AboutDr. Jesse LaPrade Expertise I am a professional environmental educator at Auburn University. My specialty is indoor air quality, including radon awareness and mitigation of all structures. I am well versed in issues involving mold and mildew in homes and other structures, as well as volatile organic compounds (odors) in homes. I teach the general public about asthma triggers such as dust, dust mites and other particulate matter, as well as pollen and the interaction of genetic inheritance with this malady.
Experience
Past/Present clients All Alabama citizens interested in Environmental Education, including Indoor Air Quality, Radon Education and how to fix associated problems. All of these programs are fully federally grant funded; therefore, this is a no-cost service to citizens.
Question QUESTION: The Conservation Movement be gain in the late 19th century and of course continues today, I need to find information on what issues still remained unresolved today from back then?
ANSWER: Allison:
I began working in the environmental arena in 1990 and I am continuing in that field today.
In 1990, there was only one main environmental concern and that was water quality and pollution control for non-point source contamination that came from many undefined sources. Non-point source pollution comes from a lot of small contributions from household waste, and many activities that humans do. Many rivers and streams across America were becoming increasingly more polluted, primarily with animal manure from produces (farmers) that were not aware that pollution was occurring and that manure was being washed into streams that ran through their property. But equally important or even more important and damaging was the fact that human waste from septic systems that were not designed correctly or were not serviced on a regular basis, leaks in sewer systems and runoff water from construction projects and fertilizer run-off from homeowners over fertilizing their lawns and plantings in large urban areas were greatly adding to the ever growing water pollution that was being observed and measured.
It wasn't until the mid 1990's that air quality became a concern. To begin with, out-door air was thought to be causing considerable illnesses and death among citizens in large cities and the culprit was thought to be carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, coming from vehicle exhausts and heating systems that burned coal, or a derivative of crude oil. At about the same time, indoor air was being researched and it was found that there were many more dangerous pollutants present in most air tests conducted on air inside living quarters than there were in the out doors!
Today, there are many more environmental concerns than there ever were before. In short, both hazardous waste and household waste is being met by recycling efforts, water quality is being overtaken by water quantity. There have been several serious droughts that have destroyed crops, and resulted in forest fires burning out of control. Global warming is of utmost concern today and cyclonic action has been shown to have increased in intensity, meaning that hurricanes and tornadoes have intensified in strength and have become much more prevalent.
Now that I have provided a foundation for you to see just how the actual Environmental Movement evolved, without hype or political rhetoric, you can see for yourself that there are NO unresolved issues. After all this is a legitimate field of Science. Issues that were identified back in the early 90's have been resolved and great improvements have been made in pollution control of water and air quality is currently increasing, with less pollution for both the outside and inside environment, in general.In short, nothing that was an issue back then remains unresolved today, there have been many more problems and concerns that are now at the forefront of Environmental Science and Education today.
Actually, the more I think about it, your question sounds like a "homework assignment" more than a legitimate concern that you may have. After all who would care unless they have been assigned
this topic or had chosen it for a school assignment? At any rate, I do hope that you will do additional research on your topic no matter what. After all, I could be totally wrong and there goes your grade point ratio!
QUESTION: i don't think I said the questioned correctly...The Conservation Movement be gain in the late 19th century and of course continues today, I need to find information on what issues still remained today that were from back then? and yes i'm doing lot of research, but anything more can always help
I fully understand your question and I do appreciate you leveling with me about this being a part of a school project.
I do believe that if you read the answer I provided for you already,you would have your answer. I am going to assist you in getting to the bottom of this question by using the answer that I have already provided but expanding on it in a more personal way.:
First, you have the subjects of what the "early years movement did indeed focus attention on back about 20 years ago. I should know, I was there in living color!
The water quality effort is still going on today, although it is focusing on several different sub-topics different from back then. Indoor air quality is still being researched and there is an active on-going program, although the main issues have changed slightly now from back then. The glitzy new comer, Global Warming, is the "new" wave in Environmental Science and Education. That bad boy was not around in the 1990's, or it was not getting any layman's attention.Today,there are so many facets and sub-headings under Global Warming, that any Environmental Scientist can make a place in the world for themselves and become "an expert in their chosen field"! That however, was not true back during the Bush years. Environmental Scientists heads rolled while George Bush fiddled. Environmental Scientists at Colleges and Universities across this nation are and must be supported by Federal grant money, a rare find back in the years, 2002 through 2008 (grant support is always in a two to four year lag phase or "out of sync" from changing presidential administrations.
The early years of the environmental movement was a learning phase for all scientists and a period marked by record population growth and record economic development, 1990 through 1998. Federal grants were rather abundant back then, I in fact, coordinated grants that provided more than 1.6 million dollars per year in 1997 through 2000.
In summary, scientists seldom work on the very same project for more than 4 or 5 years without being held accountable; for instance , "what are you doing with all of that Federal support money, anyway?" This could be some local politician asking me or any other scientist who may be dragging their feet!
I am an Agricultural Scientist. Most Environmental Scientists are Agricultural Scientists, since the "environment" is a natural thing, and most farmers and land owners must protect it since it is their very own little piece of heaven and by the way, it is their livelihood as well!
All of the easy fixes to early environmental science problems and concerns have already been done. Global Warming is the "new kid on the block". My specialty within Global warming is " Ozone Layer Destruction by Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Being Released on a Global Basis".
The above information was provided to you so that you can better understand environmental education's evolution from the early 1990's to the present. This information is by no means complete, in and of itself. There may be additional topics addressed in other parts of this country that were very different from my own personal experiences and you will need to seek this data to include with your project.
This is my best attempt to help you with your project. It is a very sincere attempt done primarily because you came clean on what your honest need to know is about! I do indeed value the truth spoken from an honest person.
)
){kind=link}