Blog Entry #7

This week I had an interview with the Texas Trees Foundation, a group focused on putting trees and green spaces in cities. Their work consists of measuring the benefits of trees and working to create and maintain urban forests. It was very fascinating to learn about their work because it consisted of urban forestry, public outreach, and city planning. I liked this far more than a strictly scientific field because I love how creativity and problem solving form a large part of the necessary skillset.I have noticed that every person I have interviewed with has said that public outreach is the most important part of their job. Money is in short supply in all environmental fields, and if one can generate public support for their cause they will be able to make a huge difference. This is motivating me to do everything I can to improve my speaking skills and figure out a way to rally people behind a cause. My speaking skills can be improved simply through more interviews and cold calls, while I will need to think hard to find a way to reach out to the masses and convince them of the benefits of what I am trying to do. I am thinking that my final project will have something to do with the outreach portion of environmentalism and thinking of a creative way to gain support.