Stuart Brightbill:
What a great first full day out in the field! All 12 of us were put to the task to document measurements of plotted grids in the forest. This was a great way to not only work as a team with people from all over North America, but to actually be a part of important scientific research. Our data that we collected (600 trees, 75 stumps from a recently logged area) will be used to research how the climate changes have an effect on the forest's canopy. Like today, here's how our days will be going forward:
Briefing and field work: 8:45 a.m. - noon
Lunch: noon - 1 p.m.
Field work and debriefing: 1-5:15 p.m.
Dinner: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Learning session: 7:30-9 p.m.
This may appear to be long days of work and study, but the energy that my fellow Climate Champions bring is quite contagious. Everyone is ambitious in the field work and eager to participate in the learning sessions. I look forward to tomorrow's work and study, and reporting back.
P.S. It is now 10:10 p.m., the learning session ended 40 minutes ago, and we are all still discussing the scientific aspects on the changing climate (tonight's learning session topic).
Kelly Chen:
The perfect start to a brisk spring day: a bowl of cereal, toast and much chatter in anticipation of our first full day in the field. Must admit that the smell and sizzle of bacon and eggs being prepared by fellow Climate Champions added to the ambiance, almost foreshadowing the sounds and various odors that would follow throughout the day. Amazing to be out in a mature forest during this time of year, as the leaves are slowly growing along with other vegetation under sunny skies. Very scientific, yet surprisingly simple work in comparison to my day-to-day work of firefighting client issues and negotiating pricing with clients.
Three teams of four measured, tagged and identified around 600 trees. Small trees, big trees, "twin" trees! Who knew you could identify different tree species by just looking at the branch formations? So if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Well maybe, but depends on what type of tree it is and how big it is. Is that the right answer?! Better check with the scientific types for a definitive answer! These scientists are definitely up to something when it comes to their research related to climate change. And as the day of field work ended, a hint of nature admiring what work we had accomplished: twin tiger butterflies flying by…
Mary Kay Edson:
Fantastic! Coming into this project, I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into. Our daily tasks have been described by others, so I'll share a broader perspective. The forest is beautiful, a previous dairy farm now with about 45 years of second growth forest and full of tulip poplars, beech, sweetgums, flowering dogwood and others. The sounds of the forest are soothing, from the beauty of lack of sound, to leaves crunching, deer running and cardinals calling (although there still is an absence of migrating warblers).
This journey began with a beautiful forest, local volunteers, scientists and a terrific group of colleagues. Daily, it progresses into a learning experience: about yourself, the forest and the climate issues. It's a project of collaboration in many aspects, be it preparing a meal together with friends just made 48 hours ago; working in teams to collect data; or considering the impacts our voice may have on future actions at HSBC--there is constant inspiration. The work and climate issues are motivating and challenging and it's exciting to consider what we'll learn tomorrow-- more to come!
Alex Gray:
A day of fieldwork is certainly different to being at a desk! We have all been surprised at how tired we feel--no doubt a combination of fresh air and compiling all the data in what is a new field of expertise that we are gaining. Some are able to take an hour break before the dinner and group discussion on climate related issues, but some have to cook for the whole of the team. Tonight was my turn, along with two others and it seemed to go well. Although having a Scotsman who did not grow up with a garden and thus a BBQ, as the cook on the grill was fraught with danger. Fortunately, teamwork came through, with many North American colleagues willing to give advice-no doubt with a vested interest in the outcome.
Thomas Higgins:
Today was our first full day in the field, getting a chance to apply the skills we learned the day before. Most of us--including me--spent the morning and afternoon measuring, tagging and identifying all trees of a particular size by species, diameter and location in 10 meter by 10 meter grids using x/y coordinates. In all, my team of four identified and tagged 165 trees, completing eight grids--which is a lot more draining than it sounds. Our entire team of Climate Champions tagged almost 600 trees today, which impressed our SERC project managers. My team actually refused to break for dinner until we completed our initial eight grids. We have a lot more to do over the next two weeks. This project will be quite long lasting, with the first planned follow-up measurements of our trees to occur in five years, building on the initial research we'll complete over the next ten days. Thankfully it's not all tree measuring. We'll be participating in a number of other projects as well. More to come!
Jeremy Sikora:
Today we started with data collection by measuring trees in our study plot. In the afternoon, Mary Kay and I were the first in Team 2 to be able to work with Dale, a SERC volunteer, collect data on stumps and geocoding in a recently logged area on the SERC property. The work consisted of first marking a waypoint with a GPS device, which records the latitude and longitude of the stump. That location was then linked to the other recorded details: stump diameter, distance from the ground to the stump cut and tree species. Within our allotted time, we traversed the study area and recorded 75 stumps and the accompanying details, breaking the record of 69 set by the previous Climate Champion team. After the brief trip back to home base (the Canopy Lab) we inputted the data from the GPS, transferred the data from our sheets to the master spreadsheet and added to the 710 stumps already recorded by Dale and his teams.
Linda Markott:
Today we began to earn our keep. Our task was to measure, identify, classify and tag a section of trees within a 10 x 10 grid. Except for our one-hour lunch break, we were on our feet for the entire day. Even though the majority of us would have loved to sit down for a minute or two, the fear of ticks prevented it. The majority of trees my team tagged were young. We tagged 193 trees. The work is not hard but very tiring. Our two scientists were very excited over the fact that an entire plot was tagged today. After dinner, Earthwatch Field Director Dr. Dan Stover gave a presentation on the science of climate change. The discussions continued well beyond 10:30 p.m. This has been a long, but very satisfying day. There are many different types of projects that we will be involved in. We are looking forward to tomorrow.
Tim Mercer:
My own thoughts have wandered into the science of how carbon dioxide (CO2) can be removed from the atmosphere. Having Internet access within the dorm has allowed me the opportunity to dive into this with more details. I have learned more about carbon fixation and an enzyme called RuBisCo which is a central player in the way CO2 is converted into carbon within the plant and O2 released to the environment. My learning continues as we participate in the field and evening lecture learning.
Sharon Powell:
Today we started off our morning briefing in the lab. We were in the field all morning, had lunch and headed back out again. We learned how to recognize ironwood, beech, sweetgum, maple, ash and dogwood trees. One of the trees we measured was 109 cementers. Huge! We stayed out in the field to finish up the end of the site. Our team measured and tagged a total of approximately 193 trees. It was a great day in the field and we had great weather.
Seth Ruden:
After only 10,611 steps and 1.4 miles, I have worn out the batteries on my personal GPS and was "fit for a kit." We managed to take a swift pace on the data logging for our plots and came up ahead of schedule… Tonight is the "Science of Climate Change" presentation provided by Dan. The rich education of this program makes the intensive labor easily
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tuesday, April 15: Day 2 - Team 2 2008
Stuart Brightbill
I arrived excited and eager to start my learning on how the climate affects our environment, and I met 11 of my peers equally excited and eager. The scientists here seem very pleased to be teaching us what we need to learn and are anxious to put us to work. With all of the overviews we have been receiving here this first day, I look forward to a lot of intense learning, studying and field work.
If I could give one tip to you, it is to ask questions about sustaining our Earth to any of my fellow HSBC Climate Champions who have already gone through the field program. I have been incredibly impressed with what I hear they have been doing and continue to do at their homes and communities. I know if you talk with these folks just a little bit, you will be equally impressed. Hopefully on my next posting, I will be able to pass on a bit of what I have learned.
Linda Markott
After our arrival and room assignment, we spent the evening learning a bit about our surroundings and our colleagues. Sharing ideas with this group is a joy. There are so many different backgrounds and points of view. On Tuesday our training began. We can now identify poison ivy and ticks. Hopefully, the only ones we see were the ones in the lab. We now understand why we are studying trees and the impact HSBC has on this study by supplying support. The amount of data that can be acquired by 12 bodies speaks volumes. We were taught how to measure trees, which will be one of our tasks during our stay. We had a little extra free time before dinner so I took an exploratory hike. I discovered a trail that followed a small lake. I surprised a hawk which showed its displeasure by swooping at me, about 10 feet over my head. This evening we had another brainstorming session. These sessions are intended to ultimately provide us with the tools we will need for our project upon our return. Tomorrow will be a full day out in the woods. Time to start earning our keep.
Doug Peters
We all arrived safely to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and were assigned to our digs. I was lucky to receive my own room; however, the single rooms do not have Internet access. It’s a fair trade-off. Everyone has been friendly and accommodating, and is certainly helping us feel right at home. This place is beautiful--we’re perched on the edge of an inlet/branch of Chesapeake Bay with a sloped, wooded topography. A wide, shallow river drains freshwater into the saltwater, adding to the brackish bay, edged with saltwater marshes. The woods are a nice mixture of new, intermediate and mature growth, and exhibit a rich history. The research center sits in the middle and provides direct access to the “field” for the plethora of scientists and research projects going on here. Laboratories abound, and in the summer, there can be as many as 300 people working here.
The trails are amazing. On the first night I took a sunset bike ride to a small inland lake, visited with a red-tailed hawk, and surprised four nimble deer. The project we’re contributing to is fascinating (more later). Looking forward to getting into the woods tomorrow and putting today’s tree measurement practice to work!
Seth Ruden
I suspect that the reason they are called “Tree Huggers” is for the measuring tape that is used for documenting a trees circumference. One has to literally wrap both arms around to grasp the tape and get a good read on the total width of a 100-year-old tree.
We spent the second day here receiving our primary education, practicing the evaluation of trees and wrapping our minds around the objective of the mission here: Facilitating the raw data collection that will provide necessary understanding of sustainable forest management. With the support provided by HSBC Climate Champions, there will be a valuable amount of data that will be collected and utilized. I understand the findings of this study will be provided to the greater scientific community, reinforcing the contributions that are being made.
The work will be hard and consuming. We will walk some distance to the site we are surveying and once there, we’re on our feet hugging tree to tree. I will do my best to convey this with distances traveled in measures of my own footsteps on my GPS and pedometer.
I arrived excited and eager to start my learning on how the climate affects our environment, and I met 11 of my peers equally excited and eager. The scientists here seem very pleased to be teaching us what we need to learn and are anxious to put us to work. With all of the overviews we have been receiving here this first day, I look forward to a lot of intense learning, studying and field work.
If I could give one tip to you, it is to ask questions about sustaining our Earth to any of my fellow HSBC Climate Champions who have already gone through the field program. I have been incredibly impressed with what I hear they have been doing and continue to do at their homes and communities. I know if you talk with these folks just a little bit, you will be equally impressed. Hopefully on my next posting, I will be able to pass on a bit of what I have learned.
Linda Markott
After our arrival and room assignment, we spent the evening learning a bit about our surroundings and our colleagues. Sharing ideas with this group is a joy. There are so many different backgrounds and points of view. On Tuesday our training began. We can now identify poison ivy and ticks. Hopefully, the only ones we see were the ones in the lab. We now understand why we are studying trees and the impact HSBC has on this study by supplying support. The amount of data that can be acquired by 12 bodies speaks volumes. We were taught how to measure trees, which will be one of our tasks during our stay. We had a little extra free time before dinner so I took an exploratory hike. I discovered a trail that followed a small lake. I surprised a hawk which showed its displeasure by swooping at me, about 10 feet over my head. This evening we had another brainstorming session. These sessions are intended to ultimately provide us with the tools we will need for our project upon our return. Tomorrow will be a full day out in the woods. Time to start earning our keep.
Doug Peters
We all arrived safely to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and were assigned to our digs. I was lucky to receive my own room; however, the single rooms do not have Internet access. It’s a fair trade-off. Everyone has been friendly and accommodating, and is certainly helping us feel right at home. This place is beautiful--we’re perched on the edge of an inlet/branch of Chesapeake Bay with a sloped, wooded topography. A wide, shallow river drains freshwater into the saltwater, adding to the brackish bay, edged with saltwater marshes. The woods are a nice mixture of new, intermediate and mature growth, and exhibit a rich history. The research center sits in the middle and provides direct access to the “field” for the plethora of scientists and research projects going on here. Laboratories abound, and in the summer, there can be as many as 300 people working here.
The trails are amazing. On the first night I took a sunset bike ride to a small inland lake, visited with a red-tailed hawk, and surprised four nimble deer. The project we’re contributing to is fascinating (more later). Looking forward to getting into the woods tomorrow and putting today’s tree measurement practice to work!
Seth Ruden
I suspect that the reason they are called “Tree Huggers” is for the measuring tape that is used for documenting a trees circumference. One has to literally wrap both arms around to grasp the tape and get a good read on the total width of a 100-year-old tree.
We spent the second day here receiving our primary education, practicing the evaluation of trees and wrapping our minds around the objective of the mission here: Facilitating the raw data collection that will provide necessary understanding of sustainable forest management. With the support provided by HSBC Climate Champions, there will be a valuable amount of data that will be collected and utilized. I understand the findings of this study will be provided to the greater scientific community, reinforcing the contributions that are being made.
The work will be hard and consuming. We will walk some distance to the site we are surveying and once there, we’re on our feet hugging tree to tree. I will do my best to convey this with distances traveled in measures of my own footsteps on my GPS and pedometer.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Monday, April 7: Day 8
Jennifer Capasso
We have entered our second week of tree mapping and most of us have become easily accustomed to measuring the tree diameter, mapping the location, and identifying the species and crown class of the trees. Our goal was to complete a 1 hectare (100-by-100 meters) plot before the end of our two weeks at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). It seems like we are on our way to doing so. As we spend more time on each project, I’ve become increasingly appreciative of the effort that goes into a scientific study, such as tree mapping. It is interesting how one statistic in a book or publication can be overlooked so quickly; yet that one statistic is more than likely composed of years of methodical calculations. When working with SERC volunteer Dale on the stumps, he explained that he had been working on this side project since last summer! It is a slow process, and patience is a characteristic you must have in order to work in this field.I think the best motivation thus far is seeing the data we have collected being plugged into the computer and translated onto the maps at the end of the day. I am especially looking forward to seeing the tree mapping completed and recorded in the existing data Lead Scientist Dr. Jess Parker has collected.
Ada Leung
We have a learning session every night at 7:30 p.m., discovering something new about climate change, understanding HSBC’s engagement in the issue and learning about other relevant topics. It is currently midnight and the group is still brainstorming ideas for projects to combat climate change within HSBC, and possibly even externally. We’ll still have to wake up early tomorrow morning for another day of fieldwork, but this is how passionate everyone is about battling climate change. Each Climate Champion is aware of the potential challenges they will face in spreading the message. We are already setting up networks amongst ourselves as a support system. If Climate Champions find themselves in a dead end, they can bring it to the attention of other Climate Champions who may be able to move that project along using a different set of resources and contacts. Not a single person here accepts that large-scale change cannot be implemented.Meeting other fellow HSBC employees who would rather stay up to discuss climate change than sleep (which is probably what we should do after the long day we’ve had) is truly a source of inspiration for me. It is comforting to know that there are people just like me who understand climate change is a massive global problem, but are willing to genuinely commit themselves to making a difference.
Hristo Malchev
After the first days of discovery and eager learning, things have begun to slowly take shape for me. Since this is our second and final week, we have started looking beyond this program (or “programme” as some might spell it), and we are doing that in a more practical way--a way that shows we have started maturing as a team.One of the most interesting things for me has been to hear all the different perspectives people have, based on their experience and the place where they work. But our common beliefs about one issue (climate change) have been able to unite us and allow us to benefit from each other’s strengths.It is almost like the opposite of all the reality shows on TV these days, where people are typically brought together based on their incompatibility, with an objective to make them work against each other. While the change is just a couple of thing--a common goal based on a common passion--the difference is like night and day. Even though all of us are so different, I guess it doesn’t take that much to make a team that works.
Jane Vohwinkel
Week 2: Today, the weather wasn’t optimal. Cold, damp and a bit windy, even in the midst of the trees. After the morning session, we all bundled up a bit more after our lunch break. A tip to the upcoming group of Climate Champions: Make sure you bring lots of layer to accommodate the constantly changing weather this time of the year.In spite of the cold, the team was in good spirits and we moved along quickly completing our plots (likely the result of wanting to stay warm!). Also, I need to mention that we had a great time last evening playing charades (yes, you revert to very rudimentary forms of entertainment in the woods). We are very fortunate; the entire team has a terrific sense of humor as well as the natural ability to simply get along. Everyone works well and similarly “plays” well together. Regardless of what we’re tackling, we’re like “missionaries” on a mission (passionate). The SERC folks have told us we are making great progress in completing the identification and tagging of most of the trees in the hectares we are covering.Looking forward to more discussion/idea sharing on how we will position and convey all the knowledge we’ve gained. While a privilege to be chosen for the task, it’s also a tremendous responsibility to be commissioned to spread such an important message. From the field…Chilly Jane!
We have entered our second week of tree mapping and most of us have become easily accustomed to measuring the tree diameter, mapping the location, and identifying the species and crown class of the trees. Our goal was to complete a 1 hectare (100-by-100 meters) plot before the end of our two weeks at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). It seems like we are on our way to doing so. As we spend more time on each project, I’ve become increasingly appreciative of the effort that goes into a scientific study, such as tree mapping. It is interesting how one statistic in a book or publication can be overlooked so quickly; yet that one statistic is more than likely composed of years of methodical calculations. When working with SERC volunteer Dale on the stumps, he explained that he had been working on this side project since last summer! It is a slow process, and patience is a characteristic you must have in order to work in this field.I think the best motivation thus far is seeing the data we have collected being plugged into the computer and translated onto the maps at the end of the day. I am especially looking forward to seeing the tree mapping completed and recorded in the existing data Lead Scientist Dr. Jess Parker has collected.
Ada Leung
We have a learning session every night at 7:30 p.m., discovering something new about climate change, understanding HSBC’s engagement in the issue and learning about other relevant topics. It is currently midnight and the group is still brainstorming ideas for projects to combat climate change within HSBC, and possibly even externally. We’ll still have to wake up early tomorrow morning for another day of fieldwork, but this is how passionate everyone is about battling climate change. Each Climate Champion is aware of the potential challenges they will face in spreading the message. We are already setting up networks amongst ourselves as a support system. If Climate Champions find themselves in a dead end, they can bring it to the attention of other Climate Champions who may be able to move that project along using a different set of resources and contacts. Not a single person here accepts that large-scale change cannot be implemented.Meeting other fellow HSBC employees who would rather stay up to discuss climate change than sleep (which is probably what we should do after the long day we’ve had) is truly a source of inspiration for me. It is comforting to know that there are people just like me who understand climate change is a massive global problem, but are willing to genuinely commit themselves to making a difference.
Hristo Malchev
After the first days of discovery and eager learning, things have begun to slowly take shape for me. Since this is our second and final week, we have started looking beyond this program (or “programme” as some might spell it), and we are doing that in a more practical way--a way that shows we have started maturing as a team.One of the most interesting things for me has been to hear all the different perspectives people have, based on their experience and the place where they work. But our common beliefs about one issue (climate change) have been able to unite us and allow us to benefit from each other’s strengths.It is almost like the opposite of all the reality shows on TV these days, where people are typically brought together based on their incompatibility, with an objective to make them work against each other. While the change is just a couple of thing--a common goal based on a common passion--the difference is like night and day. Even though all of us are so different, I guess it doesn’t take that much to make a team that works.
Jane Vohwinkel
Week 2: Today, the weather wasn’t optimal. Cold, damp and a bit windy, even in the midst of the trees. After the morning session, we all bundled up a bit more after our lunch break. A tip to the upcoming group of Climate Champions: Make sure you bring lots of layer to accommodate the constantly changing weather this time of the year.In spite of the cold, the team was in good spirits and we moved along quickly completing our plots (likely the result of wanting to stay warm!). Also, I need to mention that we had a great time last evening playing charades (yes, you revert to very rudimentary forms of entertainment in the woods). We are very fortunate; the entire team has a terrific sense of humor as well as the natural ability to simply get along. Everyone works well and similarly “plays” well together. Regardless of what we’re tackling, we’re like “missionaries” on a mission (passionate). The SERC folks have told us we are making great progress in completing the identification and tagging of most of the trees in the hectares we are covering.Looking forward to more discussion/idea sharing on how we will position and convey all the knowledge we’ve gained. While a privilege to be chosen for the task, it’s also a tremendous responsibility to be commissioned to spread such an important message. From the field…Chilly Jane!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5: Days 5 and 6
Hilary Bouchard
Friday: Progress! Today, our teams finished plotting all of the trees in two columns of our first hectare. In addition to the field work, our action-packed days and evenings have been filled with tremendously enlightening presentations. Last night, Earthwatch staff member Carla Handley gave a brilliant talk on the socioeconomic impacts of climate change. Today, Dr. Bert Drake gave a presentation on energy which was so engaging that the resulting questions and dialogue ran over the allotted time. We had to race back to the field before we had covered many of the slides. Dr. Drake was gracious enough to join us at lunchtime to complete his presentation. We discovered that we desperately need to educate ourselves about how the rising demand for energy is going to be met as the supply decreases in the coming years, so we can take appropriate actions on a large scale.
John Camp
Friday: Rick and I started the day with a 7 a.m. hike. The time we spent walking made us appreciate the natural beauty as well as the threat posed by global warming. As we got by the water, we startled an eagle that was enjoying breakfast. He flew away with his prey to find a quieter place to finish his meal.Dr. Bert Drake gave a thought-provoking presentation on carbon dioxide (CO2), growing energy demand and available supply of known fuel sources. We clearly have a major challenge to prevent the estimated 1- to 6-degree rise in global temperatures that are predicted on our current course. Surprisingly, nuclear alternatives were presented as a logical alternative choice to fossil fuels.In the forest, we continued cataloging trees in one of our eight designated study plots, which measure 1 hectare, or 100 by 100 meters each.
Michael Dimond
Friday: In addition to trees, the forests are filled with uncountable varieties of birds. There is a constant medley of miscellaneous birdsongs. Mornings and evenings are the most musical, with the local frogs joining in for the chorus.Our primary activity has been mapping trees in a particular section of the forest, which is like taking inventory. Every tree more than 1 cm in diameter is given a specific identification number, measured, classified and noted for any abnormalities or damages. In addition to studying the forest’s development, the mapping also gives an indication of how much carbon is "stored" in this particular area of the forest.In addition to mapping, I was out with a small group studying the phenology--the study of the timing of recurring natural cycles. In our case, we were studying the budding of tulip poplar trees. The tulip poplar is a good candidate for an indicator species in the forests of this area. As you can imagine, studying the budding was complicated by the fact we wanted to observe the growth at the top of the trees, and the trees are each at least 60 feet tall. They wouldn't let us climb them. Judging the poplars is pretty straightforward. Our team examines the top of the tree to see what percentage of the buds have fully opened. This gets noted and will be used to determine the impact of warming trends on the forest here. Jeff, one of SERC’s science technicians, says the budding is earlier than usual this year. The data will give a benchmark to gauge the actual impact of climate change.
Mire Levy
Friday: Into the fifth day of the HSBC Climate Champion field program, I have a better idea how this whole initiative will fit into my normal role as a commercial banker. Sure, it makes sense to tackle things and behaviors that are easy to change at the grassroots level, such as promoting conservation in and around my home office. But I kept grasping for a bigger picture of how I could incorporate all this newly acquired knowledge into my daily activities in working with commercial/corporate clients. Dr. Bert Drake’s presentation gave me a bigger framework to shape my thoughts around. In addition, the evening learning sessions and HSBC’s SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis around the climate change gave me interesting ideas that could potentially build the bridge between desire to facilitate environmentally advanced (but financially yet-to-be-proven) commercial interests, while meeting regulatory risk management requirements. With one more week left at this program, I hope these nebulous thoughts will start to form into a more easy-to-grasp concept that I can take back with me to my colleagues in Seattle.
Saturday: On Friday night, we were told that the chance of rain on Saturday was 100 percent, and yet it turned into a very nice, partly sunny day. Taking advantage of the decent weather, Jess took us up to the top of the climate observation tower. The steel tower built atop a small hill was just tall enough to be above the tree canopy and gave us a 360-degree view of the entire Chesapeake Bay area. Highlights of this trek up the tower were: (1) being able to see at the eye level the “tulip” buds of tulip poplars that we had been observing via binoculars during our previous field work, and (2) feeling the tower sway with the each gust of wind as we got closer to the top. Oooo hooo!
Sabrina Spencer
Friday: Today, I took a break from tree mapping and helped Jeff out with a phenology project; we were documenting the bud stages of tulip poplars. This project took us to a newly acquired research plot that was recently acquired by SERC. The destruction and state of this plot was absolutely disgusting – what could we possibly need so badly that we need to destroy nature to this degree! Even the mood among the group changed when we entered the logged plot and saw the destruction and natural debris that had been left behind. We were further distraught when we found out our project for next week is to measure and map all the organic debris (branches, fallen trees, stumps) that are left behind!
Rick Szafarz
Friday: The past several days have been very busy between lectures, discussion, and work in the field. For the past two days, I have been assigned to a team led by Nancy Khan, one of SERC’s Science Technicians. Yesterday, our team worked across several ten-meter plots identifying the trees, tagging them, measuring their diameter, and designated their crown class (exposure to sunlight in relation to the surrounding trees). In the morning, Nancy took us out to several other locations where we left buckets along a grid pattern. The buckets are left for a month to collect falling debris for later analysis.In addition, Lead Scientist Dr. Jess Parker asked the group to start photographing any emerging undergrowth on the forest floor as we move along the grids. For the past two days, I have been taking pictures of many newly emerged plants, including several spring wildflowers. We plan to transfer the images to his system so that we can review and identify them for his records.After we finish our field work in the late morning, Jess is going to give us a tour at the top of a tower just above the tree canopy to show us the instruments they use to collect rainwater, measure the amount of carbon in the air, and analyze the quality of the sunlight including the various frequencies of the ultraviolet spectrum. Apparently, the top of the tower offers an impressive view of the surrounding area including Chesapeake Bay. In the afternoon, we plan to spend our recreation time exploring the city of Annapolis, home of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Jane Vohwinkel
Friday: Whoa! Information overload! I just finished an MBA program, and it was a walk in the park compared to the learning experience we’ve had over the past week. Our team is like a sponge. The last few nights we’ve gone on past 10 p.m. The discussions are intense, but so are the issues. Certainly no easy answers here, but we have had the benefit of gleaning the latest information on the subject of climate change from some of the most respected and renowned researchers here at Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). These folks are amazing and are looking to us (imagine that!) to provide a practical business view. What an opportunity we have been given. This will definitely be an evolutionary process for the team, which will entail internalizing what we are learning, evolving ourselves and then externalizing that commitment by passing it along to our HSBC colleagues, neighbors and friends.This morning, our focus was on the key contributors as well as the alternatives that have been identified to date to combat climate change. Day five from the field, tick free and still smiling…Jane
Saturday: The work in the cut forest is challenging. It’s like a lumber camp and maneuvering around and over the logs affords quite a workout (but not a bad thing). In the afternoon, we were provided a welcomed break: a trip to Annapolis. From the field (at least in the morning)…Jane.
Friday: Progress! Today, our teams finished plotting all of the trees in two columns of our first hectare. In addition to the field work, our action-packed days and evenings have been filled with tremendously enlightening presentations. Last night, Earthwatch staff member Carla Handley gave a brilliant talk on the socioeconomic impacts of climate change. Today, Dr. Bert Drake gave a presentation on energy which was so engaging that the resulting questions and dialogue ran over the allotted time. We had to race back to the field before we had covered many of the slides. Dr. Drake was gracious enough to join us at lunchtime to complete his presentation. We discovered that we desperately need to educate ourselves about how the rising demand for energy is going to be met as the supply decreases in the coming years, so we can take appropriate actions on a large scale.
John Camp
Friday: Rick and I started the day with a 7 a.m. hike. The time we spent walking made us appreciate the natural beauty as well as the threat posed by global warming. As we got by the water, we startled an eagle that was enjoying breakfast. He flew away with his prey to find a quieter place to finish his meal.Dr. Bert Drake gave a thought-provoking presentation on carbon dioxide (CO2), growing energy demand and available supply of known fuel sources. We clearly have a major challenge to prevent the estimated 1- to 6-degree rise in global temperatures that are predicted on our current course. Surprisingly, nuclear alternatives were presented as a logical alternative choice to fossil fuels.In the forest, we continued cataloging trees in one of our eight designated study plots, which measure 1 hectare, or 100 by 100 meters each.
Michael Dimond
Friday: In addition to trees, the forests are filled with uncountable varieties of birds. There is a constant medley of miscellaneous birdsongs. Mornings and evenings are the most musical, with the local frogs joining in for the chorus.Our primary activity has been mapping trees in a particular section of the forest, which is like taking inventory. Every tree more than 1 cm in diameter is given a specific identification number, measured, classified and noted for any abnormalities or damages. In addition to studying the forest’s development, the mapping also gives an indication of how much carbon is "stored" in this particular area of the forest.In addition to mapping, I was out with a small group studying the phenology--the study of the timing of recurring natural cycles. In our case, we were studying the budding of tulip poplar trees. The tulip poplar is a good candidate for an indicator species in the forests of this area. As you can imagine, studying the budding was complicated by the fact we wanted to observe the growth at the top of the trees, and the trees are each at least 60 feet tall. They wouldn't let us climb them. Judging the poplars is pretty straightforward. Our team examines the top of the tree to see what percentage of the buds have fully opened. This gets noted and will be used to determine the impact of warming trends on the forest here. Jeff, one of SERC’s science technicians, says the budding is earlier than usual this year. The data will give a benchmark to gauge the actual impact of climate change.
Mire Levy
Friday: Into the fifth day of the HSBC Climate Champion field program, I have a better idea how this whole initiative will fit into my normal role as a commercial banker. Sure, it makes sense to tackle things and behaviors that are easy to change at the grassroots level, such as promoting conservation in and around my home office. But I kept grasping for a bigger picture of how I could incorporate all this newly acquired knowledge into my daily activities in working with commercial/corporate clients. Dr. Bert Drake’s presentation gave me a bigger framework to shape my thoughts around. In addition, the evening learning sessions and HSBC’s SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis around the climate change gave me interesting ideas that could potentially build the bridge between desire to facilitate environmentally advanced (but financially yet-to-be-proven) commercial interests, while meeting regulatory risk management requirements. With one more week left at this program, I hope these nebulous thoughts will start to form into a more easy-to-grasp concept that I can take back with me to my colleagues in Seattle.
Saturday: On Friday night, we were told that the chance of rain on Saturday was 100 percent, and yet it turned into a very nice, partly sunny day. Taking advantage of the decent weather, Jess took us up to the top of the climate observation tower. The steel tower built atop a small hill was just tall enough to be above the tree canopy and gave us a 360-degree view of the entire Chesapeake Bay area. Highlights of this trek up the tower were: (1) being able to see at the eye level the “tulip” buds of tulip poplars that we had been observing via binoculars during our previous field work, and (2) feeling the tower sway with the each gust of wind as we got closer to the top. Oooo hooo!
Sabrina Spencer
Friday: Today, I took a break from tree mapping and helped Jeff out with a phenology project; we were documenting the bud stages of tulip poplars. This project took us to a newly acquired research plot that was recently acquired by SERC. The destruction and state of this plot was absolutely disgusting – what could we possibly need so badly that we need to destroy nature to this degree! Even the mood among the group changed when we entered the logged plot and saw the destruction and natural debris that had been left behind. We were further distraught when we found out our project for next week is to measure and map all the organic debris (branches, fallen trees, stumps) that are left behind!
Rick Szafarz
Friday: The past several days have been very busy between lectures, discussion, and work in the field. For the past two days, I have been assigned to a team led by Nancy Khan, one of SERC’s Science Technicians. Yesterday, our team worked across several ten-meter plots identifying the trees, tagging them, measuring their diameter, and designated their crown class (exposure to sunlight in relation to the surrounding trees). In the morning, Nancy took us out to several other locations where we left buckets along a grid pattern. The buckets are left for a month to collect falling debris for later analysis.In addition, Lead Scientist Dr. Jess Parker asked the group to start photographing any emerging undergrowth on the forest floor as we move along the grids. For the past two days, I have been taking pictures of many newly emerged plants, including several spring wildflowers. We plan to transfer the images to his system so that we can review and identify them for his records.After we finish our field work in the late morning, Jess is going to give us a tour at the top of a tower just above the tree canopy to show us the instruments they use to collect rainwater, measure the amount of carbon in the air, and analyze the quality of the sunlight including the various frequencies of the ultraviolet spectrum. Apparently, the top of the tower offers an impressive view of the surrounding area including Chesapeake Bay. In the afternoon, we plan to spend our recreation time exploring the city of Annapolis, home of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Jane Vohwinkel
Friday: Whoa! Information overload! I just finished an MBA program, and it was a walk in the park compared to the learning experience we’ve had over the past week. Our team is like a sponge. The last few nights we’ve gone on past 10 p.m. The discussions are intense, but so are the issues. Certainly no easy answers here, but we have had the benefit of gleaning the latest information on the subject of climate change from some of the most respected and renowned researchers here at Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). These folks are amazing and are looking to us (imagine that!) to provide a practical business view. What an opportunity we have been given. This will definitely be an evolutionary process for the team, which will entail internalizing what we are learning, evolving ourselves and then externalizing that commitment by passing it along to our HSBC colleagues, neighbors and friends.This morning, our focus was on the key contributors as well as the alternatives that have been identified to date to combat climate change. Day five from the field, tick free and still smiling…Jane
Saturday: The work in the cut forest is challenging. It’s like a lumber camp and maneuvering around and over the logs affords quite a workout (but not a bad thing). In the afternoon, we were provided a welcomed break: a trip to Annapolis. From the field (at least in the morning)…Jane.
Thursday, April 3: Day 4
Thursday, April 3
John Camp
Last night, our Earthwatch field program director, Dr. Dan Stover, gave us an excellent presentation on the science behind global warming. The data and modeling projections presented a very compelling case for the contribution of advanced levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) toward mean temperature increases. Spent this morning measuring tree stumps in a logged portion of the forest. The stumps are mapped using a global positioning device, and then the diameter and height of the stumps are recorded. At then end of the process, we downloaded the data into computer files and produced a map of our input. This data will be used for various calculations in the study, including the estimated biomass of the trees removed.
Ada Leung
Today I helped with the stump project, which to be quite honest, sounded quite boring to me when the researchers asked for volunteers. I mean, I’m here to battle climate change, to advocate eco-friendliness, to save the environment! And I will accomplish that by…measuring tree stumps? As soon as we arrived to the logged area of the forest, I realized this would be an eye-opening experience that put our purpose in perspective. The reason for measuring a stump is to use the data to extrapolate the tree’s former size before it was cut down. With this, we could calculate the biomass of the tree when it was alive to help understand the tree’s role in absorbing carbon dioxide. In a logged area, the ability to take in the CO2 in the atmosphere would assumedly be lower; this study allows us to quantify the impact. Standing in the middle of a logged plot was immensely unsettling. After spending two days in a beautiful forest, it felt so uncomfortable to be in a forest made so ugly by human activity. Stumps littered the area; decaying branches were sprinkled across the landscape, with small, skinny trees--the ones that were spared--left sparsely standing. Even though I was re-assured that the forest would grow again, the guilt of not always recycling hit me.
Shree Palem
We had a great day today working in the field again, mostly mapping tree stumps and conducting laser measurements that simulated the terrain (contours) for Lead Scientist Jess Parker’s experiment site. All this will be fed into a model--along with other information--to calculate biomass and carbon flux in the region. Rick and I went on a hike yesterday and checked out the different marshlands and trails while watching the sun rise. It was great. Dan gave us a fantastic presentation on climate change, global warming and the severe impacts (both environmental and socioeconomic) we could face in the near future due to the disruption in environmental balance and human activity. It’s simply amazing to know how many individuals have dedicated their lives to making this world a better place through conducting research and spreading awareness. Knowledge and information are key components in creating a better and sustainable society in these changing times. I think the HSBC Climate Partnership is doing exactly that by empowering us with knowledge and helping us foster new relationships.
Sabrina Spencer
Today, Jess and his team showed us the first “picture” of our progress here at SERC. We saw a topographical map of the forest plot that we are currently mapping; the measurements for this map were taken by previous Climate Champions. By the end of our work here, we’re hoping to have a complete map of tree species for the 100x100-meter forest plot that we’re working on. Only 50 (or so) of the 10x10-meter subplots to go! In the past 48 hours, we’ve heard presentations on the science and socioeconomic impacts of climate change. When we became Climate Champions, we all knew that climate change was a problem. But I don’t think we knew the extent of the issue that we’re dealing with. We don’t just need to protect the trees and the animals from the effects of climate change--we need to protect ourselves, too. As Climate Champions, we feel more strongly than ever that it is our job to help make a difference. As much as we love it here, we can’t wait to get home and start working toward a solution!
Sara Tahvildari
White hickory, sweet gum, ironwood: what do they all have in common? These are the many common species of trees that we are encountering, measuring and mapping. The weather was very cool today. Out of 100x100-meter plot, we have completed close to four columns. Working today with Sabrina and Mire was great. Our teamwork to complete our subplots was very assembly-line like. The big thoughts that reside on all our minds--now that we have seen the scientific evidence of climate disturbance caused by CO2 emissions and its socioeconomic effects--are worrisome. It has been made clear that global warming is not just about hot weather or an increase in temperature. It’s about cascading problems that will affect us in many ways--putting pressure on our world’s food and freshwater supply, and potentially putting Amsterdam and Florida underwater in less than 40 years--if behavioral changes are not made now. Thoughts are very raw in all our minds and right now we are very uncomfortable about the reality of things. These can be the catalyst for change as we go back home to communicate and implement what we have learned here.
Jane Vohwinkel
Dan’s presentation on the “science” behind climate change was excellent. I forgot how fascinating science can be. Or, maybe I am now more open to the applicability of it to my everyday life and--more importantly--the value that understanding brings to securing our collective futures. This morning we tagged/identified more trees. I got to use the laser to determine the coordinates on the grid (and felt like Laura Croft!). This afternoon, we measured the trunks of a section of the forest where the trees had been cut. My job was to obtain the coordinates with a global positioning device. Technology has really aided scientists in performing some of the more tedious aspects of the research. I’m really learning a lot. More sessions this evening and tomorrow. Day four from the field…Jane.
John Camp
Last night, our Earthwatch field program director, Dr. Dan Stover, gave us an excellent presentation on the science behind global warming. The data and modeling projections presented a very compelling case for the contribution of advanced levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) toward mean temperature increases. Spent this morning measuring tree stumps in a logged portion of the forest. The stumps are mapped using a global positioning device, and then the diameter and height of the stumps are recorded. At then end of the process, we downloaded the data into computer files and produced a map of our input. This data will be used for various calculations in the study, including the estimated biomass of the trees removed.
Ada Leung
Today I helped with the stump project, which to be quite honest, sounded quite boring to me when the researchers asked for volunteers. I mean, I’m here to battle climate change, to advocate eco-friendliness, to save the environment! And I will accomplish that by…measuring tree stumps? As soon as we arrived to the logged area of the forest, I realized this would be an eye-opening experience that put our purpose in perspective. The reason for measuring a stump is to use the data to extrapolate the tree’s former size before it was cut down. With this, we could calculate the biomass of the tree when it was alive to help understand the tree’s role in absorbing carbon dioxide. In a logged area, the ability to take in the CO2 in the atmosphere would assumedly be lower; this study allows us to quantify the impact. Standing in the middle of a logged plot was immensely unsettling. After spending two days in a beautiful forest, it felt so uncomfortable to be in a forest made so ugly by human activity. Stumps littered the area; decaying branches were sprinkled across the landscape, with small, skinny trees--the ones that were spared--left sparsely standing. Even though I was re-assured that the forest would grow again, the guilt of not always recycling hit me.
Shree Palem
We had a great day today working in the field again, mostly mapping tree stumps and conducting laser measurements that simulated the terrain (contours) for Lead Scientist Jess Parker’s experiment site. All this will be fed into a model--along with other information--to calculate biomass and carbon flux in the region. Rick and I went on a hike yesterday and checked out the different marshlands and trails while watching the sun rise. It was great. Dan gave us a fantastic presentation on climate change, global warming and the severe impacts (both environmental and socioeconomic) we could face in the near future due to the disruption in environmental balance and human activity. It’s simply amazing to know how many individuals have dedicated their lives to making this world a better place through conducting research and spreading awareness. Knowledge and information are key components in creating a better and sustainable society in these changing times. I think the HSBC Climate Partnership is doing exactly that by empowering us with knowledge and helping us foster new relationships.
Sabrina Spencer
Today, Jess and his team showed us the first “picture” of our progress here at SERC. We saw a topographical map of the forest plot that we are currently mapping; the measurements for this map were taken by previous Climate Champions. By the end of our work here, we’re hoping to have a complete map of tree species for the 100x100-meter forest plot that we’re working on. Only 50 (or so) of the 10x10-meter subplots to go! In the past 48 hours, we’ve heard presentations on the science and socioeconomic impacts of climate change. When we became Climate Champions, we all knew that climate change was a problem. But I don’t think we knew the extent of the issue that we’re dealing with. We don’t just need to protect the trees and the animals from the effects of climate change--we need to protect ourselves, too. As Climate Champions, we feel more strongly than ever that it is our job to help make a difference. As much as we love it here, we can’t wait to get home and start working toward a solution!
Sara Tahvildari
White hickory, sweet gum, ironwood: what do they all have in common? These are the many common species of trees that we are encountering, measuring and mapping. The weather was very cool today. Out of 100x100-meter plot, we have completed close to four columns. Working today with Sabrina and Mire was great. Our teamwork to complete our subplots was very assembly-line like. The big thoughts that reside on all our minds--now that we have seen the scientific evidence of climate disturbance caused by CO2 emissions and its socioeconomic effects--are worrisome. It has been made clear that global warming is not just about hot weather or an increase in temperature. It’s about cascading problems that will affect us in many ways--putting pressure on our world’s food and freshwater supply, and potentially putting Amsterdam and Florida underwater in less than 40 years--if behavioral changes are not made now. Thoughts are very raw in all our minds and right now we are very uncomfortable about the reality of things. These can be the catalyst for change as we go back home to communicate and implement what we have learned here.
Jane Vohwinkel
Dan’s presentation on the “science” behind climate change was excellent. I forgot how fascinating science can be. Or, maybe I am now more open to the applicability of it to my everyday life and--more importantly--the value that understanding brings to securing our collective futures. This morning we tagged/identified more trees. I got to use the laser to determine the coordinates on the grid (and felt like Laura Croft!). This afternoon, we measured the trunks of a section of the forest where the trees had been cut. My job was to obtain the coordinates with a global positioning device. Technology has really aided scientists in performing some of the more tedious aspects of the research. I’m really learning a lot. More sessions this evening and tomorrow. Day four from the field…Jane.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Wednesday, April 2: Day 3
Hilary BouchardThis morning, we started with an illuminating lecture by Tuck, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Director. We then set off into the field to map, identify and classify trees in an idyllic setting on a stunningly beautiful day. Tuck’s presentation covered the history, extent and nature of the multitude of climate change-related projects at SERC. We are enthusiastically looking forward to tonight’s presentation given by our Earthwatch field program director, Dan Stover, about his specific area of research.
I’m a bit weary, but exhilarated by the work that we accomplished today. I really appreciate this opportunity and am learning quite a lot. I’m convinced that the group gathered here will put this newfound knowledge to good use in our roles at HSBC – North America and in our communities.
Ada Leung
Today, we mapped trees in predetermined plots, noting their species, diameter and coordinates. I am learning to discern the life events of a tree by simply analyzing its shape, size, direction of growth, etc. I have never developed this level of appreciation for nature because I have never really taken the time to learn it and understand it in this manner. When a tree grows in odd, twisted directions, or when tiny branches sprout from the lower trunk in an act of desperation to harbor more life-prolonging resources, a kind of respect develops. It is a respect for a tree’s immense will to survive. What seemingly was a lifeless, still and inanimate object is starting to transform itself in my mind. Just like humans, the trees are struggling to grow and progress, to get to the top--or for some--to simply find a way to survive. In experiencing this foreign, yet welcome, connection to nature, I am seeing a glimpse of why the scientists at SERC work with such passion to save something as precious as the environment.
Mire Levy
Day 3 started out under cloudy sky but turned into a GORGEOUS sunny day. I couldn’t have been more thankful that I was out in the field soaking up the sun, rather than sitting in the office. Dale, a retired 5th grade teacher and now SERC’s volunteer, took Jennifer and I out to a neighboring property that was thinned last year to map and measure stumps left from cutting. The goal of this project is to measure the stumps so that scientists can estimate how much biomass was removed from the area. Lesson of the day: Always look back after moving to the next stump, because stumps that are not easily seen from one angle often come into view from another angle!
Sara Tahvildari
How quickly we learned. Today was all about being outdoors and hugging trees… I’ve always wondered how you do that. But as our goal today was to map out trees and measure their diameter and identify their location and species, I now understand how you end up in close encounters with these huge plants. It is fascinating to be part of the mapping of land and trees.
Jane Vohwinkel
Wednesday: From the field. (Sounds impressive, eh!) I can now identify (well sort of) a beech, tulip poplar and sweet gum tree. You’re probably thinking: “And how’s that going to help HSBC?” Well, let me tell you: As a team, we are plotting, tagging, measuring and identifying the various species of trees here at SERC as the initial stage of the fieldwork. These trees will be monitored and re-measured over a period of time and the information will be used to determine the biomass increase and how that might correlate and contribute to carbon intake or release into the environment. This is a tedious task at best, but essential to this very important research. The HSBC team is taking their role seriously. Additionally, during early morning and evening training sessions, we are all gaining a much better understanding of the science behind climate change, as well as the work being performed at SERC. No ticks or poison ivy casualties yet. From the field…Jungle Jane!
Tuesday, April 1: Day 2 - Team 1 2008
From March 31-April 11, 12 employees from HSBC - North America are participating in a field program at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Maryland. As part of the HSBC Climate Partnership, this location is one of five Regional Climate Centers around the world--along with the UK, Brazil, India and China--where HSBC employees will work alongside expert scientists to help research how forests are impacted by changes in climate.
These participants were identified as HSBC Climate Champions--employees who have demonstrated their dedication to taking action on climate change, and have committed to become leaders in HSBC's effort to address the causes and effects of climate change. Each day, different Climate Champions provided updates of their daily activities, as well as their learnings and discussions related to taking action on climate change.
These participants were identified as HSBC Climate Champions--employees who have demonstrated their dedication to taking action on climate change, and have committed to become leaders in HSBC's effort to address the causes and effects of climate change. Each day, different Climate Champions provided updates of their daily activities, as well as their learnings and discussions related to taking action on climate change.
Hilary Bouchard
The abundance of daffodils and budding trees has provided a welcome contrast to extended wintry conditions of Illinois. I am very much looking forward to getting to know these woods, as well as the diverse lot of colleagues and scientists gathered here. Wish you were here!
John Camp
Today we got a very good overview of the program from Lead Scientist Jess Parker. Essentially, we will be working within designated areas in the forest and performing measures which will be used to develop the long-term trend of how different types of forests can process carbon. We reviewed and practiced different measurement techniques, including measuring the diameter of trees, as well as cataloging the relative growth prospects of the tree based on how much of its canopy is directly exposed to sunlight (as opposed to shaded by other trees). Tomorrow, we will be out in the forest performing the actual measurements.
There is a good team of people here, including HSBC – North America employees from all over the USA and Canada, as well as the dedicated scientists who are showing us the ropes.
Michael Dimond
Our adventure begins! Our location is quite beautiful and full of birds (and coming from the Pacific Northwest, I have high standards). Apparently, this area is on the migratory routes for many types of birds. As a result, the early mornings and evenings are filled with bird calls. This area close to Chesapeake Bay is unusual--having forest, shore, salt marshes and other distinct environments.
Our briefing before going into the field included lots of safety instructions, including a discussion of ticks. It’s still a little cool outside for ticks to be active, but nonetheless, one decided to try to get to know me better than I liked. I guess it’s just my animal magnetism…
Mire Levy
While our first day was all about settling down and getting to know the surroundings, today we got into the nitty-gritty of the field work. We received our bright orange field vests and starting to practice measuring trees. Some of us were literary hugging the trees trying to wrap the tape around the trunk! The sky tried to open up on us throughout the morning when Lead Scientist Jess was giving us the tour of the field. But as one of my fellow Climate Champions said: Walking in the woods in the rain beats sitting in the office on a sunny day. The weather seems to be just as unpredictable here as it is in Pacific Northwest--where I come from--but I am looking forward to working in the field all day tomorrow.
Srikanth Palem 
Today kicked off with a brief talk by Lead Scientist Jess and his team explaining their involvement at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). We went out for a quick tour and Q&A of SERC facilities and their labs. It’s been an incredible experience so far, meeting my colleagues and our amazing hosts. We’ve been focusing most of the time on getting up to speed with the whole experiment that Jess is heading up and what we will be doing in the field for the next two weeks.
We had some very involved evening sessions for the past two days, brainstorming around HSBC’s stance on the HSBC Climate Partnership and what our roles will be. We’ve made some good strides so far, and I hope to share more of that in my future postings.
Sabrina Spencer
Today was our first official day of tree-hugging—literally--as we were practicing taking tree measurements. I think many of us started off the day by thinking “I have no idea what I’m doing,” but the Earthwatch team is incredible. By the end of the day, we were all accomplished tree measurers.
Today we also had out first tick experiences in the group and I couldn’t help thinking--did we sign up for this when we became bankers? The answer is: absolutely not, but I know that no one here is even thinking of throwing in the towel. We have an amazing wealth of experience and passion for the environment here and I’m sure that after two weeks here, we’ll be ready to take on the world!
Richard Szafarz
Today, the scientists took us into the woods to give us an orientation of the forest and provided us with some basic training. During the orientation of the forest trees, they showed us the seed pods for two of the main trees in the area, the sweet gum and tulip poplar. The pods for the sweet gum are littered all over the forest floor and along the trails and roads. They look like little balls with spikes sticking out of them. The tulip poplar seed pods are a bit harder to find. Their pods look like little brown tulips.
As a side note, we were all amazed with the abundance of wildlife in the surrounding area. Earlier this morning, a member of the team saw a red fox while taking a walk. On one of my day hikes, I saw a few ospreys and some bluebirds. Many of the migratory birds are passing through the area this week, so we should be able to see quite a selection of birds.
Sara Tahvildari
Sporting neon orange vests, avoiding poison ivy, measuring trees, pulling ticks off my body?? All in the day of the Climate Champion. Day One has been an eye opener to how our two weeks will be shaping up. The Earthwatch and SERC team have been great at leading us through safety and understanding the work that is to be completed on our stay here. Our work in the field and exposure to the team here is leading many of us to open our minds to new ideas and perspective on the environment and how we run our business units. I am looking forward to picking the brains of my colleagues on their involvement in their local units on how they currently are and planning to continue this initiative.
Jane Vohwinkel
I’m here in beautiful Edgewater, Maryland, with the most awesome team. What a wealth of knowledge and experience they bring to the table! Spent last evening sharing our individual motivations for applying for the Climate Champion role, which provided considerable insight into how we might use our individual talents and passions to achieve the common objective of sustaining our planet today and for future generations. This morning, we took our first “hike” (OK… we didn’t go that far) into the woods and were introduced to one of the plots we will be working on as well as some of the “tools of the trade.” We also had a great intro from the head researcher on the overall project and some of the tasks that we will be performing. Finally got the low-down on the poison ivy and tick situation. More to come… let the adventure begin!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)