Final post

Final Post- Terry Baurley What I have learned is that science is not exact, and that the data, observation and facts are more important. The largest challenge I have had was working with incomplete data and trying to make sense of it all, which lead me to many inaccurate conclusions. Sources that are reliable are hard to come by on the web as a Google search. Ultimately though, interpretation of the data comes from experience, working with the data, understanding it and also observing it over a significant amount of time. It’s easy to make conclusions that are beliefs and it’s easy to make mistakes when asked to defend something. What I have learned and come to believe is that there is a difference between beliefs and facts. I do believe that when we care about the Harbor or the River or a species that it is important that we do our best. I believe that out teacher is one of the best I will have here at BU and I have learned an enormous amount. I have also enjoyed learning and spending time with all of my classmates. Thank you for patience and understanding. Best wishes to all of you in your future endeavors. See pictures below.

Final Post for ES 141

Well better late then never...LOL!!! I enjoyed this class but I really enjoyed meeting all the great people in this class. I took pleasure in all the interactions I had with all my fellow classmates and it is something I will not forget. I have never been fishing before so hooking that striped bass with Bruce and Izzy is a moment i will never forget. I plan to keep this short and sweet. Thank you Bruce and my fellow classmates for a great class. Good night everyone

Goodbye to Snails to Whales... But not forever!

            I thought that ES 141, From Snails to Whales, was a great class, right up my alley: a class I thoroughly enjoyed. Although I have visited Boston Harbor many times, ES 141 was extremely enjoyable.

            The ocean has always fascinated me, ever since I was a young child. I think that the ocean is an amazing place, full of mysteries to be solved and creatures to be understood and studied. This class helped me to more fully understand the mysteries of the ocean, more specifically the organisms that are in the Boston Harbor. I saw many different organisms than I had and had not seen before and learned much more about them. The organisms attached to the different docks and beaches are truly remarkable, and I know that I have only skimmed the surface of the organisms that are around the Boston Harbor.

            I truly enjoyed this class and I am sad that it has now ended. I learned more about a subject which I truly love and my mind has become expanded greatly. Not only are the things I learned fascinating and fun, but the people I met were amazing and I hope to stay in contact with them. On top of the merits of the class subject, the highest point of all were my classmates. True gems, all of them! Be sure to keep in touch! I already miss you guys!

A Farewell To Snails And Whales

ES 141 has been an amazing experience. We fished, we swam, we explored, we "did science" and most of all we interacted with each other. For most of my college experience I have sat in a classroom and never had the opportunity to know the person next to me. ES 141 brought us closer together. We got to learn about the harbor and eachother. This made learning about science a lot more enjoyable. 

Professor Berman, thanks a lot. You're enthusiasm rubbed off on us. As a class we were eager to get out on the water and see what new experiences the harbor could bring. My only gripe is waking up so early for class. Other than that ES 141 has been a memorable experience from the information gained to  the interaction with my fellow classmates. I will definitely recommend this class to anyone looking who may be on the fence about taking a science course.

Goodbye Post- Coulter Bailey

Well, this class was certainly interesting and an eye-opening experience. It was great to go fishing, explore the Boston Harbor Islands, and learn about different marine life. I definitely wouldn't have had as much fun if it weren't for the other students, and it certainly made it an awesome time.

It's sad that it's over, but it was still a great experience, and not something I will forget! I'm sure I'll spend more time on the waterfront, and when I do I'll think about this class and especially Karissa, Berit, Steve, and Stevie!

Farewell Blog Post

I, like many people, never had the strongest affinity for science, but to my surprise, this class has truly changed my feelings about the discipline. I think part of my aversion to the sciences was because they are mostly done in the abstract (like chemistry - when am I ever going to have first-hand experience with atoms?), but this class was almost completely interactive and experience-oriented, which could be why I was able to really enjoy myself. It was great to spend so much time touching, smelling, seeing, and even tasting, the things we were talking about in class. Much of what we learned was practical knowledge that extends to all scientific study, like understanding what kind of sources are trusted and reliable, and also taking into account how personal values are very important in science and determining what is important to an individual.

I also really enjoyed this class because I have learned about so many different seashore creatures, and what effects they have on the environment. We saw many types of fish, periwinkles, tunicates, sea squirts, sea stars, barnacles, different kinds of seaweed, and so much more! I now feel more knowledgeable about what is in the water around me, and I was glad to learn so many interesting things. For example, before this class, I would have never thought that a small, invasive species like the common periwinkle could have such significant effects on the ecosystem. Also, before this class, I probably would not have considered swimming in the Harbor, nor could I have imagined I would be eating raw fish from it!

This class sparked my interest in the Boston Harbor and waterfront, and has helped me to get out of the “BU Bubble” and to become better acquainted with and knowledgeable about the city in which I live. 

Aquarium and goodbye

After the whale watch was cancelled last week, I decided to go to the aquarium instead. I went to the seal tank, and got to watch the most adorable seals swim around, play together and do tricks their trainers had taught them. They can clap their flippers, slide along on their bellies and almost jump across rocks. It was really fun to watch them have fun. I also touched rays in the ray pool. They were very similar to the skate we saw on the boat. They were so smooth and soft! I got to watch divers feed the fish in the large center tank, which was really awesome. I got to see fish that can kill with poisons and venoms as well as harmless yet strange looking fish found commonly around us and throughout the world. It was great experience getting to observe and learn more about the different penguin species found across the planet. I have seen two or three types in living in New Zealand, yet I had never been able to observe so many so close. They way the almost fly through the water is stunningly beautiful.

This is my final post-and I want to thank you all for being a part of this awesome and different summer school experience. It was so great getting to play in the harbor, learn about what's around us and explore the creatures living so close by! I hope you all enjoyed the class as much as I did! Bruce, thank you for teaching us not only about the creatures and places we see, but also how to eat them haha. I am glad I tried the ceviche; I will absolutely make it at home!

Goodbye Post

Now that this course has come to an end, one can't avoid to just sit back and reflect on the time spent. This has been one of the more unique courses that I've ever taken. The scheduling, setting and professor have all been so different that it has been difficult to adjust. I have never taken a course in which the professor smoke while discussing our surroundings. To me, the experiences are one that I will not forget. Although its uniqueness was something that was difficult for me to adapt to, I will remember the information that I have learned about the harbor that's so close to my new home.

Yue Chan: 6th post

It saddens me to know the class is now over. I have not had as much fun with a class since 5th grade when I attended a weekend field trip to Tybee Island, Georgia and romped around salt marshes and horseshoe crab laden beaches. It was an incredible time learning about Boston Harbor's native and non-native species, the history of each island, how to fillet caught fish, and appreciating the beauty of this one of a kind harbor.

I originally signed up for this class expecting to familiarize myself with the geography and fauna of Boston Harbor in a stereotypical Boston University classroom with a couple short field trips, and having to sit through lectures about the basics of marine biology. It was a pleasant surprise to be taught more about Boston Harbor's history than the basics of marine biology, the field trips were more than just a couple, and learning about the fauna was taught by encouraging us to run around exploring Boston Harbor for ourselves with some guidance. I have to admit, I have great difficulty with a typical classroom setting and having to sit for too long, and so this class was really up my alley. 

Thank you Professor Berman for showing me first hand what the biodiversity of Boston Harbor is, how committees consider waterfront planning, how to identify non-native marine species, and the amazing work that you and Save the Harbor, Save the Bay have done to restore this gorgeous harbor. You have been an incredible inspiration to me, and I hope to follow in your footsteps in saving what I love and influencing others to see the value in that. Thank you so much. 

StevieMarie LaMonica - I Bid Farewell

August 4, 2013

 I never realized how lucky I was to live in Winthrop until I became an adult. As a kid, I just thought it was cool to live near the beach and watch the airplanes fly over all day long. My parents would take me for walks along the beach where we’d see a ton of periwinkles and snails. I’d pick them up, play with them, and then put them back, thinking how cute they were. Sometimes I’d get to see tiny, live crabs, but most of the time I just saw dead crabs or their shells, most likely from seagulls. In middle school we had a field trip to George’s Island where we had a picnic and a scavenger hunt, it was fun but we didn't really care all that much by what was around us, even though our teacher was trying to do his job; teach us something. As I got a little older, in my teens, I really just didn't care about any of it. Even thought I knew about tide pools in the harbor, and the islands, I never realized how much the organisms and species living in this place, that I’ve lived all of my life, had such an impact on the harbor, the environment and humans, too. It wasn’t until I took this class that I learned what invasive species were, and what harm they've done. I didn’t even realize these cute adorable little tiny periwinkles were invasive and not native, and their impact. To me, the Boston Harbor has always been dirty, even after I knew a little about the work that had been done to clean it up. It was nice to see that it really was cleaner, and wasn’t nearly as gross as I had thought. Pretending to be a visitor to the harbor really changed my attitude towards it. I get to appreciate it so much more now, and I want to learn so much more. I want to learn about all of the species, where they came from, if they’re native or invasive, and their impact. Luckily, I did get to learn quite a bit about that, and even learned about species and organisms I had never seen or, I have seen and just had no clue what they were, like tunicates. I thought that was just some yucky slime that was part of the dirty harbor, but that’s not the case at all. This class has made me want to spend more time at the harbor and in the city of Boston to keep expanding my knowledge, and appreciate even more where I live and where I’ve come from, and what I have surrounding me that is truly amazing. 

I have met some pretty awesome people in this class, and hope to stay connected with them. Especially my partners in crime; Coulter, Berit and Karissa <3 

Fallon Fernandes - Blog 5 (Good Bye Post)

Overall, I found the class to be a little more self-reliant than I would have like it to have been. However, I enjoyed the opportunity to explore Boston Harbor, an experience I had not yet had before this class. I will also walk away with more knowledge than I had about the life on our local sea shores.

Fallon Fernandes - Blog 4 (Lovells Island)

Out of all the trips we made during this class, this one was my favorite. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn how to catch fish. I even caught a black bass! Another student with the help from my teacher was able to snag a large striper.

After coming in contact with various species of fish on the boat, we got to the island. We walked to other side of the island to get to a specific tidal pool we were looking for. There we found many species, some we had seen before (i.e. sea cabbage, rock weed, kelp, barnacles, orange tunicates, etc.) and others we hadn't (i.e. periwinkles, asian shore crab and hermit crabs.) I later discovered that the asian shore crab was an invasive species that found its way to New Jersey via ballast from commercial ships. it wasn't long before its range expanded to the New England Coast.

Lastly, while making our way back tot he ship we discovered some land snails/garden snails in the shrubbery.

Final thoughts

The importance of science

I have learned the importance of the truth, and I now know the importance of distinguishing facts from boodoo science. Facts are based on close examination of the subject in question. Voodoo science is based on tales and believes that are not anchored with reality or facts. Science was important for our class in order to identify label and give the proper conclusion. This conclusion can be used to value, and input data, that will help track progress or changes, this is the reason why precise information is critical. With accurate information one can monitor the well-being of the ocean life.

The importance of the ocean to Boston

Boston has to spend a lot of money to improve the water and the ocean life . Boston has benefit from such improvements Boston has seen a greater number of game fishes along with added people utilizing the beaches adding to the number of attractions the city offers. This added  attraction has favored the tourist industry in that they have foreigners spending money to view the whales along with visiting the aquarium and the ocean walkway and beaches. The Community is also enjoying the the clean water and the added life given by having clean water. It has provided income through fishing and other ocean activities which have distinguished this part of the country from the rest.

I also learned how development happens in Boston. I was amazed when I attended the presentations that discuss the development of new projects and the impact they have on the way we live in Boston. I was also amazed at how many venture capital members attended such a meeting I quickly realized the potential income opportunity the ocean offers.

I also learned how we affect the ocean life I realized how important it is to make the right choices in regards to destinations and attractions. I was under the assumption that all attractions were created equal until I realize the amount of effort certain organizations set forth on conservation and education. Example of this is the New England Aquarium which is on the face of placing educational information free of charge in its open courtyard which will cost a great amount of revenue. At the same time this educational experience enhances the overall experience and improves the knowledge and importance of protecting the ocean life.

Another important observation was how we have change the ocean to make it more sustainable for life and future generations to enjoy. We discussed in class the history of the beaches and the problems they had in regards to waste. We learn how important it is for people to organize and speak their minds when needed. We learned about dreams and visions people had and how the made them a reality through community and goverment working together with a common interest.  But finally and most important we learnered how important it is to educate on the public in regards to the ocean life and its resources. Our professor showed how's the way by inviting and challenging us to see the beauty and the challenges that lie ahead. Our professor shared his love for the ocean and his knowledge in the ecosystem and I will forever be thankful for such a gift and great experience.

thanks a Ton I Loved this Experience !

The Public Hearing

The Public Hearing and its highlights,

On this day we were invited to hear community leaders and special interest party’s debate over the future of 3 project development. The first was dealing with tourism and how the Long Wharf hotel was trying to renovate its exterior structure to be more accommodating to truism. This was a special interest subject to them since they had noticed a growing interest in the ocean front by locals and tourist. They spoke of building the exterior to accommodate benders  and give a better experience to our visitors. It was very interesting to see how real world developers and venture capital unite to capture an opportunity. I learned how practical my professors inside view was, in class we spoke about the opportunities found in the oceanfront and in this field trip special interest groups were very interested in addressing that potential.

During the presentation we learned about the importance of developing alongside with the community and the positive impacts good organizations can have improving the community.

We also learned about the management of buildings in regards to the structure and the future of important community space. The guest speaker spoke about projects she had worked on and the hinders of maintaining developments that were not carefully envision. He spoke of an incident where he had to replace light bulbs with a crane because the developers did not think of the practicality of using sergeant fixtures to illuminate at night. He spoke of the constant divisions between local state and federal property along with his involvement with the new park he was managing. He told us how important it is for him and his team to have practical development, he wanted everyone in the room to understand he had limited resources and a careful well thought and planned out project would have the greatest impact on the community. He gave the example of the new structure that use renewable energy to power lights and the water fountains he noted how well it worked out and how much the community enjoyed the experience.

Finally we got an oversight of buildings overcoming global warming and rising ocean currents. The guest speaker was introducing their plan for relocating all there basement equipment to the second floor of the building. They pointed out how expensive it was for them too make such renovations, along with how they felt a sense of urgency to start remodeling they're building to prevent flooding and keep the building in operation.

Experts on the board helping to direct and organize this event our professor delivered expert advice to the board in regards to the future of the oceanfront. I felt very proud to have the opportunity to participate in his classroom and learn from his experience. During the board meeting his advice was greatly appreciated by everyone present. I felt that my professor was the individual that gave the most complete and on point information.

The ideas presented all had value to the present guess especially the individuals trying to get the community to agree with them on their projects our class view of the field trip was good we all liked the chance to see real world negotiation and compromises.

The Aquarium's vision was very aligned with what we had spoken about in a previous class. Our professor had talked about how the aquarium needed a different appearance due to having an exterior that was unfavorable, he told us about the history and why it looks so out of contacts.  Our professor had pointed out lacking exterior attributes such an as having no windows or paint. The developers of the aquarium spoke about those exact problems and how they planned on fixing them. I learned a lesson in trusting the experts and there hindsight along with the affect of working together to reach a common goal.

First time fishing with the PROS!

Best day of the week, by Yahir Flores

Fishing in the ocean was exciting I did not catch a fish, but sure dreamed one day I will.  My classmates were having a lot of fun catching fish and one lucky one pulled 30 inch stripper how amazing. During this time our instructor was helping the students understand the importance of sustainable fishing and other important topics. I was amazed at how easy people were catching fish and at how accessible fishing in the ocean was if you knew to go with. Our tractor was very knowledgeable in regards to the ocean life, and the specific rules and regulations that deal with sustainability and long term use.

Lovell’s Island field trip was amazing in all the ways measurable. The Island was under used and very interesting I found it personally to be very refreshing as a went for a water observation. In which I learned that boats make waves at first I was thinking of the power behind the engine and the disturbance humans  make but then I realized its not such a bad wave compared to North Eastern and other severe weather.

Lovell’s Island used to be a military outpost control by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and I found it to be very inviting. It offered to the public a grill to cook benches to sit on and walkways to keep you moving without disturbing the plants, rabbits, and birds. I really liked the welcome we got by the guardians advising us to always be mindful of our  trash and to make the best effort to take it all back out, its always a good to see authority value and educate.  

In the Island I picked up two slugs with white with dark stripes going around the shell which I believe are  white-lipped banded snail. I found them hanging out in a tree that had other suffered a little damage from getting eaten by many slugs over time. I decided to give the tree a break and take two slugs with me to keep as pets they are named Venture and Capital I decided that taking them from their habitat was a minimal harm and would most likely save their lives from being eaten by birds.

I also encountered some shells attached to rocks that contain edible sea life I was told I could eat one or two but not to get carried away I had three and I strongly recommend to my classmates to try something new. It was tasty and had a see like taste, I like it, and was please to now know of a food in case I ever need to survive in an Island.  

On our way back into the city we learned to use all of the food a stripe bass provides and a demonstration was given showing how to kill and skin a fish to reduce the suffering and get the most of your fish catch I then went on and tried to repeat the process on another fish and found it to be help full to learn by doing I am now able to safely skin and cook a fish.  We also found out what fish in the sea are eating, small shrimp and wanted to eat out worm.

Experiment of fish and other plants

Salt and pepper, butter, green beans, olives, low heat and a lot of love.  

I have never had such fun cooking for my love ones I just wish I had hooked the fish my self next time I will do it all myself from start to finish. I really enjoyed this day I learned a lot and made a connection with the ocean I had not felt before I will always remember the great experience and fun I had.

The Whale Watch that Wasn't.

The Last Class

The fish facts (stripers) was interesting even thou my argument concerning PCB's and mercury contamination differed from everyone else.

The class was fun, although I would have liked to have visited some of the other harbor islands.

Whale Watch

The whale watch didn't happen due to an uncooperative sea however here are some fun facts about whales.

Human's have a hearing center that is the size of a small pearl (3-4mm).

a dolphins has a hearing center about the size of a golf ball

A large whale has a hearing center the size of a baseball - they can dive hundreds of kilometers and still hear and can hear thousands of kilometers at the surface.

There are 85 different species of whales

You can tell the age of whale by looking at the wax plug in it ear.  The plug has a pattern of layers and when cut lengthwise, you can count the rings to determine the age - just like counting the rings of a tree.