RK&K’s Post

We are very concentrated on arguments and strategies to end animal exploitation. But we dedicate almost no time to thinking about how the world will be if we no longer exploit animals. In a post-speciesist world, one of the tasks would be to transform the massive installations where animals are raised: CAFOs. Rebecca Shen gave a touching, thoughtful, and creative answer to that problem in her master's thesis on landscape design at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Please take a moment to explore her project. One of the obstacles many people face when thinking about the end of animal exploitation is a lack of imagination about our future. I wonder what other ideas could arise if we focused on imagining this future. Do you have any suggestions for exploring this path? https://lnkd.in/e9YhfqxJ

I recently completed an engaging and growth-filled eight-week internship with Memphis Native Tree Works (MNTW). As the largest provider of native plants in West Tennessee, MNTW is dedicated to regenerating healthy ecosystems by growing, raising, and planting native trees and plants. Their mission focuses on developing and restoring green spaces across residential, commercial, and public areas in Memphis. This summer, I made substantial contributions through the development of GIS maps, virtual tours for MNTW, property maintenance, and native plant installation: GIS Maps: I created detailed base maps of properties across various neighborhoods, which are designed to evolve with MNTW's needs. These maps can be enhanced to tell multiple stories with data overlays such as wildlife corridors, tree canopy growth, and changes in garden speciation. They are crucial for visualizing project deliverables and tracking timelines internally, and they also serve as compelling tools for engaging with donors and potential supporters by showcasing our progress and impact. Virtual Tours: I developed virtual tours using Google Earth for both the tree nursery and the Washington Bottoms urban farm. These tours provide community members with a comprehensive view of our properties, improving their understanding before a visit and strengthening our outreach efforts. Maintenance and Installation: Contributed to the creation of urban pocket prairies and wildlife corridors by planting native species, constructing fences to define these spaces, seeding native grasses to mitigate invasive species, and designing inviting landscapes for community engagement. These initiatives will significantly boost MNTW's visibility and support its growth as an organization. My core values of ecological and community resilience and healing align with MNTW's day-to-day operations. I am excited to continue this work and alignment with MNTW and their mother organization, The Works, Inc., during my final year at Rhodes College. #bratsummer

DARTCC has awarded 6 internships this summer! This past month, these interns have put tons of time and effort (along with their unique experiences and backgrounds) to help our #nonprofitorganization in specific tasks. In the next few weeks, we'll share their stories and what drives them to help DARTCC's mission of bringing awareness to #disasterpreparedness and emergency animal shelters. #innovation #technology #Animals #AnimalShelter #funding #grantfunding #DisasterRelief #Disaster #disasteremergencies #climatechange #climatechangeisreal #animalwelfare

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀? I love to learn. I love school. (In fact, in the way back when, I used to be a teacher.) So when I decided I wanted to add animal behavior knowledge to my landscape architecture degree, I knew I could 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗺. After a little research, a world of learning possibilities opened up to me. I don't think there's ever been a time where the general public had such widespread online access to some of the world's best universities. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆, and the best part? They're available to all who qualify, no matter where you live! All you need is a computer and the will to apply: 1️⃣ Animal Behaviour: An Introduction at the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘅𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 2️⃣ Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵 3️⃣ Certificate of Applied Animal Behavior program at the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 These experiences have allowed me to bring the world's best insights right into my Phoenix-based business. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗴𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁! Now is the time! And let's celebrate the boundless opportunities of online learning that enable us to turn dreams into reality and knowledge into transformative designs! #landscapearchitecture #animaladvocate #designfordogs

I am going to be very honest. Lately, it's been feeling more and more difficult to have hope. With never-ending climate reports alarming us of what is happening regarding our planet, rampant violence everywhere, and just a looming difficult election year in the US - I have been struggling to wake up every day and believe that change is happening. The one place where that spark of hope never fully goes away is through teaching. Now, it's not just traditional teaching but the one where you recognize that the whole is more valuable than the sum of its parts. Meaning I am not a unique instructor by any means but instead the results are heightened by great students like Adrienne, her passion for wildlife conservation, and the collaboration with VT Fish and Wildlife (and great colleague Joshua Morse). Adrienne was able to capture some incredible footage (head to VT Fish and Wildlife social for the original posts), but she did so because, throughout her college career, she was interested in being comfortable outdoors, navigating the landscape, and having the willingness to learn. It also happened because there are people at VT Fish and Wildlife who believe in nurturing the next generation of environmentalists and taking the time to be "teachers" outside of the classroom. All of this is mixed in the generator space that Universities are like University of Vermont, where education is more than just lectures. Programs like the @Community of Practice within the College of Arts and Sciences allow students to explore what their conservation career will look like after. I am pretty pumped to be part of that formula. All of these things alone seem mundane, but put it together and you do get a "feel-good" story. As minor or big as this may seem, I am aggressively reminded that perhaps there lies the hope. That as humans, all we have is each other and the ability to work together to envision a much better place for the generations to come and actively work to make that happen. To learn about the course: https://lnkd.in/gn4iCupx Check out the full interview: https://lnkd.in/g-kPm628

🔍 Attention Zoo Professionals and Aspiring Zoo Employees! 🐾 Are you currently employed in a zoo or looking to start a career in this exciting field? I'm conducting a survey to gain deeper insights into the motivations, skills, experiences, challenges, expectations, and goals of individuals in the zoo industry. Your participation will be instrumental in shaping a better understanding of career development within this unique and impactful field. 🌟 Why Participate? -Share Your Voice: Your input is crucial in understanding what drives and challenges zoo professionals. -Impact the Industry: Help enhance career paths and job satisfaction for current and future zoo employees. -Network with Peers: Connect with others who share your passion for wildlife and zoo management. 💡 Who Should Participate? -Current Zoo Employees (Zoo Keepers, Curators, Educators, Veterinarians, Researchers, etc.) -Aspiring Zoo Professionals looking to enter the field 📋 How to Participate? Click on the link below to fill out the questionnaire. It should take approximately 5 minutes of your time. Your responses will be kept confidential as we do not ask for any personal information and will be used solely for research purposes. https://lnkd.in/estNj7yv Thank you in advance for your time and valuable insights. Together, we can contribute to a more fulfilling and dynamic zoo industry! #ZooIndustry #WildlifeConservation #CareerDevelopment #JobSatisfaction #ZooCareers

Want to know what our animals are doing this month? Check out the latest from #TransformingLives trainee, Eve: https://ow.ly/EOI550SP9SS #WhatOurAnimalsAreDoingThisMonth

Looking for activities to keep busy with this summer? One of our junior interns' favorite activities is visiting the San Antonio Zoo! 🐅🐊 The San Antonio Zoo is home to more than 750 species. Some are even endangered or extinct in the wild! Tip: we hear they have new Cool Zones to beat the heat in! What's your favorite animal to look for at the zoo? Let us know in the comments 👇 #Zoo #SummerActivity #SAZoo #SanAntonio #FamilyActivity #Summer #SanAntonioTexas #PublicRelations #PR #MVWCommunications

Yesterday I talked about the importance of knowing the different job types, but did you also know you need to understand the job workplaces too? A wildlife biologist is not just a wildlife biologist. Let me explain… Understanding the unique criteria and characteristics of each workplace is key. The skills and experiences you need can vary significantly depending on where you want to work. For example, I applied for a mammalogist position at the state agency in NC only to find out I was overqualified with a PhD. Talk about unexpected twists! In chapter 7, I spill the tea on major workplace types, sharing nuggets about their culture and what they value. With my diverse experiences in museums, zoos, government, and academia, I've got the insider knowledge to guide you through the ropes. Remember – if you grab a copy of my book in 2023, you'll score a free mentoring session with me in January 2024. It's the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into your goals and get personalized advice. Comment MENTORING24 below and I’ll send you the link. https://lnkd.in/dgTwwCt

🦔 Hedgehog-friendly campus (in the making) 🦔 This week, my amazing Step into College (Animal and Equine) students and I were able to establish our very own Hedgehog Committee at Easton College! Staff and other students have started seeing the first poster popping up all over our big campus, but what many couldn't know (and I would like to emphasise) about this moment is: 🦔 Step into College is a course designed to aid students with additional learning, social, and other complex needs to work on developing areas of their life that can help them successfully enter the mainstream college and later employment. 🦔 Due to their needs and backgrounds, these students can find it more difficult to go through a prolonged process of establishing and developing a project with all the individual tasks that come with it. 🦔 But what these fantastic individuals posses more than anyone else is their amazing willingness to try, be kind and helpful, and also do their part in protecting UK's native wildlife. 🦔 What others may see just as a themed poster, my class and I will celebrate as a result of multiple steps that helped them work on many skills: 🔑 introducing the idea, 🔑 students researching the topic using books and internet, 🔑 studying the information on Hedgehog Friendly Campus website and socials (including videos and posters), 🔑 working in pairs and groups to create notes for the information booklet, 🔑 practising their public speaking skills, 🔑 debating, voting, and respecting others' opinions, 🔑 doing their own cross-campus wildlife survey, 🔑 experiencing a start-to-finish process of working as a committee to "employ" a designer and an ecologist (both yours truly 🎨👨🏻🏫) to work on a poster (first and later versions) design and PR messages, 🔑 choosing internal departments 👩🏻🌾🧑🏾🍳👷🏼♀️ and external organisations to collaborate with on our mission to help conserve UK's favourite wild mammals! It is so rewarding to see our SEND students experience results of their hard work starting to appear "in the real world" and showing them how much power each one of them has to help create a positive change in this world. Here's to 2024! 🐾🐾 #hfc #hedgehog #conservationeducation #fe #collegelife #EChedgehogs #pr #procreateart #send #ccn