The amazing life of Forest Froehlich UR.

Aloha! My name is Forest Froehlich! I’m a big time surfer and swimmer; I love everything about the water.  I am studying to get an ocean engineering degree. I have Recently been interested in finding a new alternative energy source using the natural currents and power of the ocean. I’m also interested in rebuilding the coral reefs and rebuilding the Eco-structure of the ocean.  My favorite animal is the otter!!!!  

                                                                          **WARNING**

I Have been struck by lighting and my heart at random time likes to stop beating. It always restarts it self so it nothing to worry about. If you happen to see me in the middle of my heart stopped try not to freak out.  other then that Im super excited to be making new friends and cant wait to get to know all of y'all better. :)

Todd Singleton, UR; The Earth can be mended

Todd Singleton, UR

Several years ago I took a road trip with my grandparents across the U.S. and southwestern parts of Canada to visit the National Parks.  Aside from all the natural beautiful scenic wonders, I could’nt help but notice how man had exploited the earth of its resources.  One the most impactful impressions of this was at Calaveras Big Tree State Park, California, where locals cut down a giant sequoia so that its stump could be used for a dance floor and its trunk could be used as a two lane bowling alley (www.parks.ca.gov).  Another thing that made a lasting impression on me was where miners cut a mountain ridge in half to strip mine for copper.  They destroyed what was once a mountain side and turned it into a "mile high and a mile deep" polluted pit with contaminated water.  This chemical brew leaches out of the mine creating a huge ecological disaster (http://www.mininghistoryassociation.org/Butte1.htm).

             

Berkeley Pit Lake, The Most Deadly Lake in the United States 

Having all this negative imagery in mind, as well as a growing concern for the rapid land development in Florida, I felt as if I could (and should) do something.  My interest peaked when  I read an environmental science article on how researchers and ecological engineers worked to correct polluted phosphorus rich waters in the Everglades.  Their combined data entaled that cattails, which were known for absorbing and thriving in phosphorus rich areas, could be useful if promoted to grow upstream from the Everglades. In addition, the researchers found that not only were cattails effective in abating phosphorus pollution they were also absorbing arsenic and pharmaceuticals and could be used to remediate other contaminated sites. (http://cleantechnica.com/2009/05/16/cattail-army-deployed-to-fight-water-pollution/)

I know this class will help me in my pursuit of a rewarding career and enable me to mend the injuries that mankind's activities have caused.

Courtney Lewis, UR- A little bit about me

 My name is Courtney! I am married and I am a mother to an amazing little girl named Olivia. For as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated with the biology part of science and always have had a strong passion for the nature, the outdoors and especially animals. I defiantly have a saltwater soul, I absolutely love everything about the saltwater from the beach to fishing to all the marine life.
I currently have my AA and will be finishing my AS in Environmental Science this semester. My goal is to continue my education and get my B.S in Biology in hopes that someday I can get a job where I can  focus more on the wildlife biology part. The more I take marine classes the more interest I have in focusing on marine life, mainly Florida's coastal marine environments.
Through this class I hope to learn a lot more of what I need to know in the real world and I can't wait to get to know everyone in the process!

 

 

 

Charlotte Grant, UR - Herrooo!!!

Hi everyone! My name is Charlotte Grant, and I'm interested in becoming a marine biologist. This is my first year at college and I'm super excited to learn all I can. I am interested in things such as harp seals, astronomy, water movements, water in general... science in general... I could go on and on. I love all the animals of the ocean and want to experience so much more. I'm so excited to take this class. I also do quite a bit of photography, so if you ever need professional photos or just a fun day, I'll come around and be your paparazzi.

I'm 18, and I work at Publix in most of my spare time as a cashier. I love it there. I like to play video games and drink coke slurpees. Yum! Here are some photographs I've taken on my marine biology adventures. I've also worked on making those coral mats that hopefully will help regrow our ecosystem.

                                           

Thank you everyone! Have a great day! 

Rob Sierzega, UR, Hello, is this thing on???

Hello out there on the Interwebs... I'm Rob, and I'm in my final semester here at Daytona State College in the A.S. - Environmental Sciences Technology program. I've met a boatload of super cool people along the way and I'm hopeful that someday we shall all cross paths again. 

I've always felt in touch with nature, so after returning to college at an older age to complete my A.A., I felt it was a wise decision to switch over to the EST program and earn my A.S. degree. Two of the biggest reasons can be found right below...

Buddies

Those are my two younglings, Hannah 10, and Vincent 6. They are the main reason why I want to pursue a career in Environmental Science. It is up to me and like-minded people like us to help preserve what we have here in our hands for our future generations to enjoy. There is no better place to start than here, and no better time to start than now...

Paul Ferguson, UR -This is me

Hello all. As stated, this is me. I am a father to three wonderful children that consume most of my life. I wouldn't change it for anything because it wasn't always this way. I medically retired from the US Army Infantry after 10 years of service a few years back and finally getting to where I've spent more time with them than away. In total, I spent about three and a half years in Afghanistan and I am glad to have had the experiences I have. Being stationed in the mountains of a third world country or frozen upstate New York, one thing, besides my kids, that I truly missed was the ocean. From as far back as I can remember I have always loved everything marine, and science for that matter. I finished my AA about a year ago and switched to the EST program so I could continue taking courses in science. I strive to constantly find a better understanding of the world we live in. The beauty is in the details, and balance. I am thrilled to be taking this course and continuing my education in the field I love so much. I look forward to getting to know everyone a little better and discovering what others are passionate about. Thanks for reading.

Taylor Reynolds UR Introduction: Shark Lover

Hi there! My name is Taylor Reynolds, a mountain girl from Colorado that found her way to the ocean. Currently, I am studying to get my AA in Marine Biology. I have always had a curiosity for the ocean and it's inhabitants and knew that it was what I wanted to study when I got to college. I have a huge love and obsession for sharks and invertebrates such as crabs, jellyfish, starfish and octopuses and always wanted to learn more about them and one day get to work around them. I decided to take this course because after taking my Marine Biology course, I really enjoyed all of the aspects and wanted to go a step further to take the oceanography class for a bigger picture. Taking the lab was one more thing I wanted to do to get a hands on experience of what it is really like to work in the field. I hope to learn a lot from this class and really understand the life of a marine biologist and what types of data they collect and what they use it for. I am very interested in finding ways to protect our oceans and marine species so seeing what this type of field work is like will really open my eyes to how it is possible to protect and save the oceans and how others have already come up with ideas. I'm very excited for this class! :)

Crystal Jack, UR - Introduction

Hello everyone! I'm an Environmental Science Technology major but I must admit that I'm still not entirely sure what I want to do with my life. My interests are broad and I've yet to work out the specifics. I know that I have a healthy respect for science and a love for nature. If I could somehow use science for the greater good in making the world a better place, I would be a happy lady.

Amanda Adams, UR, Intro

Hey y'all. Amanda here as a first time blogger. I'm super stoked about this course because I love all things having to do with the environment, animals (land and water dwelling), and helping our beautiful planet. I still don't know what I want to be when I "grow up" but hopefully all that we experience in this course will help give me the ah-ha moment I'm looking for.
Good luck to all of us and let's have fun.

Jody, UR...Why my interest's are what they are!!!

Ever since my first deep sea fishing experience with my father and a couple of his salty dog friends at the age of 7, have I been fascinated with everything ocean. I have never forgotten the experiences of that day. Being the late 1960s well before loran (long range navigation) or gps, these guys where able to, using only a watch, tachometer, and compass find a reef marked by only a black buoy the size of a 5 gallon bucket 18 miles off shore. Well outside the visual range of the coast, not a easy feat considering wind, current and wave conditions, dynamics that could only be factored in by what is called dead reckoning. I'm still astonished by how in tune with their environment these men where and how well they were at it, we where within visual range of that buoy within 5 minutes of when they said start looking for it, even after a two and a half hour voyage.
My recollection of the Atlantic ocean around this part of Florida back then was a far cry from the one we see today because of mans negative impact on it. Not only was there considerably more visible life in the sea back then on the surface like flying fish, sea turtles, manta rays, porpoises, and whales. (as well as no plastic.) But one very rarely returned without anything in the cooler, as far as catch, like one so often will now.
This is one of the many reasons why I have a sense of duty for the Earth and its oceans which was the #1 reason for me selecting the EST program so that through this degree I might be given a chance to make a positive impact on the environment. I feel man has become out of sync with his environment and it is my goal to personally get back in tune with it.