Author: dlw75882

Delaney Williams – Final Project Reflection

For my service outreach project, I worked with AP Environmental Science students from Clarke Central High School to examine the number of antibiotics found within samples of Athens-Clarke County soil.

The project began with both myself and the Clarke Central students collecting soil samples from different areas of the country. The samples were then diluted and plated on Petri dishes and incubated for 72 hours. Each plate was examined, and those with between 30-300 colonies of bacteria were counted. The UGA students examined their own samples and counted the colonies and the process that was repeated with the Clarke Central students and their samples. The data found was then recorded on the PARE national database. The goal of the experiment was to determine the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria living in the soil and report the number to PARE’s (Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment) national database. With the increasing number of antibiotics being used and abused, there are growing concerns over the number of bacterial strains that are becoming resistant to antibiotics. The PARE project seeks to monitor the number of “antibiotic-resistant organisms in the environment” and provide a “low hurdle pathway for instructors to begin implementing research in their classrooms,” according to the project’s website. Antibiotic resistance is a topic that not many of the general populace is aware of, and without educators and communicators providing the resources to share the research and results, the problem will continue to grow. As a Graphic Design major, I hope to have the ability to work with the Advertising Council and other non-profits to communicate the research with the general public.

These three characteristics: intellectually stimulating, relevant to the audience, and creativity are not normally associated with research projects regarding soil samples and bacteria. However, I believe our team of students were successful in incorporating all three into the Clarke Central students’ experience. The students were given an opportunity to examine material they themselves held an interest in, as many of the samples came from their own backyards. The results of the research had a direct connection and impact on the students, which provided motivating and intellectually stimulating results. Furthermore, it provided the students with an opportunity to work alongside university students, allowing them to connect and engage with them in ways they otherwise might not have been afforded. I know personally, I would have been more intrigued by the idea of testing soil samples if I had the opportunity to partner with university students in order to do it. The activity was an engaging and creative idea centered on engaging high schoolers with college students and providing each group with knowledge not only about antibodies within soil but also about each other.

The first discovery I made was about my own personal self-confidence when addressing others in subjects that I do not particularly feel the utmost confidence in. As an art major, science has never been my strongest subject, and oftentimes the subject proves more confusing than engaging. However, in an effort to communicate with the high school students, I was able to not only further my own engagement but theirs as well. Educating others about subjects increases my own knowledge of the subject, and the trip to Clarke Central proved no different. In terms of technology, it was clear that cell phones and laptops proved both a hindrance and an advantage. Without them, we would not have been able to input the research into the database. However, due to the nature of the assignment, it was hard to keep the entire group focused and engaged when the work was only being completed on one device. It might’ve proved more effective if the groups were smaller, to promote better interaction between the students and the research.

In all honesty, we weren’t given an opportunity to analyze our audience before jumping straight into the project. Therefore, I wasn’t able to pre-plan for the experience. However, I used my knowledge of high schoolers, and my own recent experience, to provide me with an initial starting point. Once we began the research, I was able to get a better gauge of the students’ interests and strengths. It was clear that some students were more engaged than others, and some even more so than myself. As I am pursuing a major that hinges on creating clear, effective communication channels, it was vital for me to adapt quickly to the needs of the students. Each audience has special needs, interests, and motivations, and in order to be an effective communicator one must recognize this and adapt.

If given the opportunity, I would have improved my own knowledge of entering the data onto the PARE site. I feel I was unconfident in the area, and that translated into the experience for the students.

This experience assisted me in learning the course material due to the added nature of teaching other students about the reasoning and importance behind testing for antibiotic resistance within the soil. In terms of audience analysis, I was able to gauge how well the students were learning the material, and I was able to adapt the conversation to answer any questions they might’ve had about the material, furthering my own knowledge on the subject. Without understanding the reasoning behind the numbers, the students would not have been able to understand the true gravity of the information they were contributing to the PARE database, thus it was important that I helped to connect the information gap. Their feedback allowed me to better answer any questions they might’ve had.

Again, as a future communicator, I hope to utilize the communication values I have learned further down in my line of work. Analyzing audiences and adapting to their needs are vital, and even though the information being communicated was centered around subjects I probably won’t engage with further, the basic values are still important.

I believe I came across as informative and approachable, which were my two goals for the experience. I hope I served as a resource for the high school students and allowed them to get a glimpse of what being a “real” college student looks like. I would like to work on my own knowledge of a subject before attempting to further educate others about it.

The assignment was an effective way for me to further engage with the experiment regarding antibiotic bacteria with the Athens-Clarke County soil. Not only was I able to further my own understanding by teaching others, but I was also given an opportunity to practice my communication skills.

Group 5 to Group 6

Composting Options for City Dwellers

Composting Options for City Dwellers

 

  • Pick Up
    • Let Us Compost
    • http://www.letuscompost.com/
      • Athens Based, picks up in Athens and Atlanta
      • Costs for residential composting from LET US COMPOST
        • $15/month
      • Included
        • A kitchen bin for scraps
        • Rolling cart to take it to road and hold full bags
        • New bags weekly
        • Weekly Pickup of scraps
      • Commercial composting with Let Us Compost
        • $35/week
        • Collect scraps 5x a day
      • Accepted: “Meat, bones, coffee, vegetables, fruit, leftovers, dairy and BPI certified wares”
      • All scraps collected taken to Classic City Composting

 

Conclusions:

  • Large-scale composting operations, comparable to landfill garbage disposal, are far too costly to implement
    • Exceptions are in the North-east where regular land disposal is increasingly expensive
  • Important to consider legislative changes on the production side, forcing corporations to create products that are more easily recyclable
    • Put tax burden of recycling on corps, as there is no existing infrastructure to mindfully dispose of certain materials (see plastics, etc)
    • Or force corps to put in place easier access to plastic recycling
    • Maybe ask Roosevelt about creating state-wide/national reform
  • Large scale vermiculture is a serious system to be considered, as it efficiently produces compost (time wise)
    • A very in depth process, requiring constant attention
  • Incineration/Gasification might be a more lucrative/useful waste management alternative

Delaney Williams – Infographic

The infographic is intellectually stimulating in that along the top border, the piece describes the benefits that stem from composting, composing a compelling a composing argument that leaves almost no room for the viewer to disagree. In doing so, it convinces the audience that each and every person can contribute to the environment through the composting process. By using a simple step-by-step format with clear instructions, paired with modern and minimalistic designs, PBS Nature has creatively displayed the ease with which one can compost. The organic color scheme draws the viewer in without distracting from the vital information the infographic seeks to communicate. As far as a gut response, the graphics are pleasing and nothing aesthetically sticks out in a negative way. I was surprised by some the green and brown compostable materials, particularly lint, as I did not think such a material could hold any form of value in relation to composting. Overall, the infographic is quite pleasing, so they were no particularly strong, negative emotions I associated with the message. In all honesty, as we have been discussing composting so heavily in class, there is nothing that seems particularly groundbreaking. I believe the infographic’s purpose is to communicate the ease with which one can compost, and it is quite successful. There are no sources listed; however, the infographic is a direct product of PBS Nature, which is a trustworthy source on its own. It might’ve been nice if they had listed further sources for people to do more of their own research, but I don’t believe it is vital to the communication of the message. This infographic is obviously geared towards adults who live in their own houses with some form of a yard to keep an outside compost pile. University students do not have the same resources. There is a multitude of issues that the infographic doesn’t address when it comes to university living, but because the ad is not geared towards university students that is to be expected. Thus, in terms of creating our own infographics, we obviously need to take university restrictions into consideration while still communicating the information in a simple, understandable way.

UGArden – Delaney Williams

The picture’s focus is on an old compost sifter the has been donated to the UGArden from back when UGA first started it’s composting initiative. Different size screens are perched atop the sifter in preparation for future use. In the background are rows of vegetables, and the mushroom greenhouses sit at the bottom of the hill.

One aspect of the picture that really struck me, and about the farm in general, is how worn and home-made everything on the farm seemed to be. While the professor assured us the sifter was in perfect working condition and seemed overall extremely excited about its possibilities, it was clear that the simple piece of machinery doesn’t compare to the main composting center’s setup. In regards to the composting pile, it is obviously not as professional as the professor would like it to be, but the lack of understanding and funding has not dampened his passion for the subject.

The image makes me wonder about the accessibility of composting on campus would really look like. Even with such a jury-rigged setup, there is a process that must be followed and I wonder if students would really be open to composting. I also wonder what students would see when viewing the sifter, and if they would be interested in going farther than just saying oh there’s a rusted piece of farm equipment.

When I look at the picture, I remember seeing the obvious care and pride that the professor has for the farm. Even though some of the fields seemed a little messy, it was clear that everyone who volunteers at the UGArden holds and obvious pride for the work they are doing and it showed in every aspect of the tour.

I think this picture encompasses what UGArden hopes to achieve on campus. They have found a way to start working towards an environmentally friendly goal utilizing every aspect of the farm that they can, which is absolutely admirable. I also think about how much they could achieve if they were able to spread their message farther, or if they had proper funding.

Overall, I really enjoyed our visit to the UGArden and I might look into volunteering in the near future.

Introduction

 

Hello!
My name is Delaney Williams, (I’m the one on the right!) and I’m a graphic design major from Gainesville, Georgia. 
1. I took Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, and AP Physics in high school and sequentially not taken a science course since. Biology was my favorite course because I felt like the material and content was more readily applied to daily life.
2. I am looking forward to the chance to actually apply the knowledge of the principles we learn to the world around us. Learning the material is great but as an art major, it’s not always easy to see how I can apply it in life. Hopefully, through this course, I will be able to bridge that gap between science and art.
3. In regards to the antibiotics, I’d ask what types are currently being found in our environment and what effect specific antibiotics leave. Are there certain kinds of antibiotics in the soil that have a positive impact, or do they all induce negative impacts? Furthermore, are there different ways of composting to help counteract the effects of different antibiotics?
4. In all honesty, the general student body will prove to be indifferent to the issues surrounding excess antibiotics in the soil. Mostly because they are unaware of the extent of antibiotics in the soil. If you go too far into the technicalities of the situation, students will brush off the danger. However, if you can effectively communicate the ease through which the negative impact can be combated in a simple and engaging way, there may be a few students who are drawn in. Those students will draw others and so forth until there are enough students who are willing to become active participants that the spectators will soon follow.
5. By helping with service learning, I hope to learn the extent of the impact youth and young adults can create, not just through formal education, but through civic engagement.