One Person Can Change the World
Farquhar Honors College
Teagle Foundation - Knowledge for Freedom Program
Everything Everglades
How Is Rising Sea Level Affecting the Everglades?
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Natalia F.
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June 29, 2023
What – My change project will be a website addressing the effects of rising sea levels in Florida and how it is impacting the Everglades. My main goal when it comes to this project is to inform more young Floridians about the fragile state of the Everglades. The young Floridians I will be targeting is a part of Generation Z. Half of this generation is getting to the age where they can be involved with political policies. I hope with the new education they have received they will use it to help create new laws that protect the Everglades.
My project contains contexts of politics because political action is needed to start making changes and battling against major environmental issues we face. My project also contains contexts of the literary. After reading “Voices from White Earth” I realized that my change project does not only have to send out one message, but it can send out multiple at once. I hope my project will be the same as the article “Voices from White Earth” did. One of the messages I want to send to my audiences is how important it is to take care of our planet. The other message I want to send to my audience is knowledge can lead to change. Lastly the philosophical context of my project is related to Thomas Hobbes philosophy. Hobbes believed the government is needed to maintain order and peace among humans. The results I hope to see with my change project are new political polices that prevent dangerous humans’ activities towards the Everglades. The first political move is to change or create new laws in Broward to protect the Everglades. Then create new state policies.
Before starting my change project, I did research on what Floridians knew about sea level rise in Florida and the Everglades state. The purpose of this beforehand research is to present new information to the public and be more straightforward instead of repeating old information. After looking for sources I concluded that it is hard to know what people already know. However, my project will inform the Floridian who do not know and present new information to the ones who have background knowledge. To accomplish this, I will have a section where individuals who are not informed can visit and another section were individuals with some background knowledge can visit to find out more.
What I want Floridians to take away from my change project is to realize how important the Everglades is to everything in Florida. Florida will never be the same without the Everglades. I want my project to spread awareness to problems facing the Everglades and what can be done to save it.
Who – Everyone living in Florida will be associated with my change project. Since more than 7.7. million people depend on the Everglades for fresh drinking water. The state of the Everglades impacts everything in Florida (social, economic, & political impacts). Generation Z will be associated with my project since they’re my main target audience.
When – My change project will be covering issues that the Everglades face between the years 2018 to the present (2023). I will be working on my change project all throughout my senior year of high school.
Where – All of my progress updates will be available online.
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E-magazine (Zine): Natalia F. | NSU Change Scholars
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Project Website: Coming soon.
Why – The change project is important to me because it represents who I am. Something I care about. My sophomore year of high school I realized how important Earth is to me. It’s my home and everyone’s home too. All the environmental issues affect everyone on Earth even the abiotic factors.
The story of how I came up with my change topic is a simple yet interesting story. During my junior year of high school, I worked at the Museum of Discovery and Science located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I worked as an eco-explorer at the museum for a whole year. At the museum I was able to talk to guests about the Everglades; however, I realized that most of the young guests did not know about the problems the Everglades was facing and how humans’ activities have contributed to this problem. When I first learned about the change project, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to create a resource where anyone can learn about the Everglades and its main enemy, rising sea levels.
How – My change project is going to be a way for how I express myself. My topic is about something I am passionate about. My website will show off my design skills and the IT skills I have developed. It will also show off my research skills and writing skills. Everything in my change project will be 100% me.
Gorgeous Rose Quartz Crystal Sphere ~58mm.” Crystal Age Gemstones & Crystals (CrystalAge.Com), www.crystalage.com/online_store/gorgeous-rose-quartz-crystal-sphere-58mm428121359.cfm. Accessed 13 June 2023
Public Resource List
Bernhardt, James. “Rising Sea Levels Could Accelerate Florida Bay Mangrove Loss”. USGS Blog. ProQuest.com. August 14, 2019, https://www.proquest.com/docview/2297109388/fulltext/BEDD5E3640F44B5CPQ/1?accountid=6579 Accessed 14 June 2023
This article was originally published on August 14, 2019. This article contains information about how rising sea levels is affecting the mangrove ecosystem. The mangrove ecosystem is one of the many different ecosystems found in the Everglades. There is enough information found in this article to help me answer my question. The author, James Bernhardt, is a government worker. USGS is a government site that Bernhardt’s article was published on. He does not have a profile which affects the credible of this article because there is no evidence providing the author is qualified to write about this topic. However, since the article was published on an official government website it can rightfully assume James Bernhardt is a official scientist or has degrees in this topic. This article was not published recently; however, it does not affect its accuracy. This article helps look at the state of the Everglades four years ago. Comparing past information found in this article to current information in different articles. Has shown over the past four years. The state of the Everglades has slowly gotten worse. Comparing the article to other articles has also strengthened the credibility of this article. Since the information found in this article matches with new and past articles covering the effects of rising sea level on the Everglades. Another factor that makes this article is the author’s purpose for writing this article. The author wrote this article to inform the public and other scientists about high sea levels affecting the Mangroves in the Everglades. A last factor that strengthens the credibility of this article is where the author got the information used in the article. Throughout the article statements from different researchers and statistics are shown. The author received this information from Natural Science Collection and ProQuest One Academic. Two databases that provide information about environmental issues.
Gramling, Carolyn. “Everglades on the Edge”. Science News, vol. 194, no. 4, Aug. 2018, pp. 18–23. Academic Search Premier, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=131039010&site=ehost-live. Accessed 27 June. 2023
This case study was originally published on August 4, 2018. The case study contains information on how sea level rise is affecting the Everglades. Various numbers of topics were covered, including threats of floods, sea water intrusion, decreasing of transition zone, and how soil chemicals change. This case study contains tons of information to help me answer my question. The author, Carolyn Gramling, is an Earth and Climate Writer for Science News Magazine. She received her bachelor’s diploma in Geology and European History and a Ph.D. in marine geochemistry. Carolyn Gramling’s resume has shown that the information she is presenting is credible because she is qualified to speak knowledgeably about my topic. Another factor that makes this case study credible is the purpose of it. The purpose of this is to inform the public and spread awareness about problems facing the Everglades. A lot of data is shown through the text. All the data is backed up by evidence from ecologists and hydrogeologists.
Chamber, Lisa G., et al. “Biogeochemical Effects of Simulated Sea Level Rise on Carbon Loss in an Everglades Mangrove Peat Soil.” Hydrobiologia, vol. 726, no. 5, 2013, pp.195–211. Springer Link. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1764-6. Accessed 28 June. 2023
This journal was originally published on December 5, 2013. The journal contains information on the effects of increased salinity and inundation on the Mangrove soil. This journey article contains information that will help me answer one topic that falls under the main question: How is Rising Sea Levels Effecting the Everglades? This journey has five authors. All the authors specialize in environmental studies. Lisa G. Chambers has a degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Stephen E. Davis is a part of the Everglades Foundation located in Palmetto, Florida. Alan Downey-Wall is a part of the department of Life Sciences in Texas A & M University. Tiffany Troxler, Joseph N. Boyer, and Leonard J. Scinto are a part of environmental research centers. Tiffany Troxler and Leonard J. Scinto are from the Florida International University environment research center located in Miami, Florida. While Joseph B is from Plymouth State University Environment Research Center located in Plymouth, New Hampshire. All the authors’ resumes have shown that the information they’re presenting is credible because they are qualified to speak knowledgeably about my topic. Another factor that makes this journal credible is the purpose of writing the journal. The environmentalists all came together to give a deep inside to the public about the extreme impacts the Everglades is facing due to rising sea levels in Florida. A last factor that makes this journal credibility is where the authors are receiving the information presented in the journal. The authors conducted their own research with the help of their environmental research centers and colleagues. This journal was also peer reviewed by different environmental authors. In addition, many references were used to present accurate information.
Dessu, Shimelis B., et al. “Using empirical data and modeled scenarios of Everglades restoration to understand changes in coastal vulnerability to sea level rise.” Climatic Change vol. 168, no. 19, 2021, p. 19 Springer Link. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-021-03231-9. Accessed 28 June. 2023
​This journal was originally published on October 19, 2021. The journal contains information on how rising sea levels is affecting the Everglades and delaying the process of Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). This journal contains information to help me answer my main question and answer one of the main topics I will be addressing in my change project, Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. This journal has four authors. All authors have a background in environmental studies and are specialized in Everglades studies. Shimelis B. Dessu and Rene M. Price are both a part of the department of Earth and Environment at Florida International University located in Maimi, Florida. Stephen E. Davis and Rajendra Paudel are a part of the Everglades Foundation located in Palmetto Bay, Florida. All the author’s resumes have shown that the information they’re presenting is credible because they are qualified to speak knowledgeably about my topic. Another factor that makes this source credible is the purpose of writing the journal. The authors wanted to provide the public with a source that would explain the effects rising sea levels is having on the Everglades but, also provide graphs that would display this information in numbers. A last factor that makes this journal credibility is where the authors are receiving the information they are presenting in the journal. As well as the last journal in source three, the authors conducted their own research. Their work was peer reviewed and references used we cited.
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