Data
- Click to scroll to following sections
- Observations
- Student Survey
- Research Memos
- Group Work Notes
Observations
Click the observations to see content.
- Week 1
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date and time: September 24th, 1:00 pm
Context:
Outside my home, at the construction zone across the street
what was observed:
across the street, I saw a raccoon cross the street into my backyard. I have seen him do this several times.
why its important:
While this may seem mundane and uneventful, Its important to analyze this as it relates to life within urban environments. Human settlement has reshaped the way local wildlife adapt and behave. Due to the repetitive nature of the raccoon's behavior, it can be assumed that he lives in the vicinity and more than likely, in the construction zone itself. Due to its omnivorous diet, it can survive eating off of human trash, one of the only viable sources of nutrition for animals in cities (I dont know this for sure). this trait is why he, and other similar animals like rats, can succeed but other animals have been pushed away. -
date and time: September 26th, around 6pm
context:
riding septa home
what I observed:
I observed different modes of transportation and who was taking them.
Why is this important:
While my observation seems very vague, I will try to explain what I mean. over the last couple of months, septa has had a funding crisis caused by the PA senate, who refuses to pass funding bills and let it crumble. this is important because public transportation has the capacity of reshaping cities for a better environmental impact. not only would there be less pollutants, there would also be less car based infrastructure, which would remove the barrier of entry for adequate transportation, which could help marginalized communities improve their socio-economic standing. This relates to environmental studies both because of pollutants that car based infrastructure introduce to the environment and, to my understanding, and because both are about injustice to a degree.
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- Week 2
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date and time: October 3, 11pm
Context:
driving to chicago
what was observed:
the well designed walkable qualities of chicago
why its important:
this is important because the way the city is designed and the quality of the public transportation (chicago has a good system) can help lessen the negative impacts on the environment that cities have. I believe Chicago does this well because of two parts. Chicago was at the forefront of railroads and trains, and so the city reflects that. the city also has the adequate funding (blue state) for its public infastructure. -
date and time: October 5, 11pm
Context:
driving to Philly
what was observed:
driving on backroads to avoid tolls
why its important:
living in the city has created biases in my mind about how transportation works and how it should function. I am a big believer in public transportation and trains, but often times communities that are more isolated both geographically and economically do not have the capacity for public transportation, and often times cars are the only way to physically connect with the outside world.
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- Week 3
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date and time: October 10th, 1:00 pm
Context:
driving through new York
what was observed:
congestion pricing in and out of the city
why its important:
New York uses tolls and fees in order to control the amount of traffic that passes through the city. this fluctuates based on time of day and traffic. As an outsider, I see this as an inconvenience, but if I would be living there, I would see this as positive as it both gives more resources to the city and helps improve the climate and air quality by reducing the amount of cars in the city. -
date and time: October 12th, 3:00 pm
Context:
riding the New York subway
what was observed:
an intricate, functional and robust transportation system
why its important:
New York's subway, at least relative to Philadelphia, is extremely developed and intricate. despite the scale of the city, it is very easy to navigate through it. even if you where in the surrounding cities, its still manageable to enter and exit the city. this is in contrast to the Philadelphia system that cannot function unless its leased out to gambling companies. this is crucial because a well funded transportation pays for itself and more. not only does it increase the economy, but it reduces the amount of cars on the street and improves air quality.
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- Week 4
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Date & Time: 10/19/2025 2 pm
Context:
driving through suburbs around philly
Observation:
Around now is when the leaves are falling. I was noticing that people where trying hard to maintain their lawn and raking leaves
Importance:
In America, Lawns are to a certain extent, a status symbol. In order to maintain this, people will refuse to plant native flora and rake the leaves that fall on it. This is to the detriment of the local wildlife and plant life. Not only does the lack of biodiversity harm food sources, the raking of leaves removes the habitat of many small animals that rely on that cover. Leaves also serve to protect the trees themselves by working as an insulating blanket for their roots. -
Date & TIme: 10/17/2025 3 pm
Context:
living in an older Philly home
Observation:
energy bill is going up by allot
Importance:
Philly is known for poor weatherization due to how hold the city is. Seeing real time proof of what we are learning in class is eye opening. I am currently renting out of an older home and as the nights are getting colder, we have been noticing that the energy bill has been going up and up. While I am able to afford it, there are many in Philly that are struggling with their bills and lack the ability to pay for it. This can be especially clear if they are renting. Even though renters can qualify for LIHEAP, a program to help them pay for keeping their home warm, they can either miss the deadline or just not qualify.
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- Week 5
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Date: 10/21/2025
Context: in class.
Observation:
Ashton writing notes on the learning essay, and about being creative in learning and using posters for observations.
Why it's important:
Ashton connected the method of observation with the idea of relationships and how it relates to environmental science. this was similar to what I wrote about in regards to justice. Environmental science is not only about nature and its processes, but also about how humans interact with them and each other.
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Student Survey
When I initialy filled this survey, I failed to properly read the section asking me for three learning goals for the class. I had only put down that I want to "improve my relationship with school and work". After reflection, I want to not only add goals, but change the one I had before. I believe that my learning goals are to learn how to be creative in my work, how to improve time management, and how to foster a positive relationship with work. The last goal seems vague, but what I mean by it is that if I struggle a little bit with an assignment, or get a worse grade than I expected, I shut down and loose all motivation in subsequent work. I wish to change this.
Research Memos
click the memos to expand them
- Week1
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Where did you first learn of the enviroment?
link to notebook
I learned in school, learning about rain and other natural processess
Can you describe your Relationship with the enviroment?
admiration, love traveling and seeing landscapes change
what are 5 things you want to learn?
I am extreemly uneducated about this, I dont even know what I am missing. I want a more wholistic understanding of the enviroment.
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- Week2
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Write down neg human impact
- polution
- chemicals
- landfills
- deforestation for farmland, especialy beef
- invasive species, like cats and rats
Write down pos human impact
- re-introduction of extinct species
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difference of gift and market?
- gift doesnt support "giants"
- gift isnt transactional, it is consumptional
- gifts is generational and about stewardship. market is individualistic
3 takeaways from reading
- craftmanship is valued, stuff appreciates NOT depreciates
- gifts are from earth, not eachother
- Everyone NEEDs to participate
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- Week3
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how has your lived experience shaped your relationship with water?
- I grew up in an extremy privelaged enviroment that I never had to worry about water ever. I could go swim in a creek and drink from anywhere, I didnt think about water at all
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- Week4
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there was no memo, not in my notes or in notion for the class plan
link to notebook
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- Week5
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as above, there was no memo, not in my notes or in notion for the class plan
link to notebook
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Group Work Notes
- Week1
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Academic policy questions
- how long to wait before submiting grade apeal? 24 hours
- on what day does the withdral period end? nov 8
- what is llm? large language model
- why no ai?
- will teacher solicit feedback before changes are made? yes
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- Week2
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Story time
- My group wrote a story about frogs in a creek. we did not get much further than this
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Sotry time 2
- My group finished a story about squirels buying baseball bats to destroy machines
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- Week3
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I unfortunately was not here for this group work.
link to notebook -
- notes are clear enough to not warrant transcriptions
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- Week4
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- notes are clear enough to not warrant transcriptions
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- Week5
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- notes are clear enough to not warrant transcriptions
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