Beyond the Science: Environmental Problems…Cultural Solutions | Paul K. Doss | TEDxEvansville

this image of the Cuyahoga River on fire

this image of the Cuyahoga River on fire in northern Ohio became an icon of sorts

in northern Ohio became an icon of sorts

in northern Ohio became an icon of sorts of the environmental movement they

of the environmental movement they

of the environmental movement they caught fire 15 times by 1969 after that

caught fire 15 times by 1969 after that

caught fire 15 times by 1969 after that in the first Earth Day in 1970 some

in the first Earth Day in 1970 some

in the first Earth Day in 1970 some really great things happen for

really great things happen for

really great things happen for environmental protection Congress passed

environmental protection Congress passed

environmental protection Congress passed the Clean Water Act the Safe Drinking

the Clean Water Act the Safe Drinking

the Clean Water Act the Safe Drinking Water Act the Clean Air Act the National

Water Act the Clean Air Act the National

Water Act the Clean Air Act the National Environmental Policy Act the Endangered

Environmental Policy Act the Endangered

Environmental Policy Act the Endangered Species Act and many others they also

Species Act and many others they also

Species Act and many others they also established the Environmental Protection

established the Environmental Protection

established the Environmental Protection Agency all of that during a Republican

Agency all of that during a Republican

Agency all of that during a Republican administration those pieces of

administration those pieces of

administration those pieces of legislation did some great things for

legislation did some great things for

legislation did some great things for our environment and environmental

our environment and environmental

our environment and environmental protection but they picked what I might

protection but they picked what I might

protection but they picked what I might call the low-hanging fruit I’ll let you

call the low-hanging fruit I’ll let you

call the low-hanging fruit I’ll let you in on a little secret scientifically

in on a little secret scientifically

in on a little secret scientifically it’s pretty darn easy to fix a river

it’s pretty darn easy to fix a river

it’s pretty darn easy to fix a river that catches on fire stop pouring

that catches on fire stop pouring

that catches on fire stop pouring gasoline on it the environmental

gasoline on it the environmental

gasoline on it the environmental problems facing humanity today are much

problems facing humanity today are much

problems facing humanity today are much more complicated much more complex and

more complicated much more complex and

more complicated much more complex and insidious than a burning River and their

insidious than a burning River and their

insidious than a burning River and their solution lies within our entrenched

solution lies within our entrenched

solution lies within our entrenched societal behavior that’s the sum of all

societal behavior that’s the sum of all

societal behavior that’s the sum of all of our individual behaviors

of our individual behaviors

of our individual behaviors I learned something when my wife and I

I learned something when my wife and I

I learned something when my wife and I were fortunate enough to live and work

were fortunate enough to live and work

were fortunate enough to live and work in the Yellowstone National Park the

in the Yellowstone National Park the

in the Yellowstone National Park the park cops work in a division known

park cops work in a division known

park cops work in a division known formally as visitor protection and

formally as visitor protection and

formally as visitor protection and resource management they told me that

resource management they told me that

resource management they told me that they knew their job was protecting the

they knew their job was protecting the

they knew their job was protecting the resources in managing the visitors it’s

resources in managing the visitors it’s

resources in managing the visitors it’s the culture it’s the people that need

the culture it’s the people that need

the culture it’s the people that need management and that’s exactly where we

management and that’s exactly where we

management and that’s exactly where we are today with our environmental

are today with our environmental

are today with our environmental problems we’re not going to solve these

problems we’re not going to solve these

problems we’re not going to solve these problems until we face the biggest

problems until we face the biggest

problems until we face the biggest threat and that’s us our behaviors

I’m really lucky right now to be

I’m really lucky right now to be involved in research along a nearly

involved in research along a nearly

involved in research along a nearly pristine trout stream the white river in

pristine trout stream the white river in

pristine trout stream the white river in Manistee National Forest in Michigan and

Manistee National Forest in Michigan and

Manistee National Forest in Michigan and there because the Forest Service asked

there because the Forest Service asked

there because the Forest Service asked for some help I’m on my lunch break in

for some help I’m on my lunch break in

for some help I’m on my lunch break in this picture here the streams in West

this picture here the streams in West

this picture here the streams in West Central Michigan are they support trout

Central Michigan are they support trout

Central Michigan are they support trout they support salmon spawning runs out of

they support salmon spawning runs out of

they support salmon spawning runs out of Lake Michigan and they’re sustained by

Lake Michigan and they’re sustained by

Lake Michigan and they’re sustained by groundwater now this is something that

groundwater now this is something that

groundwater now this is something that gets somebody like me and environmental

gets somebody like me and environmental

gets somebody like me and environmental hydrogeologist kind of fired up and

hydrogeologist kind of fired up and

hydrogeologist kind of fired up and excited this is groundwater very

excited this is groundwater very

excited this is groundwater very aggressively flowing out of the stream

aggressively flowing out of the stream

aggressively flowing out of the stream bed

bed

bed it’s literally making that stream it’s

it’s literally making that stream it’s

it’s literally making that stream it’s that continual inflow of groundwater

that continual inflow of groundwater

that continual inflow of groundwater that maintains stable stream levels it

that maintains stable stream levels it

that maintains stable stream levels it maintains cool stable temperatures all

maintains cool stable temperatures all

maintains cool stable temperatures all year long it maintains nutrient inputs

year long it maintains nutrient inputs

year long it maintains nutrient inputs to that stream if that groundwater is

to that stream if that groundwater is

to that stream if that groundwater is threatened then the stream is threatened

threatened then the stream is threatened

threatened then the stream is threatened and if the stream is threatened the

and if the stream is threatened the

and if the stream is threatened the trout and salmon are threatened and if

trout and salmon are threatened and if

trout and salmon are threatened and if the trout and salmon are threatened well

the trout and salmon are threatened well

the trout and salmon are threatened well the two billion dollar a year fishing

the two billion dollar a year fishing

the two billion dollar a year fishing industry in Michigan is threatened so

industry in Michigan is threatened so

industry in Michigan is threatened so why was the Forest Service concerned why

why was the Forest Service concerned why

why was the Forest Service concerned why did I go up there well because Nestle’s

did I go up there well because Nestle’s

did I go up there well because Nestle’s Ice Mountain bottled water company

Ice Mountain bottled water company

Ice Mountain bottled water company drilled to test wells to extract ground

drilled to test wells to extract ground

drilled to test wells to extract ground water from private property about a

water from private property about a

water from private property about a hundred yards off the bank of the White

hundred yards off the bank of the White

hundred yards off the bank of the White River the boundary with the National

River the boundary with the National

River the boundary with the National Forest the border with your public land

Forest the border with your public land

Forest the border with your public land will pumping groundwater from adjacent

will pumping groundwater from adjacent

will pumping groundwater from adjacent to a trout stream threaten that stream

to a trout stream threaten that stream

to a trout stream threaten that stream absolutely how much well trying to

absolutely how much well trying to

absolutely how much well trying to measure that threat and assess those

measure that threat and assess those

measure that threat and assess those impacts were the scientific questions

impacts were the scientific questions

impacts were the scientific questions that the Forest Service wanted some help

that the Forest Service wanted some help

that the Forest Service wanted some help trying to answer but let’s move beyond

trying to answer but let’s move beyond

trying to answer but let’s move beyond the science why are those questions even

the science why are those questions even

the science why are those questions even being asked well it’s because our

being asked well it’s because our

being asked well it’s because our society has an addiction to little

society has an addiction to little

society has an addiction to little plastic bottles of water 30 billion

plastic bottles of water 30 billion

plastic bottles of water 30 billion plastic bottles every year just in the

plastic bottles every year just in the

plastic bottles every year just in the United States we consume non-renewable

United States we consume non-renewable

United States we consume non-renewable fossil resources to manufacture and

fossil resources to manufacture and

fossil resources to manufacture and transport and distribute those bottles

transport and distribute those bottles

transport and distribute those bottles single serving plastic bottles generate

single serving plastic bottles generate

single serving plastic bottles generate any nor

any nor

any nor volume of waste the far majority of

volume of waste the far majority of

volume of waste the far majority of which is not recycled and extracting

which is not recycled and extracting

which is not recycled and extracting groundwater for bottled water does pose

groundwater for bottled water does pose

groundwater for bottled water does pose very real threat to some aquatic

very real threat to some aquatic

very real threat to some aquatic resources the only reason that those

resources the only reason that those

resources the only reason that those problems originate is because we choose

problems originate is because we choose

problems originate is because we choose the drink water out of little plastic

the drink water out of little plastic

the drink water out of little plastic bottles we now have a thing called the

bottles we now have a thing called the

bottles we now have a thing called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch thousands of

Great Pacific Garbage Patch thousands of

Great Pacific Garbage Patch thousands of square miles between California and

square miles between California and

square miles between California and Hawaii where human debris is trapped in

Hawaii where human debris is trapped in

Hawaii where human debris is trapped in a jar of Airy large circular ocean

a jar of Airy large circular ocean

a jar of Airy large circular ocean current we might envision massive

current we might envision massive

current we might envision massive floating piles of garbage but it’s

floating piles of garbage but it’s

floating piles of garbage but it’s actually much more insidious than that

actually much more insidious than that

actually much more insidious than that most of its tiny micro plastic suspended

most of its tiny micro plastic suspended

most of its tiny micro plastic suspended in the water column plastic beads from

in the water column plastic beads from

in the water column plastic beads from beauty products raw material plastics

beauty products raw material plastics

beauty products raw material plastics for manufacturing the broken fragments

for manufacturing the broken fragments

for manufacturing the broken fragments and charged from our disposable

and charged from our disposable

and charged from our disposable lifestyle

lifestyle

lifestyle Diana Parker from the National Oceanic

Diana Parker from the National Oceanic

Diana Parker from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says if

and Atmospheric Administration says if

and Atmospheric Administration says if you tried to clean less than 1% of the

you tried to clean less than 1% of the

you tried to clean less than 1% of the North Pacific Ocean that takes 67 ships

North Pacific Ocean that takes 67 ships

North Pacific Ocean that takes 67 ships one year to clean until we stop that

one year to clean until we stop that

one year to clean until we stop that debris at its source it’s just going to

debris at its source it’s just going to

debris at its source it’s just going to continue to congregate in those areas

continue to congregate in those areas

continue to congregate in those areas there’s very real damage from this and

there’s very real damage from this and

there’s very real damage from this and from all of our behaviors nearly every

from all of our behaviors nearly every

from all of our behaviors nearly every dead albatross in the Hawaiian island

dead albatross in the Hawaiian island

dead albatross in the Hawaiian island regions has plastic in its gut attracted

regions has plastic in its gut attracted

regions has plastic in its gut attracted to that plastic as if it were food many

to that plastic as if it were food many

to that plastic as if it were food many of them starve to death because their

of them starve to death because their

of them starve to death because their gut has no no room for real food this

gut has no no room for real food this

gut has no no room for real food this isn’t this isn’t debris from cruise

isn’t this isn’t debris from cruise

isn’t this isn’t debris from cruise ships this is the stuff that runs

ships this is the stuff that runs

ships this is the stuff that runs downstream it’s the stuff that flows off

downstream it’s the stuff that flows off

downstream it’s the stuff that flows off of our continents from our disposable

of our continents from our disposable

of our continents from our disposable throwaway society water is at the center

throwaway society water is at the center

throwaway society water is at the center of many of our environmental problems as

of many of our environmental problems as

of many of our environmental problems as it should be Senator Barry Goldwater

it should be Senator Barry Goldwater

it should be Senator Barry Goldwater once said a man from the West will fight

once said a man from the West will fight

once said a man from the West will fight over three things water women gold and

over three things water women gold and

over three things water women gold and usually in that order

usually in that order

water is environmental lifeblood it’s

water is environmental lifeblood it’s societal lifeblood it’s really amazing

societal lifeblood it’s really amazing

societal lifeblood it’s really amazing what we’ll do to that which we need

what we’ll do to that which we need

what we’ll do to that which we need remember we let a river catch on fire 15

remember we let a river catch on fire 15

remember we let a river catch on fire 15 times and then we actually had to draft

times and then we actually had to draft

times and then we actually had to draft federal law to stop it this is a noisy

federal law to stop it this is a noisy

federal law to stop it this is a noisy graph and we’ll talk about it briefly

graph and we’ll talk about it briefly

graph and we’ll talk about it briefly but then then we’ll move on and we’ll go

but then then we’ll move on and we’ll go

but then then we’ll move on and we’ll go beyond the science this graph is showing

beyond the science this graph is showing

beyond the science this graph is showing the concentrations of synthetic

the concentrations of synthetic

the concentrations of synthetic chemicals in streams of the United

chemicals in streams of the United

chemicals in streams of the United States the US Geological Survey detected

States the US Geological Survey detected

States the US Geological Survey detected these chemicals in 80 percent of the

these chemicals in 80 percent of the

these chemicals in 80 percent of the streams at it sampled in our country a

streams at it sampled in our country a

streams at it sampled in our country a third of the streams had 10 or more of

third of the streams had 10 or more of

third of the streams had 10 or more of these chemicals they’re in low

these chemicals they’re in low

these chemicals they’re in low concentrations but scientifically we

concentrations but scientifically we

concentrations but scientifically we don’t really know what that means we do

don’t really know what that means we do

don’t really know what that means we do know that they aren’t removed by normal

know that they aren’t removed by normal

know that they aren’t removed by normal water treatment process what are the

water treatment process what are the

water treatment process what are the implications of exposure to low levels

implications of exposure to low levels

implications of exposure to low levels of testosterone and fire retardant in

of testosterone and fire retardant in

of testosterone and fire retardant in water that’s some challenging science

water that’s some challenging science

water that’s some challenging science any of you want to volunteer for that

any of you want to volunteer for that

any of you want to volunteer for that clinical trial let’s throw in some

clinical trial let’s throw in some

clinical trial let’s throw in some veterinary antibiotics and steroids and

veterinary antibiotics and steroids and

veterinary antibiotics and steroids and painkillers and opioids plasticizers and

painkillers and opioids plasticizers and

painkillers and opioids plasticizers and insecticides now what you know fish and

insecticides now what you know fish and

insecticides now what you know fish and amphibians don’t have a choice they’re

amphibians don’t have a choice they’re

amphibians don’t have a choice they’re in a clinical trial we have detected

in a clinical trial we have detected

in a clinical trial we have detected intersex fish male fish with egg cells

intersex fish male fish with egg cells

intersex fish male fish with egg cells female dominated fish populations and

female dominated fish populations and

female dominated fish populations and streams that are contaminated by

streams that are contaminated by

streams that are contaminated by estrogen the problem of pharmaceuticals

estrogen the problem of pharmaceuticals

estrogen the problem of pharmaceuticals in our natural waters is a cultural

in our natural waters is a cultural

in our natural waters is a cultural problem and it will only be solved when

problem and it will only be solved when

problem and it will only be solved when societal behavior changes and in this

societal behavior changes and in this

societal behavior changes and in this case that’s when we and our livestock

case that’s when we and our livestock

case that’s when we and our livestock become less medicated science can’t fix

become less medicated science can’t fix

become less medicated science can’t fix this problem so we had a pretty cool

this problem so we had a pretty cool

this problem so we had a pretty cool total solar eclipse a couple months ago

total solar eclipse a couple months ago

total solar eclipse a couple months ago I had a really good fortune of traveling

I had a really good fortune of traveling

I had a really good fortune of traveling with a group of homeschool students

with a group of homeschool students

with a group of homeschool students including our son David to the path of

including our son David to the path of

including our son David to the path of totality it was awesome

totality it was awesome

totality it was awesome I knew exactly where to go and precisely

I knew exactly where to go and precisely

I knew exactly where to go and precisely when to be there in order for those kids

when to be there in order for those kids

when to be there in order for those kids in my family to see totality I never

in my family to see totality I never

in my family to see totality I never heard anybody ever deny that this

heard anybody ever deny that this

heard anybody ever deny that this eclipse was gonna happen I never heard

eclipse was gonna happen I never heard

eclipse was gonna happen I never heard anybody say that this eclipse was just a

anybody say that this eclipse was just a

anybody say that this eclipse was just a big hoax I never heard anybody say oh

big hoax I never heard anybody say oh

big hoax I never heard anybody say oh this eclipse is just a way for a bunch

this eclipse is just a way for a bunch

this eclipse is just a way for a bunch of geeky astronomers to get research

of geeky astronomers to get research

of geeky astronomers to get research funding and yet I’ve heard all of those

funding and yet I’ve heard all of those

funding and yet I’ve heard all of those things said about climate change said by

things said about climate change said by

things said about climate change said by our policy

well the methods and approaches that we

well the methods and approaches that we use to know when and where we can go

use to know when and where we can go

use to know when and where we can go observe in Eclipse are exactly the same

observe in Eclipse are exactly the same

observe in Eclipse are exactly the same methods and approaches that we use to

methods and approaches that we use to

methods and approaches that we use to detect climate change we use those

detect climate change we use those

detect climate change we use those methods to describe past climatic

methods to describe past climatic

methods to describe past climatic conditions we use those methods to

conditions we use those methods to

conditions we use those methods to quantify changes that are happening to

quantify changes that are happening to

quantify changes that are happening to our climate right now and we use those

our climate right now and we use those

our climate right now and we use those methods to predict the trajectory of

methods to predict the trajectory of

methods to predict the trajectory of climate change given our burning of

climate change given our burning of

climate change given our burning of fossil fuels science has done its job

fossil fuels science has done its job

fossil fuels science has done its job the solution to climate change is almost

the solution to climate change is almost

the solution to climate change is almost entirely in societal hands now just like

entirely in societal hands now just like

entirely in societal hands now just like a burning River it needs strong

a burning River it needs strong

a burning River it needs strong leadership and sound policy to guide and

leadership and sound policy to guide and

leadership and sound policy to guide and change behavior maybe it is low-hanging

change behavior maybe it is low-hanging

change behavior maybe it is low-hanging fruit you don’t stop dumping gasoline in

fruit you don’t stop dumping gasoline in

fruit you don’t stop dumping gasoline in a river the river doesn’t burn stop

a river the river doesn’t burn stop

a river the river doesn’t burn stop dumping co2 in the atmosphere the globe

dumping co2 in the atmosphere the globe

dumping co2 in the atmosphere the globe doesn’t want scientifically it’s not

doesn’t want scientifically it’s not

doesn’t want scientifically it’s not that confusing but I’ll admit it

that confusing but I’ll admit it

that confusing but I’ll admit it certainly is an inconvenient truth we’ve

certainly is an inconvenient truth we’ve

certainly is an inconvenient truth we’ve had global scale cultural successes –

had global scale cultural successes –

had global scale cultural successes – environmental problems before the

environmental problems before the

environmental problems before the Montreal Protocol in the 1980s was the

Montreal Protocol in the 1980s was the

Montreal Protocol in the 1980s was the first universally ratified United

first universally ratified United

first universally ratified United Nations treaty and it addressed the

Nations treaty and it addressed the

Nations treaty and it addressed the concern that some synthetic refrigerants

concern that some synthetic refrigerants

concern that some synthetic refrigerants and aerosol propellants chemically

and aerosol propellants chemically

and aerosol propellants chemically degraded stratospheric ozone that’s on

degraded stratospheric ozone that’s on

degraded stratospheric ozone that’s on that we like we want that it reduces the

that we like we want that it reduces the

that we like we want that it reduces the amount of ultraviolet radiation that

amount of ultraviolet radiation that

amount of ultraviolet radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface

reaches the Earth’s surface

reaches the Earth’s surface this protocol gathered to get the global

this protocol gathered to get the global

this protocol gathered to get the global interest and they develop policy and

interest and they develop policy and

interest and they develop policy and implemented solutions and it appears to

implemented solutions and it appears to

implemented solutions and it appears to be working the polar ozone holes are

be working the polar ozone holes are

be working the polar ozone holes are shrinking the Stockholm convention of

shrinking the Stockholm convention of

shrinking the Stockholm convention of the early 2000s address the issue of

the early 2000s address the issue of

the early 2000s address the issue of persistent organic pollutants peopies

persistent organic pollutants peopies

persistent organic pollutants peopies like DDT impact animals ability to

like DDT impact animals ability to

like DDT impact animals ability to metabolize calcium and it was that

metabolize calcium and it was that

metabolize calcium and it was that biochemistry that led our national

biochemistry that led our national

biochemistry that led our national symbol the bald eagle to become an

symbol the bald eagle to become an

symbol the bald eagle to become an endangered species in the 1960s there

endangered species in the 1960s there

endangered species in the 1960s there were only 500 breeding pairs of the bald

were only 500 breeding pairs of the bald

were only 500 breeding pairs of the bald eagle

eagle

eagle in the lower 48 states of the United

in the lower 48 states of the United

in the lower 48 states of the United States now there’s 10,000 ironically one

States now there’s 10,000 ironically one

States now there’s 10,000 ironically one of the very few countries that did not

of the very few countries that did not

of the very few countries that did not sign on to the Stockholm convention was

sign on to the Stockholm convention was

sign on to the Stockholm convention was the owner of that national symbol the

the owner of that national symbol the

the owner of that national symbol the United States we degrade the resources

United States we degrade the resources

United States we degrade the resources that we depend upon we unsustainably

that we depend upon we unsustainably

that we depend upon we unsustainably consume non-renewable resources and we

consume non-renewable resources and we

consume non-renewable resources and we greatly enhance our exposure to risk by

greatly enhance our exposure to risk by

greatly enhance our exposure to risk by modifying global environmental processes

modifying global environmental processes

modifying global environmental processes science has with integrity describe

science has with integrity describe

science has with integrity describe those threats to our environment

those threats to our environment

those threats to our environment it’s quantified the impacts of those

it’s quantified the impacts of those

it’s quantified the impacts of those environmental threats to our environment

environmental threats to our environment

environmental threats to our environment and it’s predicted future impacts from

and it’s predicted future impacts from

and it’s predicted future impacts from the environmental bets that we face a

the environmental bets that we face a

the environmental bets that we face a solution to these problems is is in

solution to these problems is is in

solution to these problems is is in societal hands at this point we we have

societal hands at this point we we have

societal hands at this point we we have the ability to solve these problems by

the ability to solve these problems by

the ability to solve these problems by modifying our individual behaviors the

modifying our individual behaviors the

modifying our individual behaviors the solution is changing societal behaviors

solution is changing societal behaviors

solution is changing societal behaviors which again is very simply a collection

which again is very simply a collection

which again is very simply a collection of our individual behaviors

of our individual behaviors

of our individual behaviors so the solution changing behaviors on a

so the solution changing behaviors on a

so the solution changing behaviors on a societal level our own individual level

societal level our own individual level

societal level our own individual level and that essentially equals our growth

and that essentially equals our growth

and that essentially equals our growth thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

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