Promises to Keep
Our group was split up today. Four of us went back into the forest to work on surveying the trees in column 7. One of us stayed inside to check the data that was entered yesterday. Two more went to weigh the leaf litter that had been collected, sorted and dried last week.
It amazes me, the use to which the forest has been put. Loggers and owners collect and sell the trees for wood, which of course the nation requires for many uses: home building, furniture, paper. Hunters use the woods for recreation (once it was actual food-gathering, but we no longer depend on it). The forest is used by scientists to understand our world better, and by teachers who want to educate our populace on the importance of forests. To say nothing of the food and shelter it provides for the non-human species. What mysteries are still hidden in the mossy trunks and fallen leaves of the forest? What connections are there that we have not discovered? What medicines might be found, or foods, or other new uses? I feel privileged to have been a part, however small, of this great effort to study this mesmerizing ecosystem.
Here’s a challenge: how many forest products do you use daily?
This afternoon we listened to a short lecture by Jess Parker, the Principal Investigator for this project. He explained to us the importance of this project in terms of understanding forest structure and how it may change due to climate change. Then, this evening we spent some time together eating dinner and shopping in Annapolis. All in all, I met a great group of people and had a terrific experience. Tomorrow is a travel day; we’re all leaving to return to our homes. See you on Monday!
It amazes me, the use to which the forest has been put. Loggers and owners collect and sell the trees for wood, which of course the nation requires for many uses: home building, furniture, paper. Hunters use the woods for recreation (once it was actual food-gathering, but we no longer depend on it). The forest is used by scientists to understand our world better, and by teachers who want to educate our populace on the importance of forests. To say nothing of the food and shelter it provides for the non-human species. What mysteries are still hidden in the mossy trunks and fallen leaves of the forest? What connections are there that we have not discovered? What medicines might be found, or foods, or other new uses? I feel privileged to have been a part, however small, of this great effort to study this mesmerizing ecosystem.
Here’s a challenge: how many forest products do you use daily?
This afternoon we listened to a short lecture by Jess Parker, the Principal Investigator for this project. He explained to us the importance of this project in terms of understanding forest structure and how it may change due to climate change. Then, this evening we spent some time together eating dinner and shopping in Annapolis. All in all, I met a great group of people and had a terrific experience. Tomorrow is a travel day; we’re all leaving to return to our homes. See you on Monday!
posted by Mrs. Scherer @ 8:54 PM
12 Comments:
Hello I am Alex Luu form aiea high school, a student of Mr.Lewandowski
What type of technology did you guy use in your research?
I hope you had some fun during your reasearch.
Wow Ms Scherer that is interesting....
Hi, Alex. We didn't use any big technology... we did enter our data into an Excel spreadsheet on the computer. And we used webcams and computers to communicate with our students. But to take our data, we used measuring tape, field guides, paper and pencil. A lot of science work is like that, just like the labs we make our students do. Hi, Giancarlo, thanks for your post.
do you think that it would be more productive to do individual research?
Hi I am Brian J. from Aiea High School, a student from Mr. Lewandowsk's class!!!
Why do you have to measure the rainfall? I know it will affect the forest, but specifically how does it affect the forest?
I never knew that how a forrest ran would change just by the climate of something, that's pretty interesting
Hi Mrs. Scherer i wish i could study outdoors. I think i am too scared of what might be out there to get me. That is really cool!
<3Chantel Renee 8th period<3
Hey mrs. scherer. I thought this was very interesting. Does kind of thing consume your time? Well good luck.
-Carlos Segui 6th period
I think that the spring idea is a great one. I have seen some trees lopped with metal chains and it looks bad because the tree cant grow, This way they can.
I bet this device helps loggers significantly when they need to know the size of the tree.
-Ashley Gorham
Hi, Anonymous... I definitely think that science is best done by collaboration. Individual research, especially of this magnitude, takes too long. Brian J., we studied the rainfall to compare the logged plots with the unlogged plots, to see if there's a difference. Carlos, the work is time consuming but it's a joy to know I can make a difference. Ashley & Candice, thanks for commenting. Chantel, don't be scared to be outside... what a wonderful experience it can be! But go with experienced people until you feel comfortable.
As I looked through the blog that you created about your nature walk, I found myself very pulled in because what you were doing seemed like it would be fun. Interacting with the environment and surveying different trees to understand them both sound like they would be a blast to experience. Another thing that struck my eyes was the observation about how the loggers are not just cutting down trees, they are also destroying many homes to "non-human species". I believe that if doing this research helps out the little critters roaming the forest then it should be one of those things that I can brag about. I will say "hey! My physics teacher made those guys stop what they were doing". It may sound kind of "lame" and "uncool" but I will always know that I was able to witness something great. So thank you very much for this research you have done and keep up the good work. It is much appreciated.
David Fillmon
As I looked through the blog that you created about your nature walk, I found myself very pulled in because what you were doing seemed like it would be fun. Interacting with the environment and surveying different trees to understand them both sound like they would be a blast to experience. Another thing that struck my eyes was the observation about how the loggers are not just cutting down trees, they are also destroying many homes to "non-human species". I believe that if doing this research helps out the little critters roaming the forest then it should be one of those things that I can brag about. I will say "hey! My physics teacher made those guys stop what they were doing". It may sound kind of "lame" and "uncool" but I will always know that I was able to witness something great. So thank you very much for this research you have done and keep up the good work. It is much appreciated.
David Fillmon
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