​To reflect on our class’s experiences at the Civic Garden Center and Livewell, and through the documentary and podcasts, I decided to paint. I, like many other environmentalists, am extremely worried about the drop in the honeybee population in the last century. I consume so many products that depend on bees- almonds and Chapstick being two small examples- so from an unbiased standpoint, I have reason to care about the bees. However, my anxiety surrounding the situation comes more from a feeling of empathy. Seeing hundreds of colonies die in the documentary was heartbreaking to me, especially when the beekeeper spoke about his loss. He explained that when he began beekeeping, losing a hive was like losing a family member. Now, he’s lost so many hives that he is essentially numb to the pain. The bees are dying for different reasons; the varroa destructor mite, pesticides, climate change, and others. Each issue is large on its own, but they all combine to create what seems like an impossible problem. We also learned at the Civic Garden Center and through the podcast about the hierarchy and roles in a hive. After learning about the precise and complex societies in beehives and understanding how much humans depend on bees, I couldn’t understand why colony collapse disorder is not discussed more often.
When I first thought about everything we had learned, including colony collapse, bee hive structures, and the demanding pollinating industry, I couldn’t help but focus on the bees’ beauty and complexity. While the issue of the bees is depressing and stressful, I saw the joy of beekeeping firsthand at the Civic Garden Center. Seeing the potential for safe and healthy hives gave me hope for a future for the bees.
In my painting, I wanted to capture both the good and ugly of bees. I painted the bees in a garden of lavender, with a background of vibrant colors. Even though the bees, flowers, and sky are beautiful, I attempted to show pesticides from the flowers poisoning the bees. It’s a simple painting, but I enjoy looking at it, just like I enjoy the nature of bees. I wanted it to remind me of the bees’ importance, being an indicator species, and show the threats of our world today. 

Reflection 2

Link to presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15BLwvnst5Gc3n1VkLRvNdPYyjlkyzSfRezNiNGH1Qug/edit?usp=sharing

My group read The History of Bees by Maja Lunde for our book club project. I decided to write about the effect the book had on me personally, because it was truly an eye-opener due to its Realism aspects. 

This novel is from the point of view of three different people in different decades. William is a depressed scientist in 1852 who tries to reinvent the beehive in a groundbreaking and practical way. George is a beekeeper in 2007, whose bees suffer from colony collapse disorder. His story accurately depicts the struggles that beekeepers face today and emphasizes how the disappearance of bees is a multi-faceted issue. Tao lives in the year 2098, and she is a hand-pollinator in the countryside of China. Her story is the one that resonated with me the most; she lives in a time after humans have killed all of the bees, and the human race is essentially dying out. 

In my journalism class, we read a study done by NPR which researched how young people between the ages of 16 and 25 feel about the future of our planet (article linked below). I was shocked to read that 55% of young people feel that our future is doomed. Three quarters of young people felt powerless, guilty and anxious. I wanted to study environmental studies because I was optimistic and thought that I could make a change, but as time has gone on, I can easily say I am a part of the 55%. It's heartbreaking as a young person to see powerful companies destroy our earth, and it's even sadder to see people I know deny the issue. I feel, as young girl, nobody in power would take my voice seriously. 

Reading Lunde's novel definitely worsened my anxiety about our future. Tao's story was scarily accurate, depicting imagery of monoculture, hand pollination, and lack of animals that humans made extinct. I didn't particularly enjoy the novel because of the anxiety it gave me. It was hard to read about the inevitable, and it was more frustrating that I couldn't make a big enough change to stop that potential future. However, I think this book is an amazing piece of literature that should be taught in schools, especially to college kids. Many of my friends believe and are worried about climate change, and I think this book could be an impetus to action. I also know many people my age who completely deny the concept of climate change, and if this book was read in biology and environmental classes, it could be eye-opening coming from the university.

Despite the negative feelings this book gave me, it made me more determined to do something about the issue. I've always been confident that I chose the right major, but now I feel positive that it's my purpose in life to bring about awareness and change. The bees are one of the indicating factors that prove climate change is happening, and while I might not go on to focus on bees specifically, I can still appreciate their importance and educate those around me. 

Link to NPR study: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/14/1037023551/climate-change-children-young-adults-anxious-worried-study

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Reflection 3

​Beginning with the brainstorming process, to our low-fidelity prototype, and finishing with our final prototype, my group’s ideas and designs changed drastically. We initially thought some basic armor and a filter for pesticides would be the simplest and most effective way to improve the honeybee. Our low-fidelity prototype was made of plastic cartons, covered in yellow fluffy fabric, and laser-printed cardboard hexagons. The idea for the hexagons was the first thing that popped into our heads, but we came to learn that it was the most practical and useful shape. The hexagons covered the most surface area on the bee’s body to block out Varroa mites, but still allowed enough space to let pollen in. It also is a shape the bee is familiar with, due to the hexagon shape of the honeycomb.
When laser-printing the hexagons, we used cardboard and the printers in the Maker’s Space. Because of the lightness of the material, almost half of the hexagons got blown into the back of the machine. We learned to tape down the cardboard and use a heavier material for such small objects.
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We initially used a large cardboard tube to act as a filter for pesticides – we thought that it could allow the bees to collect pollen and reject the pesticides, letting them flow out the side of the filter. However, we realized that it would have been nearly impossible to design a filter that can differentiate between pesticides and pollen, especially because there are so many types of pesticides, and their size is miniscule.
The biggest transition between our first model and our final one was the way we approached the issue of pesticides. We discovered that there were two types of immune systems- innate and adaptive, and the bee has an innate one. This means that their immune system is unable to detect harmful substances, such as pesticides, and is immediately affected by the substance. An adaptive immune system would allow the bee to grow an immunity to pesticides after consuming them once, similar to a human’s immune system. An unintended consequence of this would be a disruption of the ecosystem. If bees are able to overcome the effects of pesticides, other species that are harmed by them would become outnumbered.
An unintended consequence of the armor is a longer development time and heavier body, so we expanded the wind span. The final model was 3D printed on Joseph’s personal printer- he very meticulously laid out each hexagon on the bee’s body. Overall, I learned so much about building prototypes. I haven’t had any classes where I engineer a design or solve a complex problem like this one, and I feel confident enough to do it again in the future. 

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Talking About Music is Like Dancing About Architecture
Interview with an Innovator - Roger Klug 

Roger Klug is a musician and professor at the University of Cincinnati teaching one of the most popular classes; Music of the Beatles. He studied Music Theory at UC and writes and plays music all over Cincinnati. 
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Klug is a unique example of an innovator - he uses uncommon teaching methods to introduce the Beatles to a generation that might not be very familiar with the iconic band. He views innovation as doing something that hasn't been done before- making two seemingly unrelated things work together. He carries out this idea of innovation in his class of 200 students by combining teaching with music theory. Klug acknowledges that sitting in a lecture hall listening to a professor talk for over an hour can feel boring, so he utilizes a strategy from pop songs to engage the class. Pop songs have choruses and riffs that are repeated throughout, and Klug repeats the most important takeaways throughout his lecture to make sure the students comprehend it. He also incorporates guitar-playing and listening to music in his class so that the students truly appreciate the music - this could be related to Dr. Holland's lecture about creating an experience to do research and learn through art. Klug wants his students to feel the impact of the music, rather than just learn about it, and this can only be done letting them experience the music themselves. 
Klug also sees innovation as constantly growing and adapting to different eras and movements. He began teaching in 2010 and says that his methods of engaging and communicating with students have changed drastically. He is able to relate the Beatles to other artists from the 1960's, but shows how they inspired modern artists, such as Frank Ocean and One Direction. According to Klug, innovation is never settling; it is being aware of what we could do better. He also emphasizes that failing is one of the most important aspects of innovation, which also ties into our class As a musician, he's had hundreds of projects that were not as successful as anticipated or performances that did not go according to plan. He says that these 'fails' have only motivated him to continue to write music and teach, and helped him learn what not to do in the future. 
When I asked him what potential issues there are with motivation, he related it to his song-writing. It can be easy to be carried away with ambition, and constantly feel like you have to be producing something new and exciting. Klug says that hundreds of times he has tried to force himself to write new music, but it's impossible to be groundbreaking when you aren't feeling inspired. The pressure to be the 'next big thing' certainly comes with the mindset of being an innovator. 
One 'dream' project that Klug would love to work on is to go to England and sit down with Giles Martin, the son of Beatles producer George Martin. He wants to go through all of the Beatles recordings and learn about how each song was made from a reliable source, so that he can use that information in his classes. He would also love to put out his own book about the music of the Beatles. He says that in a way, he's already doing so through his teaching; he is able to provide his thoughts and appreciation for the Beatles for students who might not be familiar with their music. He has given hundreds of students the opportunity to listen to one of the most influential bands of all time and to truly appreciate the gift of learning. 

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Final Project Reflection

Our final project for Sticky Innovation was to work in a group to design and engineer something that would aid the dying population of bees. I was extremely excited for this project because I enjoyed the vagueness of the requirements; we could develop a product for an 'ideal world' without being constrained by reality. This room for creativity was shown in the difference of projects among the three groups. 

I worked in a team with Arman, Griffin, and Jacob and we decided to develop a sustainable take-out container that contained seeds, so it blossomed into flowers. We wanted to focus on the lack of pollinator plants in urban environments and find a convenient way to encourage people to plant flowers. The basis for our idea only took a single brainstorming session, but we noticed immediately there were a lot of factors to think about. Our container would have to hold hot and liquid foods but be made of all organic materials, and we had to find a way to market the product to those who might be uncomfortable with the change. We started the process by researching which seeds are native to different areas and used a wildflower mix for Cincinnati flowers, and then began to develop the bowl. The shape of our bowl was similar to that of the Chipotle bowl because it is an extremely popular restaurant on campus and produces a substantial amount of waste daily. 

A lot of background research went into this project; Arman and I were responsible for researching how much Styrofoam and plastic waste is created through the production and use of takeout containers. We discovered that 44% of plastic found in the ocean is from takeout containers, and that less than half of food packaging waste is recycled. Even though the negative effects of single-use takeout containers are easy to see, most people still use the products for convenience purposes. 

To develop our bowl, we blended up a mixture of recycled paper, glue, and water to create a thick paste. We then strained it, mixed seeds in, and placed it into a 3-D printed mold that Jacob made. The final texture of the bowl ended up being very similar to other takeout containers, which we were very happy about.

After successfully creating our bowl, we began to consider the marketing aspect of the product. It would be difficult to market a 'seed bowl' to people who just want to be comfortable with their routine, so I tried to think of incentives to get consumers to use the bowl. There are many environmental benefits to using and planting the bowl, but for consumers that are not environmentalists, I created a points system. The brand Reflora would have a website or app that allows consumers to show they flowers they have planted with the Reflora bowl, and in return get free meals at restaurants that offer the bowl. Having flowers on rooftop gardens, in apartments, and flower boxes also improves the appearance of a living space and helps with anxiety and depression.

It was easy to market this bowl to environmentalists. To begin, having a biodegradable bowl would greatly reduce the amount of trash in landfills, in oceans, and on the streets. It also could improve the quality of landfills by combating methane release. Having plants in urban environments would decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, but most importantly, it would help the population of bees by giving them access to pollinator plants. 

For our final presentation, Griffin made an amazing graphic that explained the issue, our product, and our product's benefits. We showcased our bowl and provided seed packets for people to plant their own flowers.

I learned so much about teamwork and innovation through this product. All four of us were in different majors, so it was interesting to see where everyone's strengths were used. An environmental studies major, I personally focused on the carbon footprint of takeout containers and the beneficial effects the Reflora bowl would have. I am also a marketing minor, so it was really fun to try to brand the product  for all takeout container users. I wanted to give the brand an organic and modern energy, but also keep it simple and easy to understand. 

My favorite part of the project was creating the paste to make the bowl. It was interesting to see how simple the product was, and how much easier it would be for companies to use less substances in their containers. This project also encouraged me to plant more bee-friendly flowers in my living space.

I also really enjoyed hearing the other two groups' presentations. They changed my mindsets about agriculture and lawn culture and encouraged me to be more conscious of my own carbon footprint,

Course Reflection

I was very nervous to join this honors seminar for multiple reasons. I think I was the youngest student in the class - I remember realizing most of my peers were fourth or fifth years, and many were in engineering-focused majors. I am a second year environmental studies major, so I could not help but compare myself to others. However, by the end of the semester I had grown confident in my innovative ideas and felt encouraged to keep asking questions and develop solutions.

I loved the 'theme' of the course, which was the complex problem of the declining bee populations. I already knew a lot about this topic from my major, but I had never actually considered solutions to this problem. I think my favorite part of the course was the seminar where we discussed the wicked problem as a whole. I love talking about complex issues and really enjoyed discussing the dynamic of politics, economics, consumerism, and production. I loved the debate that sparked and questions that arose. I am very intrigued by these social constructs that affect every aspect of our lives, so it was wonderful just hearing about everyone's different opinions. I also thoroughly enjoyed tracing and drawing bees. This activity made me appreciate the species more and reminded me of our focus every time I walked in the classroom. 

I think the most special part about this course was the collaboration with other students. I loved seeing Griffin use his design skills to create our infographic and Arman talking about food deserts from his study of homelessness. It was so fun bouncing ideas off of each other and seeing what each student brought to the table. For the book report project, it was very interesting to see my group's analysis of The History of Bees by Maja Lunde. Literature has always been my favorite subject, so I loved hearing my group members' thoughts about the book and how they differed from mine. This course has encouraged me to collaborate with people different from me. It has made me excited to go out into the world and work with people of all different backgrounds and expertise, and has reminded me that even wicked problems can be tackled with innovation.