By Joseph Reznik | Columnist
Hello readers. My name is Joseph and I’m an educator here on Pittsburgh’s Northside. This month I’m starting a new column with the goal of getting more people outside. There are so many reasons to spend time outdoors from the physical benefits from increased heart rate and building muscle to the mental benefits of reduced anxiety and depression to just the overall well-being we feel when we are engaged with the green world around us. And this goes for all ages, from the youngest to the oldest. We can improve our communities as we spend more time with each other and get to know one another. We’ve gotten to the point of spending so much time indoors that doctors are writing prescriptions that aren’t for any medications, but just a pass to go outside and slow down and explore.
In this column, I’m not just hoping to get you outside, I’m also hoping you’ll take some time to reflect and share what you see and hear while you are outside. All of the observations you make while outdoors will not only inspire you and fill you with a sense of wonder, but they can also benefit science and your community. I know some may feel a little intimidated by this notion and science seems out of their reach, like you may need a degree or special equipment. However, anyone willing to engage their senses and share what they see and hear is doing science and can fill the role of being a citizen scientist. This is a critical role in the scientific process that allows us to gather massive amounts of data to study. And please be careful and stick to what we see and hear, don’t go around tasting, smelling, and touching things you are unfamiliar with, as that can be harmful.
Each month in this column, I’m going to present you with opportunities to share your observations with the scientific community. Your observations will add to the scientific data needed by scientists studying different aspects of our environment. This will serve all of us to understand the world around us, make our communities safer to live, and more resilient to environmental changes.
One of the easiest apps to use to share what you see while you are outside is the app iNaturalist (available at any online app store). Once you have your account made, all you have to do is take a photo of any plant, animal, or mushroom you see. The app will help you to identify the organism. Don’t worry about getting it absolutely correct at first; you’ll get better as you go. There is a whole community out there that reviews and helps to improve the different identifications as they come in. And as you become more familiar with the different organisms you record, the more you can share with your family and friends in telling them the stories of journey.
I hope you’ll join me in getting outside and have fun exploring!
Joseph Reznik teaches biology and math at the Community College of Allegheny County’s main campus. He can be reached at thenorthsidenaturalistssociety@ gmail.com
