Q&A with Intern Tim Woodward

Recent SUNY Binghamton graduate

Which environmental issues are you most passionate about addressing?

Two current environmental issues I am most passionate about addressing are, bridging the gap between conservation and recreation, and environmental education at the youth level. Conservationists and those that participate in outdoor recreation often butt heads but ultimately end up having very similar goals and interests. As someone that actively fishes the many beautiful water bodies of New York, I can see first hand the value in protecting spaces that are being used for recreation so that future generations can experience the pristine waterways as they are meant to look. Secondly, strong and robust environmental education for the youth is what will guide future generations towards the solutions for environmental and climate crisis that cannot be solved in a single generation. Already a lot is being done by groups such as Hudson Highland Land Trust and Sharpe Reservation to educate the youth of New York and surrounding states but on the national and worldwide level there is still much to be done.

What are you most looking forward to during your internship?

The aspects of the internship that I am looking forward to the most are building foundational fieldwork skills and sharpening my education and outreach abilities. Coming from a background more geared towards environmental education, I am lacking in the area of fieldwork skills such as GIS data collection and plant identification, which we will be doing a significant amount of in the coming weeks. Also, although I come from an education background, working collaboratively on outreach and public education is a ever present goal that can be challenging in the environmental space. Therefore, being able to consistently sharpen those skills throughout the course of the internship will be very beneficial to my future endeavors.

How important do you think it is to connect people with nature? Why?

From my perspective, and also based on my knowledge of current research, I believe it is essential to connect people with nature. There are different ways that someone can connect with nature, which will vary greatly depending on many factors such as location and socio-economic status. However, connecting with nature in a positive way can lead to many physical and mental health benefits, especially for the youth. The Fresh Air Fund has done extensive research on this subject, specifically in regards to the youth development and systemic inequality. Based on their research there is an urgent need for all people to be connecting with nature on a regular basis in accessible spaces that encourage learning and engagement with the natural world. The disconnect from nature that many people experience, especially those that live in inner cities with limited access to green spaces, is continuing to grow as society becomes more technologically dependent and isolated from the environment. The reversal of this disconnect may be the key to moving into a future in which people and the environment can coexist in a way that is mutually beneficial.

Q&A with Intern Labibah Hassan

Rising Junior at Rochester Institute of

Technology

What initially sparked your interest in environmental work? I’m actually not an environmental science student, I am a rising junior at RIT, studying Management Information Systems (MIS), which focuses on using technology, people, and data to improve how businesses operate. Yet, I’ve always felt drawn to nature. As a kid, I

loved being outside... whether it was exploring trails, sitting in the grass, picking wildflowers, chasing sunsets, or just watching the way the light shifted in the trees. It was the one place I truly felt present and at home. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started thinking more seriously about the kind of work that feels meaningful. I

wouldn’t call myself a hardcore environmentalist, but I do care deeply about the planet and the way we live with it. Even if I’m not studying environmental science, I believe this field needs people with all kinds of skills, including project management, data analysis, and systems thinking. That’s what drew me to this internship. It’s a space where I can explore how my MIS background fits into

environmental work, whether through organizing projects, managing data, or communicating impact. It’s helping me figure out where I can make a real difference by combining what I’m good at with what I care about. And for me, that balance of purpose and impact is what I hope to build my career around.

How important do you think it is to connect people with nature? Why?

I think it’s incredibly important, especially now, when so much of our time is spent indoors or in front of screens. Nature has this way of grounding you, slowing things down, and giving you space to just be. That’s something I personally value a lot. Mental and physical health are both really important to me. I have found that time outside, whether I’m walking a trail, sitting by water, or just breathing fresh air,

always helps me reset and feel more balanced. When people feel that connection to nature, they start to notice more and care more. It doesn’t take much, just a quiet moment outside that can shift your mindset. And I think that’s where long-term environmental care begins: with people who feel like they are part of something bigger, and who feel healthier and more whole because of it.

What emerging technology or innovation in the environmental field excites you the most? I’m especially interested in how data collection and mapping technologies are being used in conservation work. Tools like remote sensing, GIS, and real-time sensors give us incredibly useful insights, whether it’s

tracking biodiversity, monitoring air and water quality, or identifying shifts in land use. But what I find most remarkable is how accessible some of these tools have become! During my internship with the Hudson Highlands Land Trust and The Fresh Air Fund, we’ve been using platforms like Avenza Maps and iMapInvasives to record invasive species data in the field, and Seek and iNaturalist, which use AI to help identify plants and animals. These tools not only support land managers and interns like me, but they also make it possible for everyday people to contribute. There are so many gaps in environmental data simply because there aren’t enough eyes on the ground. If more people downloaded these apps and got involved, we could fill in those holes and build a much richer understanding of our local ecosystems. As someone studying MIS, that combination of community

engagement and data systems is something I’m really passionate about. Tech becomes especially powerful when it’s used to connect people and create shared responsibility.