Hmmmm.... I am a bit conflicted as I ponder the reality that the first residency within the MAEEC 2015 program is drawing to a close. On one hand I am ready for more then 5 hours sleep a night, but on the other, I am wondering how I will go back to “normal” life. I have been immersed in a bubble. A wonderful bubble full of laughs, memories, deep thoughts, brilliant lessons, and dozens of hilarious quotes. Looking back I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone and how seamlessly the cohort jived - I feel like I have gained a like-minded “tribe” of new friends! 

The first two courses provided a fantastic foundation for the next two years and has opened my view of the world significantly...to a point where I have 100′s of more questions and could easily repeat residency a few more times. The journey I have (we have) begun is exciting and I look forward to the ups, downs, challenges, successes and learning that will take place. 

Reflecting on all the communication theories, thorough discussions and wonderful hands-on practice I have had over the last couple weeks during EECO 503, I am utterly amazed. 

Communicating effectively is NOT an easy task. It takes time to craft the perfect message, taking into account metaphors, social math, the audience’s prior knowledge and experiences, tone and even who the messenger is. There are many communication guidelines, and new research and best practices are continually coming out. 

I am excited as I continue educating and communicating to the general public about the ocean - the heart and lungs of the planet. I hope to build upon the skills I have learned and continue to improve so I can effectively inspire and encourage others to think about their role in the environment and their connection to the big’ol blue. 

And... to all the amazing communicators out there who are doing fantastic work, overcoming barriers, and getting through to peoples’ hearts and minds - remember... YOU ARE AWESOME!

An evil squirrel, Bryan Adams, and reflections on the impersonal indifference of ‘nature’

As I walked deeper into the woods on an overgrown path, spider webs clung to my face and the humid air made hair stick to the back of my neck. When I moved into the shadows under the thickest canopy, branches slapping my face and pulling at my skirt, I shivered with cold. I jumped in my skin as an animal screeched at me from rustling bushes only feet away. It sounded angry and aggressive, as if defending a territory or precious food cache - even if it was a cute lil’ squirrel it was unlike any squirrel I’ve ever heard.

Last week when I walked into the woods to find a place to ‘site-sit’ and write my blog, I encountered this world; a world that rejected me.

We began the evening ‘eco-psychology’ lecture under a warm glowing sun in the gorgeous Japanese Gardens. Instructed to find a place to sit for reflection, I felt compelled to explore a path in the conifer forest across campus. I am so glad I did, because it was there that I had a very important moment in a very natural space.

I have never felt more separate from nature than in that moment. I was harshly reminded of my place in the world; one of cell phones and laptops, of modern medicine and airplanes. I did not feel a ‘part’ of nature at all. After a dreamy week of lectures under an apple tree and afternoons overlooking the ocean, I had allowed my perception of nature to be wholly incongruous with reality. I must’ve picked up a pair of rose-coloured glasses while waltzing through the rose garden.

Of course, nature is indifferent to my emotions. That’s precisely what I pondered as I finally found a log to rest my butt on and pull the spiderwebs from my hair. Nature just is. A series of stochastic events hurdling in a direction not necessarily ‘forward’ at all. Natural selection, survival of the fittest. Even seemingly ‘altruistic’ or synergistic relationships between species or individuals are only self-serving evolutionary traits. 

At first, these thoughts inspired a profound feeling of despair. “But, but, but... I looooove nature. Why doesn’t nature love me toooooo?”. I wallowed in my own self-pity for a while, accepting that Spirit, Stallion of the Cimmaron would never love me so much he would risk his own life to ward off evil colonial assholes.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron. It’s a horse movie, so I love it. But it totally reinforces a troubling romanticized view of Indigenous culture and the environment while allowing the viewer to escape accountability. But damn, that Bryan Adams soundtrack!

Finally, as the Bryan Adams soundtrack  slowly faded and the sound of the forest crept back into my awareness, I found a space for reverence and respect. Instead of focusing on the sad realization that I had been ‘Disney-fying’ the wilderness, I found comfort in the very natural, instinctual emotion of ‘fear’ in nature. After all, I’m only here because thousands of generations of my ancestors were afraid enough to survive, and respectful enough of the natural world to benefit from it’s resources.

I returned to the Japanese Garden and sat in a circle with the class on a soft grassy hill. I couldn’t help but notice how manicured and unnatural the garden was - the landscaping was breath-taking, but it felt artificial. 

I’m left with a lot of questions. In the Anthropocene, should we (as environmental educators) seek to instill a sense of wonder if it is founded upon an idea of nature that is unrealistic and artificial? Is promoting connection with a ‘Bambi wilderness’ more dangerous than helpful? How important is a sense of fear in respecting and loving nature? 

There has been some reluctance over the years to consider whether or not animals exhibit culture. I have a hard time understanding why any animal wouldn't have a culture; it might just be hard for us humans to see it or recognize it form our limited perspective. 

However, some animals behaviour studies have suggested that certain animals do have cultures. One definition of animals culture is described as the cultural learning in non-human animals through social transmitted behaviours.Cultures related to strategic feeding habitats, play time, vocalizations, and complex social behaviours are seen across many different species from dolphins/whales  to monkeys to birds. 

It is so remarkable that scientists are seeing more evidence over the last 60 years that animals learn new (and better) behaviours and pass them along to peers. For example animal researcher Kinji Imanshi studied the culture of Japanese macaques in the 1940′s and was one of the first to propose the idea of culture. What he realized is that these monkeys had a specific behaviour for washing their potatoes before eating them. As the study progressed however, the monkeys adjusted and improved their technique by washing them in salt water as it is thought that they tasted better. 

Animals are fascinating and we humans have a great deal to learn from them. Many animal species have been on the planet far longer then us and have survived all sorts of biosphere changes. It is shame that so many species are disappearing before we even get a chance to understand them. For the millions of species that exist I think it is in our species’ best interest to recognize how they connect with the world around them and learn what sort of culture they have that allows them to flourish or adapt as times change. 

references: 

On the first day of my Masters residency two weeks ago, I had a song stuck in my head. Strangely enough, I’ve had the same song pop into my head - Every. Single. Day. 

59th Street Bridge by Simon & Garfunkel might be better known as ‘Feelin Groovy’ : )

Now that I’m onto the final week here in Victoria, the lyrics resonate with me even more. We’ve zoomed through communications theories and sped by movements, campaigns, activities and exercises. There have been presentations, class discussions, introspective moments and collective celebrations. 

I’ve felt on top of the world at times, and as small and worthless as a microbial poop at others (although I now have a newfound respect for microbes and poop). 

The complex problems we’re investigating and untangling are heavy, and I have felt the weight of their importance. But everyday, when this song surfaces from my subconscious, I’m reminded to slow down, smell the roses, and find the groovy.

Google Earth users: you already know that, depending on which layers you select on the left sidebar, Google Earth offers an amazing, immersive and interactive rich-media map experience. 

In this screenshot, there are over 12 ocean-related layers you can turn on. You can even track pelagic predators like the tagged great white sharks off the California coast! Just think of all the place-based narratives that belong to all the photos people have taken on the coast or while on the ocean.

It’s really too bad that there isn’t an opportunity for ordinary people to share their place-based narratives in a media-rich, interactive map format. It seems that we’re only left with people’s sunset photos and stories of ocean science. There certainly is room for the human stories, to increase awareness and engagement with our oceans. Oh well.