Blogs

The nature of the Sustainable Development Goals is greatly integrated, leading to the necessity of integrative strategies in order to cover all dimensions. For example, it has been found that poor education leads to increased poverty in communities big and small. The inaccessibility to education can arise from systemic inequalities with regards to race and gender, or lack of resources to supplement constructive learning. System simulations modeling allows each element of the SDGs to be unified in a harmonic way, while developing a constructive analysis of possible events and effects of policies. Contributions from civil societies, private sectors, and governments can be modeled and monitored in order to predict large changes with implementation of the SDGs. It is extremely imperative in such a large-scale initiative that alternative policies and scenarios can be tested in a systemic way that displays the possible outcomes and their causal determinants, in order to prevent disastrous consequences. These consequences may not be obvious due to the broad and intricate integrative quality of the goals.

Sustainable development is defined simply as advancement made in society that is able to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the capacity for future generations to meet their needs and maintain a satisfactory quality of life. In an effort to create a sustainable and flourishing global civilization, the United Nations has set forth the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals are comprehensive and eminent, such as quality education, no poverty, zero hunger, reduced inequality, and responsible consumption and production. The global cooperation has been nothing short of remarkable, with 193 countries committed to upholding and achieving the SDGs within the next fifteen years. Extensive global participation is paramount to the success of the SDGs as each country works harmoniously to improve economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. Although the SDGs are not a legally binding policy, their implementation is set forth by an expectation to uphold these goals for the sake of humanity. The holistic nature of the goals requires integrated cooperation and assistance from all countries in order to uphold sustainable development policies, and to create a better earth for all, for tomorrow and for years to come.  

1.) “Origin matters: widely distributed native and non-native species benefit from different functional traits”
2.) Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods with 3 subheadings: “Species selection”, “Trait Selection, “and “Trait-status interaction models,” Results with 3 subheadings: “Phylogenetically uninformed simple generalised estimating equations,” “Phylogenetically informed simple generalised estimating equations,” and “Multiple models,” Discussion with 4 subheadings: “Shared responses of native and non-native species,” “Differences between native and non-native species,” “Introduction pathways bias non-native species success,” and “Environmental filters and anthropogenic selection impact species frequency,” Acknowledgements, Authorship, and References
3.) Both articles begin with a paragraph called the “Abstract” that provides the overview. Following that, is a list of several key words. Both of the introductions are longer, containing several paragraphs and citations
- this article has a material and methods section that is also in paragraphs and about 2 pages long
- this article is divided into right and left panels
- the results section contains some figures and longer, detailed legends
- the discussion section appears longer, does it include the conclusions too? or is that the same thing?

1.) “Non-native species and rates of spread: lessons from the brackish Baltic Sea”
2.) Abstract, Introduction, Barriers, vectors and rate of primary spread into the Baltic Sea, Rate of secondary spread within the Baltic Sea, and Vertical spread, Discussion and Conclusions, Acknowledgements, and References
3.) see #3 above
- without reading the article and just looking at structure and headings, it first appears that there is no concrete
materials and methods section as the other article has
- this article is no divided into right and left panels
- there is no concrete results section but there are figures with short legends, there is a table that takes up 2 pages
- the discussion and conclusion section is shorter than it is in the other article

This projects specific goal is to create a multi paneled scientific illustration that displays a flowering plant on the Umass campus. Meanwhile the project also hopes to enhance our scientific writing ability and our ability to contruct a methods section that can be followed by a complete stranger and still provide the same results.(Include organism name and brief background here). The organism being sampled resides in the Durfee Conservatory and Garden on the Umass campus between UHS and Morill. It is a flowering organism that is not within normal human reach in order to reduce the amount of interaction witht he sample. It is a bright and vibrant organism that sticks out within the garden, allowing it to be easily identifiable. (Include physical description of organism here). The fact that the organism has reduced human interaction and is also easily identifiable will allow this experiment to be easy replicated by other interested scholars.  Overall this organism will provide a wonderful sample for this experiment and should allow for a succesful multi-panel to be created.​​

The film Gattaca is an interesting look into a possible future if genetic testing were to continue advancing to an extreme level. The thought of genetic testing and manipulation reaching the level it has in the movie is both fascinating and terrifying. The movie does a good job of mentioning both the positives and the negatives of this extreme advance. It explains how the ability to easily create a baby of a specific genome would be an extremely useful means of preventing disease. Even at a more realistic level of genetic testing, closer to what may be achievable in upcoming years, the ability to detect extreme genetic abnormalities could lead to saving people from a lot of suffering. This type of screening could eliminate chromosomal abnormalities, as well as smaller problems such as sickle-cell anemia or another disease.

Canis lupus familiaris (dogs), Canis lupus (wolves), and Canis latrans (coyote) are very similar and often a topic of conversation if the species are under one species or separate. The three animals are different species. In the article, Yes, eastern coyotes are hybrids, but the ‘coywolf’ is not a thing, the author points out that different species do not have to be completely reproductively isolated. The articles points out that in times when both the species of Canis lupus and Canis latrans were underpopulated and endangered that the different species would mate with each other and the other species Canis lupus familiaris. Although, when each species is not in endangered they choose to mate with their respective species. 

This projects specific goal is to create a multi paneled scientific illustration that displays a flowering plant on the Umass campus. Meanwhile the project also hopes to enhance our scientific writing ability and our ability to contruct a methods section that can be followed by a complete stranger and still provide the same results.

Possible locations to find organism

• Bushes near the library
• Inside conservatory near UHS
• Bushes near ILC

Factors to control/consider when selectiong oranism

• ​Must have flowers
• Must be on the umass campus​
• Minimal human interaction
• Easily Identifiable

Things to remeberfor intro

• ​Include organism background and description
• Explain factors included to facilitate replication

This past summer I went to Burkina Faso, in Western Africa for a military mission. Upon getting to my destination I noticed that the ground was not like the ground here in the United States. I noticed that it was red in color and had the characteristics as clay. I went there during the rainy season of Africa and it would vigorously rain for about 30-45 minutes, and then stop for the rest of the day. However, the few days it would rain for hours, the dirt on the ground would become clay like and would prevent the water from being absorbed into the ground. This would create these rivers that would flood the streets. There were also very minimal trees and crops which grew from this red dirt. This brought me to the question on why? Why is it red? Perhaps it was the lack of nutrients that the ground had. I became interested in this and began to research and learned that the ground is infact clay and is rich in iron and aluminum due to the heavy rains and intense heat. the red color comes from the oxidation of the iron in the soil. 

An unknown organism is presented in a small pertri dish for discriptional observation over a 30-minute period.  The organism appears to be a bilaterally symmetrical insect larva of some sort.  It possesses a tan coloration, with translucent dorsal and ventral sides causing the insides to be slightly visible.  This coloration might have something to do with the environment it inhabits, which may be subterranean, therefore providing camouflage.  The tail is much darker than that of the rest of the body and the very tip of the tail is completely black.  The 13mm long tail is roughly the same length as the 14mm body.  This comparison between tail and body length raises the question of the tail's significance to the organism's survival. There appears to be 8 nubby legs that provide little traction for movement and two black spots that exist close to the rostral end of the body.  There exist slight ridges along the circumference of the body.  These ridges expand and contract during movement, allowing the organism to extend its body forwards in an inching fashion similar to that of a caterpillar.  This organism appears to be blind, as obstruction of its potential viewpoint with a pen has no effect on its reaction.  The organism, however, is very shy and will cease all movement and act dead if touched.  There still exist many questions about this organism that cannot be answered only through observation in a petri dish.  What does this organism consume, and what may consume this organism?  What type of environment does this organism inhabit?  And is this organism at one certain stage of its lifecycle?  These questions have potential answers with more in depth observation.

It appeared seed like before it began to move. The "body" is about 1.25 cm long with approximately a .25 cm diameter. it also has a stringlike appendage at the tip of one end that is about 1.5 cm long. it is very soft and seems to have a  semi transparent dark brown membrane surrounding an inner lighter brown core. it moves around, squirming and stretching. the stringlike appendage seems to be stiffer an lacks any movement byeyond where it connects to the rest of the body. areas closer to the appendage and the opposite end appeear to be darker than the rest of the organism. there appears to be a bottom as there are 8 sets of tiny protrusions that act like tiny legs and it appears to facor moving around with them. as it strethes and squirms about there seems to be a red tube like organ within, only visible from certain angles. the tail like appendage seems to extend into the body about .5 cm and is visible due to the semi transparent light brown membrane. it moves about .25 cm per second, in a similar manner to a caterpillar or a worm. it always moves in one direction, opposite of te tail like appendage. Also similar to a caterpillar its body is wrinkled and appears segmented to help facilitate movement.

I cannot say how or what it feeds on or excretes, Nor do i know how aware of its enviroment it is or what sensory organs it has. I also cannot tell if it is larval or mature for its species, or how it might reproduce.