Reflection 2

Apologies for missing the first reflection, I'm not the best at staying organized and the deadline slipped by me. This was nothing to do with my disinterest in the class, but rather a disinterest in academic work in general. That is all to say it was not a consequence of the class, I've actually been enjoying the it in ways unlike any other class I've taken so far. There was the typical econ graph work as I expected going into the course, and the definition memorization, both of which served their purpose as testable material that I numbly accepted. Outside of the test material though, the definitions have proved to be useful in building a better understanding of more specific concepts than I had going into the course. The weekly current events projects specifically (as tedious as they were... they weren't that bad), were a good exercise in reinforcing definitions, and the articles we found gave a deeper context than what could be gathered from the textbook glossary.

However, looking past those smaller, expected portions of the course, the lecture experience and class engagement was handled in a very refreshing way that led to engaging (although sometimes quiet, as all university classes are) discussions that gave me interesting perspectives on environmental topics from real people around me. Even when there was no discussion, the results shown from the opinion based iclicker questions were an interesting reminder that even those that share similar values and interests that lead us into taking this course, can still hold different beliefs on a variety of individual issues within environmental conservation. I continually found the examples brought up for topic demonstrations to be interesting, and they gave a rare sense of purpose within one of my classes. Seeing how the economic framework of thinking can apply to real problems outside of the financial world gave me a new respect for what I've been working towards, while at the same time humbling me into understanding the unlimited considerations and issues at play when working towards a solution.

I believe what I've taken away most from the course is more abstract than what was laid out as the quantifiable course material. While the definitions and math have helped to grow my understanding of specific concepts and principles within environmental economics and conservation, what I've felt most impacted by are all of imperfections of economics that were discussed, as well as the resistances that come with implementing changes and regulation. Specifically the story of the tidal river being damned to become a small lake in Nova Scotia we discussed was interesting to me in the sense that large a environmental decision was made relatively quickly, seemingly with the aim for political power. And while it may be argued that they were serving the majority of the population, the impact of the change on the ecosystem can't be undone. That's not to say the wildlife can't recover and adapt, but the short term thought process of serving terms in politics seems to have little incentive to consider the long term environmental effects of their actions, and that unsettling trend seems to parallel at many levels (especially when lobbyists are involved). Apologies for the slight tangent. I can confidently say that leaving this course I am far more conscious of the considerations and processes put behind decisions regarding the environment. Decisions made by individuals, small and large businesses, and governments all have their unique issues and abilities. I've also come away with a better respect for the journalists, researchers, and environmental economists spreading public consciousness about the issues that concern us, as without the pressures put on by the public, governments and firms would have little incentive to adjust their practices. I understand these are not entirely applicable to topics discussed in the course, but I can attribute the course discussions to strengthening and weakening different beliefs and ideas I hold, as well as better understanding the perspectives of my peers.

Thanks

Prof: Thanks for the thoughtful feedback.