I was fortunate to grow up around water and attend college just minutes away from the James, a river flowing down from the Appalachian Mountains and emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. I’ve lived in the Chesapeake River Basin my whole life, as do more than 18 million others. The watershed encompasses parts of six states- Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia, and spans more than 64,000miles. The bay itself is over 200 miles long, stretching from Havre de Grace, Maryland to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Joining the James are the Susquehanna, Potomac, Rappahannock, andYork Rivers, the largest rivers funneling towards the Bay; but importantly, there are more than100,000 streams, creeks, and rivers serving as tributaries. To say that the bay is important to the area is an understatement.
A 2021 Gallup Environmental Survey reports that 83% of Americans personally worry about the pollution of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs “a great deal” (53%) and “a fair amount”(30%). Awareness and action go hand in hand when people are educated and informed on how to make a difference. The challenge is harnessing that concern and turning it into a positive, desired behavior.
A Center for Watershed Protection poll was conducted with a sampling of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania residents. Among other data collected, this research surveyed residents’ knowledge and practices related to water contaminants generated from lawn fertilizer and their effect on the Chesapeake Bay. Given all respondents, 50% said they fertilize their yards an average of 1.73 times per year. As a representative sample, this tells us millions of homes are in the pursuit of a green, weed-free lawn with runoff pouring into those 100,000 tributaries towards the Chesapeake. Critically, one should note that among respondents who hired a lawn company for their lawn maintenance, only 2% cited “being environmentally friendly” as a deciding factor in selecting the business. We as a society end up faced with a population that cares deeply about the health of our waterways but is unaware of the impact they can have by utilizing environmentally friendly practices, products, and businesses. People simultaneously care for the waterways and do not understand that they contribute to the problem.
Attitudes and behaviors do not exist in a vacuum, nor do we expect them to. However, beliefs must precede a change in action if the change will be meaningful and long-lasting. Many homeowners, miles away from their closest river, do not make the connection between the fertilizer they spread on their lawn and the health of the water, fish, and waterfowl. They believe they are simply chasing a picture-perfect green lawn. A two-fold education campaign- on the interconnectedness of watersheds and environmentally safe products is crucial. Additionally, there should be increased recognition and visibility for companies creating and providing environmentally safe products. We know that a majority of Americans worry about the chemical pollution of our waters- with knowledge and education, that concern can be channeled into action.
Brenan, Megan. “Water Pollution Remains Top Environmental Concern in U.S.” Gallup.com, Gallup, 20 Nov. 2021,https://news.gallup.com/poll/347735/water-pollution-remains-top-environmental-concern.aspx.
Center for Watershed Protection. “A Survey of Residential Nutrient Behavior in the Chesapeake Bay.”Environmental Protection Agency, ChesapeakeResearch Consortium,https://cfpub.epa.gov/npstbx/files/unep_all.pdf.
Sophie’s Internship Experience
/in Interns/by Industrial DegreasersIntroduction to Sophie
Hi there! My name is Sophie, and I am a college junior majoring in Biochemistry. During my sophomore year, I had been hoping to find an internship for the following summer, so I was overjoyed when I was hired as one of Ecolink’s SEO Writing Interns.
This internship definitely met my expectations of what a remote summer internship would involve. My main task was to write blog posts based on certain keywords and try to reach a high keyword density. As someone who did not have previous experience in digital marketing, this was a new concept to me, but I enjoyed learning about it! In addition, my chemistry background aided me in writing about some of the assigned topics, such as solvents and extractions. I think having a basic understanding of the topic before I began researching helped me to craft more concise blog posts.
Communication is a must!
I would guess that one of the biggest worries on most students’ minds when starting a remote internship would be experiencing a lack of communication. Fortunately, this was not an issue for me. Our supervisor Carolyn made herself very available through texting and Microsoft Teams and always answered my questions. She encouraged us to reach out to her if we were ever confused about anything, which I really appreciated.
Favorite Part of the Internship
My favorite part of the internship was writing descriptions for the products that are going to be sold on Ecolink’s new website, Tidal Washers. I used the descriptions provided by our chemical manufacturing company to write my own descriptions, each of which included a summary of the product, its benefits, and how to use it. I also synthesized some information from the products’ Safety Data Sheets to write these pieces, which is another area in which my chemistry background was helpful.
In conclusion, I am grateful that I was one of the students selected for Ecolink’s internship program. I feel like I contributed to their growth and development as a company throughout the summer, which made it a rewarding experience. I would recommend this internship to anyone interested in the fields of chemistry, science communication, business, digital marketing, or any combination of the above!
For more information about Ecolink’s internships and how to apply click here!
Jorie’s Internship Experience
/in Interns/by Industrial DegreasersDid the Internship Meet My Expectations?
The Ecolink internship did meet my expectations! I was a little nervous at first because it was my first internship and I wanted to do well, and it was incredibly helpful that everyone was very nice, understanding, and supportive. I also found that I learned many things about myself and also about the skills I needed to succeed in the workplace in the future.
Learning Experience
I would definitely say that the internship was a big learning experience for me. I learned about Search Engine Optimization and also about Google Analytics. Both of those are important to understand regardless of what writing field you go into. I also learned how to set goals for myself and how to keep a timesheet that didn’t involve punching in and punching out every day for a scheduled amount of time. I learned more about how to research keywords and how to properly format a blog post!
Changes
The Ecolink internship was fun and a learning experience and there is very little I would change. The Teams meetings were helpful and the messaging on Teams also helped me contact someone quickly and reply quickly about any questions.
If I were to make a change, I would probably make a general sheet that was separate from the rolling agenda to put general information on. It would include things like assignment days and due-days for blogs, directions on how to read an assignment spreadsheet, and various Q and A material. This would help people who forgot things that were gone over verbally or who absorbed information better in a written format. It would also be a handy thing to check back on so fewer questions would have to be sent and answered.
Favorite Parts
My favorite part of the internship was probably researching eco-friendly topics. I am an ecologically conscious person and so finding solutions to problems or highlighting safer alternatives to traditional practices made me feel like I was making a difference in informing others. I also liked learning about plant extraction. I have long loved plants and I grow my own herbs and teas so learning more about how oils are made and plant extracts come about was exciting to me!
I had a lot of fun learning about the uses of chemicals and growing professionally during this internship. I feel better equipped for the job market and I also feel like I know myself better regarding how I function best and what my needs are, and I can apply that knowledge to improving both my writing and myself!
For more information about Ecolink’s internships and how to apply click here!
History of Women Cosmetic Scientists
/in Women in Chemistry/by Industrial DegreasersWhile the world of science may not historically consist of women, it’s significantly influenced by them nonetheless. The various areas of scientific study such as biology, chemistry, physics, and more all have influential female figureheads. They have helped shape modern knowledge and practices in their relative fields and are especially true in the field of cosmetic science with women cosmetic scientists.
What Is Cosmetic Science?
Cosmetic scientists, also known as chemists, work directly with chemicals to formulate a variety of beauty products with different purposes, looks, and more. Cosmetic science refers to this formulation of raw materials to create said beauty products such as:
Famous Female Cosmetic Scientists
While beauty products are used by everyone in one way or another, it’s women who tend to use the most, averaging at least 12 different beauty products each day. And while women can be any scientist they choose, it makes sense that women are the ones who have made historic breakthroughs in this field of chemistry. Here are just three of the most influential female cosmetic scientists in history:
Florence E. Wall – Born in 1893, Wall was one of the first-ever woman chemists and more specifically cosmetic chemists. Her legacy boasts a list of accomplishments in the world of science. Here are just a few of the things she is known for:
Hazel Bishop – Bishops influence began in the early 1900s during her pre-med program at Barnard College where she helped the founder of Almay Cosmetics identify allergens in his beauty products and remove them. She worked in various chemistry fields but dedicated most of her life to the experimentation of formulas for various beauty items. During her studies she…
Tapputi Belatekallim – Estimated to have lived in Mesopotamia in 12000 B.C., Tapputi Belatekallim is credited as being one of the first chemists and female chemists in the world. Archeologist’s findings suggest she was a royal-perfume maker. She didn’t just mix scents but used her extensive knowledge of chemistry to formulate fragrant salves for the king of Babylonia.
Want to Learn More About Women Chemists?
Click here to read more of Ecolink’s blogs about women’s historical and modern-day influence on the world of chemistry
Cleaning Up Chesapeake Bay – Thomas Brennan
/in Scholarship Contest/by Industrial DegreasersSources:
Getting to Know Thomas Brennan
/in Scholarship Contest/by Industrial DegreasersGetting to Know Thomas Brennan
Thomas Brennan is currently a freshman at Christopher Newport University and is one of Ecolink’s five-hundred-dollar scholarship recipients. We wanted to get to know a bit more about Thomas and his winning essay, so we asked. Here’s what we learned about Thomas:?
Thomas is in his first year at Christopher Newport University where he belongs to the President Leaders Program. This organization is focused on giving back to the community through food drives, staffing food kitchens, and volunteering at the local SPCA. Thomas has not declared a major yet but is considering psychology or possibly something in the STEM field. His scholarship award from Ecolink will go toward covering his tuition bill.
For Thomas, the most important part of protecting the environment involves raising awareness. Thomas says, “Once you have enough people to care about the issue, the easier it is to make change happen.” Thomas’ blog on the Chesapeake Bay will certainly help to raise that awareness.
When we asked Thomas where he plans to settle after graduation, he said it really depends on where a job offer takes him. He prefers the country or a mountainous area but will follow his career path.
Thomas’s advice to others: “Don’t ignore the changes, global warming is real, not a hoax. We all have to do our part.”
Ecolink is proud to award Thomas this scholarship and we wish him future success in college and in being a good steward of our planet. We hope Thomas’ career takes him back to nature!
You can catch Thomas’ winning essay here.