TED Community » Molly O'Connor
About Me
My name is Molly O'Connor. I am a student at the University of Oregon. I am majoring in biology with an emphasis in ecology and evolution. I am also receiving a chemistry minor and a cinema certificate. My dream is to make science documentaries for kids.
- Location:
- United States, Hopkins, MN
- Gender:
- Female
- Universities:
- University of Oregon
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A reply on Conversation: Are you concerned about the spread of invasive species?
I have seen Charisma and I think you make a valid point. There are always conflicting views, especially in issues incorporating invasive species.
In this situation, I would consider myself as someone who has accumulated my past experiences. It is difficult to predict the future, but I like to think that I am openminded enough to be prepared for what could happen.
For Charisma, I believe the I would have wanted the tree removed as well. Even though it may have cultural and personal meaning to the main character. If it is hurting more than helping, I would want it gone. Cultural significance is important and I respect that, but from a biology perspective, there was nothing but hazard for that invasive tree.
A reply on Conversation: Where would you place Colony Collapse Disorder in relation to the many other problems facing our society?
A reply on Conversation: Where would you place Colony Collapse Disorder in relation to the many other problems facing our society?
What is scary is that in the past, bees have disappeared before, but not at this caliber. It could possibly be caused by new factors that are introduced or have changed over time (such as pesticides,cellular signal, or cilmate change, etc). So, that is why it is good to keep our minds open because the world has been changing, but as we can see the honeybee cannot adapt as quickly to this change. That is why for the last 6 years Colony Collapse Disorder has been a threat to honeybee populations. Let us hope we don't need to start had pollinating our crops.
A reply on Conversation: Where would you place Colony Collapse Disorder in relation to the many other problems facing our society?
A reply on Conversation: Where would you place Colony Collapse Disorder in relation to the many other problems facing our society?
There has been some solid research conducted in recent years. Just this last January an article was published called A New Threat to Honey Bees, the Parasitic Phorid Fly Apocephalus borealis. (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029639).
Also, this article called Predictive Markers of Honey Bee Colony Collapse was published this year and is a great resource to look over some recent methods and data analysis techniques. In this paper, they used long term monitoring of colonies and screening for eleven disease agents and genes involved in bee immunity and physiology, so to identify predictive markers of honeybee colony losses during the winter season. (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0032151)
This is not an article, but it is a very informative congressional report of Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=SxaJTt3KgoEC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=Colony+Collapse+Disorder&ots=aWa4MKZaCh&sig=suSTozYxhe8emyypnt-RT63VMEo#v=onepage&q=Colony%20Collapse%20Disorder&f=false
A comment on Conversation: Are memes important for our survival? How can we draw on memetic theory to inspire ideas of sustainability that go viral?
When I think attainable sustainability practices, this picture is what gives me hope. Even though deforestation is still happening, glaciers are depleting, and species are dieing off; this picture reminds me humankind can make a difference. And this difference is the ability to grow plants. Even if it is the smallest flower or the largest tree, we as a species are capable of healing the planets loses. Jane Goodall once said, "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Jane is one of the few scientists who believe we can still save the planet, only if we change our ways and become more sustainable as a species.
Jane herself spreads memes all the time. More specifically, her Roots and Shoots program. The Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen not just for people, but for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in more than 120 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world.
I find Jane and her Roots and Shoots program a powerful meme that can be replicated all around the world by youth who are determined to make a better world.
A comment on Conversation: When it comes to vaccine intervention for disease control, should personal liberty go before the benefit to society?
In a recent NPR article called HPV Vaccine: The Science Behind The Controversy, the writer Richard Knox gives an overview of both sides of the controversy. Knox talks about how recent studies show that by the time girls reach 15 years old, nearly 10% of American girls are infected with HPV. Not to mention that by age 17, that number doubles to nearly 20%.
Knox also interviewed Dr. Diane Harper, a professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. Harper is skeptical of the necessity for the vaccine. By Harper's calculations, the tried-and-true method of regular Pap smears is a more effective way to prevent cervical cancer. In the article, Harper says "Pap smear screening is far and away the biggest thing a woman can do to protect herself, to prevent cervical cancer."
I believe both sides have their truths. I do think that this vaccine is expensive and maybe administered at too young of an age. But I also believe the researchers have a point. If we administer this vaccine at a younger age, quite possibly the antibodies in the younger individual may gain better immunity as compared to a older individual.
Overall, this is a choice. A choice that should either be decided by the parents or by the individual themselves.