Oral Presentations

Somewhere In-Between

Presentation Type

Presentation - Campus Access Only

Faculty Mentor’s Full Name

Dr. Timothy J. Nichols

Faculty Mentor’s Department

Davidson Honors College

Abstract / Artist's Statement

Providing legal protection, Wilderness is a term with many definitions and can mean something different to everyone. A proposed solution to deal with the construction of Wilderness is to remove the word entirely. However, removing Wilderness from our discussions with people does not solve the problems associated with it. Seeing the term as a constructed idea, this project aims to call for a redefinition of the term and to build an inclusive view of Wilderness. To do this, I will be researching wilderness and its many values and interpretations, presenting my understanding, highlighting influential authors who shaped my view, and ending with future directions for my career.

Being brought up in a military family, I did not spend much time in nature as we focused on building a community with other families in our new environment. However, I had grandparents living out in Montana, and through our phone conversations, I had images of the natural world planted inside my brain. Though the flowering of these ideas would come in my freshman year of college, I developed my definition. My view of wilderness is a place that exists all around us where there is a deeper connection with the natural world. Viewers can experience this daily by seeing a tree or bird. When a person experiences this feeling, it cultivates a call to care for the natural world, or rather it reframes how one views oneself.

Category

Life Sciences

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Apr 19th, 1:45 PM Apr 19th, 2:00 PM

Somewhere In-Between

UC 330

Providing legal protection, Wilderness is a term with many definitions and can mean something different to everyone. A proposed solution to deal with the construction of Wilderness is to remove the word entirely. However, removing Wilderness from our discussions with people does not solve the problems associated with it. Seeing the term as a constructed idea, this project aims to call for a redefinition of the term and to build an inclusive view of Wilderness. To do this, I will be researching wilderness and its many values and interpretations, presenting my understanding, highlighting influential authors who shaped my view, and ending with future directions for my career.

Being brought up in a military family, I did not spend much time in nature as we focused on building a community with other families in our new environment. However, I had grandparents living out in Montana, and through our phone conversations, I had images of the natural world planted inside my brain. Though the flowering of these ideas would come in my freshman year of college, I developed my definition. My view of wilderness is a place that exists all around us where there is a deeper connection with the natural world. Viewers can experience this daily by seeing a tree or bird. When a person experiences this feeling, it cultivates a call to care for the natural world, or rather it reframes how one views oneself.