fungal. Known as the mycorrhizal (pronounced like MY-koe-RYE-zull) network, tree roots (and indeed, almost all plant roots living in the Earth’s soil) are connected to each other through fungal mycelia.

“What are fungal mycelia?” you might be asking at this point. Which is a great question since even I, as someone who is talking to you about this, had to Google it to remind myself of the definition. 

Fungal mycelia are defined as “the mass of branched, tubular hyphae of fungi” (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2025). Which.... I have to just say thank you SO MUCH, Britannica, for that definition, that’s not confusing at all.  

So, without all the fancy scientist words, what does this mean? Essentially, mushrooms and fungi have networks of very thin, tube-like filaments that run throughout the fruiting body (or the part of the mushroom you see) and then into the ground around the network. In this way, Dr. Augustine had it right, because mycelia are very similar to our own neural networks.  

Tree roots and fungi have a symbiotic relationship in which the fungi will attach to the tree roots to gain food made by the tree, and then the tree roots get both the fungally-foraged nutrients from the soil and a network that connects their roots to other tree roots around them (Gorzelak et al., 2015). Through these networks, trees can really talk to one another. They can warn each other about certain stressors like insect attacks or droughts or fires (Grant, 2018).  

It’s even been speculated whether these fungal networks contribute to tree masting, a phenomenon that is not yet completely understood by scientists. Masting is when trees produce an abundance of seeds (or nuts, if you prefer). But it’s not just that one tree produces more, it’s every tree in every forest in an area (Shechet, 2023). How do oak trees in one area communicate to trees in another area to throw their all into acorn production that year? It’s still a bit of a mystery but I believe it’s because they talk to each other. 

Another reason I like this topic of mycorrhizal networks and trees talking is because it’s symbolic, to me. Like our textbook says:

“People who understand the interconnectedness of things can foresee consequences and long-term impacts of their actions on this and future generations” (Beck et al., 2018).

Trees understand the big picture and can foresee long-term impacts to their actions. Masting years often come when small mammal populations are down. The abundance of food leads to a boom in squirrel, chipmunk, mice, raccoon and many other nut-eating animal populations. This, in turn, feeds predators like foxes, raptors, weasels, coyotes, etc.  

Our textbook stresses that making connections is crucial to good interpreting. Trees make connections to other trees around them, other plants, the fungus itself, and the nutrients in the ground. If we turn that concept into an analogy for humans, I think it would mean that we need to be more connected to other animal species, other plants, each other (especially), and even the basic building blocks of our lives like the food we eat, the water we drink, and the soil that sustain us as well as the trees. Try to think about this connectedness the next time you step over a tree root on your nature walk or dig up a weed in your garden. How are you connected to other living and non-living things around you, like the mycorrhizal network of roots? 

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REFERENCES: 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, Sagamore Venture. 

Discuss everything about avatar wiki. Fandom. (n.d.). https://james-camerons-avatar.fandom.com/f 

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2025, February 17). Mycelium. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/mycelium 

Gorzelak, M. A., Asay, A. K., Pickles, B. J., & Simard, S. W. (2015). Inter-plant communication through mycorrhizal networks mediates complex adaptive behaviour in plant communities. AoB Plants, 7. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plv050 

Grant, R. (2018, March). Do trees talk to each other? | Smithsonian. Ask Smithsonian. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-whispering-trees-180968084/ 

IMDb.com. (n.d.). Avatar. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/quotes/ 

Shechet, E. (2023, November 27). The lingering mysteries of the Mast Year. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. https://www.bbg.org/article/the_mysteries_of_masting_in_trees#:~:text=Masting%20is%2C%20in%20short%2C%20the,roughly%20every%202%E2%80%935%20years. 

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All I have to say about your post is wow! Your writing is absolutely incredible. The topic you chose as well as the interesting format - including pictures and highlighted quotes - made this blog post one of the best I’ve read this semester! As I have requested on my own blog post, I wanted others to use criteria outlined in this week’s readings to evaluate how well I did in terms of explaining my topic of choice. Please excuse the following unsolicited advice! 🙂

Delivery: How did I enjoy your writing style?

As I mentioned before, your writing style was simply superb. I thought it was so fun how you related a real world phenomenon to popular culture! I also think you did an amazing job at making your post accessible to everyone. In my post i simply assumed everyone came from a scientific background, but you did a great job at making the subject matter understandable as well as entertaining. 

Did you achieve your objectives: Did I understand the subject matter you were touching on?

Absolutely! As I stated in my last comment, you did such a wonderful job of making your post accessible. I think thai skill will definitely come in handy if/when you become a professional interpreter. You could even consider it the most important skill for interpreting to the masses. No one likes to feel left out, especially in nature interpretation everyone should feel included. The earth is home to everyone!

Reaction: How did your writing make me feel? Did I feel engaged? 

This blog post was definitely engaging. Although I was already familiar with the subject matter, it was so well written that I didn't mind at all learning it again! Your post made me feel engaged, inspired, and overall put me in a good mood. I was so happy to see originality and creativity in your post!

Great job!

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✴What is the most amazing thing I know about nature?

✴Speaking in terms of the internet, our textbook writes: “We are hungry to know each other, share ideas and techniques, and embrace the global profession.” (Beck et al., 2018) Although it can be disputed, I like to believe the internet has brought us closer together as humans, at least in the aspect of information availability. Internet spaces - such as these blogs - creates organized webs of individuals who get to share their most exciting thoughts and opinions. Here is one of mine, the most amazing thing I know about nature:

✴The study of biogeochemistry is where I think science and spirit connect the most. It’s simply amazing to think how all elements, on the macro and molecular level, move through their cycles. Carbon for example can be traced through the water cycle, the rock cycle, and food webs as it effortlessly transforms itself to assimilate from water to air to rock to living flesh. Carbon can start in the air as CO2, dissolving into water to form H2CO3, Carbon in the water can be respired by plants, feeding the fish and snails. In snails Carbon is combined with Calcium to form CaCO3, allowing them to have shells. When snails die and decompose, their shells will turn to limestone, become subducted into the earth’s mantle and exit through volcanoes as CO2 once again! How beautiful is that? To think that everything works so perfectly, and it all happened by accident! Carbon is not the only element that behaves in this way, it’s Nitrogen, Sulphur, Potassium, and basically everything on this earth behaves in a  cyclical manner. The teaching that everything is connected is far older than any documented colonial idea. Elder Theodore Flamand from Wiikwemkoong unceded territory explained this way of thinking to one of my classes recently. Acknowledging that everything is connected, and thus part of you, is essential for humbling yourself as a human. We are not a higher power, we are part of nature, and I think this is so important to recognize when moving forward in environmental studies. 

✴Although my blurb about biogeochemical cycles was relatively short, I’d love to hear from you! In our readings from this week, evaluation of interpretive programs was an important topic. I’d love to read in your replies to my post whether things need to be “refreshed” in order to become more engaging. There are three main areas i’d like for you all to touch on: 

✴Delivery: How did you enjoy my writing style?

✴Did I achieve my objectives: Did you understand the subject matter I was touching on.

✴Reaction: How did my writing make you feel? Did you feel engaged? 

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Blog 7: Nature and Music

My first thought seeing the topic this week as nature and music before even reading through this week’s material, was “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. I could quote the entire song for its lyrics about the beauty of nature, however, my favourite is “I see skies of blue, and clouds of white, the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night.” This verse makes me want to wake up early, watch the sunrise, and listen to birds chirp on a hot summer morning. I think we can all agree that the song makes you feel something and it’s usually a good feeling. 

After reading through the course material, I realized I got ahead of myself and did the post backward, however, I am going to stick with it. I started thinking about how natural sounds within nature make their song and that importance in Indigenous culture that is discussed in this week’s material. Music is used to reflect their relationship with nature and communicate with the fallen. Their music consists of both natural sounds wind, water, and animals, along with sounds from their traditional musical instruments like flutes and drums. 

I am from Cornwall, Ontario, which is on traditional Mohawk land with a reservation. In high school, our history teacher took us to the reserve to witness a pow-wow as our current topic in class was Indigenous schools and Canadian Indigenous history. The day consisted of watching dances, listening to traditional songs being sung, and touring the tables of information and cultural gifts. I can’t thank my teacher enough for the field trip because it really took history off the paper for me. The motto of the Akwesasne Powwow is “Where the best drummers, dancers and artisans of the region come together”, and that really was the truth. 

Recognizing the value of Indigenous perspectives as interpreters helps us expand our understand traditional knowledge, rather than what we already know. We should be embracing storytelling, music, and Indigenous learning to make environmental education more immersive and meaningful rather than seeing nature as something to study from a distance.

In terms of nature in music, I can definitely agree with the prompt that music is associated with hot summer days around a campfire or on a road trip. My favourite music to listen to while hiking, camping, or just sitting outside watching the currents on the lake, is “The Lumineers”. Pretty much any of their songs from “The Lumineers” and “Cleopatra” album are on repeat in the summer! Their folky-rock vibe with the guitar and piano sound really just makes me think of walking through a forest with a huge backpack while wearing ugly hiking shoes. This post is really making me miss summer and I would love to hear how you guys connect nature and music!

Nature is full of natural sounds like crunching leaves, waves crashing onto rocks, birds chirping in the morning, and crickets chirping at night. It is so fascinating to me how different areas and landscapes have their own soundtrack. I’m sure sometimes we don’t even realize but no matter where you are, nature is playing a song designed perfectly for what you are looking at. Really makes me want to stop and look around more often.

Here is a link to the Lumineers Spotify {I'm sure you already listen to them (: https://open.spotify.com/artist/16oZKvXb6WkQlVAjwo2Wbg?si=PEtgG8EkRnSTbnEGz_a3Kg

The link for the Akwesasne Mohawk Powwow

Akwesasne Powwow | Where the best drummers, dancers & artisans of the region come together!

On the shores by the beautiful St. Lawrence River, visitors can enjoy a two day event with good music, good food and good company. The Akwes

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Hi Ashley,

What an honor it must have been to attend a powwow! I have never personally attended a formal one, but I did have the pleasure of attending the City of Guelph's truth and reconciliation event this past summer. It really is so easy to see how Indigenous art, music, and dancing is inspired by the lessons of nature, and how beautiful and resilient these traditions have shown themselves to be. What a wonderful example of nature within music. The Lumineers are a camping classic! When I’m hiking however, I much prefer not to listen to music, I find it so grounding to listen to all the sounds around me (universal music) and try to understand what I’m hearing. For example, I can practice naming all my bird calls, hearing the wind helps me assess whether it’ll rain soon, and the cadence at which the leaves crackle in the distance let me know whether it’s a squirrel or a snake nearby. Something that just popped into mind for me now is also how beautiful the natural absence of sound is. Hiking in the winter has a much different feel, the snow dampens any noise made near or far. I think that the winter and summer months both have their own special sounds that need to be appreciated as counterparts. Hot vs cold, musical vs quiet.

[sipenvs3000w25]

Unit 7- Music in Nature

If you stop and truly listen, you'll realize that music is everywhere in nature. From the rhythmic chirping of cicadas on a hot summer afternoon to the melodic trills of songbirds at dawn, the natural world is constantly composing its own symphony. Even something as simple as a running stream, with its gurgling, bubbling flow, can sound like an intricate melody woven into the landscape.

Nature’s music isn’t just random noise; it follows patterns, rhythms, and harmonies that inspire musicians and artists alike. One fascinating example of blending human-made music with nature's sounds is the innovative beatboxer Dr. Mirin. Known for his ability to mimic and integrate natural elements into his performances, he has taken his admiration for birds to a whole new level. By incorporating short "sampler" recordings of birdsongs into his beatboxing, he creates a fusion of organic and human rhythm, paying homage to the creatures that have been making music for millennia.

This deep connection between music and nature is also beautifully illustrated by the work of one of my favorite artists, Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip. Downie’s lyrics are steeped in vivid natural imagery, reflecting his profound appreciation for the Canadian landscape. Songs like Bobcaygeon transport listeners to a quiet night under the stars, with the line:

"It was in Bobcaygeon, I saw the constellations / Reveal themselves one star at a time."

His song Ahead by a Century evokes a childlike wonder of nature with the opening verse:

"First thing we'd climb a tree / And maybe then we'd talk / Or sit silently / And listen to our thoughts."

Downie’s work was not just about painting pictures of nature with words; he was also a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and reconciliation. The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, inspired by the story of Chanie Wenjack, aims to build cultural understanding and foster relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. His music and activism remind us of the deep relationship between land, history, and the human experience.

Music has a powerful way of transporting us to certain times and places, evoking memories tied to nature. One song that instantly takes me back to a natural landscape is Thompson Girl by The Tragically Hip. As a child, my family would go on road trips to Kingston Ontario to go camping, and this song would always be the first one we played as we set off on our journey. The moment the melody began, I could feel the excitement of the open road, the anticipation of setting up camp, and the peacefulness of being surrounded by trees and fresh air. The song became an essential part of our tradition, intertwining music, travel, and the beauty of the outdoors.

Whether through the organic compositions of nature itself, the creative expressions of artists like Dr. Mirin, or the poetic storytelling of Gord Downie, music is woven into the fabric of the world around us. Next time you're outside, take a moment to pause and listen—the rustling leaves, the chirping crickets, or even the distant howl of the wind might just be nature’s way of singing to you.

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Hi Sara! How did you find out about this Dr.Mirin guy, he sounds really cool. I think it’s so beautiful how he chose to take nature’s sounds and incorporate them into music. It’s so true that humans definitely are not the first music makers to exist on earth. As many cultures believe, humans are here to learn from nature so it makes sense that so much of our music, lyrics, and sounds take from it’s inspiration. I loved you family memory involving the song Thompson Girl by The Tragically Hip. It reminded me of a similar family memory I have, listening to one particular song in th car. For my family it was “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas. This song isn't very inspiring or peaceful one could say, but it holds a special place in my heart. Every time my family and I would be on the way back from a day to the lake, my dad would play this song at full blast on our last leg of the trip home (both to keep himself awake and for tradition.) I remember playing it so loud that we’d have to roll down the windows, subsequently disturbing anyone walking past our car.

[daqenvs3000semester]

Blog Post 7 - Music in Nature

🌿Where is music in Nature?🌿

As described in our reading for this week “Music of nature and the nature of music”, music is a universal phenomenon. Noises are created by living and non living creatures alike. The obvious examples of music in nature are those most recognizable to us such as bird songs or whale calls. For me personally, my appreciation for the music of insects has grown tremendously since taking my Insect Biology course this semester. There are millions of sounds insects make that humans were unaware of only until very recently. Did you know that water bugs from the family Corixidae are actually the loudest animals on earth relative to their body size. Their clicking during mating season can be heard underwater by human ears! Even though many sounds of nature are underappreciated, or go unnoticed by humans, they all contribute to the “universal song” as described by Gray et.al.. I think this concept of “universal music” is similar to that of the Gaia Hypothesis in that they both observe all organisms of the earth working together to form one collective. 

🌹Where is nature in music?🌹

For me I find it easiest to interpret this question as “what is the nature of music”. My first thoughts were similar to those of Sahi in “Using folk traditional music to communicate the sacredness of nature in Finland”, that music is communication, education, community, tradition, etc. I do believe that music is somehow intrinsic to the human spirit, but to describe the earth’s “universal sound” it’s hard to describe it as something scripted, written down, or intentional in any way. By my definition, art needs to be intentional or given intention. From a human perspective we could definitely give intention to the earth’s sounds, but from the perspective of a bird it’s calls just are. The sound of the wing is just the sound of the wind, and I always find myself coming back to the concept of intrinsic value. To circle back, what is the nature in music? Music just is a part of nature. 

🍁What song brings you back to a natural landscape.🍁

I thought very hard about this question, and I came to the conclusion that there is no song in particular that I can really associate with nature, but maybe more a genre of songs. I very often find myself being reminded of or singing Girl Guide songs that I had learned when I was younger. These campfire songs open a flood gate of memories for me, often ones of nature, community service, and friends. With my Girl Guide groups growing up, we would go camping at least twice per year. Without fail, every night at camp, we would end up around a campfire singing songs and learning new ones. When I was lucky enough to go to a camping festival - where many different troops would gather all at once - I would get to hear songs I’d never learned before as well as different ways to sing the songs I already knew. Camping and Girl Guides gave me so much appreciation for nature, now that i’m older I can’t help but sing to myself while hiking:

Everywhere we goooo-

People always ask us-

Whoooo we are- 

Sooooo we tell them- 

We are the Girl Guides. We couldn't be prouder, if you can’t hear us we’ll shout a little louder! 

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Blog Post 6 - Understanding History Through a Naturalist's Lens

Unpacking the Quote

In my interpretation, the quote given to us this week has two distinct messages that I believe the author was trying to get across. Let’s focus on the first sentence of the quote to begin with, and break it down into it’s most important points. 

“There is no particular merit in ancient things…” - Without interpretation, an old vase in a museum would just be a dusty piece of pottery, knowing the story behind it makes it real and special.

“...integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole…” - In this context, to me integrity and the “keeping together of parts” can mean a variety of different things. One way I can interpret this is to mean that tradition and remembering of stories/ways of life are integral to the upkeep of culture. Without a glance back at the past to remember the story of where you came from you will never understand how far you've come, integrity means tradition and remembrance. 

“...maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge…of ancient things…” - It is true that stories of the past vary immensely depending on who is telling them to you. This is not necessarily a bad thing if you are an interpreter, simply different authentic versions of the truth. If all different points of view are upheld properly through integrity (tradition and storytelling), then as academics we are able to examine all sides of a historical event and determine what is objectively true versus personally true to different groups of people.  

The second half of the quote restates a phenomenon that most of us should be familiar with already, whether or not we are students of history: no matter how hard we try we can never escape the past. Hyams suggests that to think that we are immune to repeating patterns or can escape the impact of our decisions is foolish, and he is correct. The less fortunate parts of human history are felt strongly today, which luckily for us interpreters means that the integrity of the story is strong. With strong integrity and objective truth, a story is converted to education in the hopes of avoiding a mindless repeating of history. 

Historical Interpretation of the Natural World. 

In my opinion, interpretation of the history of the natural world is much less accessible than that of human history. Stories of events are easily shared in our most basic form of knowledge transfer - speaking. Natural history on the other hand requires more time, scientific knowledge, and privilege as discussed in previous weeks. There are several different ways I can think of how we interpret the history of the natural world:

Through Biomass and Natural Features

A classic example of this type of “natural record keeping” is that of counting tree rings. Each year trees will grow a new layer of biomass, counting these rings easily allows us to know the age of a specific organism. Not only do tree rings indicate age, but they act as a natural log of past climatic patterns and nutrient availability. Tree rings vary in thickness, colour, and chemical composition based on the environmental conditions at the time. In addition, natural disasters such as a forest fire are easily kept “on record” with living trees bearing burn scars, or galls from insect infestations. 

Through Geology

Especially sedimentary rocks maintain the same storytelling principles as trees do. Age of sediments can be determined via carbon dating, and environmental conditions are interpreted by rate of sediment deposition, turbulence of the sediment, type of sediment (ie ash from a volcanic eruption), and fossilized organisms that exist at certain depths. Much of earth’s story can be told through both marine and terrestrial sediment cores, but we can also understand our planet's history through snow and ice cores!

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Microorganisms & Some Thoughts on Nature

My love and engagement with nature has always been through a predominantly scientific lens. 

While appreciating nature aesthetically is a powerful experience, the most awe and wonder I’ve felt is from learning about all the mechanisms and workings of the world around me. Even something as simple as trees shedding their leaves in colder temperatures can become a marvel when you begin to understand the myriad of processes happening beneath the surface. My eyes can only see a leaf falling to the ground, but what I can’t see is specialized cells separating or the increase and decrease in certain chemicals leading to a cascade of effects.

As such, I’ve often realized that nature isn’t just limited to what we can view in front of our eyes. The natural world goes far beyond what we can physically observe and the imagery we typically associate with the word “nature” — forests, majestic wildlife, vibrant coral reefs — aren’t all there is to appreciate. 

This week I’ve been thinking about some underappreciated aspects of nature. There’s a lot I could potentially cover, but I think the best example I can give of such an aspect is the presence of microorganisms. 

While the average person rarely gives them a thought, microorganisms drive so many processes on earth and live interesting lives. I’ve always thought it’s incredible that they seem to exist entirely in a world of their own, and like all life on earth go through their own troubles and challenges. 

My personal favourite is the famous tardigrade! They’re tiny invertebrates, about 0.1 to 0.5 mm in length, and are close relatives of insects and crustaceans. Their home ranges from damp moss, plants, sand, seawater and they can even survive in space. Tardigrades are able to withstand extreme temperatures and drying by using a sugar called trehalose to go into a suspended state for years or decades until favourable conditions return (Britannica 2024). 

They’re remarkable but it’s uncommon for someone to have seen one living because, of course, at their size they’re invisible to the naked eye. It’s easy to forget that such organisms exist when you can’t see them without an expensive microscope, but they’re everywhere around us. The next time you go on a walk outside, you’ve walked by and interacted with countless communities of microorganisms. There are so many species and so many interactions happening around you, even inside of your own body. Yet, I’ve rarely seen microorganisms be commonly acknowledged as nature. The natural world is often limited to aesthetics you can take a picture of, but it’s in fact everything around us. Both the things we can observe and the things we can’t are a part of nature. As environmentalists we often assert that everything in nature has value, and to me that statement absolutely includes the more technical “sciencey” things. 

Whenever I go out into nature, I try to reflect on just how vast the natural world is. Nature is always in motion and, unknown to me, there are countless events occurring everywhere I look. The environment is a great teacher, and I always let my mind fill with questions that I can search for the answers to. 

As much as I enjoy gaining knowledge however, an ultimate goal of mine (and a reason why I’m here in this course) is to learn new ways to share my knowledge and excitement with others. My love for the environment is often rooted in concepts and terminology, but as I enter the second half of this course I hope I can find a way to engage with audiences beyond that and become a better interpreter.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, December 19). tardigrade. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/tardigrade

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Hi there Onenji!

As I read more and more posts front hsi week I am learning so much about my peer’s interests within environmental studies. Your post specifically striked me as interesting because I am from a similar perspective as you. I thoroughly enjoy observing the little things that we can not see that make our ecosystems function at the most basic level. A quote from your post that really resonated with me was when you mentioned that it seems as though microorganisms live in a “world of their own”. It makes me wonder how it must feel to be so small, and challenges my human focused point of the world. Do microbes even “know” that we exist? 

In my post for this week I express my love for soil science, and microbes are actually a very very huge part of how soil functions along with determining what nutrients are available to plants. Nitrogen fixing bacteria are a classic example of how humans and animals could not live without microorganisms. Since plants can not generally adobe nitrogen from the air, they rely on microorganisms in the soil to “fix” it into a plant available form. A caveat of this relationship however is that a by-product of these bacteria is NOx pollutants that contribute very significantly to the greenhouse effect.

Thanks so much again for your awesome thoughts on microbes in the environment, I hope I was able to share something new with you about soil bacteria as well! 

[tkenvs3000w25]

Blog 5 Post

Bioluminescent wonders in nature have always fascinated me. Since I was a kid, I always found it interesting how things in nature could light up. Whether it was fireflies glowing at night, deep-sea creatures emitting blue light, or fungi illuminating the forest, bioluminescence has always seemed like something out of a fairytale to me. 

Bioluminescence is the ability of living organisms producing and emitting light. This is due to a chemical reaction that involves luciferin (a light-emitting molecule) and luciferase (an enzyme). When these compounds interact with oxygen, they produce light without heat, making a mesmerizing natural glow (National Geographic, 2022) 

One of the best examples of bioluminescence are fireflies. These tiny little insects use their flashing lights to communicate and attract other fireflies. Each species of firefly has a unique light pattern, which is like the morse code of the natural world (National Geographic, 2019). One of my favourite memories of seeing fireflies was on my trip to Washington this past June. Seeing the fireflies light up an entire field was pretty mesmerizing to see.  

Photo: https://www.organicvalley.coop/blog/where-to-find-fireflies/

Besides fireflies, the ocean is also full of bioluminescent wonders. The sea is home to many creatures that produce their own light. The anglerfish, uses a bioluminescent lure to attract prey in the depths of the ocean. Other deep-sea creatures, like jellyfish, squids, and certain types of plankton, use their glow for various reasons like communication, to evade predators, or to find food (National Geographic, 2022) 

One of the most breathtaking things to see is bioluminescent ocean waves caused by tiny organisms called dinoflagellates. These microscopic plankton emit a bluish-green glow when disturbed, creating an effect where waves appear to sparkle and glow at night (National Geographic, 2022). Some of the best places to witness this phenomenon are Puerto Rico, the Maldives, and the shores of California.

Photo: https://florida-adventurer.com/blog/fun-facts-about-dinoflagellates/ 

Bioluminescence isn’t just limited to animals. Some fungi also have the ability to light up. A species known as “foxfire” or “ghost fungus” emits a faint greenish light, often spotted in decaying wood in forests. Scientists believe this glow may attract insects that help spread the fungus’s spores. (National Geographic, 2019). 

The role of bioluminescence in nature is both functional and mesmerizing. It can be used for communication, camouflage, attracting prey, or warning predators. It is a reminder of how intricate and incredible the natural world is. Even though I’ve always been amazed by bioluminescence, learning more about its science has only deepened my appreciation. It’s fascinating how something so beautiful can also serve such important functions in the ecosystems where it appears. Whether it’s the fireflies in Washington or the glowing oceans waves, bioluminescence continues to be one of nature’s most enchanting wonders and the best combination of science and nature.  

References:

National Geographic. (2019). How Bioluminescence Works in Nature. Animals. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/bioluminescence-animals-ocean-glowing

National Geographic. (2022). Bioluminescence. Education.nationalgeographic.org. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/bioluminescence/

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Hey Trisha! 

Thanks so much for your post, I found it really informative and a joy to read! I decided to go a similar route with my post by giving a little “crash course” on some of my favorite subjects to study. Sometimes in science, the more you learn, the more questions you tend to have. My main question after reading about bioluminescence in your post is: how on earth did this evolve several times? You did a great job in outlining why different organisms use bioluminescence ( with for communication, attracting prey, or repelling predators) but I am still left wondering why this would be such a valued trait in evolution. Like any form of evolution, this trait was conceived by a “mistake” in DNA replication and turned out to be beneficial for the organism. My best guess as to why bioluminescence can be seen both on land and in the sea would be that it is a severely untapped niche. Often we think that organisms want to fit in - camouflage better, but sometimes being out of the ordinary gives the advantage of being interestingly unique (attracting others) or being so out of the norm that the light is scary to others (deterring predators). Either way, great post, and if anyone else has more thoughts about bioluminescence, feel free to reply to this post!

[daqenvs3000semester]

Blog Post 5 - Crash Course!

As we are free to write about whatever is on our mind this week, I will swiftly take this chance to talk about my own personal interests within environmental science. Hopefully this post will teach you something new, and also allow you all - as my classmates - to get to know me better. If you have ever met me in person, you have certainly had the pleasure of witnessing me drone on and on about soil science, or insects, and just because we are in a DE class does not mean any of you are exempt from this! 

Crash Course - Soil Science and Agriculture.

For those of you who are not familiar, the study of soils science can be best described as an interdisciplinary cross between geology, toxicology, geography, plant biology, and land management. I love soil science because soil is a product of its environment, you get to understand exactly why soil formed a certain way based on where it’s located, what plants and animals live in that location, what the bedrock geology is like, and any other historical weather events and/or land use it has been though. It’s like solving a puzzle to understand how to best move forward. Studying soil science is incredibly important because soil is the medium the majority of our food is grown in! Did you know that our current food production would drop by at least a third if it were not for fertilizers? Knowing the correct ways to manage our agricultural soils is critical for minimizing excess nutrient runoff - both for environmental and economical reasons. Soil science and how it intersects with biology, biodiversity, toxicology, and practical skills is what makes it an endlessly fascinating subject for me. I have made my friends through this interest, and have had the privilege of studying in the field with some of my favourite people!

Crash Course - Insect Biodiversity

Another long lasting interest of mine has been insects. I feel as though many people gravitate towards insects because they’re simply all around us! This semester I have had the pleasure of being in the ENVS*3090 course taught by Dr.Andrew Young. This course offers many hands-on opportunities for examining different insect specimens in our lab time. Getting the chance to look at insect specimens under a microscope, and see the small details that make each species special and unique has been nothing but joyful for me. You might be asking, what's the big deal about bugs? I don't just enjoy studying insects because they are pretty or interesting, insects have a massive relevance in the environment that is worth studying. The obvious example is that of pollinators, I don't feel as though I have to explain why pollinators are important. Aside from their positive interactions with humans, insects are major carriers/transmitters of disease, and invasive species can bring massive devastation to our ecosystems. In addition, as with anything these days, insects are majorly affected by climate change, with many species moving northwards as our earth warms. 

I hope this post helped spark a new interest in you, or just simply helped to get to know me better. I’d love for you all to reply to this post by giving me a crash course of some of your favorite subjects to study! 

[jkenvs3000w25]

Blog Four: Who are you to interpret nature through art? How do you interpret “the gift of beauty”? 

Some of the most common art forms are expressed through photography, singing, painting and dancing. It is evident that art can be presented in various forms. Similar to nature, art is unique in the sense that it is open to interpretation. The way that one person perceives an art piece might be different from how another individual perceives it. Likewise, the way one person perceives nature might be different from how another individual perceives it. For instance, one person might interpret seeing a snake as a rare sighting, whereas another person might interpret this sighting as a danger and reason to flee the scene.  

As mentioned in week four’s content, it is essential for nature interpreters to be aware of risk, both positive and negative. Nature interpreters who intend on immersing their audience (and selves) in nature need to especially be aware of risk. That is why it is important to consider low-risk activities as a nature interpreter. Activities such as photography are low risk and an effective method to engaging an audience with nature.  

Photography and poetry are my own personal means of using art to interpret nature. If you were to look through my phone, you would find several poems pertaining to nature and even more pictures of nature.  

The best pieces of art, are those that evoke an emotional response within the audience. Whether that emotional response be anger or happiness, the effectiveness of an art piece is only as true as its ability to portray an emotion.  

Environmental documentaries are a prime example of using art to interpret nature. The combination of photography and instrumental music evokes a certain emotion. The audience might forget the content of the artwork, but they will never forget the emotion that they felt in that moment when experiencing the artwork. That is the beauty of art – you might not know what you are looking at, but you know how it makes you feel. For instance, a documentary might play a clip of polar bears jumping from ice block to ice block as a result of the melting iced caps. This cinematography, in conjunction with the music, evokes a response within the audience.  

Photography and poetry alike enable the audience to engage all five of their senses: taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing. In order for art to be an effective tool within nature interpretation it is essential that it captures the audience’s attention, conveys a message and evokes the “gift of beauty”.  

The textbook references the “gift of beauty” which essentially means providing the audience with the opportunity to take appreciation for the ‘full picture’ of the art. In my own personal defintion, the “gift of beauty” means appreciating the small details within the artwork. For instance, this might mean appreciating the specific hue of a flower petal and understanding that it is more than a decoration. The colour of the flower petal is what attracts pollinators which assist in reproduction for both the plant and the pollinator. This detail, although minute, is very important and often overlooked.  

The "gift of beauty" is what is at the core of nature interpretation and artwork.

[daqenvs3000semester]

Thanks for such a comprehensive view on this week’s material! I really did enjoy the writing of your post and some of the messages definitely resonated with me. Your example with nature documentaries took me back to a very specific point in time when I was watching a film about the arctic. There were walruses jumping from high cliffs to escape the overcrowding of the island they were on and seeing them fall to their deaths genuinely made me start crying hysterically. Of course this is a dramatic example of nature evoking emotion, but it is true that most people care for nature, especially when portrayed in a dramatic and truly raw way. I also loved your inclusion of the five senses in interpretation. Our senses allow us to experience the world in a physical way, which helps to shape our emotions about the world around us. Making sure activities make our senses happy, allows us to have positive experiences with nature. Having a guided hike in a thunderstorm in the middle of the summer heat may not be the best way to have your interpreting service be fun for people. Preparing ahead of time and making sure everyone will have a good time is the best way for us as interpreters to foster love for the environment. 

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Blog #4 Under the Northern Lights: Interpreting Nature's Gift of Beauty

When thinking about the idea of interpreting nature through art, the Northern Lights come to mind. The way their colours dance across the black sky feels like nature's perfect painting but in motion. When asked “who am I to interpret nature through art?” It genuinely got me stuck thinking of how to write about such a breathtaking phenomenon. The Northern Lights speak for themselves, how can one even possibly enhance its beauty that's already perfect? Through this week's readings, I've discovered that nature interpretation is just about enhancing nature's beauties; it's about creating deep connections for yourself and others. As stated in the textbook, interpretation is about creating new emotional connections and engagement with nature (Beck et al., 2017). My experience with the Northern Lights was more than a visual experience, it was emotional. I was starstruck and to this day still, something about the colours dancing across the sky kept me mesmerized. Therefore, it's the personal connection I have with this amazing phenomenon that makes me capable of sharing this moment with others. 

The first time I ever saw the Northern Lights was in Timmins, visiting my grandpapa. I remember it was freezing outside and the sky was completely clear when I saw the green, purple and blue lights dancing along the sky. I was so mesmerized, feeling calm and sane. Additionally, not only did I form a new connection but in that moment I felt how small I am compared to the universe, which was such a humbling experience. To this day I wish I was able to capture a photo of it but my memorie of it is so clear that I don’t need one. So, who am I to interpret nature through art? I am someone who has a deep connection to the impact that nature gives from my own experiences. I believe this connection can allow me to guide others into the same space I feel when looking at the Northern Lights. Furthermore, it's not about putting my perspective on others, but it's about creating their own moment where they feel drawn. As an interpreter, I am not aiming to speak for nature but to help the audience hear and see what it has to offer. For example the Northern lights cannot be reinterpreted, but as the role of an interpreter I would love to create that space for others to form their own connection to it and be able to witness it. 

How I interpret “the gift of beauty” is its ability to invite us to slow down, reflect and feel what nature has to offer. It's more than to see but to feel the world around us. When I see the Northern Lights, it was more than just the colours dancing in the sky; it was the unexpectedness of the emotional wave I felt and wanted to share with others. Therefore, as a role of interpreter, I would help others feel the beauty of nature, creating a safe space for them to connect and feel in awe, just as I did under the Northern Lights.

An aurora display captured just north of Kenora, Ontario. (Photo: Brandon Brown/Can Geo Photo Club)

Heres a picture I found that resembles what I saw.

Knudson, L.B.T.T.C.D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Publishing LLC. https://sagamore.vitalsource.com/books/9781571678669

[daqenvs3000semester]

Hi Anna,

All I have to say is wow, and I could not have described my feelings towards nature any better. Your post was so poetically written, and a pure joy to interact with. There were a few moments in your post that really resonated with me and I wanted to share my thoughts. The first is when you ask the question: “how can we even enhance nature's beauty when it is already perfect?” I couldn't have thought of anything better to say. It’s so true. How could things be anymore perfect, when the earth has grown to interact with itself in a perfect equilibrium. The more I study environmental sciences, the more I realize that the coevolution of all things has brought us to this moment in time where there is perfect give and take of energy, carbon, life, and so on. Secondly, your definition of the gift of beauty was one that I appreciate wholeheartedly. In my blog post you will see that I define it as the love I feel for and from the earth, acknowledging nature as “someone” who has always taken care of me. For you, you defined it as a moment of stillness, sanity, and observation. I think that your experience with the northern lights is very similar to my experience with damselflies. When I find myself by creeks in the summer months, I feel still and quiet, I am able to fully observe my surroundings. This is when damselflies always come to visit. Last summer I had a moment with my insect friends where there were at least a dozen damsels  fluttering around my head and landing on my legs. I felt seen, grounded, and full of joy. To know others have special connections to a specific part of nature makes me all the more happy that we all get to experience it’s beauty. 

[daqenvs3000semester]

Blog Post 4

To ask someone how and why they would interpret nature through art is really such a simple question, nature evokes emotion in us. As I have mentioned many times in my blog posts, the fact is that humans feel good in nature because we evolved to be in it. Our brains are wired to identify plants and animals through pattern recognition skills, our eyes are much more sensitive to green light wavelengths than any others, and our bipedal legs were built to walk and run if we are able. The emotion that we feel when seeing a sunset, a magnificent tree, or special rock formation, is real, special, and needs to be expressed. 

A modern form of interpretation through art is the simple click of our phone cameras! In this day and age, who doesn’t whip out their phone when there is a stunning sunset upon us, I see it happen more often than not. Some may see this phenomenon and think that people are blinded by technology, but I choose to see the sincerity in this act. Whether they show this photo to their loved ones when they get home from their walk, or set it as their phone wallpaper, it was a purely human act to feel nature’s beauty and express that emotion through art (in this case photography). Beyond this example, I think everyone has interpreted nature through art at least once in their life. Have you ever drawn a picture when you were young with the sun in the top corner of your page? From some of our earliest moments in life, we show that as humans we intrinsically find nature as something beautiful that should be captured through art and cherished. 

All of this leads me to the concept of “the gift of beauty”. Indulge me in an exercise:  Think of a loved one, someone who has been in your life for a long time, someone who has been there for you through thick and thin. You probably feel a sense of peace, happiness, maybe even beauty? People who have always been there for us have an intrinsic value in our eyes, no matter what they look like, what they are going through, or even their shortcomings, you love them and see their worth as a person. When we think of our earth as a living being, some may even see it as a mothering figure (mother earth), perhaps the same feelings you might feel towards your human caregivers arise as well. This is the gift of beauty, for me this arises as the love I feel from the earth and how I know that it has always been there for me, and has quite literally brought me life. 

I express my love for the earth in many artistic ways. I have always been a drawer, but more recently a poet. Much of the art I create in my free time is heavily influenced by nature and the metaphors it provides to teach us how to live in harmony. Much of my personal spiritual journey has been governed by these metaphors, and I think this can be considered as another form of artistic expression. For example, seeing springtime as the earth’s yearly “rebirth”, and celebrating the return of geese and flowers with friends, family, food, and decorations, is an artistic expression in itself. It’s choosing to feel the joy the earth brings to us, and any physical expression of that I would consider art!