I recently presented research at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a member of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), I had the opportunity to enter into the student competition, mainly consisting of graduate students, for the chance to win the Tracy I. Storer Award.
My research investigates how varying water parameters influence trematode intensity and prevalence on freshwater fish. My results thus far have supported that its prevalence in the ecosystem has dramatically decreased compared to previous years. This sheds light on the relevancy of parasite conservation in the ever-changing world of the Anthropocene.
At the conference, I attended presentations given by experts in the field which allowed me to reflect upon what I might want to research in a graduate program or what kinds of job opportunities would be available to me in the future.
I am forever grateful to the Honors Program for providing me with the opportunity and funding to develop, conduct, and present this thesis project. I’d also like to thank the College of Natural and Health Sciences and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry for additional grants and funding.
I recently went to Buenos Aires, Argentina for two weeks through a faculty-led course in the criminology and criminal justice department. We were able to tour very prestigious places such as the Supreme Court, National Congress, police academies, and the University of Buenos Aires. Through these experiences, we met and spoke with a variety of people in the criminal justice field including police officers, lawyers, and the Minister of Justice for Buenos Aires. We did a lot of sightseeing, such as visiting soccer stadiums, a boat ride to Uruguay, and ate lots of empanadas. I found it interesting how heavily their government impacts their daily life. The University of Buenos Aires is free to attend because the government funds it. However, when we toured and met students there, many of the lights were off because there was not enough funding. We noticed things like this throughout our entire trip. The thing that stuck with me the most is how passionate people are about their careers in Buenos Aires. Everyone we met was very excited to have us there, and they shared about how they want to improve their criminal justice system and how much they admire the United States’ system.
Dr. Dieringer recently traveled to Sweden to learn about eco-municipalities, a topic she wants to bring back to enhance her dialectics class, Hon 240: Florida’s Future — Climate Change at Home. Here is what she wrote:
Sweden is so much more than meatballs, Ikea, and red, fish-shaped gummy candy. Unlike the U.S., Sweden embraces climate change and is determined to be more sustainable for its future. I was fortunate to participate in the Sustainable Sweden Association study tour during May 2024. Sweden has almost one-third of its 290 geographic areas designated as eco-municipalities. Eco-municipalities are communities dedicated to a sustainable way of life. I learned the theory and framework for developing eco-municipalities in large and small areas, even on our UT campus.
Sustainability is everywhere in Sweden. A clean water sign greeted me upon my arrival in Stockholm. I was skeptical, but the water was delicious. I filled my “Stanley” from the tap every day! I noticed wooden utensils in fast food places, and I was surprised to learn the cap from my Coke bottle was designed to remain part of the bottle. What a clever idea to protect our marine life from those pesky bottle caps.
Bottle Designed to Retain Cap
Clean Water Sign at Stokholm Airport
Eco-municipalities have three overlapping efforts. The first is environmental sustainability which preserves the environment for future generations. The second is economic sustainability which concentrates on individual human needs, and the third is social sustainability which responds to the long-term needs of society, e.g., health care. Just like a canoe, all efforts must be equally balanced to create a truly sustainable future.
The highlight of the tour was our visit to three eco-municipalities in the remote, rural area of northern Sweden, near the Arctic Circle. Our first stop was Kalix where the National Association of Swedish Eco-Municipalities (SEKOM) conference was being held. The annual conference brought representatives of successful eco-municipalities from all over Sweden. I was fortunate to network with many of them during fikas, the Swedish version of coffee breaks accompanied with delicious, sweet treats. They gave me great advice on starting a new eco-municipality at UT. One participant told me to, “Make things easy for people to do the right thing.”
SEKOM measurable indicators
I also toured the House of Care. This agency primarily serves home-bound elderly in the community. Their extensive fleet of electric cars allows clean and green transportation while providing this service. The next stop on the tour was Overtornea where I visited the village of Juoksengi, with a population of 300. I was delighted to converse about climate change and sustainability with the residents while enjoying locally grown food. Cucumber, tomatoes, and other vegetables are grown year-round in greenhouses. The entrée consisted of reindeer meat with a side of their famous potatoes.
Sustainable food production
Overtornea, and Sweden, are serious about recycling. There are no landfills in Sweden! Everything is recycled, reused, repurposed, burned cleanly for heat, or converted to biofuel. I soon realized I needed new luggage to transport my many souvenirs. My clunky, old, worn-out suitcase just wouldn’t do. Having purchased a set of two new suitcases, I needed to dispose of my old one. I adopted the Swedish mentality and proudly walked one mile, dragging my empty suitcase, to properly deposit it at a recycling center.
Electronic recycling center in Overtornea
My last stop before returning to Stockholm was Hudiksvall. It has been an eco-municipality since 2002. There I met with business representatives and economic development leaders. I learned how sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) is considered in all aspects of government decision making. Businesses report annual sustainability measures to help monitor the city’s progress meeting sustainability goals.
Sweden electricity generation is fossil free. This created a determination to produce more with electricity. Hiab is a sustainable business in Hudiksvall that produces fully electric cranes. Electronic cranes are incredibly quiet which is better for the operators and allows for nighttime use. Hiab’s website calculates the dollar value of savings as well as the carbon reduction from implementing their electric canes.
Hiab fully electric truck and crane
Operating the electric crane by remote control
I am grateful for this opportunity to travel to Sweden. I expected to learn about eco- municipality theory and experience practical sustainability strategies to incorporate in my HON 240 climate change class. I left educated and encouraged by the seemingly small actions that became the momentum for big changes. My spirit was renewed and filled with confidence for a sustainable future.
Workshop presenter slide “Seeing the present and the vision of a sustainable future”
