- Soil Compaction Data Collection
An introduction to my most recent project: Dan Schwartz, the soil scientist in the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, performed a study in the fall of 2020 to study the compaction of soils in lawns in Arlington County. Soil compaction is common in … - An Eco-Friendly Christmas?
Merry Christmas from LetsTalkEarth! Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays, and it is often known for its trees, lights, decorations, and of course, gifts. The two main colors associated with Christmas are green and red, but the green in Christmas does not … - Youth Environmental Education
Charles Sayan, the co-founder and executive director of the California-based Ocean Conservation Society, states that environmental education is just as important as understanding and following the law. It is a nonpartisan value that “deserves a central place in public education”. Public schools in the U.S. … - “The Vine That Ate the South”: A Look Into Invasive Species
In 1876, at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, many plants with origins in Japan were displayed, including the Kudzu vine, also known as Pueraria montana. Since then, many farmers discovered the vine’s potential as an erosion prevention method due to their fast-growing roots. In fact, …Continue reading “The Vine That Ate the South”: A Look Into Invasive Species
- What Monitoring Sewage Tells Us About the Coronavirus
Susan Gardner, the Ecosystem Division Director of UNEP, said that “wastewater is a precious resource that the world needs to know how to tap. Not only could it be used to feed crops, but the water in our sewers can act like an early warning …Continue reading What Monitoring Sewage Tells Us About the Coronavirus
- The Importance of Stream Monitoring
Over the summer, I took part in a stream monitoring activity with the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District as an additional activity to my Independent Research Project. Specifically, I went to the Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Fairfax, VA to monitor the Big … - Learning the Truth – The Big Bang Theory
What is the universe? What is the Big Bang Theory? How did scientists discover this theory? Scientists are constantly asking themselves these questions to enhance their knowledge of the formation of the universe. They make observations, collaborate with other scientists, and analyze data to confirm … - The Efficacy of Different Erosion Prevention Methods
Erosion prevention methods are unique to each site based on the site’s topography, climate, vegetation, and soil type. Because of the harmful environmental impacts that erosion can have, including the destruction of natural habitats, the removal of vegetation, the transport of eroded soil into bodies of water, it is crucial to understand which erosion prevention method would work best in a certain location based on its geographical characteristics. - Busting the Myth: What is a Sustainable Lifestyle? (With Catie St. Jacques from Pela)
What does being sustainable mean? We usually associate a sustainable lifestyle with aesthetics, DIY products, and more, but while these are great for a sustainable lifestyle, they neither determine nor define what a sustainable lifestyle is. Part of preserving the environment includes charging our mindsets … - COVID-19, an Ecosystems Crisis – National Town Hall Part 2
Part 2: It is well understood that COVID-19 is a health crisis. COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease, meaning that the virus is transmitted from animals to humans. Other examples of recent zoonotic disease outbreaks include the Zika virus, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), Ebola, West …Continue reading COVID-19, an Ecosystems Crisis – National Town Hall Part 2
- The Climate Crisis – National Town Hall Part 1
Alongside several of my environment-passionate friends, I recently set up a National Town Hall for the newly created Youth Climate Action Team hub located in the DMV area. Given the current unprecedented situation, we hosted this event virtually via Zoom, which gave the team the …Continue reading The Climate Crisis – National Town Hall Part 1
- What Prevents Erosion Best?
This summer, I was fortunate to be offered an opportunity to work on an independent research project with the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. I was able to choose an area of focus for the following ten weeks, where I would then collect …
