50 Reflection
ajwaiqbal and probison
Ajwad Iqbal: When I visited Bangladesh, a nation known for its dynamic culture but also its serious environmental problems, I was shocked to see how difficult it is for developing countries to manage waste. It was troubling to see the large amount of waste collected in both urban and rural regions, which is drastically different than what I am used to seeing in the United States. This incident gave me a firsthand look at the serious effects of inadequate waste management systems and has been a critical part of my journey of understanding environmental health issues around the world. Exploring this environmental health issue through our class and project has been particularly meaningful for me as my family is originally from Bangladesh. It brought to light how critical sustainable waste management practices are, not only for aesthetics but also for public health and environmental integrity. Learning about the innovative solutions being implemented around the world has been inspiring, particularly those that empower local communities to improve their surroundings and health outcomes. This group project has changed the way I think about caring for the environment and will undoubtedly have an impact on my decisions going forward. My awareness of my own waste creation and consumption patterns has grown as a result. I’m determined to promote and engage in recycling and waste reduction in the future. To contribute to a better and more sustainable environment, I also feel obligated to support and take part in efforts that seek to enhance waste management systems on a local and international level.
This picture was taken on June 15, 2019, on my most recent trip to my motherland, Bangladesh. Even here, although it’s far from the busy cities, it’s amazing—and a little ironic—to find that there are still trash remains on the ground. This picture is a powerful reminder of the widespread environmental problems that exist even in the nation’s most isolated regions.
Patton Robison: When reflecting on the ways that the natural world/environment has impacted me personally and piqued my interest in learning about global climate change and its impact on biodiversity in the context of this class… I think particularly of ornithology as the main catalyst that led me to the path of wanting to know more about environmental science and ultimately part of the why to take this course. Beginning at the start of my time at Muscatine Community College, I had signed up for a general biology course that ignited my interest in birdwatching which was a direct result of the class focus on bird populations in labs as birdwatching was a hobby of the professor who greatly inspired me. In combination with these labs and the material of the course (specifically Rachel Carson’s, Silent Spring), I developed a unique interest in learning more about ornithology which led to understanding the impact humans have on bird populations. when pollutants (specifically DDT) we emit bioaccumulate and persist in these populations that result in species loss. Knowing the impact that humans can make on the biological world, I started to become greatly invested in conservation which led to multiple subsequent classes adding to the knowledge that led me to this class. My appreciation of the natural world and its beauty coupled with knowing how we, as humans shape these ecosystems and are hurt by certain human activity, opened my eyes to the reality of biodiversity loss and only strengthened my conviction to appreciate bird species that soon could become extinct. Ultimately, these earlier experiences created a new appreciation for the world that is not just humans, but many interconnected species that continue to be pushed by climate change to adapt. This adapting, is what prepared me for the course and greatly serves as the basis for continuing my journey through this class that only builds on what I learned before. (PR)
While I do not have any pictures of me birdwatching, I continue my hobby and still actively participate in admiring the many amazing different species of birds. That being said, I wanted to specifically highlight my favorite bird, the Cedar Waxwing.
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