For my Senior Capstone Project, I worked with Harmony Smith to create a student news Instagram account. At the end of our junior year, we were inspired to create a project involving student news. Despite many obstacles we’ve faced throughout the school year trying to complete this project, we enjoyed the experience of creating it.

Our guiding question was “How can the SLA Beeber community connect?”. When planning and executing the project we made sure to be not only thoughtful but intentional in what we did.

The topic I chose to create PSA about was food insecurity in Philadelphia. I chose this topic because of what we recently were learning about in class and not many people understand what it means to be food insecure. The video PSA me and my partner created was based on the crime shows Law and Order and a little bit of 48 Hours. We wanted to create something that would catch viewers’ attention by doing something familiar. Interrogating the causes of food insecurity makes it easy for viewers to follow while also giving sufficient information.

The creating and planning process went well for me and my partner. Throughout the process, we put ourselves in the viewer’s shoes to be sure they would be able to understand and specific connections. If I had to do something differently I would have added more to the script so some of the things mentioned could be expanded on.

The most meaningful part of the experience of creating the PSA was making the connection to redlining and food insecurity in not only Philadelphia but other cities. It was so meaningful because I was able to see another example of how the practice still has lingering effects.

How do the earth systems affect each other?
All of Earth’s systems work with each other, mudslides are an example of this. It starts with the hydrosphere with heavy rainfall which builds up in the ground, the biosphere. Earth systems work hand in hand with different processes and disasters. Without one system, another wouldn’t be able to function fully or properly.

How can an understanding of environmental science aid in handling disasters?
Having an understanding of environmental science allows you to know how and why a disaster starts. This knowledge can help prevent a disaster from occurring and how to deal with the disaster and its aftermath.

What efforts can we make to create a sustainable future?
To create a sustainable future the first thing we need to do is educate. Environmental science gives people the background and understanding of why the Earth is in the state that it is today. Us putting in the effort to spread knowledge and being able to listen will put us on the path to a sustainable future.

Overall Reaction: It was interesting to learn about how mudslides start, it was something new I learned. I enjoyed creating a short creative video to go with the information me and my group put together.