Latest Posts by sawgrassnaturecenter - Page 6

Women In STEM

To all the women out there that need some inspiration today: here is a page on historical women in STEM. Starting with Puerto Rican Scientist and Educator, Ana Roqué de Duprey

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/women-in-stem

World's biggest rooftop greenhouse opens in Montreal

Building on a new hanging garden trend, a greenhouse atop a Montreal warehouse growing eggplants and tomatoes to meet demand for locally sourced foods has set a record as the largest in the world.

So this is cool and all, but honestly, the very last line of the article is what I found most interesting:

“What’s a little crazy,” he recalls, is that none of the founders “had grown a tomato in their life” before opening the business.                                                                                                                       

Something about that. Idk. I feel like there’s a lesson there about the future of technology and industry, but maybe I’m thinking too deeply into it

9 Types of Intelligence (And How to Know Your Type)

When I was a child, my mom told me I was special—that there was no one on Earth just like me. Now, I’m of two minds when it comes to teaching our children that they’re special. First, it’s true. We all have strengths, weaknesses, and proclivities that make us different from other people. I’ll get to my second interpretation of teaching everyone they’re special after a deep dive into Howard Gardner’s Theory of multiple intelligences.

Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Harvard professor Howard Gardner introduced the world to his theory of multiple intelligences in his 1983 book, Frames of Mind. Simply put, the idea is that one’s intellectual intelligence or IQ doesn’t tell the complete story about someone’s full range of potential. Therefore, Gardner proposed eight types of intelligence to more accurately measure a broader range of human strengths and abilities. Gardner’s types of intelligence are in line with what most of us have been brought up to believe—that we are all special because we all have different strengths and interests. Let’s take a look at Gardner’s original seven types of intelligence plus two more that he’s added over the years. By examining the definitions and characteristics of each type of intelligence, you should be able to discern which types of intelligence you’re strongest in.

9 Types of Intelligence

Read the following definitions for the nine types of intelligence and then answer the questions in each to see how you stack up.

1. Visual-Spatial Intelligence

Visual-Spatial Intelligence has to do with how well someone is at maneuvering through space and visualizing things. People with high visual-spatial intelligence tend to excel at identifying patterns and interpreting charts and graphs. If you’re usually the navigator and map reader of your squad, you just might have high visual-spatial intelligence. Questions: Are you good at reading maps? Do you rarely get lost? Can you visualize objects moving and changing through space? Do you have a good sense of direction? These could all be signs of high visual-spatial intelligence.

2. Linguistic-Verbal Intelligence

Linguistic-Verbal Intelligence is all about words, words, words. We’re talking great readers, writers, and speakers. Generally, if someone can tell a good story and memorize words quickly, they have high linguistic-verbal intelligence. Questions: Are you a good writer? Do you enjoy playing around with language and wording? Are you good at memorizing things? Can you explain yourself easily to others? Are you a good communicator? If you answered yes to most of these questions, you probably have high linguistic-verbal intelligence.

3. Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

Logical-Mathematical intelligence is about logical problem solving and number sense. People with high logical-mathematical intelligence would obviously be great at solving math problems and be strong conceptual thinkers. Think of scientists and mathematicians. Questions: Are you good at math? Do you excel at logical problem-solving? If you’re given a brainteaser, are you usually able to figure it out? If you said yes to these questions, you’re probably doing well with your logical-mathematical intelligence.

4. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence is how well people can move through space. If you have high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, you have excellent control of your body and superb body awareness, meaning you know what your body is doing at any given time. People with this intelligence might excel at sports and dance and have good hand-eye coordination. Questions: Do you enjoy dance or sports? Do you have good body awareness, meaning are you able to move your body in the way your brain wants? Do you have good hand-eye coordination? Are you good at balancing and moving through space? You’re probably scoring high in your bodily-kinesthetic intelligence if you’ve said yes to these questions.

5. Musical Intelligence

Can you clap to the beat and sing in tune? You might have a decent musical intelligence. People with above-average musical intelligence can recognize tones and hear patterns in songs. Obviously, they would be drawn to music—both listening and creating. Questions: Can you find the rhythm when a song is playing? Are you able to match the pitch of a musical note? Do you enjoy listening to or playing music? Would your friends describe you as musical? People who say yes to these questions tend to have high musical intelligence.

6. Interpersonal Intelligence

Interpersonal intelligence is, not surprisingly, about interpersonal or social skills. If someone is empathetic and good at understanding other people’s intentions and emotions, they probably have high interpersonal intelligence. People with this intelligence excel at group work and keeping the peace in organizations. They’re excellent communicators and sensitive to other people’s needs. They are also able to see other people’s perspectives. Questions: Are you the peacemaker of your group? Would you describe yourself as empathetic? Are you able to figure out what people’s body language means? Do you tend to know what people are thinking or feeling without having to ask? Are you good with other people’s emotions? If you said yes to these questions, you probably have high interpersonal intelligence.

7. Intrapersonal Intelligence

This is self-awareness. Intrapersonal intelligence is all about how well someone is at reflecting on and being aware of their own mental and emotional state at any given time. These are the philosophers and the daydreamers. Questions: Do you spend time daydreaming? Would people describe you as reflective? Do you know what you’re feeling when you’re feeling it? Have people described you as being self-aware? If you said yes to these questions, you probably have high intrapersonal intelligence.

8. Naturalistic Intelligence

After publishing Frames of Mind, Gardner discussed other types of intelligence that fit into his theory of multiple intelligences. Other scholars have added others, but Gardner only agreed to this and the next type. People with high naturalistic intelligence are nature lovers. They are sensitive to slight changes in their environment and gravitate to exploring nature and examining flora and fauna. Questions: Do enjoy spending time in nature? Do you have an interest in wild plants and animals? Do you notice subtle changes in the environment? Does being in nature make you feel better? People who answer yes to these questions tend to have high naturalistic intelligence.

9. Pedagogical Intelligence

These are the effortless teachers. People who can instruct, facilitate, and convey information to others have excellent pedagogical intelligence. It’s one thing to understand a topic, but it’s a very different skillset to be able to help other people understand that same topic. Questions: Do you enjoy teaching people? Are you good at conveying information to others? Good teachers probably have high pedagogical intelligence.

Criticism of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Some have criticized the theory of multiple intelligences as nothing more than a list of skills and abilities.((ResearchED: Myth-Busting: Gardner’s multiple intelligences)) Perhaps, “talents” would have been a better way for Gardner to describe his list than “types of intelligence” because it describes what people are drawn to and excel in easily. This talent in no way dictates what people should do for a living. Instead, thinking you are strong in one intelligence may limit the effort you put into other areas. Carol Dweck’s growth mindset theory in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, states that when we look at skills and abilities as changeable through hard work and practice, we’re able to change those abilities. This is called a growth mindset. However, when we think that our skills and abilities are innate, it is less likely that we can improve. Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences runs the risk of tricking us into thinking our skills and abilities are in-born and that effort and dedication won’t have much of an impact, which is untrue. The theory of multiple intelligences should be approached more like Neil Fleming’s theory of learning styles. Fleming proposed that people have different styles of learning or ways that they are better able to learn: reading/writing, kinesthetic, aural, and visual. The problem with the theory of learning styles, and with types of intelligence, is that there’s not much empirical evidence to show that your learning style or type of intelligence impacts how you learn. In short, just because I’m drawn to nature and good at building campfires, it doesn’t mean that’s how I learn best. Think talent more than intelligence, and I think you’ll be better able to appreciate Gardner’s theory for what it is.

Maybe No One is Special?

Let’s go back to that idea that everyone is special, something I think Gardner was advocating way back in the ‘80s. Sure, one way to look at it is that we all have skills, abilities, and strengths that set us apart from other people. This can be a great thing to explore when you’re trying to find your place in the world or choose your career. However, too much navel-gazing and selfish thinking can be destructive, which brings me to my second interpretation of the “everyone is special” movement. What if no one is special? Hear me out. If we stop thinking so much about how we’re special, we can spend more time being curious about other people, places, and things. In my book, Play Your Way Sane: 120 Improv-Inspired Exercises to Help You Calm Down, Stop Spiraling, and Embrace Uncertainty, I have a whole chapter about the advantages of not thinking that your special. It’s called “Your mom was wrong, you aren’t special,” and it’s filled with exercises and games that help people look for what’s special in other people, instead of in themselves. This shift in focus, from internal to external, can make you less anxious and more connected to other people.

Final Thoughts

So, when you’re done thinking about which types of intelligence you’re better at, take more time to think about what other people are good at. Because when we use theories like multiple intelligences and learning styles to help other people look good, it makes all of us, and society in general, look a whole lot better.

More Articles About the Types of Intelligence

What’s Your Intelligence Type?

Everyone Is Talented In Their Own Way: The 9 Types Of Intelligence You Should Know

Which Kind Of Multiple Intelligences Are You Especially Good At?

from Lifehack - Feed https://www.lifehack.org/886292/types-of-intelligence

bees are the best, sorry i don’t make the rules // insta

Walking between the rolling clay hills at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, you can stumble onto a scene that looks like a lumberjack went mad. But this wasn’t the work of an axe or saw. Over 200 million years ago, fallen trees washed into an ancient river system and were buried quickly enough that oxygen was cut off and decay slowed. Minerals, absorbed into the porous wood over thousands of years, crystallized and replaced the organic material forming what we call petrified wood. The crystals are hard and brittle, fracturing easily when subjected to stress. Over time, the still buried petrified trees broke like glass rods – giving the appearance today of logs cut with a chainsaw. Photo by Jacob Holgerson, National Park Service.

Four Reasons to Go Outside

Recently, people have had more reasons to stay indoors than ever before. It is important that we keep our health and safety at the forefront of our priorities. But it is also important to remember the effect that being inside for too long can have on you. Being outside and connecting with nature has proven benefits to your health.

Fact, nature walks can improve your memory. Have you been feeling scatter brained the more cooped up you have been in your house? A study done in 2008 by psychologists Marc G. Berman, John Jonides, and Stephen Kaplan ran experiments to show that walking in nature can improve memory, or what they refer to as “attention restoration theory.” (1)

Fact, nature can improve your health. I don’t just mean by extracting important medicine from vital plants, or essential oils. I am talking about Vitamin D directly from the sun. Just because we do not photosynthesize like plants, doesn’t mean we do not gain anything from a little sunlight. Vitamin D is necessary to our body and, according to Harvard’s Health Department, is potentially linked to fighting diseases like cancer. (2)

Fact, walking through nature can relieve stress. Scientists led by Liisa Tyrvainen of the Finnish Forest Research Institute ran a psychological investigation into the psychological impacts being in nature had on stress levels. Their findings “suggest that even short-term visits to nature areas have positive effects on perceived stress relief compared to built-up environment.” (3)

Fact, outdoor time is imperative for childhood development. According to the Child Mind Institute (4), playing outdoors is important to children for a variety of reasons such as reducing stress and fatigue, to building confidence. The outdoors provides kids with a stimulating environment that allows them to safely engage in independent and creativity inducing scenarios. Without a phone screen constantly supplying thoughtless entertainment, they are challenging themselves to provide their own entertainment by interacting with the world around them.

The Sawgrass Nature Center hosts a unique environment for people of all ages to engage with nature and enjoy wildlife. By visiting you are not only providing yourself with a healthy walk through nature and a chance to see interesting  wildlife,  you are also helping to sustain a center that has been protecting and healing Florida’s native wildlife for twenty-five years.

https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/2020/09/15/spending-time-outdoors-is-important/

Citations:

Berman MG, Jonides J, Kaplan S. The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting with Nature. Psychological Science. 2008;19(12):1207-1212. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02225.x

Harvard Health Publishing. Spending time outdoors is good for you, from the Harvard Health Letter. Harvard Medical School. July, 2010. https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/spending-time-outdoors-is-good-for-you

Liisa Tyrväinen, Ojala A., Korpela K., Lanki T., Tsunetsugu Y., and Kagawa T. The influence of urban green environments on stress relief measures: A field experiment. Journal of Environmental Psychology. June 2014. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494413000959

Cohen, Danielle. Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature. Child Mind Institute. September 2020. https://childmind.org/article/why-kids-need-to-spend-time-in-nature/

🦢 Wearing is caring. 🦢

Our resident Green Heron, named Goblin, is a little protective. He likes to patrol his territory any time our rehabbers get close. Like all herons, the Green Heron has a long neck. What’s unique about these guys is that they like to keep them pulled close to their chest unless they are hunting, or feel threatened. 

Heron are considered aquatic birds. That means they have special adaptations for hunting in and living near freshwater, like the Everglades. Their long necks and pointed beaks make them great fishers. 

This Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell turtle is native to fresh waters of the Florida panhandle. Notice his distinctive snout and the “pancake” pattern on his leathery carapace. 

This turtle is mainly carnivorous, feeding on crayfish and other small aquatic life, and occasionally plants. What he lacks in bony defense, he makes up for in speed. His lighter shell allows him to more quickly in muddy water as well as on land. 

Their very long necks and pointed snout are adapted for reaching fresh air without having to move from their hiding space. 

Pancake, our resident softshell turtle, came to us as a surrendered pet. 

Sitting in on a virtual meeting like…

This little fish is called a Garibaldi, found at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary! This fish gets its name from the 19th-century Italian leader of the same name whose famous army wore flashy red/orange colors into battle.(Photo: Keith C. Flood. Image description: A bright orange Garibaldi fish head-on and close up to the camera.)

SNC's resident Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots were domesticated pets that were donated to us upon their owner's death. While in the wild their life expectancy is about 20-30 years, but in captivity that increases to 60-80 years. Talk about a life long companion!

The Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots are one of the most intelligent species of parrots. They can typically be found along the Pacific Coast through Mexico and Costa Rica. Two of their main stressors are deforestation and illegal removal of young for the pet trade. 

Monkey Island: Cayo Santiago Imagine an uninhabited island originally set up as a research station. A few monkeys are released there to observe and study. Fast-forward several years and monkeys run the island—no humans allowed. Sound like a science fiction movie? A Planet of the Apes knock-off? Well….in this case, it’s not. This island exists—it’s Cayo Santiago in the Caribbean near Puerto Rico.

Keep reading

NASA, NOAA to Discuss Solar Cycle Prediction During Media Teleconference

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will discuss predictions for the upcoming solar cycle during a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 15. Tracking the solar cycle is a key part of better understanding the Sun and mitigating its impacts on human technology and infrastructure. from NASA Breaking News http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-noaa-to-discuss-solar-cycle-prediction-during-media-teleconference

This is a reminder that tortoises can NOT swim like other turtles. If tortoises are dropped in water, they will drown. You can tell the difference between a swimming turtle and a tortoise by looking at their feet. Turtles will have webbed feet that help them swim, or flippers. Tortoises do not have webbed feet. 

This cute craft is something we do every Summer with our campers. Getting them outside to find their perfect rock is only part of the fun. We let them have creative freedom over their designs, so they can paint their favorite little critter at the SNC. The results are cute paper weights like this!

A Successful Camp During a Pandemic

Spring of 2020 set back many with the realization that COVID-19 was going to affect us for far longer than hoped. Places closed, families went into quarantine, and everyone was left wondering—what happens next?

One of the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital’s main goals was to continue our mission of Environmental Education.  No other program meets that goal like our youth camp, Camp Wild. However, Spring Camp had already been canceled, so there was no precedent for running a successful camp during a pandemic. But the need for a sense of normalcy and a place for children to go have fun and further their education was definitely there.

Camp Wild 2020 – Summer Session continued under new rules and safety regulations. An average camp size of thirty was reduced to a capacity of fifteen. In the open-air outdoor classroom at the Sawgrass Nature Center, assigned seats and spaces were created for campers with a six-foot minimum distance between them. Masks were required and worn at almost all times, apart from food and water breaks. Mandatory hand washing and hand sanitizing were scheduled throughout the day. Regular reminders to keep their hands to themselves, to show care for their friends’ safety by not sharing and the risks involved with breaking the very important safety rules helped campers understand the role they were playing toward a safe and successful camp experience.

The curriculum and activities were also adapted to new safety requirements. Typical toys and games that could not be easily sanitized (playdough, crayons, Legos) were substituted with items that could be kept clean and separate. When it came time for crafts, every camper was preassigned with their own set of supplies and materials. Counselors were then responsible for collecting and cleaning supplies.

One of the most difficult issues of running an outdoor camp during COVID-19 is the requirement of face masks. How do we ensure the campers keep them on and that they are breathing properly in the face of Florida’s unrelenting heat? Fortunately, face masks have proven to be quite breathable.  Campers were told that if they ever felt like they needed a mask break, or that they were breathing too hard, a safe space would be made for them to breathe freely.

With all these safety regulations, Camp Wild attendees were able to participate in typical camp activities like outdoor games, dip netting, slogging, bug hunting, and more. Camp Wild 2020 was a success in the face of a global crisis. Six weeks of successful operation showed us that there is a way to keep our children safe and educated during uncertain times and for them to have a fun summer camp experience.

Anybody else spend like two hours a day thinking about how baby possum ears look like a half moon cookie? It can’t be just me

PBS Eons: How We Identified One of Earth’s Earliest Animals:

Scientists had no idea what type of organisms the life forms of the Ediacaran were—lichen, colonies of bacteria, fungi or something else. It turns out, the key to solving the puzzle of Precambrian life was a tiny bit of fossilized fat. 

LET THE LICHENS STAY

Ancient sea bottom exposed along a modern seaside rocky platform. This immense amount of fossilized shells is preserved in ~250 million year old sea sediments which would have been a feeding grounds for all these bivalves.

South coast, NSW, Australia.

“I take the picture now” (via bryony6192)

Animal Crossing Healthy Living

Animal Crossing has been helping people all over the world get through one of the most stressful years in the 21st century. Check out this article from the NY Times to learn more about the psychology behind it. And if you’re feeling particularly stressed out, try finding a healthy outlet for yourself. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/arts/animal-crossing-covid-coronavirus-popularity-millennials.html

Great blue heron … Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Smyrna, Delaware … 8/24/20

Today is #NationalWildlifeDay and we want to celebrate the amazing biodiversity of your #WildSanctuaries! How many different species can you identify? (Image description: Collage of different species seen around the sanctuary system.)

The Big Stump Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado is centered around an Eocene aged lake in Colorado – making it 34 million years old. Because CO2 contents in the atmosphere were higher in the Eocene, the climate was warmer globally and the plants at this site record the difference.

Keep reading

Edamame Soybean Blossoms (Fact:  Glycine max is the scientific name of all soybeans).  This variety is used fresh unlike most soybeans and is being studied by Katy Evans at the University of Maryland to look at the relationship between flowering, pollination, yield, and the visitation by pollinators such as bees.  Turns out that while soybeans are self-pollinating their yield increases when bees visit them.  Since there are a lot of soybeans in the world that means a lot of bees are potentially involved and both could help increase yield and feed the world or get hammered if pesticide applications are ill-timed (and there is nothing like and ill-timed pesticide people to ruin your day if you are a bee.)  Photo by Anders Croft.    

Our resident vulture is a very curious bird. Vultures are one of Florida’s natural scavengers. That means they feast on the remains of dead animals. These guys are an important part of the life cycle and without them, Florida would be a much grosser place. 

NASA Science to Host Public Town Hall Meeting

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate will hold a community town hall meeting with Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen and his leadership team at 12 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 10, to discuss updates to NASA’s science program and the current status of NASA activities. from NASA Breaking News http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-science-to-host-public-town-hall-meeting