Do Now Blog: Final topics

1. Should genetic modification be used to restore the American Chestnut to eastern forests?

American Chestnuts were the dominant tree species of eastern forests in the United States.  An invasive fungus was unintentionally introduced and caused a mass mortality in the early 1900s.
Genetic engineering may allow the development of American Chestnuts that are disease resistant, and could be reintroduced.

One side:  Genetic engineering should not be used to re-construct nature because we don't know the consequences
Other side:  Genetic engineering has the potential to help restore ecosystems that have been impacted by human actions.

How about bringing back extinct species like the Passenger Pigeon, Carolina Parakeet, or Ivory-billed Woodpecker? Could be linked to other previous blog posts:

• "Should we bring species back to life?"
• "Would you buy a genetically engineered per?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE7KkaVrw3g

2. Does wildlife have a place in densely populated human cities?

One side:  Worry over human-wildlife conflicts (car accidents, disease, trash)
Another view:  Humans are part of nature, and should share habitats with other animals

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LDGzXpei8k

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

Earlier on in the second Science and Art Day on Wednesday, I heard back from someone at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, the organization that Bob recommended to me. The monthly meeting was that night and I had to make a quick decision whether I was going to leave my drawing class early to get there or not. Thankfully, my instructor also felt that it would be a great networking opportunity for me and allowed me to go, and off I went! Rolling hills of Piedmont in the morning, concrete jungle of DC in the evening.

Science + Art Day Part II

During the second Science and Art Day for Cornerstones students I had some wonderful yellow wool yarn for students to see! Felicia was kind enough to being me some forsythia to display with it.

Forsythia next to the color dye it makes

Golden shades between different types of yarn