Young Naturalist Wins Bio-Rad Essay Contest

      The life and legacy of John Muir also inspires my participation in science. I appreciate how he inspired the next generation of scientists and other professionals to care about the world around them. Even though the world has changed and we lost some of our green space the next generation of citizen scientists like me can still use the resources at our National Parks as places for scientific inquiry. In order to interest others, social media can be used to inform the world about the fun of applying science in real life.

      John Muir is one of my heroes. He went from reading about science to immersing himself in it when he settled in Yosemite for six years. Observing nature through an experiential lens, Muir fell in love with Biology. While he was working in Yosemite he'd stuff his pockets with bits of nature like moss and bark to study in the evening. He liked to observe sprouting seeds through his hand lens (Wadsworth). Muir created drawings and took intricate notes of his observations. Muir published some of his notes in the New York Tribune December 1871 in an article entitled "Yosemite Glaciers" (Wadsworth). This was the first time he shared observations in a public forum. There would be many to follow. Muir generated enough interest in his studies that President Roosevelt wanted to experience first hand what Muir observed. In May of 1903, John Muir and President Roosevelt met in Yosemite, during Muir spoke about the critical need to protect the land (Wadsworth). As a result of Roosevelt and Muir's exploration, Roosevelt was convinced Yosemite needed to be protected, thus the National Park System was born. Currently there are a total of 518 places in the United States protected by the National Park Service (Park List). It is because of Muir's scientific passion and writing that my curiosity for science has grown and I believe that if more people knew about his life and legacy they would also be inspired to become citizen scientists. I now can enjoy science without being in a room with four walls. Of course, we can't all be John Muir, but we can follow in his footsteps finding ways to experience science in the natural world and innovatively share it with others.

      President Obama's Americas Great Outdoors Initiative has encouraged the National Park Service to bring young people into the outdoors. Because of this initiative, my school has a special relationship with the John Muir National Historic Site. My teachers and park ranger's work together to help me learn from these open and historical spaces. At school I've climbed up mountains and boulders, gone through caves that are the result of an ancient volcano, seen evidence of tidal erosion, and watched a bobcat cross the road. All these experiences keep me motivated to learn and study more about how life is connected. I even have friends that study the affects of the climate change on plant species with a Phenologist as part of their school day. Their interest was a direct result of a hands-on experience with science.

      Considering we are surrounded by science, finding real life applications for it is key to stimulating curiosity. For example, Kindergarten teachers can act as citizen scientists in the school garden by counting birds with students. Exploring the hill side near school and discovering a butterfly cocoon in a tree can begin a lesson on metamorphosis. Students can check the cocoon daily, have discussions, and see how it applies to their own body development! Students can observe pollinators and discuss how that leads to plant fertilization and plant germination. If young children can see that science is all around us, then it sparks interests.

      I've experienced first hand that working with professional scientists can also spark interest for older students. I have been working for two years with a Wildlife Biologist every Friday. I've found that whether I'm on 702 acres of preserved land or in my backyard, all kinds of life is encompassed around me. His mentorship which encouraged me to become a citizen scientist has inspired me to go to college. Through this hands-on experience, I've learned the basics of Wildlife Biology. Now I am seriously considering it as a career. Utilizing professionals that are willing to give back and support a younger generation will link students with real life science in ways that will inspire. Linking youth and professional mentors together is crucial because it brings science to life and takes it out of a text book.

      It's also crucial to use social media as a pathway to encourage people to share their stories and observations so more people may develop an interest in science. As of December 2012, there are more than a billion monthly users of Facebook. Through social media you can find people with common interests, have group discussions, and post photos and updates. Professionals on the other side of the world can be involved in or informed about a science experiment at any moment. The beauty of this information being online is that participants don't feel rushed and can have more satisfying and creative input. For example, individuals can post photos or videos capturing how science has applied to their real life and help people think differently about scientific investigation. Videos would need to be interesting, display passionate people, and clearly communicate the application of the study and how other individuals can apply it in their lives. It is important to put the video in the right place and participation will undoubtedly be built. For example, I am helping to lead a hike at Fernandez Ranch on Saturday May 18th as part of my Wildlife Biology internship. I will be able to show the group hiking all about our camera trap sites, and explain the data we've collected. Furthermore I could show how I've learned more about where I live by studying the wildlife in the surrounding area. I could post this on Pinterest.com, Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube. People can also learn about the hike on the Muir Heritage Land Trust Facebook page and website. Broadening the scope of outreach will assist more citizens in finding ways to utilize and enjoy science more.

      Weaving science into real life experiences provides the necessary elements to develop interest and participation in it. John Muir's life and legacy is there to inspire scientists just as it did me. Utilizing the open space at our National Parks as living laboratories will broaden people's outlook on scientific investigation creating more participation. Social media can be an effective tool to increase interest in science. All these factors generated my interest and participation in science.