(UTON) UNIFYING THEORY OF NATURE

Happy Earth day week! 4/22/2019

We had another great Earth Day day celebration at Torrey Pines State Reserve, there were several hundred people enjoying animal, plant and the geology exhibits at the lodge in the Reserve. Of course the snake petting exhibit with the endangered Rosy Boa was the hit.

BARBARA WALLACH, A
LIFETIME DOCENT

LORAINE BRADBURY TEACHING
KIDS ABOUT ROCK HARDNESS
USING THE MOHS TEST

INGO A DOCENT, HELPED ORGANIZE EARTH DAY, 
HELPED AT THE THE POPULAR SNAKE  PETTING BOOTH

I was watching a special on Einstein and his pursuit of one theory that would unify all the properties of physics, quantum mechanics and general relativity when it occurred to me; this could be what is needed to unify the human species and our ability to survive in the future: Einstein's theory pictured below:

What if we could somehow reach out and get the human species to "unify" for our survival and saving our home-Earth. We know that earth is the most unique planet in our solar system that sustains life, and possibly in the whole galaxy that is filled with 100,000s of stars and planets. We are just the right distance from the sun that allows us to have water in all 3 states of matter (solid= ice, liquid= oceans, fresh water streams, and lakes, and gas= (H20) in the atmosphere. This atmospheric water supplies us with the rain we need for the plants and animals we need and enjoy in nature. What if we call this concept the: "Unifying Theory of Nature", and make it vogue using creative technology, and the Golden Rule. *if looking at this diagram on your phone--turn it sidways to get the arrows straight :)   
                                 UNIFYING THEORY OF NATURE (UTON)
                    Submersion in the     Creative Self Monitoring  
                         Outdoors                          Technology                                                                     
                                ↘                    ↙ 
                              Future Sustainable Human    ⬅ Community oriendted      
                                     Population on Earth                    And  Golden Rule

How can we do this you ask? It has been my experience after teaching high school Biology and AP Environmental Science for 33 years, that the only way to get people involved is by being submersed outside in nature. We connect when we "FEEL" nature! The sun, wind, smells, sounds of birds, observations of the various species, and asking why they have evolved to their perfection of form and function in our ecosystems. Otherwise just being curious and open to the wonders of nature. Practice "imaginitive journeling" to open new nuerological pathways to incorporate all your senses.
So how do we "Feel" nature? Lots of ways...hiking, biking, birding, swimming etc. and take nature hikes through our local reserves. At Torrey Pines Nature Reserve, we have weekend hikes lead by docents. Additionally, there are other groups such as: hiking, and photography "Meetups".
How about joining the Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy, Zoo, NRC, World Wildlife Fund, or my favorite EarthWatch.  All of these are excellent organizations. The Sierra Club publishes a calender of their travel trips they run at least twice a year in the back of their magazine.  And, one of those
sections will discuss types of service projects you can get involved in.
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra
The Earthwatch organization works with scientists around the world collecting data on animal and plant species. Many years ago in the 1980s, I did a service project doing line-transects on the "Giant Clams of Tonga"--what an incredible life changing experience it was for me: https://earthwatch.org/expeditions
The latest creative technology is another path to UTON .

iNaturalist App

Try getting the iNaturalist App and see what is now occurring all over America, basically it is like Pokeman for adults. All the family can be involved taking pictures of plants, animals etc. You can become part of this group, by submitting your favorite pictures, and entering into some of the major city competitions that our happening around the US.
You can get this at the APP store for free; its theme is "Explore and Connect with Nature."

eBIRD App

The eBird app,  originally developed by Cornell University, allows you to be involved in cataloguing birds and their migration routes by uploading pictures you take. The App is called- "eBird"

There is "Citizen Science". Citizen Science is defined as "scientific work undertaken by members of the general public, often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists and scientific institutions". Here is their website: https://www.citizenscience.org/
WE can incorporate other technology to make this happen by using social media Apps, like Facebook and Twitter.  We have to be creative to make this happen. We can work from the "ground up" and "unify our species through nature," and help us understand the big picture. "UTON" SOUNDS LIKE something we can all do individually...and together. Starting this Earth Day week, let's give back to nature!
ps. double click on pictures to enlarge ...cheers Jerry Trust