Getting Involved in Environmental Science

This week was a quiet week at the lab with projects simmering in the background and our boat integration ongoing (finished by the time you read this). Today during an outreach event a student asked, "How can someone get involved in the environmental sciences?" and I thought that would be a great topic for this week's blog. 

There are two types of involvement in the environmental sciences, in my opinion. The first, is informal participation, where you enjoy the environment on your own or with a small group of people. This could involve going for a hike, foraging (with an expert), birding. Perhaps you make some crafts using recycled materials or items that would otherwise end up in landfills. Maybe you combine the two and do some research at a library and then make a craft or commit to a behavior that reduces your personal carbon footprint. These are all ways to informally participate in the environmental sciences and these ways allow you to be flexible with your commitment. They are easy to fit into your busy schedule and you can involve your friends and family in these endeavors.

The second type of involvement is formal participation, which I define as structured or organized events usually developed by non-profits, education groups, or environmental agencies. These formal events may range from workshops at zoos or aquariums to beach cleanups to supporting ongoing scientific research in the local community. Did you know that your community may be working with local scientists who are implementing their research ideas? Perhaps you live in a coastal area prone to flooding that may be working with scientists on nature based solutions or maybe a group of researchers are planning a project and want community input and local knowledge to inform their efforts. Of course, the most formal participation is pursuing a career in the environmental sciences, but that is not feasible for many people. However, if you are interested in some formal participation opportunities, National Geographic has an entire webpage about Citizen/Community Science Projects that provide links to help you get started with bird and butterfly census research, measuring night sky brightness, collecting weather data, and so much more. The link is here if you are interested in learning more or participating in these projects.

Next week is a busy week of field work with our newly integrated sensor system. I can't wait to show you how it looks and talk more about our water quality sampling efforts. Stay tuned.