Week 1: This is me...

We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us.  When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.  

Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac¹

Kia ora koutou and welcome to my blog. 

Right, so a few introductory bits and pieces to start.  My name is Catherine Welham, I'm a 34 year old English teacher based in Tauranga, New Zealand.  I grew up in Te Puke, went to secondary school and university (the first time) in Hamilton and I have just returned home after living abroad for 8 years.  This is me...

Sardinia, 2014

This blog forms part of my study of Communications in Science, a paper I am doing as part of a Bachelor of Environmental Science through Massey University.  I have already completed a pretty major stint at uni in my 20s when I gained a Bachelor of Arts and Grad. Dip. in Education from Waikato,  followed by a Masters in Educational Leadership from St Mary's in London.  After 11 years of teaching and working in middle management at high schools here and abroad, I'm looking for a new challenge and this is part of it.

Oxfam Trailwalker 2015, Taupo

I returned home this year after living in the UK for 8 years and travelling all over the world, armed with a greater appreciation for our country and its environments.  I had forgotten just how impressive this little country at the bottom of the Pacific can be.  The Southern Alps forming a jagged scar across the horizon, the untouchable forest canopies of Northland looming over gentle (or not so gentle) streams and the waters of the Wellington coast, thick with slapping seaweed, it all seems so perfect...on the surface.

This year I have spent a lot of time walking/hiking around the North Island.  Some of my favourite walks are close to home including those around Lake Taupo, the Rotorua Lakes, Waitawheta Valley, Puketoki Reserve, Otanewainuku and the walks around and up Mauao. These spots are gorgeous, stunning, truly picturesque.  Yet, every walk I take I see something that makes me feel uncomfortable and a little bit sad.  Erosion, discarded rubbish, algae, stomped and damaged young trees and shrubs - all signs of human impact that have become too common to be noticed by most. Like Leopold said, we need to remember that we are part of the environment, it doesn't belong to us and neither does the right to destroy it.

Mauao base walk

Ideally, I would like to work in environmental consultation or management one day. Communication will be a key aspect of both of these areas as they will involve dealing with clients/stakeholders and delivering clear and concise information.  I have developed a real interest in the dairy industry and its practises - maybe growing up on dairy farm myself helped to spark this particular concern.  My dad and I have some pretty heated conversations around this topic but it's useful to hear his perspective and he really challenges my own ideas.  It's been great practise for putting across arguments and examining differing points of view.  I guess the most significant step I have taken towards achieving this goal has been taking on this degree.  It certainly wasn't a decision I took lightly but I feel pretty happy with this choice.

I am hoping that this Communications in Science paper will help me to develop my skills in what is a relatively foreign area for me.  Coming from an English literature and Education background, writing for Science is a little bit daunting however I have produced educational research reports and communicated with interested parties so I might be better equipped than I think.  I was quite surprised by the 'storytelling' element - I feel like that might be my strength so I gain a little bit of reassurance in that.  I'm not a hugely confident public speaker - surprising for a teacher I know - but it's something I aim to develop though this course.

I think that's enough for today - it's raining outside but I'm feeling a little cabin feverish so might pop down for a walk along the beach.  Thanks for joining me on this journey and see you in a week!

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1 FOOTNOTE^↩ Leopold, A. (1949). A Sand County Almanac. Oxford University Press.