To create better, experience your impact

Sustainability and conservation. Designing for a closed loop economy. Solving problems within a network of influences and impacts. 

Each of these topics I've explored and studied over the past year, gaining understanding and passion for working in a mindset more aligned to these concepts. However, aside from composting and recycling, choosing to walk and ride the subway (which, to be honest, is often faster in New York), and using Green Mountain Energy as one of my providers, I'm quite distant from the heart of the impact. Intellectually, I understand how things impact our world, but this summer, I had the experience to walk the front lines of conservation with a marine biology lab group off the Florida panhandle coast, observing and collecting data on endangered sea turtles nesting. A taste of where the rubber meets the road. Read about the experience here.

I walked away with more of an investment in finding ways to be conscientious about my life and work. Seeing how what you do makes an impact--be it environment, animal, or people--can give you the extra reason to address a change that merely having knowledge cannot do.

Change is a process we ask our clients and customers to go through with each hire or purchase. Looking at how we might change to provide more responsible and valuable options and solutions is a worthy change one we can all own and benefit.

• How might you look for the far-reaching impacts of solution design?
• Will knowing possible negative impacts of options affect decision criteria?
• Is there an opportunity to experience the result of your work--from sitting with product users to visiting a landfill? Can you provide this experience to someone else?

Prepping the field supplies

A turtle has been spotted laying her nest. Sam and Anthony prep the materials needed to tag her and take samples for research.

Note: all beach photos have been converted from their original red spectrum lighting.

Tagging a turtle

By tagging turtles, researchers and conservationists can get a better idea of their habits, health, numbers, movement patterns, etc. with each recapture.

Note: all beach photos have been converted from their original red spectrum lighting.

Her health record

Each turtle or turtle nest encounter receives a writeup with full measurements, tag details, and observations. Standard data collection allows the researchers to see patterns in turtles and their environments.

Note: all beach photos have been converted from their original red spectrum lighting.

Getting worked up

Here, the quick process of tagging is underway. Anthony and Sam have to move swiftly and avoid some rather tough claws as she covers her nest.

Note: all beach photos have been converted from their original red spectrum lighting.

Use only what you need

This conservation principle applies to even light, when you are in nature and a habitat for endangered species, though researchers use a red spectrum light that animals cannot see. Artificial light confuses animals that rely on stars and the moon to direct them where to go.

Note: all beach photos have been converted from their original red spectrum lighting.

A profile view

Always learning

Every moment was used well. Back at base camp, Anthony shares his thesis research using isotopes in sea turtle skin samples to explain their foraging patterns.

Not easy work

Ice, muscle rollers, aspirin...they are all necessary when you walk miles across sand each night with the added obstacles of sand castles, holes, broken shells, and fishing poles. Conservationists and animals alike ask you to please "leave no trace."

Fuel for the evening

Family-style meals were cooked each night by this small community. Not surprisingly, vegetarian options were plentiful and delicious!

Game plan

Dr. Mariana Fuentes, the professor leading the field work lab, discusses the game plan for the evening, taking into account the timing of previous turtle sightings and forecasted weather.

Not in Brooklyn anymore, Toto

One of the benefits of walking without flashlights is that your eyes are given to chance to adjust to the natural light of the stars and moon.

Lighting the horizon

In the center, you can see the moon rising with the horizon giving it a sunrise glow. On either side are the bright lights of oil rigs in the distance.

Rest

One of the common attitudes is that we don't have enough time to do enough to solve everything. And we don't. There is a necessary surrender in rest and admitting we're human when we sit after a three hour shift of walking across sand that allows us to recover and continue...and celebrate the small victories as we strive for the larger ones.