RE Log - Fall 2021

FALL 2021 Ransom Everglades LOG 21 Climate Calling Ransom Everglades signaled its growing commitment to sustainable practices, climate change education and youth climate action with the appointment of Dr. Kelly L. Jackson as founding Director of Environmental Sustainability on June 2, 2021. A science teacher at Ransom Everglades, Jackson has led many of the school’s environmental initiatives, including work with the award-winning Green Team and now-annual RE Energy and Climate Change Symposium. She earned her PhD at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in Marine Geology and Geophysics. “Since joining our faculty four years ago, Dr. Jackson has pushed us to amplify and extend our environmental sustainability work,” Head of School Penny Townsend said. “We expect even greater things in the future as she works with our students, faculty and staff to unify efforts across campuses and facilitate more interdisciplinary opportunities and collaboration.” RE shows commitment with new post When and why did you become passionate about environmental sustainability? I have cared about the environment since a very young age. From recycling to saving the oceans and beyond. As I have grown older, everything is connected and to save one we have to save them all. I have developed my passion to inspire others to care for the environment. How did you become interested in water sports/activities? I grew up in a suburb north of Chicago and spent my summers swimming in our local pool. The Shedd Aquarium was also my favorite place to visit in the city. My family loved to travel to warm, tropical places so at a young age I learned to snorkel and fell in love with coral reefs, dolphins and all ocean creatures. I was hooked. By the time I was in high school, I was a certified scuba diver. What was your most memorable academic experience, and why? I do not think I can pick just one, honestly. Collectively it would be my various field work experiences during graduate school. I organized and led a field campaign in Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami to find evidence for precursor ancient tsunamis (which we did!). I was part of the 2007 International Tsunami Survey Team to the Solomon Islands after an earthquake and tsunami there. And I spent several summers in the Exumas, Bahamas, where I mapped over 300 islands, collected rock and sediment samples, and drilled cores to decipher past sea level records of the region. The field work was an adventure, and I could write a book of all the stories – the things that went wrong, animal encounters, the funny laughs, people, amazing beauty and so much more. How did you end up in education? During my graduate studies, I was required to teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students both in the classroom and also out in the field. I discovered that I really enjoyed sharing my passion for marine science and geology with the students. I love teaching at RE because I am able to share not only my background of marine geology but also my passion for climate change education and environmental sustainability with so many students. Young students are the key to changing our future, so my hope is to give them the knowledge to inspire them to make great changes in the world. Continues, page 74