Joshua Reynolds

I have a page on Hampedia. Therefore I exist. Indeed.

= Academics =

Division II Contract - Ecological Sustainability
My Division II seeks to explore the following questions:

1)   How does the natural world function (ecological interactions)?

2)   How do humans fit into the natural world’s ecology?

3)   How can a better understanding of “human ecology” promote more sustainable lifestyles?

4)   How can scientists and educators reach out to people in a way to make this information accessible?

The study of ecology should not exclude humans. Humans are a species on Earth along with all other species, although our intelligence, creativity, and freedom to make rational and irrational decisions arguably set us apart. Despite these apparently unique characteristics, it is critical for humans to understand their place within nature rather than apart from it. This is something I believe the study of ecology can encompass and inform. To this end it is also important to look at human-ecological issues through a variety of lenses and perspectives. The relationship between humans and nature is a direct segue into questions about sustainability and how we can minimize harmful pollution and threats to biodiversity.

Writing, sculpture, graphic design, and illustration are all “languages” through which I hope to communicate information, challenges, connections, and potential solutions. These are skills that have always been enjoyable to me, and form an important part of who I am. I have nurtured their development with coursework and extracurricular activities throughout both my Division I and Division II process. Creative self-expression assists not only in one’s own education, but in the education of others through effective presentation and communication of ideas. This is critical because science, and other complex ideas, need to be made accessible to people who may not share the same educational background - especially regarding the need for sustainability and how it might be achieved.

Division III Contract - Imagine the Earth: Illustrating Environmental Science and Philosophy
INTRODUCTION:

My Division III project seeks to merge environmental education with illustration and philosophy. I want to create an alternative way of communicating essential information to broad audiences, in a way that makes complicated and unwieldy concepts more accessible and comprehensible. Having spent the bulk of my Division II work studying the various facets of “sustainability,” the intent of my Division III will be to illuminate information that may help people make responsible (sustainable) decisions - both on the personal level and on the level of civic involvement and action - as well as to foster an attitude of thoughtfulness and critical thinking about environmental issues, their causes, and the various solutions that are proposed. The overall goal of my Division III, therefore, is to provide an accessible and engaging presentation of conceptual information that encourages learners to think critically about the world and perhaps be inspired to go further.

Essentially my Division III will consist of two integrated strains: 1) An illustrated (brief) natural history of the Earth, with a focus on carbon resources 2) A collection of images aimed at provoking questions of environmental philosophy

RATIONALE:

I plan to concentrate my efforts primarily on the carbon cycle and fossil fuel resources. Fossil fuels are an incredibly interesting focal point of the environmental sustainability discussion, having completely revolutionized human industry and productivity - while simultaneously causing a variety of environmental, economic, and political side-effects. The most obvious reason for fossil fuels’ significance in sustainability discussions is their contribution to the current warming trend in the global climate. Consequently, much of the recent environmental movement has centered around reducing the use of fossil fuels - both through energy conservation measures and also alternative fuel sources. However, getting buy-in for fossil fuel alternatives is deeply contentious and steeped in political opposition, since fossil fuels are deeply entrenched in the current economy. I believe that effective education is critical in getting people to change their attitudes - and, potentially, behaviors and votes - regarding fossil fuel consumption and the importance of alternatives. Unfortunately, much of the role fossil fuels play in the environment is abstract and invisible on a personal level.

ILLUSTRATED CONTENT:

I intend to illuminate the science of hydrocarbon resources in the form of an illustrated "story". I will start at the very beginning - the origin of the universe and its energy, and leading to the geological formation of hydrocarbon reserves through accumulation of organic material. I want to visually impress the geologic timescales involved - how long it takes for fossil fuels to form, and how such formation gradually alters the Earth’s climate system. I want to show how the Earth was different at the start of this process from its current state today. I want to show the beginnings of fossil fuel extraction and the subsequent impact on industry, and follow that up to the industrial revolution and the fossil fuels based economy of the modern era. Having reached this point, I want to illustrate the various implications of this massive release of stored carbon - contrasting the amount of time hydrocarbons take to form with the rate at which they are currently being extracted and burned. Drawing from research on learning, I will design the “story” in a way that leads to a deeper understanding of these complex ideas. Without explicitly telling people what to believe or how to act, I want to encourage them to think critically. I want to help people understand what exactly fossil fuels are, and why it matters that we are burning them at current rates. I want to show people that the massive global consumption of fossil fuels (and other resources) has direct consequences.

In short, I want to show people the big picture. I want to frame out concepts which are difficult to comprehend without visual aids or relatable references - for example geologic time, biodiversity, the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect, and dynamic equilibrium. Likewise, I want to prompt people to think philosophically about the implications of our present human condition on this planet. I want to do this in a way that doesn’t feel like a science textbook, a way which may interest individuals from a range of ages who don’t feel any compelling connection to conventional media approaches. Likewise, for the philosophical component, I want to engage an audience who doesn’t normally seek out and read dense academic essays on environmental ethics and philosophy.

PRODUCT:

My goal is to put the difficult questions of sustainability and our relationship to the rest of nature in the context of the natural history of the Earth and its resources. I will illuminate this “story” using an alternative medium than that which is traditionally used in a science classroom or in typical media outlets that people use to learn information. To do this, I will to combine my background in ecological science and sustainability studies with my skills in illustration and graphic design, to create a visually-arresting narrative. This collection of art pieces will be consist of two strains - a narrative natural history of the earth, and a collection of provocative images intended to make the viewer think about issues of environmental philosophy related to the way in which humans live upon that very same planet which has been evolving over the past 4.5 billion years. My goal is to present this in a way that is digestible and engaging, using illustration to convey the majority of the information. I want this work to read like a story, not merely like an illustrated science textbook.

The final form of my Division III will be a projected multimedia presentation incorporating images, text, and sound. I will compile my natural history of the Earth and environmental philosophy images into one coherent stream of images accompanied by text. It will be akin to reading a picture book, but projected on a big screen and accompanied by music and possibly spoken narration. Later on, after the completion of my Div III, I may find it possible to convert this presentation into an actual book.

Division III Funding
My Division III project, which encompassed both the creation and printing of Imagine the Earth, as well as the printing and gallery display of my art collection Symbiosis, was made possible by a generous grant from the Earl Ubell Science Information Award. Ubell grants support academic projects that explain science to popular audiences through such means as journalism, documentary photography, film, or video. Hampshire College alumnus Michael C. Ubell 70F established the grants in honor of his father, the late Earl Ubell, whose distinguished career has influenced generations of American science writers.