I’m looking forward to being outdoors and seeing glaciers. I’m excited about seeing and studying some of the cool plants and animals we have already read about as well as learning about new ones! I’m nervous about being in a different country, so far from home.
New Zealand Trip
Although I am obviously looking forward to experiencing the physical beauty of New Zealand, reading about the evolutionary history of the flora and fauna of New Zealand has made me excited to learn more about its unique ecosystems and how they came to be.
Pre-Ecuador Thoughts
I’m excited to be somewhere wholly new and unknown to me, and it seems like my departure is still faraway but it’s only two months away at this point. Time this semester has gone by so quickly, and I wonder if my time in Ecuador will go by with the same speed; I’m hoping that […]
The Osawa Failure, a Controlled Disaster Zone
Natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are unsettling reminders of human fragility. There is nothing we can do to stop tectonic plates from colliding or volcanos from exploding. At most we can monitor tectonic movement, take seismic readings, prepare evacuation plans, and hope for safety. Disaster prevention planning makes it possible to mitigate […]
The Interplay of Water and Rock around Fuji
Over the final weeks of the program, we’ve seen more contemporary examples of how the volcano Mt. Fuji shapes lives. We’ve spent time at each side of the mountain, particularly noting the differences between the North, South, East and West flanks. The areas are distinct in their primary industries, susceptibility to natural disasters, and agriculture. […]