Conservation in Tompkins County

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

For the last Rose Cafe of the year, Andy Zepp, the Director of the Finger Lakes Land Trust, came to talk about his organization that aims to buy and protect natural areas. The process of protecting land is quite different in each case. In general, Zepp and his team will approach the owner of the land and attempt to buy it or trade it. Sometimes the original owner retains some rights to the land after the transaction. In every case, the purpose isn’t to preserve the land and keep it stagnant, but rather to protect beautiful natural areas from excessive logging or degradation. Farming practices continue to evolve, and so does land use and urbanization. Zepp admits these can’t and shouldn’t be halted, but a sustainable and mutually beneficial solution for both the land owner and the natural area can be found.

It was interesting to learn about the slow and deliberate method of buying small parcels of land and putting them together over time to protect a more complete area. It was also fascinating to see how land use changed over such a short amount of time, and how this impacts the environment greatly. For instance, Zepp showed a sequence of images of the same cluster of houses and farms dating back over a hundred years. In the early photograph, the steep, hilly slope in the background was used for grazing sheep, which led to a lot of erosion. In the next, several years later, the hill was overgrown with a forest. Zepp also talked about the importance of conserving old growth forests, as these are the rarest kind in Tompkins county. As I went on a tour of the Fisher Old-Growth Forest just a few weeks ago, I could connect with what he was saying about the value of these untouched ecosystems.

I found this talk to be enjoyable and informative. I didn’t know that something like the Land Trust existed, but it makes sense to protect the abundance of beautiful natural areas in this region, as some environmental laws aren’t always enforced and some land owners might not know what is best for conserving their land.

Nutella Crepes and Good Company

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

I’ve been to the Farmer’s Market at least a dozen times, but each time is a treat. Joining a group from Rose, I ventured down to Cayuga Lake on a chilly, yet sunny Saturday morning. The usual local vendors were present, selling everything from fresh vegetables to hand-made jewelry to flavored honey. The fact that everything at the Farmer’s Market was made within 30 miles really puts emphasis on the down-to-earth and sustainable living aspect of the market. It’s also a great way of presenting Ithaca’s unique flavor. The beautiful wooden pavilion strung with fairy lights and the dock by the water make this one of Ithaca’s most charming destinations, in my opinion.

After looking around for a while and buying a strawberry and Nutella crepe (highly recommended), I wandered over to the dock where I spent time getting to better know people in Rose who I lived close to the whole year but never had a long conversation with. It was definitely nice to get off campus for a while and put some distance between us and all the stress.

Below are some pictures of this lovely excursion.

Struggles Concerning Cambodia

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

Andrew Mertha, a professor in the Department of Government, gave an intriguing talk with a lot of interspersed humor on a few topics that can hardly be considered funny: the bloody history of Cambodia and the struggles of research. Professor Mertha started with a brief introduction to Cambodia and relations with its monarch before delving into the horrors of Khmer Rouge and the complex politics between China and Cambodia.

What interested me most, however, was Professor Mertha’s description of his process of finding sources for a book while doing research in and about Cambodia. After acquiring many papers he couldn’t fully decipher, he became frustrated and told a student about his efforts, not anticipating that she would be the key to finding the information he needed. It turned out that the student’s grandmother had several contacts who were alive during the time of the Khmer Regime and were more than willing to be interviewed or help him interpret the technical documents. It’s bewildering to realize that world can be a small place, and sometimes help comes from the least expected sources. Besides enjoying this interesting talk about a region of the world I’m very unfamiliar with, I’m glad to be reminded that inspiration can come from anywhere.

Deep-Rooted Histories

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

On a hike at the Fischer Old-Growth Forest last weekend I discovered a parcel of history that revealed a story much older than Cornell’s. A small group of students joined Todd Bittner, the Director of Natural Areas for Cornell Plantations, on a short drive from campus to the forest, which is nested away from the roadside. We stopped at what seemed to be an arbitrary location, but actually turned out to be the foundation of what used to be a barn. Throughout the walk, I was surprised to realize that once you’re told what to look for, clues about the past become evident and meaningful. For instance, part of the old-growth forest was cleared to make room for farming. The transition between recent invasive shrubs, younger trees, and finally, trees that have never been logged became obvious along the walk as we progressed deeper into the forest. Other landmarks, such as stone walls and sudden changes in micro-topography and elevation can also be used to identify the age of trees and past land use, much more so even than tree height. This is due to sporadic growth in good conditions that makes height an unreliable predictor of a tree’s age. We also learned about the formation of the entire region during the last ice age, which carved the steep slopes of the forest, while river deltas left behind small, flat areas where sediment collected. Since being saved from logging several decades ago, the old-growth forest, the best representation of its kind in Tompkins county, has served as an outdoor classroom, eventually being acquired by Cornell for this purpose. Below you can see a few of the beautiful sites that we passed through. Overall, it was a very fun experience and a great way to learn more about this region’s natural history.

Love is Love

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

Going to the Cornell Cinema is always a treat. This time, going to see Carol with a few people from Rose, was perhaps especially memorable because of the important topic the film concerns itself with, which is portrayed so compellingly. Namely, the romance between two women, Carol and Terese, and their struggle to break away from societal pressures and pave a way to find happiness. Besides the obvious visual beauty of the film, the chemistry between the characters seemed authentic and natural. What bothered me most was the apparent age gap between Carol and Terese, which seemed to me to be a detracting element in the film in that it distracted the attention away from the issue at hand and led one to consider all the other factors keeping the women apart, including different levels of experience, and the fact that Carol is already married and has a young daughter. That being said, the surrounding story certainly added depth to the film and made the characters less two-dimensional. For instance, Terese’s love for photography and her advancing career path gave her a personality apart from her attraction to Carol. Overall, I enjoyed this film and the opportunity to watch a story about something that few movies address.

The Dirty Truth

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

Professor Dawit Solomon spoke last week about the importance of soil and its role in climate change. Soil calls many things to mind, including everything from a medium for plant growth to a foundation on which we build. However, when viewing soil in terms of its nutrients and chemical interactions with the atmosphere, it becomes an even more interesting, more complex, issue. For instance, when studying the potential of biomass to act as a terrestrial carbon sink for the increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, soil is an important component that can affect the effectiveness of this significant sink, meaning that the health of soil plays a large role in climate change.

It was interesting to learn about some of the techniques being used in Africa to improve their soil and reduce waste. By converting previously wasted cow bone into small, carbon-rich pellets and using these to fertilize the ground, the quality of the soil has improved, and with it, the efficiency of plant growth. This is an excellent example of a simple solution that yields many benefits. Not only does this fertilizer improve the health of soils and reduce waste, it also decreases food insecurity and sequesters carbon into the ground very cheaply. This talk certainly offered some new perspective on the interactions between people and the natural environment.

The Undocumented Story

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

GRF Esmeralda shared the topics of her research at this week’s Rose Cafe. Her work focuses on studying a demographic consisting of undocumented immigrants who are given a narrow label and chance for success, or are otherwise not permitted the basic rights of citizenship, such as obtaining a driver’s license. It’s incredible to think that kids who grew up in the U.S. and have all the same ties and experiences, but are technically undocumented, are treated differently from their peers when they apply to go to college. Many kids don’t even know that they are undocumented until something like this comes up. Drawing from my own experience, when I heard that a friend in high school couldn’t apply to an out-of-state university solely because she was undocumented, despite her intelligence and possible desire to go to a better college, I was shocked at how unfair the system could be.

It was interesting to compare the imagery of immigrants in the U.S. and how perceptions change dramatically with subtle changes in similar depictions. One pair of images that we spent a lot of time discussing was a road sign with a trio of immigrants. One image showed a group that looked hurried, fearful, and (in the case of the child) reluctant. The other, a group of recent graduates, deliberating marching in a forward direction with their heads held high. The reactions to these separate images are very distinct and demonstrate how the feeling towards immigrants in this country is largely governed by their depiction, on road signs, in the media, or elsewhere. The inequality becomes evident when considered in this context and this talk was a good reminder that, although progress is slowly being made, equality is still something we’re striving towards as a country.

It’s About the People, Not Just the Products

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

At the last Rose Cafe, Professor Garrick Blalock discussed his research on clean cook stoves for use in East Africa and why these more efficient, healthier, and relatively cheap products aren’t being adopted by people who are currently using very primitive methods for cooking. In order to make the issue relatable, Professor Blalock used an ingenious analogy about our use of energy-efficient cars in the U.S. Most of us care about the environment and know that a car such as a Prius or Tesla is a better option in terms of fewer emissions, yet only a small percentage of people actually own such a car. Clearly, there’s a discrepancy between the products available to consumers, and the consumer’s needs and values. This stems from a number of factors, ranging from vehicle affordability, size, range, style, and convenience. But although the products don’t perfectly align with consumer needs, various marketing techniques can be used to increase demand.

Similarly, superior technology is available in East Africa, yet people mostly elect to continue cooking with a three-stone stove that requires time spent collecting fire-wood, yields low efficiency in terms of how much energy is actually used for productive heating, and causes extreme health issues due to the excessive smoke created by this cooking method that accumulates indoors, where people spend hours a day inhaling this harmful byproduct. Initially, it seems shocking that people wouldn’t opt for a better method, but when considered in context, it makes more sense. Just like the Prius, which is objectively the better option, more advanced stoves don’t meet the needs of the people they’re trying to serve. There is no way to adjust the temperature on such a stove, it’s relatively expensive whereas three stones are free, and there’s no warranty or insurance in case the stove malfunctions. Addressing some of these issues using subsidies, trials, and educational campaigns, Professor Blalock tried to increase the use of clean cook stoves. Although initially successful at getting some people to adopt this product, four years later he discovered that essentially no one was still using it. The challenge thus remains relevant and pressing, as every year millions die from respiratory diseases linked to unhealthy cooking and deforestation continues to harm the environment as more fire-wood is collected for primitive stoves.

The Power of Laughing at Yourself

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

Aaron Sachs, a professor in the Department of History, gave a talk about environmental humor, or more accurately, the lack thereof. His entire talk focused on the idea that many movements have gained traction with the use of humor to draw people in, but unlike other serious issues, environmental problems are seldom joked about. Not only is it difficult to make a climate change-related joke, but the activists themselves have a reputation for being so humorless that they become the subject of others’ jokes, which has undesirable consequences for the movement. Being such a pressing issue for all of humanity, Sachs argues that people are likely to be polarized, either enthusiastically and self-righteously committing themselves to the cause, or more likely, becoming dejected and indifferent in the belief that change can’t be made. However, if humor were injected more often into the tone of environmental rhetoric, perhaps people would take a less extreme stance and be more willing to take part in an issue they suddenly feel they can relate to.

To illustrate some examples of environmental humor, Sachs played a few short clips and comedic recordings. The one that stuck out to me was one in which a group of environmentalists are pitching an idea for a highway system that would enable wolves to migrate safely. Their audience, a politician who is empathetic to the cause but sees major flaws in the proposal, makes witty remarks that the presenters completely misunderstand due to their blind devotion. Although this is portrayed as an extreme example, it does accurately point out the way that environmentalists might tend to alienate those they need help from.

Not knowing what to expect from this talk, I was pleasantly surprised by the novelty of the ideas that were being presented in a rather unconventional context. The problem of having too little humor, though it seems insignificant, may actually have a powerful impact in bridging the gap between environmentalists and the public if environmentalists could only learn to occasionally laugh at themselves.

A Delicious Afternoon

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

Last weekend I attended the cooking workshop given by Professor Emily Gier. It was my first time in a food lab, and actually the first time I experienced cooking with a recipe. We were first given a demonstration of how to prepare and cook a few basic items, such as biscuits and omelettes. Both were surprisingly simple and quick. Professor Gier emphasized safety and hygiene when showing us how to properly chop an onion and reminding us not to cross-contaminate different foods. It felt a bit like being the audience of a cooking show with the demo kitchen at the front of the class, complete with a large mirror from above.

We then dispersed around the lab and each chose a recipe to complete within the next hour or so. Mine was beef tacos with cabbage slaw, which was simpler to make than I expected. Working with a partner, we chopped, mixed, and cooked until we had the finished product depicted below.

Since each of us made a different recipe, we got to sample all of them and critique one another’s cooking. All the dishes came out looking fantastic, and some in particular were very good. What was great about this workshop was that it focused on healthy, but quick, meals that could be realistically made for brunch or dinner in a Collegetown apartment setting. Realizing that many students will be living on their own, if not next year, at some point in the near future, this workshop took into account the needs and wants of busy students, inspiring us with new cooking ideas and empowering us with the knowledge that we can cook more more than just the basics.

The Development of Ithaca

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

Lisa Nicholas, an urban planner for Ithaca, spoke at the last Rose Cafe about the various districts of the city and their potential for development. Ithaca is split into regions according to land use and the intention for improvement. Because Ithaca is a job hub with thousands of people migrating into the city for work every day, new housing and more sustainable development is a huge focus for the city’s planners. Various residential areas are being renovated and expanded, while other more commercial areas, such as that where Wegman’s is located, are being considered for new housing. According to Nicholas, the big box stores that are visually unappealing and create a poor sense of neighborhood are vital to Ithaca’s economic well-being. One major flaw in Ithaca’s design is the fact that this commercial area seems to be geographically inaccessible by foot relative to the Commons, even though in reality it’s only about a five minute walk. I was surprised to hear this, as I was also under the misconception that stores such as Wegman’s seemed much further than they really are.

In addition to improving residential areas, the construction in the Commons has recently come to an end. The result is a much more spacious, cohesive common area that maintains its historic roots for all the residents of Ithaca to enjoy. I learned that two new hotels are also being built at one end of the Commons. Although I understand that the need for additional hotels is dire in Ithaca, particularly around graduation, I found it surprising that two are being built almost simultaneously and in such close proximity to each other. It will be interesting to see whether the demand will be met when these hotels are complete.

I enjoyed this talk and the opportunity to gain some insight about the future of Ithaca. It’s exciting to know that Ithaca is continually improving and striving to meet the needs of its citizens. I look forward to the developments in Collegetown and the Commons, even though I most likely won’t be a student at Cornell anymore by the time the changes are complete.

The Unexpected Impact of Foreign Aid

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

Last week’s Rose Cafe, given by Professor Nicolas van de Walle, pertained to the political impact of economic reform in African countries, specifically focusing on the effect of foreign aid. In order to build up the economies of several developing countries in Africa, foreign nations have contributed large amounts of aid, which is usually viewed as a positive thing. However, from first-hand experience working with multiple African countries through the U.N., Professor van de Walle offered a different perspective. Rather than improving the country, the donated money often enables corruption and a lack of incentive to work in order to solve the county’s problems. Often, one corrupt government is overthrown, just to be replaced by another that’s equally corrupt. This political instability has led to huge economic issues and impoverishment of the population. According to Professor van de Walle, when leaving the office, people would take the light bulbs with them in order to prevent them from being stolen. This shocking example of how desperate many must be illustrates the tumultuous state of the economies of many African countries.

As a partial solution to this complex issue, Professor van de Walle suggested a method of aid in which countries have to meet a certain standard in order to receive and foreign financial benefits. This would perhaps motivate government officials to make an effort in ruling the country in order to avoid being overthrown. He also noted that limiting the number of years spent in office often positively correlates with the effectiveness of the ruler, regardless of the type of government. Perhaps if some of these methods were implemented and enforced, the political and economic problems faced by corrupt countries would be mitigated over time.

Overcoming Icy Fears

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Anna-Katharina von Krauland

Growing up in Florida isn’t exactly the ideal environment for learning winter sports. Much to my delight and apprehension, I got the chance to try ice skating last weekend along with a lot of the members of West Campus. After a brief, but very helpful lesson from Caitlan, I was able to make it across the rink without falling. It already felt like an accomplishment to wander away from the wall within five minutes of being on the ice, but by the time the event was over I actually learned how to balance well enough to go a bit faster in more fluid movements. Of course, I did fall a few times, but fortunately the lesson also covered how to properly stand up when that happens!

I had a ton of fun catching up with other Rose Scholars and friends after a long break and it was great to interact with people in a relaxed environment, away from deadlines and obligations. Having now conquered my initial nervousness about ice skating, I can hardly wait to try again and improve!

Rose Scholars Spring 2016

Explore, challenge, connect

Author Archives: Anna-Katharina von Krauland