when I was nine years old I watched NASA shoot a rocket off in search of Pluto
shoot a rocket off in search of Pluto
shoot a rocket off in search of Pluto and when I was 18 I got to see the
and when I was 18 I got to see the
and when I was 18 I got to see the amazing photos of that dwarf planet that
amazing photos of that dwarf planet that
amazing photos of that dwarf planet that resides on the edges of our solar system
resides on the edges of our solar system
resides on the edges of our solar system in between those years I watched as the
in between those years I watched as the
in between those years I watched as the technology around me rose up to
technology around me rose up to
technology around me rose up to astounding levels it was incredible what
astounding levels it was incredible what
astounding levels it was incredible what we could make to improve our lives and
we could make to improve our lives and
we could make to improve our lives and there came a point when I believed but
there came a point when I believed but
there came a point when I believed but there was nothing that technology could
there was nothing that technology could
there was nothing that technology could not do and then I discovered this this
not do and then I discovered this this
not do and then I discovered this this is the emerald ash borer beetle it’s
is the emerald ash borer beetle it’s
is the emerald ash borer beetle it’s believed to have come from eastern
believed to have come from eastern
believed to have come from eastern Russia on wooden packing pallets and it
Russia on wooden packing pallets and it
Russia on wooden packing pallets and it was first discovered in America
was first discovered in America
was first discovered in America near Detroit in 2002 this beetle attacks
near Detroit in 2002 this beetle attacks
near Detroit in 2002 this beetle attacks only ash trees or trees within the
only ash trees or trees within the
only ash trees or trees within the fraxinus genus it does is damaged by the
fraxinus genus it does is damaged by the
fraxinus genus it does is damaged by the adults boring into the bark of the tree
adults boring into the bark of the tree
adults boring into the bark of the tree leaving these d-shaped exit holes and
leaving these d-shaped exit holes and
leaving these d-shaped exit holes and what they do once the adults are under
what they do once the adults are under
what they do once the adults are under they lay their eggs and then the adults
they lay their eggs and then the adults
they lay their eggs and then the adults go on to nibble along the foliage of the
go on to nibble along the foliage of the
go on to nibble along the foliage of the tree but that’s not the part that does
tree but that’s not the part that does
tree but that’s not the part that does the damage the part that does the damage
the damage the part that does the damage
the damage the part that does the damage is the larvae they leaves behind when
is the larvae they leaves behind when
is the larvae they leaves behind when the eggs hatch the larvae starts eating
the eggs hatch the larvae starts eating
the eggs hatch the larvae starts eating its way up through the cambium layer of
its way up through the cambium layer of
its way up through the cambium layer of the tree and this is the part of the
the tree and this is the part of the
the tree and this is the part of the tree that delivers nutrients so once
tree that delivers nutrients so once
tree that delivers nutrients so once this is compromised the tree dies
this is compromised the tree dies
this is compromised the tree dies there’s nothing you can do to stop it
there’s nothing you can do to stop it
there’s nothing you can do to stop it and then the larvae grows into adults
and then the larvae grows into adults
and then the larvae grows into adults and they fly to the next tree and the
and they fly to the next tree and the
and they fly to the next tree and the recycle repeats itself now this sounds
recycle repeats itself now this sounds
recycle repeats itself now this sounds like a very specific problem because
like a very specific problem because
like a very specific problem because they only go after ash trees but ash
they only go after ash trees but ash
they only go after ash trees but ash white ash trees make up our forests our
white ash trees make up our forests our
white ash trees make up our forests our black and our green ash trees are
black and our green ash trees are
black and our green ash trees are crucial to our wetland ecosystems losing
crucial to our wetland ecosystems losing
crucial to our wetland ecosystems losing these trees means losing
these trees means losing
these trees means losing entire communities within our forests
entire communities within our forests
entire communities within our forests according to the United States
according to the United States
according to the United States Department of Agriculture this beetle is
Department of Agriculture this beetle is
Department of Agriculture this beetle is now in 27 different states and has cost
now in 27 different states and has cost
now in 27 different states and has cost the United States almost 11 billion
the United States almost 11 billion
the United States almost 11 billion dollars in both economic and
dollars in both economic and
dollars in both economic and environmental damage many attempts have
environmental damage many attempts have
environmental damage many attempts have been made to stop the beetle the spread
been made to stop the beetle the spread
been made to stop the beetle the spread of the beetle at the tree
of the beetle at the tree
of the beetle at the tree scientists have hung purple boxes that
scientists have hung purple boxes that
scientists have hung purple boxes that hang in the canopies you might have seen
hang in the canopies you might have seen
hang in the canopies you might have seen them around before they’re laced with
them around before they’re laced with
them around before they’re laced with something called manuka oil which is an
something called manuka oil which is an
something called manuka oil which is an enticing oil to the beetle and it acts
enticing oil to the beetle and it acts
enticing oil to the beetle and it acts as a flytrap trapping the bug inside the
as a flytrap trapping the bug inside the
as a flytrap trapping the bug inside the purple trap another thing they’ve tried
purple trap another thing they’ve tried
purple trap another thing they’ve tried to do is release parasitoid wasps at the
to do is release parasitoid wasps at the
to do is release parasitoid wasps at the site of an infestation treat these wasps
site of an infestation treat these wasps
site of an infestation treat these wasps are trained to eat only the emerald ash
are trained to eat only the emerald ash
are trained to eat only the emerald ash borer and these sound like incredible
borer and these sound like incredible
borer and these sound like incredible ways to go after the beetle at the tree
ways to go after the beetle at the tree
ways to go after the beetle at the tree but the problem is is the beetle only
but the problem is is the beetle only
but the problem is is the beetle only moved half a mile a year on its own and
moved half a mile a year on its own and
moved half a mile a year on its own and we though the lifecycle of a tree is so
we though the lifecycle of a tree is so
we though the lifecycle of a tree is so long that we don’t yet know if the boxes
long that we don’t yet know if the boxes
long that we don’t yet know if the boxes or the wasps are actually causing a
or the wasps are actually causing a
or the wasps are actually causing a negative impact on their population the
negative impact on their population the
negative impact on their population the problem is we don’t have that much time
problem is we don’t have that much time
problem is we don’t have that much time the beetle is already spreading to
the beetle is already spreading to
the beetle is already spreading to different countries it’s in Europe it’s
different countries it’s in Europe it’s
different countries it’s in Europe it’s in Canada it’s in Rockingham
in Canada it’s in Rockingham
in Canada it’s in Rockingham Hillsborough Belknap and Merrimack
Hillsborough Belknap and Merrimack
Hillsborough Belknap and Merrimack counties in New Hampshire so how are
counties in New Hampshire so how are
counties in New Hampshire so how are they getting so far if the beat only
they getting so far if the beat only
they getting so far if the beat only spreads a year half a mile a year on its
spreads a year half a mile a year on its
spreads a year half a mile a year on its own the problem is us we chop down our
own the problem is us we chop down our
own the problem is us we chop down our firewood we buy little bundles of
firewood we buy little bundles of
firewood we buy little bundles of chopped firewood and we bring them
chopped firewood and we bring them
chopped firewood and we bring them camping we bring them to places like
camping we bring them to places like
camping we bring them to places like Franconia Notch specifically in new
Franconia Notch specifically in new
Franconia Notch specifically in new hampshire we bring them to the Loudoun
hampshire we bring them to the Loudoun
hampshire we bring them to the Loudoun Motor Speedway people come to camp and
Motor Speedway people come to camp and
Motor Speedway people come to camp and they bring firewood from all over the
they bring firewood from all over the
they bring firewood from all over the place and it can’t there’s no way for
place and it can’t there’s no way for
place and it can’t there’s no way for anyone to know if it’s been treated or
anyone to know if it’s been treated or
anyone to know if it’s been treated or not there’s no way to know if that if
not there’s no way to know if that if
not there’s no way to know if that if the firewood is infested
the firewood is infested
the firewood is infested and people are unknowingly giving free
and people are unknowingly giving free
and people are unknowingly giving free rides to invasive species allowing it to
rides to invasive species allowing it to
rides to invasive species allowing it to spread so quickly so while scientists
spread so quickly so while scientists
spread so quickly so while scientists are working on a way to attack the
are working on a way to attack the
are working on a way to attack the beetle at the tree how can we stop the
beetle at the tree how can we stop the
beetle at the tree how can we stop the man assisted spread what can we do now
man assisted spread what can we do now
man assisted spread what can we do now to slow that down what about dogs we
to slow that down what about dogs we
to slow that down what about dogs we already know that the nose of a dog is
already know that the nose of a dog is
already know that the nose of a dog is exponentially more powerful than
exponentially more powerful than
exponentially more powerful than anything we know about and that’s partly
anything we know about and that’s partly
anything we know about and that’s partly because of how our noses are built this
because of how our noses are built this
because of how our noses are built this is the human nose it’s comprised of our
is the human nose it’s comprised of our
is the human nose it’s comprised of our nostrils and when we inhale we inhale
nostrils and when we inhale we inhale
nostrils and when we inhale we inhale all these different molecules of odors
all these different molecules of odors
all these different molecules of odors and they run back over our scent
and they run back over our scent
and they run back over our scent receptor cells back into the yellow bulb
receptor cells back into the yellow bulb
receptor cells back into the yellow bulb on the slide here and that olfactory
on the slide here and that olfactory
on the slide here and that olfactory bulb is the epithelial area that
bulb is the epithelial area that
bulb is the epithelial area that delivers the odors to the part of the
delivers the odors to the part of the
delivers the odors to the part of the brain that processes scent and basically
brain that processes scent and basically
brain that processes scent and basically the more scent receptor cells you have
the more scent receptor cells you have
the more scent receptor cells you have the better you are at smelling humans
the better you are at smelling humans
the better you are at smelling humans have around 5 million scent receptors
have around 5 million scent receptors
have around 5 million scent receptors cells but the German Shepherd has 225
cells but the German Shepherd has 225
cells but the German Shepherd has 225 million
million
million as you can see here the dogs nose the
as you can see here the dogs nose the
as you can see here the dogs nose the muzzle is so much longer allowing for so
muzzle is so much longer allowing for so
muzzle is so much longer allowing for so much more space for olfactory receptor
much more space for olfactory receptor
much more space for olfactory receptor cells you can see here this cutout of
cells you can see here this cutout of
cells you can see here this cutout of the yellow that is their olfactory bulb
the yellow that is their olfactory bulb
the yellow that is their olfactory bulb it’s a labyrinth it’s a maze of a
it’s a labyrinth it’s a maze of a
it’s a labyrinth it’s a maze of a surface era that’s dedicated to sending
surface era that’s dedicated to sending
surface era that’s dedicated to sending this these odors to the part of their
this these odors to the part of their
this these odors to the part of their brain that processes scent and dogs have
brain that processes scent and dogs have
brain that processes scent and dogs have a brain where it’s 40% of it is
a brain where it’s 40% of it is
a brain where it’s 40% of it is dedicated to processing scent alone
dedicated to processing scent alone
dedicated to processing scent alone which is magnitudes larger than what
which is magnitudes larger than what
which is magnitudes larger than what ours is on other really important things
ours is on other really important things
ours is on other really important things that dog can do is when they smell they
that dog can do is when they smell they
that dog can do is when they smell they can inhale and they can separate bare
can inhale and they can separate bare
can inhale and they can separate bare air into two different pathways one one
air into two different pathways one one
air into two different pathways one one goes down into their lungs allowing them
goes down into their lungs allowing them
goes down into their lungs allowing them to continue to breathe as they work and
to continue to breathe as they work and
to continue to breathe as they work and the other sends all of those odors all
the other sends all of those odors all
the other sends all of those odors all those concentrated chemical compounds
those concentrated chemical compounds
those concentrated chemical compounds straight back over their olfactory cells
straight back over their olfactory cells
straight back over their olfactory cells into their epithelial area in the back
into their epithelial area in the back
into their epithelial area in the back of the olfactory region so why aren’t we
of the olfactory region so why aren’t we
of the olfactory region so why aren’t we using dogs for conservation we already
using dogs for conservation we already
using dogs for conservation we already know that they can scent out drugs they
know that they can scent out drugs they
know that they can scent out drugs they can find explosives they can find other
can find explosives they can find other
can find explosives they can find other illegal contraband they can smell things
illegal contraband they can smell things
illegal contraband they can smell things up to 40 feet underground we do not have
up to 40 feet underground we do not have
up to 40 feet underground we do not have a piece of technology as powerful as a
a piece of technology as powerful as a
a piece of technology as powerful as a dog’s nose we are incapable of creating
dog’s nose we are incapable of creating
dog’s nose we are incapable of creating a piece that matches the power of the
a piece that matches the power of the
a piece that matches the power of the nose right next to me so why aren’t we
nose right next to me so why aren’t we
nose right next to me so why aren’t we using them this is Roo
using them this is Roo
using them this is Roo she’s a five year old working German
she’s a five year old working German
she’s a five year old working German Shepherd and I’ve had her since she was
Shepherd and I’ve had her since she was
Shepherd and I’ve had her since she was eight weeks old I was still in middle
eight weeks old I was still in middle
eight weeks old I was still in middle school I’ve been working with her every
school I’ve been working with her every
school I’ve been working with her every day for five years and the first thing I
day for five years and the first thing I
day for five years and the first thing I noted noticed about her when I got her
noted noticed about her when I got her
noted noticed about her when I got her was that she had a nose she went after
was that she had a nose she went after
was that she had a nose she went after every scent and she had the drive to
every scent and she had the drive to
every scent and she had the drive to follow it many years ago I asked my
follow it many years ago I asked my
follow it many years ago I asked my little brother if he could hide behind
little brother if he could hide behind
little brother if he could hide behind the shed so that Roo could find him and
the shed so that Roo could find him and
the shed so that Roo could find him and I watched it was a beautiful summer day
I watched it was a beautiful summer day
I watched it was a beautiful summer day there was no way for him to leave any
there was no way for him to leave any
there was no way for him to leave any visible footprints and anyone not
visible footprints and anyone not
visible footprints and anyone not watching would have had no idea where he
watching would have had no idea where he
watching would have had no idea where he was
was
was and I watched as he took a step and a
and I watched as he took a step and a
and I watched as he took a step and a step and then he turned leaving a
step and then he turned leaving a
step and then he turned leaving a footprint that no one could see and then
footprint that no one could see and then
footprint that no one could see and then when I let rue go and I asked her to
when I let rue go and I asked her to
when I let rue go and I asked her to find him
find him
find him I watched she searched frantically with
I watched she searched frantically with
I watched she searched frantically with her nose in the air and she was inhaling
her nose in the air and she was inhaling
her nose in the air and she was inhaling all these molecules and chemical
all these molecules and chemical
all these molecules and chemical compounds that we can’t even fathom and
compounds that we can’t even fathom and
compounds that we can’t even fathom and then suddenly her nose dropped to the
then suddenly her nose dropped to the
then suddenly her nose dropped to the ground right on his footprint and I
ground right on his footprint and I
ground right on his footprint and I watched her nose go from footprint to
watched her nose go from footprint to
watched her nose go from footprint to footprint and then turn exactly where he
footprint and then turn exactly where he
footprint and then turn exactly where he had been and within 30 seconds she had
had been and within 30 seconds she had
had been and within 30 seconds she had found them so when the time came for me
found them so when the time came for me
found them so when the time came for me to graduate high school I had to do a
to graduate high school I had to do a
to graduate high school I had to do a senior project and I knew that I
senior project and I knew that I
senior project and I knew that I couldn’t do it without real an amazing
couldn’t do it without real an amazing
couldn’t do it without real an amazing dog trainer degan Lee introduced me to
dog trainer degan Lee introduced me to
dog trainer degan Lee introduced me to the idea of dogs working for
the idea of dogs working for
the idea of dogs working for conservation maybe scenting out the ash
conservation maybe scenting out the ash
conservation maybe scenting out the ash borer and infested firewood piles so
what I’ve done today what I will show
what I’ve done today what I will show you today is how Rou can scent that out
you today is how Rou can scent that out
you today is how Rou can scent that out in front of me are three boxes one of
in front of me are three boxes one of
in front of me are three boxes one of them is infested to our color green on
them is infested to our color green on
them is infested to our color green on the bottom and those are the clear ones
the bottom and those are the clear ones
the bottom and those are the clear ones the other is red and what I’m going to
the other is red and what I’m going to
the other is red and what I’m going to show you is how she is trained to alert
show you is how she is trained to alert
show you is how she is trained to alert to that and she what she will do is she
to that and she what she will do is she
to that and she what she will do is she will either sit or lay down when she
will either sit or lay down when she
will either sit or lay down when she finds it and that is called a passive
finds it and that is called a passive
finds it and that is called a passive alert she’s got a stretch first
alert she’s got a stretch first
alert she’s got a stretch first should I get ready yeah all right
should I get ready yeah all right
should I get ready yeah all right roo-roo are you ready to work your are
roo-roo are you ready to work your are
roo-roo are you ready to work your are you ready to find bugs yeah you’re right
you ready to find bugs yeah you’re right
you ready to find bugs yeah you’re right you’re fine blocks all right
you’re fine blocks all right
you’re fine blocks all right all right now I’m going to cover the
all right now I’m going to cover the
all right now I’m going to cover the Mike up a little bit because it throws
Mike up a little bit because it throws
Mike up a little bit because it throws my voice out and it can distract her
and this is the red one as you can see
and this is the red one as you can see that took grew all of 30 seconds to tell
that took grew all of 30 seconds to tell
that took grew all of 30 seconds to tell me that that was the infested piece of
me that that was the infested piece of
me that that was the infested piece of firewood so why aren’t we using dogs at
firewood so why aren’t we using dogs at
firewood so why aren’t we using dogs at places like the Loudoun Motor Speedway
places like the Loudoun Motor Speedway
places like the Loudoun Motor Speedway why aren’t we using them to intercept
why aren’t we using them to intercept
why aren’t we using them to intercept moving firewood
moving firewood
moving firewood this would allow scientists more time to
this would allow scientists more time to
this would allow scientists more time to attack the beetle at the tree and
attack the beetle at the tree and
attack the beetle at the tree and decrease their population if we had
decrease their population if we had
decrease their population if we had well-trained working conservation dog
well-trained working conservation dog
well-trained working conservation dog teams at checkpoints we would be able to
teams at checkpoints we would be able to
teams at checkpoints we would be able to slow the man assisted spread of the
slow the man assisted spread of the
slow the man assisted spread of the beetle incredibly easily and we would be
beetle incredibly easily and we would be
beetle incredibly easily and we would be able to save her forests and the thing
able to save her forests and the thing
able to save her forests and the thing is technology is incredible it really is
is technology is incredible it really is
is technology is incredible it really is but this is the tipping point sometimes
but this is the tipping point sometimes
but this is the tipping point sometimes it’s okay to step back and think what
it’s okay to step back and think what
it’s okay to step back and think what you’re already looking for might already
you’re already looking for might already
you’re already looking for might already be here and they might just be in the
be here and they might just be in the
be here and they might just be in the forms of our best friends thank you
forms of our best friends thank you
forms of our best friends thank you [Applause]
”
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