Anchor Reflection
My anchor course was a great way of getting familiar with the sustainability certificate program. I took FANR 1500: Fundamentals of Sustainable Development with Dr. Dwivedi for my sustainability anchor course. I did not know what to expect going into the program, but I had hoped to learn about the fundamentals of sustainable thinking and how sustainability could be a future career path. I entered the course with a strong desire to learn about energy sustainability, whether that involved sustainable energy distribution, renewable energy infrastructure, and the problems facing lower income areas. Within my anchor course, however, I learned much more than just this subject. I was confronted with my own misconceptions about sustainability, and the wide variety of goals to promote sustainable thinking within the three spheres of social, economic, and ecological.
The biggest takeaway I learned in the social sphere is the mass amounts of income inequality within our country and the world. To have a sustainable society, we must be able to provide for even the lowest denominator. Although we have a strong sense of capitalism in this country, I believe that some regulation in our tax system is necessary. Especially with the rise of technology we must build a system that incentivizes entrepreneurship while also providing livable wages for those in poverty. Striking that balance is an effort I hope we strive for, and I will do my best in the future to fight for that goal.
The economic sphere was addressed in many ways within my anchor course. We were lucky enough to have multiple guest lectures from those in the sustainability industry that work for large corporations. It is prudent for students of sustainability to promote the idea that when companies take on sustainability initiatives it can also save them money. Reducing things like water waste are a great way to not only protect the environment, but also to increase profits. Bringing this clarity to businesses is an endeavor that I hope to commit to in my career.
The environmental sphere was always apparent in my anchor course, as when most people hear sustainability they think “environment”. I was able to use my knowledge and passion for renewable energy to work on a project comparing the pros and cons of solar and biomass energy production. When we adapt “green” energy, we not only diversify our energy portfolio making us less reliable on foreign energy sources, but we also reduce our carbon emissions which is a key contributor to ozone depletion. I was lucky enough to work with Dr. Dwivedi in his research in biomass to address the needs of renewable energy in Georgia.
This course truly made me change my perspective on the term “sustainability” and instilled in me a personal responsibility to be a steward for sustainable thinking. I have used the foundation built in this course throughout my academia and will continue to do so in my future career.
Ecological Sphere
An important realm of sustainability is the ecological sphere. For my ecological course I took LAND 1500, Design and the Environment, with Brian LaHaie. The course was a great opportunity to learn about a landscaping career that focuses on sustainable development. I really enjoyed the way this course combined natural beauty and housing development. The course touched on all three spheres of sustainability but focused mainly on the ecological aspect of landscape design. The development of domiciles that incorporate natural gardens and landscapes highlights the existential desire of humans to be surrounded with beauty while feeling protected. The term of “prospect refuge” was used in this course to explain why humans desire security and the ability to view the natural world.
My biggest takeaway from this course is that in order to maintain our connection to the natural world it is important to incorporate natural beauty in our homes. Many of these landscape developments also have utility in providing irrigation and food. Hearing from many guest lecturers was a valuable part of this course, as it provided an example of careers that utilize sustainable thinking.
This course expanded my view of sustainability in that it is important to incorporate landscape beauty and utility into our homes. It also helped me view the world through a sustainable lens. Seeing the way structures like memorials incorporate nature was a very interesting experience. One of the ways these memorials incorporate beauty and nature is through water, including reflection pools and fountains. Water was a common theme in the landscapes we examined, and I think that highlights the connection we have with all life, as all life on earth needs water. This course related to all of my sustainable courses, as the inclusion of nature in our social and private lives reminds us of our connection with the natural world.
Social Sphere
One cannot address the issues of sustainable living without studying the social sphere. For my social sphere I took GEOG 1125, Resources, Society, and the Environment with professor Stan Hopkins. This course provided an extensive view on the environment and how it is impacted by humans and other species. Much of this course helped me to understand the natural cycles that occur on Earth, specifically regarding those that influenced our consumption of natural resources.
The interconnectivity of nature and humanity was strongly addressed in this course. I was interested to see how the effects of global warming effect the natural cycles such as the water cycle, carbon cycle, and the nitrogen cycle. Our dependence on agriculture is something that is taken for granted, and this course helped me see how microorganisms work to balance the nitrogen in our soil. Our natural cycles work incredibly well and can be drastically influenced by the surplus of elements such as carbon. Our burning of fossil fuels at an extreme rate produces more carbon than can be naturally remedied by our natural cycles. It is then increasingly important to transform our energy generation methods to low carbon emitting processes. I was interested in how the term “feedback loop” was addressed in this course. For instance, when greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are increased the air warms, which then holds more water vapor. The increase in water vapor can increase rainfall and flooding which disproportionally affects areas of poverty.
This course also helped me understand the role of other species in our consumption of natural resources. When discussing sustainability, many of my courses focus on the environment without fully discussing the various life forms that influence our lives. The natural processes of our environment can be greatly influenced by the degradation of on single species which in turn produces a cascading effect on other species. This course made it very clear that understanding the roles of these species, whether it be a keystone or indicator species, is imperative to act in a sustainable manner.
My key takeaway from this course is that our planet relies on natural cycles that can be quite delicate when humanity acts in an unsustainable way. My view of sustainable was extended to include the large diversity of life and how each life form fits a specific role. The earth is extremely resilient and can self-correct, but only when humanity is conscious of the effects we have on the environment.
Economic Sphere
The final sphere I completed was the economic sphere with course CSCI 1210, Computer Modeling and Science, with Professor Michael Scott. This course was a great addition to my sustainability education, as it integrated technology and data analysis with sustainable thinking. This course was very beneficial, as I developed many skills that relate to the modeling of sustainable issues. Many of the projects I worked on in this course laid a foundation for future education, and the work done extended my understanding of sustainability. This course was important because it highlighted sustainable issues through a lens of technology and data analytics.
One of the most beneficial parts of this course were the projects we completed. One of the useful skills we honed was using software like Microsoft Excel to analyze and model data. Some of the topics we modeled were poverty, global warming, and the transmission of disease. This course developed my statistical analysis skills and provided me with the skills necessary to perform linear regression and data consolidation. During these modeling exercises I got an in depth look at how modifying the smallest variables and parameters can change the outcome of a model.
The biggest takeaway I got from this course is how integrating technology and the scientific method is necessary to develop solutions to sustainable issues. This course advanced my computer skills, especially those relating to statistical analysis. This course relates to every sustainable course I’ve taken, as it frames sustainability in an analytical lens, and these skills will be instrumental in the rest of my career and educationally development.