This class is unique with respect to my expectations, compared to the other classes that I’m taking. Generally, I take classes that I feel will make me a better version of myself, in various fields like biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science. On the other hand, I hope that after completing this course I will be able to motivate others to do the same in a non-formal setting. That is, to motivate others to become better versions of themselves by going to museums, parks, zoos, etc. This I feel may have a stronger impact than formal education alone on retention of important concepts in science, because these public places usually stimulate the senses of hearing and seeing and living and breathing the ideas that may not seem to be grounded in reality when printed in a textbook. The experience alone is worth the trip, but the educational value is a huge bonus.

I had a chance to experience this type of informal learning when I participated in the Bio-Blitz event in Central Park. Together in a group of 5 other Macaulay students, an advisor, and a Central Park employee, we explored the Ramble in search of species of Lichen, an algae/fungus sort of thing that usually grows on trees and stones. The idea of the Bio-Blitz is to document [all] the species that can be found in Central Park. The classification and identification of various species is an important part of biology, though it seems not to incorporate the Scientific Method to the same extent as other fields of study.

The Bio-Blitz benefits the citizens of New York in several ways. First, it measures the biodiversity of Central Park, and over time may yield vital hints as to the well-being of NYC’s greenspaces. It also creates a database of species currently residing in NYC, which may benefit those whose research or curiosity leads them to the Central Park Conservancy. Simply put, it adds to the body of knowledge on Central Park and the ecosystems that inhabit it.

My favorite part of the trip was exploring the Ramble, a maze-like winding of paths and trails that may easily get one lost if he doesn’t know his way around. The lichens unfortunately were not as impressive as I’d hoped they’d be. If it weren’t for Bio-Blitz, I wouldn’t recognize them as a species separate from the tree.

My name is Sauly Betesh and although I am a pre-med student, I have not yet decided on a major. As a pre-med student, I hope to do much more than simply become a doctor. For me, becoming a doctor is a means to an end. A medical degree will enable me to help many people in ways that few professionals can. It is my hope that I never lose sight of that throughout my career. Additionally, I hope to be able to contribute to the medical profession beyond helping patients. As someone who is interested in philosophy, the field of medical ethics is one that I hope to be a part of throughout my career. I want to remain faithful to the idea of always doing the right thing and helping people, and I think that being involved in ethics will help me do so. My goal, then, is essentially to never get caught up- that the desire and drive that brought me to this point today stays with me throughout my career.

In this class, I expect to explore different fronts of scientific knowledge so I can better define my interests. I also plan on gaining a general knowledge about how New Yorkers relate to the informal sciences and how much they use the resources around them to satisfy their curiosities. I would also like to know how I would be able to make a difference in awakening scientific interests in other people. I see this as a way to better relate medical information to future patients. By knowing their level of knowledge, explaining procedures and diagnoses will be easier.

Although I was unable to attend the Macaulay-wide BioBlitz, I conducted my own individual miniature BioBlitz. I surveyed different plant and animal species in a local Brooklyn backyard. I was able to count over twenty different types of insects within a small 10’x10′ area. Most notably, there were different types of ants on the different plants (identifiable from their size and color). I think conducting a BioBlitz on a larger scale than a small backyard is very important for a few reasons. With hundreds of explorers surveying a large park or field, it is possible for one to identify a new species of any type of small plants or insects. One can find out if this new species is succeeding in its environment or if it is not. If no one pays attention to this new species it can disappear and no one would have ever known of its existence. It is possible that a new species can be useful in that it would be beneficial to our health. This research is also useful for determining which species are in abundance and which are declining. An effort can be made to stop the extinction. Knowing that certain species have increased in population can teach us about the species. We can further study which climate changes correlate to its population increase or decrease and see how the overall climate change affected the biodiversity of the ecosystem.

This activity greatly benefits us as urban dwellers. It allows us to see parks in a different light and to learn how to appreciate the outdoors. While a park is a place for playing in the grass and walking in the shade, many seem to forget the wonders of nature around them. Especially in a urban setting, people often don’t pay attention to what goes on with plants and insects that they walk by every day. Such a vast multitude of species are ignored and brushed off as just another tree or bug. Doing this project will surely make us realize that every elm and oak are ones of hundreds of other species in just a small area.

I am sure my experience was not the same as everyone else’s since I worked alone. I wish I had been able to work with the group as whole to know that I would be contributing to something larger. I also had trouble defining certain species and for me, there was no way to distinguish a new species since I didn’t have any expert guides to ask. On the other hand, working alone had its benefits as well. Since I did not have to keep up with a group, I was not rushed when looking at things I had an interest in. I had a similar experience last year (when conducting a tree survey to compare Brooklyn’s trees with Manhattan’s trees) and found the experience to be similar. It was not fast paced and it required focus for much of the time spent. But exploring nature deeply is a process that takes time and patience.

A) My name is Daniel Aksenov, although I prefer to be called Danny. I am currently a chemistry major with a minor in psychology at Brooklyn college. I am studying to become a cardiovascular surgeon, it has been my career goal for the majority of my life.

B) Science,in itself, is a vast summation of all its sub categories. It is through science that the human civilization is able to prosper and continue to develop. We have had amazing breakthroughs that have given us a better understanding of the world around us, giving us the possibility to reach new levels of adaptation. Even though this class does not focus on a specific branch of science, I expect to at least gain a new perspective on the way science helps us everyday and to obtain a new skill set, such as utilizing the the scientific method. All of this will definitely benefit me as I continue to strive towards my desired career path.

C) The importance of Bioblitz was to provide the students of Macaulay Honors a chance to work with actual scientists to measure and record Central Park’s vast biodiversity, which not only provided students with a new and unique skill set for identifying organic life, but also opened up a window into the world of science. I was assigned to the plant group, which is in my opinion the largest group, since roughly 90 percent of central parks biodiversity consists of plants. We had our work cut out for us, every few feet we had to stop and identify a new species of plant life. After three hours, we had only managed to cover 5 city blocks of space, length wise. You can only imagine how long it would take to cover the entire park,which stretches from 59th street to 110th.

D) My group leaders consisted of mostly volunteers, we did however have two scientists, who were quite excited for the prospect of a Bioblitz. From what they told us in their introductions, they have been studying plants for the majority of their careers. The female scientist was actually also a Biology professor at Baruch. She was especially excited about the Bioblitz, because it gave her a chance to study and hopefully find new species of plants that hadn’t originated from Central Park. To her it was more or less a kind of scavenger hunt, which I thought was quite interesting.

E) This activity is quite beneficial for it allows the average New Yorker to better familiarize him or herself, with their own hometown. We know of these different areas, such as midtown or the lower east side, but only on a surface-like level. Activities such as these, allow us to better learn and understand the area we live in, broadening our perspective.

F)  Overall, I was quite fascinated by what I saw at Central Park, even though the park was man-made, the biodiversity took a life of its own. I was astounded by how something so seemingly small, could adapt and evolve on a large scale. This entire experience definitely provided me with an opportunity to broaden my perspective and develop an appreciation for Central Park. I also managed to find this amazing cave that I definitely plan on visiting the next time I am in Central park. The only thing that I did not enjoy about my Bioblitz experience was the huge amount of bugs that were constantly pestering me. This was however my fault, because the event did recommend for people to bring bug spray, although it could have been emphasized a bit more.

Hello!

My name is Mohamed Adnan and I am currently majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Health Professions. Although I am a business major, I am a premedical student and I hope to apply to medical school. I hope to work in the field of surgery. Science is one of my favorite subjects, but my career goals are to open up various private practices, which will require a strong business background.

I expect the Science in the City class to explore the sciences of New York City that are often overlooked. Often times, I will study different fields of science, but not be able to fully apply the things I learned and connect with the environment. The class will help me develop the mindset necessary to observe what is going on in our environment in a scientific viewpoint. There is also the aspect of being independent. I will learn the skills to make my own decisions based on facts and information that is presented to me. I do not view New York City as a very scientific environment, but I hope that this class will change my mind and expose to me its scientific side.

During the bioblitz, I observed the environmentalist collect various samples of fish in the lake. Some of the fish we caught were small and were probably still babies. The three species we collected were called: Blue Gill Sun Fish, Large Mouth Bass, and Black Crappie. We collected the fish using a large net and using a special suit that allowed us to go into the water safely. The scientist noted that the water had the possibility of being poisonous because of the abundance of blue/green algae that has overtaken the lake. The objective was to gather enough data from collecting the various fish to produce a consensus of different species of fish in the lake. This is important because the parks conservation team needed to keep a record on whether or not new species of fish were being introduced or if there is a decline in the number of a certain species of fish.

The scientist is a professor in City College and volunteered because he loved researching about the environment. The scientist believed that the Bioblitz was a great opportunity for both the volunteers and students because they were able to get up and close to topics they’ve only read about in their textbooks. Hands on learning is the best way to learn and the Bioblitz gave me the opportunity to learn more about fishing and the aquatic ecosystem in Central Park. The Bioblitz expedition is a learning experience that I will probably never forget.

I think this activity benefits us by allowing us to appreciate the gold mine of knowledge that sits in the heart of New York and become more aware of our environment. When people think of New York, they associate it with tall buildings and massive amounts of car traffic, but the Bioblitz allows us to dig deeper into Central Park. We discover various species of animals, get exposed to various habitats, and observe plants that we have never seen before. I personally did not know that the Central Park lake had a massive amount of aquatic biodiversity. Each species of fish had a certain time period that they would mate and a time period that you would find more baby fish than adult fish. The Bioblitz truly opens our eyes to what we overlook and makes us notice the greener side of New York.

I initially was against going to Bioblitz and believed that it would be tiresome. However, I thought that fishing in Central Park was an activity that I personally appreciated. I have fished before using a net with my family in Rockaway Beach, so it was exciting to see the scientist emulate the same methods in Central Park Lake. The Bioblitz was also a learning experience, as the scientist had an extensive amount of knowledge about all the fishes he catched and the lakes aquatic ecosystem. The Bioblitz was fun, informative, and a once in 10 years experience.

Name: Adriel Paderanga

Major: Biology

Career/Future Goals: To be any or all of the above (biologist, doctor, writer), fluency in three languages, live overseas

My main goal for this class is to gain a better understanding for the application of science as its applied and taught in New York City. So much of my education in science has been formal. I’ve been pretty divorced as to how science benefits my life, and I’m hoping to gain a better appreciation for New York City’s scientific culture. Additionally, I want to see how people interact with science in an informal setting, something that I haven’t personally experienced much. I’m also expecting to learn about possible jobs in New York City that are science and technology oriented.

During the BioBlitz, I had to look for and classify different kinds of plants. I had a single camera and a notebook to record what plants I found. It was important to have a picture and a tally of how many species I found.  For times when there were a great many plants in a single area, I used a rough estimate. It was really fascinating to see how biologically diverse parks are. Before, I’d stroll through and just see trees, grass, and maybe the odd bush if I was really paying attention. Now, I had to see what made a tree distinct from another one. Taking leaves from two similar trees and comparing them was more interesting than I expected. The subtle differences in hues, the varying shapes – I’d never thought I’d be so entertained by a leaf.

Now, I recognize different species, and the knowledge of the park’s diversity makes the park more beautiful, and gives me a greater appreciation for it. In keeping track of and identifying these different plant species, I can help educate my community about our park and hopefully help them gain a deeper connection to it.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to explore and catalog different species of plants in a natural environment. While my allergies proved to be a bit of a hassle, it was certainly an unforgettable experience.  While it was a little boring at times, I think it was important for me to realize that scientific progress isn’t always done in explosive leaps and bounds – hard work and tedium are responsible for most discoveries. The hands-on experience the Bioblitz provided was instrumental in that realization.

My name is Ayelet Roller and I am double majoring in Business and Philosophy. I am interested in business management and public administration, but may just end up being a lawyer.

 I expect to learn about how people learn about science. Education was a possible major for me, and pedagogy as a subject interests me. I particularly like how we are going to be learning about informal settings. So much of what we learn does not come from a classroom. I am curious to read and research how that process happens. I think this class will help me accomplish my goals by focusing on non-profit institutions, like museums and pubic gardens. Though I am a business major, the corporate sector is not really what interests me. I work and volunteer for non-profits, and learning about the way they service the public should prepare me for future career options. I also worked in a museum for a summer as an assistant teacher, so it will be interesting to see how that compares to the findings in this class.

 During the BioBlitz, I looked at flora, which is a fancy word for plants. I was in charge of writing and documenting all the different types of plants we saw. Finding different plants and writing them down was crucial to the goals of the BioBlitz. We needed to see what has changed in the ecosystem of the park in the last ten years, and finding and recording all the plants can show what has changed and what ahs remained the same.

 The woman who led our group was extremely knowledgeable and shared her reasons for participating in the BioBlitz. She now teaches in a college, but prior to finishing her PhD, she worked for the Central Park Conservancy. She started as a gardener, and worked her way up to becoming in charge of all the gardeners! She had only left the park in the last couple of years, and everyone we passed knew who she was. She was participating in the BioBlitz because she had been a part of it ten years ago, and wanted to come back and see what had changed. She was extremely interesting and I feel very honored to have been in her group.

This activity benefits the citizens of New York by understanding one of the largest tracts of land on the island of Manhattan. Though the city did not look anything like the park before it was settled and built up, when walking through the park you can only imagine what Manhattan must have looked like 300 years ago. Knowing where you came from, and understanding the beauty of the land that we developed is important for the future of the earth as a whole. We need to treat the land that we live on better, and to do that you have to understand and appreciate it.

I enjoyed the BioBlitz. I did not think I would, so it surprised me when I did at the end. I liked how we got to experience Central Park, which is such a fixture in the city, in a totally new way. I was surprised at how easy it was to distinguish between all the different trees and plants. I thought it would be much more difficult than it was. I did not like how hot it was, and how we stayed in such a concentrated area of the park, but I would still participate in activities like this in the future.

P.S. I dont know how to find my groups photos on iNaturalist, but I am working on it! And I dont have any pictures of my own, because I didnt have a smart phone before last week. Sorry!

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My name is Malka Niknamfard and I am in my sophomore year at Macaulay Honors College in Brooklyn College. I am currently majoring in psychology and wish to pursue a career in the medical field in the future. I unfortunately was not able to attend the BioBlitz because I was away. However, I was able to visit the Los Angeles Zoo on August 29th and to explore the abundant wildlife that inhabits the zoo. Although I have been to the zoo multiple times in the past with my family, I usually viewed the zoo as an entertaining place to see animals and to have fun. This time however, I made sure to pay special attention to both the plants and the animals and how they interact with one another in order to essentially create a diverse biosphere.

When I visited the animals in the zoo, I immediately became aware of the interactions among the different animals. I  learned about the different animal species and compared and contrasted their behaviors, physiology, and anatomy. In addition, my visit to the zoo taught me a lot about the importance of environmental conservation. Zoos protect all animals, including endangered species by simulating a natural setting for animals to live safely. However, perhaps the most important thing I learned from my visit to the zoo is to truly appreciate nature and all it has to offer. It is very easy to overlook nature’s beauty and importance because human beings are surrounded by plants, trees, and flowers everyday. It is even more difficult for us as denizens of New York City to appreciate nature because of all the buildings, skyscrapers, and construction that have taken over New York’s skyline.

It is definitely essential for all citizens of New York to value the importance of maintaining the environment, and I am glad that Macaulay sought to instill the importance of conservation of the biosphere within its students. It is very easy to be oblivious to the science behind nature’s beauty  and people tend to overlook the fact that science is responsible for all the life that surrounds us. Visiting the zoo truly gave me a deeper understanding of how important it is to conserve wildlife and biodiversity. Without taking proper care of the environment, the thousands of animals that live in the wild would not be able to survive. I hope I get the chance to further explore and examine both animals and plants in their natural settings and I look forward to further enhancing my knowledge of preserving the environment and all the living things that inhabit the biosphere.

In terms of what I hope to learn from our Macaulay Seminar this semester, I have to admit that it was really refreshing to read that we would be learning about the role informal science plays in our interest in and understanding and appreciation of science and the world around us. I personally feel that the only way I have been exposed to science is by sitting in a lecture class and listening to a professor or by merely memorizing facts and terms that I would soon forget after my test was over. I hope this class will give me more insight into science’s presence in my daily life, and will teach me how important informal science learning opportunities are in our appreciation of nature and our environment.