Do Now Insects!

Hello again! Today I will be doing a quick blog post about KQED’s Do Now Insects, found here.

 

This do now discusses the possibility of incorporating insects into our food and diet. As our water sources deplete, we need to look at alternative sources of protein, which includes insects. Farming meat and cows is what people traditionally want and consume, however, there is a great amount of water used. Because society has a stigma against eating insects and not “normal” foods, it is hard for people to accept eating insects.

 

I personally believe that it is a good idea and it will be able to be done on a small scale, however society as a whole will not switch. I would be ok with eating insects in a snack bar or an energy bar, but not as a meal. I feel like that wouldn’t be filling enough and I definitely do enjoy eating meats and fish.

 

Overall, eating insects is a good, innovative idea, however it is going to take a while to get everybody on board. The nutrients and benefits of eating insects are plentiful, but the social attitude will cause issues.

 

Thanks for reading and make sure to check out my other blog posts!

Save the Bay: Pre-trip Thoughts

Hello again! Today I will be discussing the upcoming field trip that my AP Biology class is taking, what I hope to get out of it and my general thoughts on field trips and interactive learning.

 

Source: fccb.org

 

My AP Biology class is participating in a volunteer program through Save the Bay that looks at dirt in the tidal marshes and asses pH levels, salinity levels and more. The DIRT program is an interactive and hands on way for students to get involved in helping restore the SF bay and keep it clean. We are going to be volunteering our time for a great cause and I’m very excited for the field trip.

 

In my opinion, field trips are great opportunities for students to expand their learning outside of the classroom and apply their classroom knowledge to real world situations and problems. This type of volunteer, science related field trip not only shows up what we can do to help save the bay, but it also relates to what we are learning in biology and it applies what we learn to help society. Field trips are often seen as a waste of time or chances for students to not go to school and learn, however, if done right, field trips are just as valuable, if not more valuable, than in-class learning.

 

Source: designarchives.aiga.org

 

 

I hope to learn more about the Bay’s ecosystem, its state and what I can do to increase awareness of this problem. I also want to learn about plants, animals and other factors that I wouldn’t normally learn in biology class. Learning about certain species or soil samples is something that is not covered in school curriculum, and I personally enjoy learning about the real world applications and topics, not just memorizing a textbook. With this learning, I also hope to make an impact on the environment and how we as a society approach the Bay and its conservation.

 

Source: spur.org

 

This volunteer project is supposed to inform the Save the Bay organization about soil data that will help volunteers and members of Save the Bay to know what plants should be placed where and what the ecosystem needs, in terms of nutrients. I hope this data provides them with this information and helps keep tidal marshes healthy and thriving, with the little area they have to grow.

 

I’m very excited to volunteer and get my hands dirty for this amazing cause. Make sure to check out Save the Bay’s website, http://www.savesfbay.org, to find out more information about their cause.