From an Island to the World: How Palau is a Model for us | Connery Wood | TEDxMountainViewHighSchool

so hello as you’ve heard my name is

so hello as you’ve heard my name is Connery wood and I’m a junior here at

Connery wood and I’m a junior here at

Connery wood and I’m a junior here at Mountain View High School some of you

Mountain View High School some of you

Mountain View High School some of you may know me for my work on the School of

may know me for my work on the School of

may know me for my work on the School of Science Olympiad team or from a soccer

Science Olympiad team or from a soccer

Science Olympiad team or from a soccer team in years past

team in years past

team in years past however as you’ve just heard I have a

however as you’ve just heard I have a

however as you’ve just heard I have a strong passion for the earth my mom

strong passion for the earth my mom

strong passion for the earth my mom tells a story of how she would slowly

tells a story of how she would slowly

tells a story of how she would slowly walk in on me when I was a toddler to

walk in on me when I was a toddler to

walk in on me when I was a toddler to make sure I was napping as she’d slowly

make sure I was napping as she’d slowly

make sure I was napping as she’d slowly peek open the door instead of finding

peek open the door instead of finding

peek open the door instead of finding for me napping instead she’d see me

for me napping instead she’d see me

for me napping instead she’d see me poring over a big book of rocks minerals

poring over a big book of rocks minerals

poring over a big book of rocks minerals or of nature in the environment I notice

or of nature in the environment I notice

or of nature in the environment I notice her and she’d smile at me and I have

her and she’d smile at me and I have

her and she’d smile at me and I have smiled back a little guiltily and that

smiled back a little guiltily and that

smiled back a little guiltily and that I’d keep reading

I’d keep reading

I’d keep reading ever since then I’ve held a passion for

ever since then I’ve held a passion for

ever since then I’ve held a passion for the earth this past summer I found the

the earth this past summer I found the

the earth this past summer I found the opportunity to express my passion for

opportunity to express my passion for

opportunity to express my passion for the earth by finding work as an intern

the earth by finding work as an intern

the earth by finding work as an intern at Stanford University in the school of

at Stanford University in the school of

at Stanford University in the school of energy Earth and environmental sciences

energy Earth and environmental sciences

energy Earth and environmental sciences one of my projects was helping a PhD

one of my projects was helping a PhD

one of my projects was helping a PhD student Stacy Lewis with her work on the

student Stacy Lewis with her work on the

student Stacy Lewis with her work on the corals of the Pacific Islands country of

corals of the Pacific Islands country of

corals of the Pacific Islands country of plow when I first joined her in the

plow when I first joined her in the

plow when I first joined her in the office not in the field I was told that

office not in the field I was told that

office not in the field I was told that I would be studying and summarizing the

I would be studying and summarizing the

I would be studying and summarizing the history of plow now I was a bit confused

history of plow now I was a bit confused

history of plow now I was a bit confused I had applied to research science not

I had applied to research science not

I had applied to research science not history but as I continued with my

history but as I continued with my

history but as I continued with my research I found that the historical

research I found that the historical

research I found that the historical aspects of the of the concepts allowed

aspects of the of the concepts allowed

aspects of the of the concepts allowed me to gain a new perspective on the

me to gain a new perspective on the

me to gain a new perspective on the environmentalism my main source of

environmentalism my main source of

environmentalism my main source of information was the book pulao from a

information was the book pulao from a

information was the book pulao from a colonial outpost to an independent

colonial outpost to an independent

colonial outpost to an independent nation which was written only recently

nation which was written only recently

nation which was written only recently in 2015 and it is the first book by

in 2015 and it is the first book by

in 2015 and it is the first book by Apple Owen about their fight for

Apple Owen about their fight for

Apple Owen about their fight for independence a major part of class

independence a major part of class

independence a major part of class history was its conflict with the US

history was its conflict with the US

history was its conflict with the US after it was liberated by them at the

after it was liberated by them at the

after it was liberated by them at the end of World War two the Palau ins

end of World War two the Palau ins

end of World War two the Palau ins wanted to fight for independence because

wanted to fight for independence because

wanted to fight for independence because it was part of their culture the US

it was part of their culture the US

it was part of their culture the US however asserted control over their

however asserted control over their

however asserted control over their lands and does wish to use them for a

lands and does wish to use them for a

lands and does wish to use them for a military base and as a disposal of

military base and as a disposal of

military base and as a disposal of hazardous materials the Palau ins in

hazardous materials the Palau ins in

hazardous materials the Palau ins in pardon

pardon

pardon natural culture of Environmental

natural culture of Environmental

natural culture of Environmental Protection refused these desires through

Protection refused these desires through

Protection refused these desires through force of math not by arms

force of math not by arms

force of math not by arms Palau fought for its independence from

Palau fought for its independence from

Palau fought for its independence from the US for nearly 50 years not counting

the US for nearly 50 years not counting

the US for nearly 50 years not counting the previous centuries of occupation by

the previous centuries of occupation by

the previous centuries of occupation by Spain Germany and Japan and they faced

Spain Germany and Japan and they faced

Spain Germany and Japan and they faced many hardships along the way such as

many hardships along the way such as

many hardships along the way such as American forced legislature and even

American forced legislature and even

American forced legislature and even local terrorism against the independence

local terrorism against the independence

local terrorism against the independence movement but after decades of waiting

movement but after decades of waiting

movement but after decades of waiting through political arguments with the US

through political arguments with the US

through political arguments with the US and after lawsuit after lawsuit against

and after lawsuit after lawsuit against

and after lawsuit after lawsuit against them they succeeded in becoming

them they succeeded in becoming

them they succeeded in becoming independent peacefully in 1994 they have

independent peacefully in 1994 they have

independent peacefully in 1994 they have now protected 80 percent of their local

now protected 80 percent of their local

now protected 80 percent of their local coast lines making their coastal waters

coast lines making their coastal waters

coast lines making their coastal waters some of the best protected in the world

some of the best protected in the world

some of the best protected in the world the plows have indeed boldly gone into

the plows have indeed boldly gone into

the plows have indeed boldly gone into the realm of Environmental Protection as

the realm of Environmental Protection as

the realm of Environmental Protection as the nation is a modern role model for

the nation is a modern role model for

the nation is a modern role model for the rest of the world and with the

the rest of the world and with the

the rest of the world and with the inspiration of this history my research

inspiration of this history my research

inspiration of this history my research became much clearer in purpose I began

became much clearer in purpose I began

became much clearer in purpose I began the scientific research that I had so

the scientific research that I had so

the scientific research that I had so hoped for the scientific side of this

hoped for the scientific side of this

hoped for the scientific side of this interdisciplinary mission consisted of

interdisciplinary mission consisted of

interdisciplinary mission consisted of the sorting and analyzing data

the sorting and analyzing data

the sorting and analyzing data measurements of sediment off of Laos

measurements of sediment off of Laos

measurements of sediment off of Laos coast both increases and composition of

coast both increases and composition of

coast both increases and composition of that sediment because the changes in the

that sediment because the changes in the

that sediment because the changes in the sediment can damage the environment as

sediment can damage the environment as

sediment can damage the environment as we can see here that dirty gray looking

we can see here that dirty gray looking

we can see here that dirty gray looking water is a massive sediment influx from

water is a massive sediment influx from

water is a massive sediment influx from the land that sediment can contain

the land that sediment can contain

the land that sediment can contain dangerous chemicals such as a melange of

dangerous chemicals such as a melange of

dangerous chemicals such as a melange of pesticides a wide variety of fertilizers

pesticides a wide variety of fertilizers

pesticides a wide variety of fertilizers and further chemicals from industries

and further chemicals from industries

and further chemicals from industries such as sulfuric acid these changes in

such as sulfuric acid these changes in

such as sulfuric acid these changes in the sediments as just stated are due to

the sediments as just stated are due to

the sediments as just stated are due to the industrial runoff in order to track

the industrial runoff in order to track

the industrial runoff in order to track those changes we looked at coral

those changes we looked at coral

those changes we looked at coral skeleton cores corals used sediment in

skeleton cores corals used sediment in

skeleton cores corals used sediment in the water to create their skeletons

the water to create their skeletons

the water to create their skeletons leaving a distinct pattern

leaving a distinct pattern

leaving a distinct pattern not unlike rings on a tree that we can

not unlike rings on a tree that we can

not unlike rings on a tree that we can use to track the composition of that

use to track the composition of that

use to track the composition of that sediment and the concentration of it in

sediment and the concentration of it in

sediment and the concentration of it in the water

the water

the water scientists can analyze those patterns

scientists can analyze those patterns

scientists can analyze those patterns and run chemical tests on them to find

and run chemical tests on them to find

and run chemical tests on them to find different levels of elements in the

different levels of elements in the

different levels of elements in the corals and in turn the sediment in the

corals and in turn the sediment in the

corals and in turn the sediment in the water at the time the coral made that

water at the time the coral made that

water at the time the coral made that layer of its skeleton we measured in

layer of its skeleton we measured in

layer of its skeleton we measured in analyze levels of barium calcium and

analyze levels of barium calcium and

analyze levels of barium calcium and strontium in the skeletons of the corals

strontium in the skeletons of the corals

strontium in the skeletons of the corals an increase in the barium and strontium

an increase in the barium and strontium

an increase in the barium and strontium however

however

however is always linked with influxes in the

is always linked with influxes in the

is always linked with influxes in the sediment of industry industry because

sediment of industry industry because

sediment of industry industry because that is the main source therefore if we

that is the main source therefore if we

that is the main source therefore if we can figure out when that barium and

can figure out when that barium and

can figure out when that barium and strontium comes in we can usually link

strontium comes in we can usually link

strontium comes in we can usually link it to an industry industrial push thus

it to an industry industrial push thus

it to an industry industrial push thus we need to figure this out in order to

we need to figure this out in order to

we need to figure this out in order to protect their environment calcium is the

protect their environment calcium is the

protect their environment calcium is the normal element in the coral skeletons

normal element in the coral skeletons

normal element in the coral skeletons but the corals can substitute the other

but the corals can substitute the other

but the corals can substitute the other two into its skeleton where there is

two into its skeleton where there is

two into its skeleton where there is enough of either in the water which

enough of either in the water which

enough of either in the water which makes it a very good tracker my job was

makes it a very good tracker my job was

makes it a very good tracker my job was to find a way to sift through all of the

to find a way to sift through all of the

to find a way to sift through all of the data that Stacy had collected to find

data that Stacy had collected to find

data that Stacy had collected to find the levels of barium calcium and

the levels of barium calcium and

the levels of barium calcium and strontium in those sediments and in turn

strontium in those sediments and in turn

strontium in those sediments and in turn the water I ended up going through about

the water I ended up going through about

the water I ended up going through about 50,000 data points and the data I

50,000 data points and the data I

50,000 data points and the data I collected is in a section of the box in

collected is in a section of the box in

collected is in a section of the box in that box on the graph the peak in the

that box on the graph the peak in the

that box on the graph the peak in the part of the graph that I analyzed

part of the graph that I analyzed

part of the graph that I analyzed coincides in time with a large-scale

coincides in time with a large-scale

coincides in time with a large-scale building project on Palau near the site

building project on Palau near the site

building project on Palau near the site where Stacy collected the data by

where Stacy collected the data by

where Stacy collected the data by comparing this data to the historical

comparing this data to the historical

comparing this data to the historical record we can tell that our methods are

record we can tell that our methods are

record we can tell that our methods are successful in identifying when there is

successful in identifying when there is

successful in identifying when there is a massive push of industry on land near

a massive push of industry on land near

a massive push of industry on land near the coast looking at the readings

the coast looking at the readings

the coast looking at the readings however we can see that there is a

however we can see that there is a

however we can see that there is a massive increase in sediment runoff in

massive increase in sediment runoff in

massive increase in sediment runoff in recent years which is probably related

recent years which is probably related

recent years which is probably related to an industrialization effort on the

to an industrialization effort on the

to an industrialization effort on the islands and since it is part of the

islands and since it is part of the

islands and since it is part of the plowin culture to protect their

plowin culture to protect their

plowin culture to protect their environment we must make them aware of

environment we must make them aware of

environment we must make them aware of these results so that they can fix the

these results so that they can fix the

these results so that they can fix the damaged weather by reducing their

damaged weather by reducing their

damaged weather by reducing their industrial runoff or by helping them fix

industrial runoff or by helping them fix

industrial runoff or by helping them fix and clean the sediment itself after all

and clean the sediment itself after all

and clean the sediment itself after all they didn’t achieve the protection of

they didn’t achieve the protection of

they didn’t achieve the protection of 80% of their coastlines for nothing and

80% of their coastlines for nothing and

80% of their coastlines for nothing and while my research is certainly

while my research is certainly

while my research is certainly interesting or at least that’s the hope

interesting or at least that’s the hope

interesting or at least that’s the hope I came to realize that the purpose of

I came to realize that the purpose of

I came to realize that the purpose of the research and data crunching was not

the research and data crunching was not

the research and data crunching was not from merely experience in the field but

from merely experience in the field but

from merely experience in the field but to work towards a much bigger picture

to work towards a much bigger picture

to work towards a much bigger picture the rest of the world does need to

the rest of the world does need to

the rest of the world does need to follow the Palau an example of

follow the Palau an example of

follow the Palau an example of environmental awareness and protection

environmental awareness and protection

environmental awareness and protection and so we have begun the first steps

and so we have begun the first steps

and so we have begun the first steps toward this example nearly five months

toward this example nearly five months

toward this example nearly five months ago back in August President Obama with

ago back in August President Obama with

ago back in August President Obama with met with Palau president Tommy

met with Palau president Tommy

met with Palau president Tommy remengesau

remengesau

remengesau as shown here to talk about how the

as shown here to talk about how the

as shown here to talk about how the Palau ins havoc set that example for the

Palau ins havoc set that example for the

Palau ins havoc set that example for the rest of the world Obama chose to follow

rest of the world Obama chose to follow

rest of the world Obama chose to follow this model by creating the United States

this model by creating the United States

this model by creating the United States Atlantic

Atlantic

Atlantic marine preserve off the coast of New

marine preserve off the coast of New

marine preserve off the coast of New England the first one for our nation and

England the first one for our nation and

England the first one for our nation and by creating the world’s largest

by creating the world’s largest

by creating the world’s largest environmental preserve of the ocean off

environmental preserve of the ocean off

environmental preserve of the ocean off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands as

the coast of the Hawaiian Islands as

the coast of the Hawaiian Islands as seen here

seen here

seen here Obama oversees the final stages of

Obama oversees the final stages of

Obama oversees the final stages of negotiations in addition he helped

negotiations in addition he helped

negotiations in addition he helped expand the size of u-17 national park

expand the size of u-17 national park

expand the size of u-17 national park here in California to preserve the land

here in California to preserve the land

here in California to preserve the land as a habitat for wildlife and from

as a habitat for wildlife and from

as a habitat for wildlife and from people who wish to advance cattle

people who wish to advance cattle

people who wish to advance cattle ranching and logging there and he passed

ranching and logging there and he passed

ranching and logging there and he passed legislature to reduce oil drilling

legislature to reduce oil drilling

legislature to reduce oil drilling throughout the nation so I think we can

throughout the nation so I think we can

throughout the nation so I think we can all say to that thanks Obama

all say to that thanks Obama

all say to that thanks Obama but Wallace is an excellent start to

but Wallace is an excellent start to

but Wallace is an excellent start to environmental protection

environmental protection

environmental protection we all must help finish the job even in

we all must help finish the job even in

we all must help finish the job even in the cloud of the future that we may face

the cloud of the future that we may face

the cloud of the future that we may face we must persevere and keep following the

we must persevere and keep following the

we must persevere and keep following the plow an example to protect the

plow an example to protect the

plow an example to protect the environment however we can you too can

environment however we can you too can

environment however we can you too can go beyond the previously conceived

go beyond the previously conceived

go beyond the previously conceived limits and work to protect the

limits and work to protect the

limits and work to protect the environment for us all even and in fact

environment for us all even and in fact

environment for us all even and in fact especially the little things can help

especially the little things can help

especially the little things can help save the world turning off the water

save the world turning off the water

save the world turning off the water when you’re brushing your teeth limiting

when you’re brushing your teeth limiting

when you’re brushing your teeth limiting your sprinkler usage or trying to time

your sprinkler usage or trying to time

your sprinkler usage or trying to time it properly so that there’s a minimum of

it properly so that there’s a minimum of

it properly so that there’s a minimum of water wasted or avoiding small

water wasted or avoiding small

water wasted or avoiding small pollutants such as microbeads and

pollutants such as microbeads and

pollutants such as microbeads and anything and everything else you can do

anything and everything else you can do

anything and everything else you can do to protect the environment to save water

to protect the environment to save water

to protect the environment to save water to use less energy to waste less and it

to use less energy to waste less and it

to use less energy to waste less and it will help us give us a better stronger

will help us give us a better stronger

will help us give us a better stronger clearer and cleaner future so work not

clearer and cleaner future so work not

clearer and cleaner future so work not for the today for yourself but for the

for the today for yourself but for the

for the today for yourself but for the tomorrow of generations to follow

tomorrow of generations to follow

tomorrow of generations to follow thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]