2026-27 Capstone
This article details the scientific work done by citizen scientists, volunteers who help carry out scientific research and documentation alongside professionals. "Citizen scientists have successfully located thousands of previously unknown pairs of “eclipsing binary” stars, NASA announced in June." "Overall, the citizen scientists identified 10,001 eclipsing
2026-27 Capstone
It's no shock that there are so many articles about the distaste for Flock cameras and the public taking action into their own hands. However, this article was the first I found that framed the destruction as a way to organize and make the public's voices
2026-27 Capstone
In this article from Popular Science. Sara Van Note outlines the progress the Motus Wildlife Tracking System has made in aerial wildlife conservation research. Motus is a system of radio receiver stations across the globe that track the movement of tagged flying animals, the data is then uploaded to the
2026-27 Capstone
Terlingua, Texas, a town located in the Big Bend region, is an astrotourism destination where locals and tourists alike protect the night sky. Over the summer, a new fight began against the further development and upward expansion of the border wall. By the time this article was published, locals had
2026-27 Capstone
An 88 year old man, Charles Ross, a leader in his field, welcomes New York Times journalist Travis Diehl into his 50 year in the making land art project, Star Axis. Charles Ross designed Star Axis with input from astronomy and physics experts, though he has a degree in math.
2026-27 Capstone
The journal article Lost in the Glow: How Light Pollution Disrupts Pollinator Behavior is a structured literature review of the behavioral, ecological, and pollination-related impacts of artificial light at night on nocturnal pollinators, published in the Asian Journal of Environment and Ecology. "Artificial lighting acts simultaneously as both
2026-27 Capstone
Background I chose to work on the Dark Sky problem space that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Parks and Watercraft Division presented to our team. The Dark Sky Initiative aims to restore natural darkness at night, protect the right to dark skies, and conserve the nighttime ecosystem. When I
2026-27 Capstone
What is Biophilia “…Biophilia is not a single instinct but a complex of learning rules that can be teased apart and analyzed individually. The feelings molded by the learning rules fall along several emotional spectra: from attraction to aversion, from awe to indifference, from peacefulness to fear-driven anxiety.” A
2026-27 Capstone
I conducted an impromptu conversation with Buck Creek’s Naturalist Summer while attending a Bird Bingo event. Victoria and I attended because we had been having trouble getting to outdoor events due to the weather. This conversation clarified the structure of Ohio State Parks staff and the barriers to implementing
2026-27 Capstone
Studio Part, a Belgian design studio, created a willow branch grown bench that stays usable with a metal cover as it grows and strengthens. How It Works "To set up the mould, the first half of the structure is fixed to screw-post foundations and the planted willows are
2026-27 Capstone
A political columnist recounts his experience in a hay field with Smithsonian scientists and is inspired to leave his political journalism days to become an environmental journalist instead. He explains that his previous work left him in a perpetual state of unease, and that we all should take time to
2026-27 Capstone
This design conjecture was made in response to the interviews I did and the article about nocturnal pollinators. While this could be a fun project and a way to reach the next generation of environmentalists, I wouldn't bet it's the most impactful option among all possible