Author Archives: janisselbyjones
Bombas Plasticus
World Bee Day, celebrated on May 20, prompted me to revisit Bombus Plasticus and explore new research regarding the impacts of plastics on bees. Researchers from the University of Reading identified microplastics as one of the top emerging threats to … Continue reading
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Blue Whale
Blue whales, the largest creatures on Earth, ingest an estimated 10 million pieces—or about 95 pounds—of microplastic daily, according to research published in Nature Communications. Most of these plastic particles come from their diet of krill, which consume plastic both … Continue reading
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Plastic Mummy
As legend has it, anyone who disturbs a tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh will be cursed, and a vengeful mummy will wreak havoc until a hero can stop it. This plastic mummy and the enormous amount of plastic debris unleashed … Continue reading
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How Do Our Hands Help Us Explore and Understand the World and Ourselves?
Originally posted in January 2014 I must admit that I used to take my hands for granted. I began to realize their importance as I worked with students on a self-portrait project inspired by Wendy Ewald’s The Best Part of … Continue reading
Let’s do this!
One might think that a big victory would be enough. The hard-won unanimous vote by Oceanside City Council Members to approve a single-use plastic reduction ordinance is certainly something to celebrate. In fact, we started with this end in sight, … Continue reading
Inspiring Civic Engagement and Environmental Advocacy
A defining moment of my long career in education occurred in March 2017. I had been working with colleague Ann Zivotsky and her 5th grade class as we developed an opinion/argument writing unit on marine debris that delved into the problem … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Education, Marine debris, Single-use Plastics Policies
Tagged environmental literacy, Marine debris, plastic pollution
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Skull and Crossbones
During the Middle Ages, the skull and crossbones symbol represented death and was often placed on grave markers. In the 18th century “Jolly Roger” flags were flown on pirate ships during an attack and/or as a warning of an impending … Continue reading
Carlsbad, San Marcos, and Vista Take Action; Escondido and Oceanside Lag Behind
A group of North County residents and I first spoke to the Carlsbad City Council about the plastic pollution problem during a Council meeting in February 2019. That evening, Council Members voted unanimously to place single-use plastics on the legislative … Continue reading
Leading with Climate Justice
During a recent Portrait of a Graduate Student Summit held in Oceanside, young people were asked what skills they thought would be needed in the future. One high school senior replied, “I need to know how to live in a … Continue reading
Making to Make a Difference
I was part of virtual environmental literacy conversation this morning through the California Writing Project and left the meeting feeling inspired by colleagues from across the state who are engaging students in meaningful climate change discussions. As I was thinking … Continue reading
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ShoreSweep 