Final Impressions

As the semester comes to an end I must say that I am walking away from this class with a new outlook on the environment. While I have taken some environmental classes in the past, I feel that I gained the most knowledge from this class. I enjoyed the group work on the chapters in the State of the World which allowed us a brief overview of the chapters without having to spend a great deal of time on them. I also enjoyed the group discussions where we put our desks in a circle. It made the classroom seem more like a community and less like a boring classroom. I also enjoyed each of the field trips and thought that each one had a great deal to offer. However, I did feel that some of the readings we were assigned in the Colloquium Reader were written in a way that was very difficult to understand. I feel that more discussion should have taken place before those readings in order to gain a better understanding of their content. Overall I think that this class was very enlightening and I feel I will be coming away from this experience with a greater respect for the environment.

Thanks for a great semester!

Spirituality, Religion, and Sustainability

After watching the movie "Renewal" in class, I have a new idea about how religion and spirituality can effect a persons relationship with the environment. I was impressed by how the communities responded to the idea that religion is related to the environment. For example when the church in New Jersey decided to make changes such as placing solar panels on the roof, the entire community responded very positively. In addition, I was also extremely impressed with the Jewish environmental camp which gave young children a change to interact with the environment. I feel that it is ideas such as the ones addressed at the camp that will give our children a better chance at connecting with the environment and therefore they will make better decisions later in life. A large number of people in the United States, and around the world belong to a religion or at least have some kind of spiritual connection. By showing these people how the environment can relate to their beliefs we are reaching a huge number of people. This impact will make people think differently about how the treat the environment and hopefully change the impact we are having on our world.

The Earth Charter In Action - Religion and Sustainability Taking Root in Germany

Neighborhood Walk

After completing my second neighborhood walk, I definitely notice a change in my observations from the walk I took in the beginning of the semester. One thing that I noticed I had become more aware of was the idea of green building. While before my main focus was on the types of animals and plant life I found in my neighborhood, now I felt that I was more observant of areas that had been influenced by development. For example, I noticed that in the community across the street that the land had to be raised significantly in order to construct homes in the once flood prone area. I feel that while I was not able to identify any new organisms, I was more aware of the lack of sustainability in my neighborhood.

Sense of Place Interview

This Thanksgiving holiday I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by the majority of my friends and family. And during this time I was able to speak with both of my grandparents about their relationship with the environment as well as discuss the differences between their generation and mine. The majority of the conversation revolved around their opinion that our current generation has a complete disconnect with the environment. They discussed how, while they did contribute to some of the environmental problems we are currently facing today, they lived must more sustainable lives and were taught to appreciate nature. The differences they noted were mostly that the majority of the products being distributed in today's market are now made as disposable product, where in their generation everything was made to be reused. For example, in their youth you would buy flour in cloth sacks which could then be used to make items such as clothes and curtains. In addition they also use to use their old clothes to make blankets instead of just throwing them away. They also stated that the environment was one of their only sources of entertainment. While children today are constantly inside playing video games and watching TV, the people of their generation saw nature as the only source of entertainment. They would use nature for recreational activities such as swimming in lakes and ponds, riding bikes, riding horses, and walk instead of driving to their destinations. After hearing their stories, I informed them of the University Colloquium class that I was taking, as well as all that I have learned during this semester. They seemed to share the idea that the class itself was a wonderful idea that would allow people of the current generation to have a chance to establish a relationship, similar to what they had with the environment.

Environment in Local News

Throughout the semester we have been discussion the growing topic of "going green." The article I have chosen from the New-Press discuses this very topic. The article entitled Fort Myers House a Green Home written by Gabriella Souza, describes a Fort Myers home that has recently been renovated and designated "green" by the Florida Green Building Coalition. And while the home does not look any different from any other home on the block, it is full of green amenities. In addition to the solar panels on the roof which heat all of the water that flows through the house, the home also offers

• painted walls which use less chemicals than normal paint


• tinted windows to keep the home cool in the warm temperatures


• walls which were injected with insulation during the remodeling to save energy


• faucets and toilets that use less water


• compact florescent light bulbs in each of the homes fixtures.

Projects such as this one have been popping up all over the state thanks to the funding provided by the Neighborhood Stabilization Act and the city of Fort Myers is looking to create even more.

After reading this article I have some mixed feelings. While I know that making a house more "green" can have positive effects such as lower costs to the owner as well as a smaller impact on the environment, I have to wonder if spending such a large amount of money is absolutely necessary at this time. While I think that doing things like tinting windows and using paint that contains fewer chemicals are all good idea, I think that using such a large amount of money on solar panels is too extravagant for these times. Currently we have large numbers of people who can longer afford to live in their homes and instead of helping those people we are remodeling livable homes for thousands of dollars. I feel as a society we are making steps in the right direction in respect to the environment. However, I feel that we need to also be aware of the financial aspect of what we are trying to accomplish.

Fort Myers House a Green Home

Field Trip #6: Canoe Trip at FGCU Marine Lab

Field Trip #6: Vester Marine Lab

After taking the field trip to FGCU's Marie Lab I feel that I have a greater understanding of the area. Before this field trip I had never canoed before so I was very hesitant in the beginning. However, with a little practice (and an experienced partner) we made it through. Although the trip did seem a little long and tiring, I feel that I learned a lot from the experience. We were able to see such things as fish, crabs, stingrays, and even a raccoon which we saw swim across the water. We also learned that areas, such as the mangrove estuary where we stopped which was relatively shallow and full of mangroves, is an area where any organisms first start their lives. We also learned that it is very important to protect coastal areas because even the smallest things such as a small amount of pollution can have a large impact on the water and organisms. Also, destroying the areas where mangroves once grew can also have negative consequences because these trees are our natural defence against things such as storm surge.

Vester Marine Lab Offical Site

State of the World Impressions

After hearing all of the student presentation on The State of the World I felt that the three Climate Connections that made the largest impact on me were Geoengineering to Shade Earth, Electric Vehicles and Renewable Energy Potential, and Employment in a Low-Carbon World. I felt that all three of these articles were especially interesting because each one contained information that I could directly relate to my life. In the first article on Geoengineering, we learned that scientists are looking into way to shield the earth from being heated by the sun. I found this very interesting not only because it could potentially effect me, but also because the idea seemed so futuristic. I had no idea that we as a society had the capability to put things into space that would act as a shield to reflect some of the heat we are currently receiving from the sun. In the second article, which talked about electric vehicles, I felt that because we are currently seeing a rise in popularity of these types of vehicles in our own area, I could really relate to the article. The author of this article discusses many of the new ideas that have recently been publicized about how these electric vehicles are the way of the future. Offering fewer emissions and lower costs, the expansion of electric grids to power these cars as well s exchange stations for batteries, will hopefully one day be part of our everyday lives. Finally in the article which discussed employment in a low-carbon world, the author talks about how thousands of new jobs could be created in such a world. With the development and growing popularity of things such as solar home systems, the article states, "could eventually create some 100,000 jobs." In addition jobs would also be created for the green automotive industry, production of secondary scrap-based steel, as well as recycling jobs are all occupations which would be created in a low-carbon world. Overall, I believe that each one of our Climate Connections articles contained information of great significance. While the three articles listed about made the largest impact on me, I feel that each one had an important message.

The Earth Charter

After reading The Earth Charter and having a group discussion in class, I believe that while a few of the points seem reasonable, the charter as a whole seems unrealistic. While some of the points listed in The Earth Charter may be obtainable in certain areas, the main point of the charter is to get people around the world to adopt these points. I do not believe that that will ever be possible. For example points such as "act with restraint and efficiency when using energy, and rely increasingly on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind" is s point which we have discussed in class as a possible solution for many Americans. However, in other countries where the governments and people do not have the money to fund the technologies needed to create such energy sources, this point in currently unobtainable. I think that the points discussed in The Earth Charter would be more easily obtained if, at least for the time being, we reworded it to pertain to individuals, communities, cities, and even whole nations, but not to unrealistically aim to incorporate the entire world. I think that if each of us individually could pick at least a few points to adopt for our everyday life, we could see a significant impact. Points such as reducing, reusing, and recycling materials used in production and consumption are realistic changes that, especially the American population, could make. As for the rest of the charter, I believe that while achieving world-wide participation in the charter is currently unthinkable, hopefully with time and a few changes, we will one day all be able to accept the charter in an effort to save our Earth.

Field Trip #5: Urban Fort Myers and Southwest Florida Historical Museum

Before arriving in downtown Fort Myers for our field trip, I was sure I already knew everything we were going to talk about because I have lived in the area my whole life. However, soon after arriving I realized I was completely wrong. After taking a walk down the water front and learning that the city is looking into expanding its water front and then walking through the area surrounded with different types of palm trees I was in awe of everything I was previously unaware of. I truly enjoyed this particular field trip because of all of the places we got to see. From the water front to the mosaic, and from the post office to the museum, I feel that I gained a great deal of knowledge from this trip, and the great weather helped too! My favorite part of the trip however, (besides the trip to Starbucks) was definitely the museum. I thought it was a great experience being able to see a real "cracker house" as well as the train and the museum itself. We learned that the museum itself was originally built as a train station in 1924. Marge, our tour guide was especially wonderful because she seemed so excited about the opportunity to teach us about everything found in the museum. Overall I think that being able to see how the city of Fort Myers progress from its earliest years with the dinosaurs such as the Megaladon, to the days of the Indians, to the present day was very insightful. I feel that by keeping some of the older buildings and restoring them has really helped promote community engagement. However, I think that educating more people like myself, who have lived in the area and think they already know it all, would prove o be very beneficial. Holding events in the downtown area would also help to promote involvement. Overall I think that simply promoting awareness of all the city has to offer would truly make an impact on the community.

Affluenza

After taking the first quiz, my final score was a 23! The website said that if your score was from 23-30 you should "cut up your credit cards and call a doctor!" I guess I've got a pretty severe case!

After taking the second quiz my diagnosis was:

Positive for:

rash of debt

chronic stress

resource exhaustion / social scars

Upon completing these quizzes and receiving my results, I must say that I am not too surprised with the outcome. After watching the movie on Affluenza and participating in the discussion about the topic in class, I feel that I would definitely test positive for a case of Affluenza. I feel that while I have more extras in my life than that of people in previous generations, I do not believe that my generation is as happy and content with their quality of life.

After reading the suggestions made by the website on how to cure a case of Affluenza, I must say that most of the suggestions are a little too extreme for the average person to realistically achieve. While some suggestions, like the one that asks you to try to cut your usages in half, seem reasonable, other such as not having children and moving to an area with a lower cost of living are a bit extreme. I think that in order to get our society to make changes, we must come up with smaller things that people can do on a daily basis. I think that such suggestions, while they may seem small, will add up to be something much bigger. I do not think we will ever be able to change the habits of today's society, but I do think that we can make small changes that will result in major positive outcomes. In my own life I think that I could in fact make some of the changes suggested by the website. Things such as consuming half the shampoo I consume and using half the laundry detergent are all things I could work to reduce on a daily basis.

Teenage Affluenza

Field Trip #4: Corkscrew Swamp

Our field trip to the Corkscrew Swamp was very interesting. Upon arrival we learned how sanctuary filters its own water for use in the facilities toilets and to water the plants. I found this to be very interesting. We began our trip by splitting up into two groups and going our separate ways. On our journey we saw a snake it a tree, a hawk, and a water spider. As we made our way through the swamp we discussed the cypress trees and were constantly on the lookout for alligators. Halfway through our walk we were able to go up on the observation deck which reminded me of the movie "The Lion King." Although the weather was extremely warm, I fell that I took a lot away from this trip. As a group, we discussed topics such as our own experiences with alligators and Professor Davis shared her experience with a Florida Panther. All in all, I enjoyed this trip and appreciate the smaller group setting.

Packaging

The items that I use on a day-to-day basis that came in packaging include:

• textbooks which came wrapped in plastic, placed in a bookstore bag, with promotional and informational cards


• cell phone which came in a box, placed in cardboard, and included paperwork on how to use the phone as well as promotional offers


• mail of which 1 piece was useful while the other 5 pieces was junk


• iPod which came in a plastic container


• my purse which came inside a cloth bag which was placed in the store's shopping bag. The buckles and zipper were also wrapped in paper and plastic

I think that for just this short amount of time I have noticed that I use things which have a great deal of packaging on a daily basis. I think that especially when it comes to shopping that I personally waste a great deal on packaging. It would be a very easy and environmentally friendly choice to simply bring my own shopping bad instead of collecting bags from each store where I have made a purchase. I think that as of right now the choices I have made concerning purchases and their packaging are not sustainable choices. By simply bringing my own bag to the store I could take a small step towards saving some of the resources that go into making the store's shopping bags.

Energy Use

In a 24 hour period the electronic I used were:

6 hrs -phone charger

6 hrs - ceiling fan

24 hrs - A/C

15 min - hot water heater for shower

1 hr - computer use

15 min - straightener

2 hrs - television

30 min - iPod radio

The power company that supplies power to my home is Florida Power and Light. This company generates their electricity from:

• 53% - Natural gas
• 22% - Nuclear
• 14% - Purchased Power
• 6% - Coal
• 5% - Oil

For a period of 24 hours my total miles traveled in my vehicle was 34 miles. This consisted of travel to and from work for a total of 24 miles as well as travel to and from work which totaled 7 miles. Overall I calculated that I travel about 11,034 miles per year. My car, which gets about 16 miles per gallon and emits 11.4 tons of carbon dioxide annually. I feel that this is an incredible amount. I had no idea how much CO2 I was emitting into the atmosphere on an individual level. I think that will my choice of vehicle, an SUV, and the miles which I travel all could be altered to make more sustainable choices. Although I try to save fuel when possible by carpooling when I can, I do not think that I have gone out of my way to make this a bigger option.

Field Trip #3: Campus Trail

Our third field trip where we were to take a walk on the campus trail way both my most and least favorite. As we embarked on our walk I do not think that anyone knew for sure what lie ahead. We began our journey on campus where we discussed how our campus was constructed with the environment in mind. We then made our way to the campus trail which we learned was open to students. Along the way we encountered a snake, learned about melaleuca trees, and even got to see some hogs. However, the most memorable time was the portion of the trip that involved walked through knee high water. Personally I had never experienced anything like this before. The only thoughts I had were from what I had seen in movies, leading me to believe that an alligator was waiting just around the corner to eat all of us! However, this was far from the reality of what we experienced. I enjoyed the experience because each one of us were forced out of our element and pushed to embrace the experience. The only negative comment I have was that I think we may have moved too fast through the water. It was hard to keep up with the people ahead of you when you're trying to take in everything that is around you. Overall I think this will definitely be the most memorable part of this class!

Food Intake

Breakfast:

8oz orange juice - purchased (110 calories)

1 cup 2% milk - purchased (130 calories)

1 cup of Frosted Flakes Cereal - purchased (143 calories)

Lunch:

2 slices of bread - purchased (140 calories)

4 slices of oven roasted turkey - purchased (120 calories)

10 ranch flavored Doritos - purchased (150 calories)

1 cup of watermelon - purchased (46 calories)

16oz water (0 calories)

Dinner:

Applebees chicken fajita roll up - pre-made (642 calories)

French fries - pre-made (430 calories)

16oz water (0 calories)

Total calories consumed: 1911

Resources: Calorie Count Search

Upon completing this assignment I realized that I consume a great of food that is either purchased or pre-made. After looking up just how many calories are in the foods I eat I was shocked to learn how many calories where in foods such as my favorite meal the chicken fajita roll up. I feel that with the resources I have available, I should be more conscious of my consumptions.

The Conservation 20/20 plan, which began with a land study in 1994, is an organization which was formed by concerned citizens in the year 1995. These citizens decided to take action by purchasing undeveloped natural areas to be set aside in order to:

• protect and preserve natural wildlife and habitats


• protect and preserve water quality and supply


• protect developed lands from flooding


• provide resources-based recreation.

Reading this article was the first time I had hear of this project. However I have actually been to two of the Conservation 20/20 preserves. As a class we visited Matanzas Pass and in a class which I had taken previously, we visited Six Mile Cypress Preserve. I think that in the future I will likely visit some of the other preserves on the list. As of this time I am not aware of any other similar projects being done anywhere else.

I believe that by using tax dollars to fund land preservation we are doing what we can to conserve. Although many people appose higher taxes, I believe that it is our responsibility as a society to protect some of our land. By even living in a community you have destroyed a habitat by building. However, by funding preservation with your tax dollars you are doing your part to give back some f what you have taken away.

Field Trip #2: Matanzas Pass

On our second class field trip we were fortunate enough to go to Matanzas Pass on Fort Myers Beach. Having lived in Bonita Springs my whole life and traveling to the Fort Myers Beach area many times I was surprised to learn that such a place existed. I had never visited or heard of the Matanzas Pass but I was very interested to see what the trip would consist of. As we entered the historical cottage I found all of the decorations and pictures of the historical area to be very interesting. As our presentation began I found the information she gave very interesting. Such as the information she gave us on the meaning of the name Matanzas Pass which actually meant massacre. In addition, I thought that the lemonade and cookies were also an excellent addition to the trip. As we began our walk on the boardwalk I enjoyed the scenery and shade provided by the many trees. However, the amount of mosquitoes present throughout our tour made it somewhat hard to concentrate on what was being said. I did enjoy stopping at the resting place near the water where we shared our climate connection articles. I found this area to be very serene. Continuing our journey through the boardwalk I also enjoyed the information we learned about the three different types of mangroves which we saw along the way. Overall, with the exception of the mosquitoes, I really enjoyed this trip.

Matanzas Pass Informational Website

Water Rights Reflection

After reading the article entitled "There Will be Water," I was shocked to find out that a single person was able to buy the rights to water that flows beneath the ground. I think that because water is a natural resource which all human to survive that one person should not have exclusive rights to it and should definitely not have the power to sell it for profit. By allowing a single person on entity to purchase ground water with the idea that they will sell it for profit will only create more controversy among our nation as well as nations around the world. Similar to the situation we are currently facing with oil in the middle east, sell these resources which we rely on can only result in controversy. But unlike oil, which is not necessary to maintain life, water, which each of us needs to survive would could wide spread chaos if the persons in control of it were to stop supplying it.

In addition, if such a project should take place it would have many negative impacts on both residence and the wildlife of the area. Many residents have already shown concern due to the controversy of shipping the water out of the panhandle of Texas. The area where the water is owned my also have to undergo construction in order to make such an idea a reality. This would mean inconveniences for resident. The wildlife on the area would also be effected by this. By altering the natural environment that these organisms have grown accustomed to, many of their lives may be placed in danger.

Alternative solutions may include allowing the people the rights to control the water located under the ground. This would mean that the people of those areas would have to vote to determine whether such an idea would be used in their area.

Interesting article: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4275059.html

Water Usage

When going about your day-to-day life you seldom think about such things as how much water you may use in a period of just 24 hours. For me this would include such activities as showering, brushing my teeth, flushing the toilet, doing laundry, washing dishes, as well as water I use to drink. I was amazed that after monitoring my water use, I had used about 93.48 gallons of water. This was a very shocking number to me because I had thought that I was doing somewhat of a decent job conserving water by doing things such as turning off the water while I was brushing my teeth and limiting the time I spend in the shower. But even though this number seemed high to me I was also shocked to learn that it was considered average among the United States. According to the Water Science website, the average water use in 24 hours ranges from 80-100 gallons. Of this flushing the toilet and showering account for the largest percentage. But with water conservation becoming a more popular topic these days it is not surprising that some local governments are starting to take action. In some areas laws have even been passed to limit how much water may flow from faucets and toilets per minute. I believe that due to rising concerns about water conservation that such laws should be passed at the national level in order to conserve the water that as a society we have taken for granted.

Ecological Footprint

If everyone on earth lived like me it would take 5.3 earths. This means that my family and I are using too many resources in our day-to-day lives. Through this activity I discovered that area where I am leaving the largest footprint related to transportation. On average I travel about 1,000 miles every month, and most of these miles I travel by myself without making any attempts to carpool. This amount of travel uses a large amount of fossil fuel and emits a great deal of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I feel that since this category is the largest contributor to my ecological footprint that it would be one of the aspects for me to work towards reducing. By simply looking into alternative form of transportation such as public buses I could greatly reduce my footprint. In addition to this, looking into way to carpool to places such as school would also eliminate some of my footprint. By setting these realistic goals I feel that I could actually reduce my ecological footprint and perhaps even influence others to do the same.

Future of Food

Future of Food

My favorite snack is a Cutie. The fruit itself is a highbred fruit that is actually a cross between a sweet orange and a Chinese Mandarin. They look like a small seedless orange. But don’t let their tiny appearance fool you, they are packed with flavor! First brought to Florida in 1909, today the majority of Cuties are grown and shipped from San Joaquin Valley, California. This means that in order to make it to my plate, these little delights must travel roughly 2783 miles.
In regards to the movie, Future of Food, I thought the content was actually quite interesting. Food consumption is something that affects all of us and therefore allows us to relate to the film. The movie also made me feel even stronger that consumers should be informed of what is in their food. By omitting this information, consumers really have no idea what they are putting in their bodies and the result of this could be deadly. By informing consumers of exactly what is in their food, the producer is leaving it up to them to decide whether something enters their body. I thought that the use of the film was a positive way of keeping students on task during the ride to ECHO. I also believe that giving different way for students to learn, instead of just teaching from a text book can do nothing but good!


Unknown, (2009). The Natural History of Cuties. Cuties, Retrieved from http://www.cutiescitrus.com/what_is_a_cutie

Official site: http://www.cutiescitrus.com/

Field Trip #1

ECHO Fieldtrip

As we embarked on our first class fieldtrip, I was excited to see what they day would hold. Upon arriving and being introduced to the organization, I was anxious to see just how they were able to accomplish the things they had shown in the introductory video. As we walked through the working farm, I enjoyed the visual aids they had created to demonstrate how the organization teaches people to do things such as cook and filter water. I found it fascinating that they were able to simulate six different climates in such a small area to show just what kind of things they could grow and maintain in different parts of the world. I was also shocked to learn that most of the organization was run by interns and volunteers meaning that these people were kind enough to donate their time in an effort to help others. I found the information on how they were able to grow such a diverse amount of agriculture since I myself have had little experience growing even the simplest of plants. I feel that in my own life I would like to be able to grow my own food but realistically I do not think I would have the time or patience to actually go through with it. Overall I thought that this fieldtrip was very insightful and it gives me a whole new perspective on the way other people live and the hard work this organization puts in an effort to feed the poor.

“Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day
Teach a man to fish and you’ll feed him for a lifetime…”

Offical Website: http://www.echonet.org/

YouTube video of an ECHO presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JZMp4pE1bY

Sense of Place

Sense of Place

The area where I feel most at home is on my back porch. Whether it is raining, sunny, hot, or cold, it is my favorite place to be when I need to think or focus on something. It is away from anyone else and it is outdoors without being completely outside. I live in a quiet neighborhood so there aren’t many disturbing noises or commotion. My back porch also overlooks a vacant golf course so I have a beautiful view of nature. I feel that because of the peacefulness of the environment around me, I am able to clear my mind completely on a bad day and I am able to focus on tasks such as homework and studying because there are no disruptions. I recently purchased a hammock that I can lay in which only adds to the appeal.

My Neighborhood

My Neighborhood

My neighborhood, which is located in Bonita Springs Florida, is a developing community so it still has some aspects of nature that have not been built on. As I walked around my neighborhood I noticed that the amount of building of homes to meet human needs far outweighed the amount of wildlife that was preserved. Although many housed had a great deal of landscaping that included live oak, queen palm trees, and juniper shrubs, this didn’t account for the amount of plant life that was lost in the building of their homes. However I also discovered the in some areas which were not developed, plants such as the invasive species melaleuca, grew in great numbers. Although there was little animal life to be seen, I spotted a brown anole just outside my front door.

Incoming Reflection

Incoming Reflection




Upon signing up for the university colloquium class I had little knowledge on what the class was actually going to be about. I had heard from students who had previously taken the course that it was another class that as and FGCU student we had to take and that it required a lot of writing. I also knew that the class mainly dealt with aspect of the environment and the damage we have done and what we can do to fix it. In my own life, I have had little experience exploring the wilderness. However, the experience that stands out most in my mind would have to be exploring the mountains in Tennessee. During spring break last year I was fortunate enough to take a trip which allowed me to go hiking in a mountainous area in Tennessee. The scenery and animal was absolutely breathtaking because it was as if the area had not been touched by humans. I felt that this gave me a better appreciation of the natural world, since I had not had much of a relationship before this time.
I think that this class could be very beneficial to my education as well as my life outside of school. Raising awareness of environmental problems and giving suggestions on what we can do to help can only benefit our society and generations to come. The only hesitations I have towards this class is that I have previously taken environmental biology of southwest Florida in which I feel we will be coving some of the same materials. But I feel that having some background knowledge from another class may help to make the concepts cover in this course more concrete. I look forward to learning more about our environment through this class!