Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Haley Reading Group: reflections

[The Best American Science and Nature Writing (2017)]

This semester, we read and commented on:
• Sarah Everts’s “The Art of Saving Relics”
• Maria Konnikova’s “Altered Taste”
• Becca Cudmore’s “The Case for Leaving City Rats Alone”
• Tom Kizzia’s “The New Harpoon”
• Elizabeth Kolbert’s “A Song of Ice”
• Christopher Solomon’s “The Devil Is in the Details”
Which article most intrigued you? Why or how so?

45 comments:

Kyla Tinsley said...

The article that intrigued me the most was "Altered Taste". I have never thought about how our tastes have changed over the centuries, the fact that there is a difference between tasting something and tasting the flavor of something, and how our brains can trick us into tasting something differently just by doing one small change to ourselves and not the food. The article makes me want to look more into this topic even though I'm not a nutritionist, and an article that encourages further research is a good article to me.

-Kyla T.

Devin Ellis-Martin said...

Of the articles read this semester, I believe that "The Devil is in the Details" most impacted me. Over the last couple of years, especially, I have become more interested in the topic of climate change and preserving our natural resources. Also, recently a new documentary labeled "Our Planet" showed our devastating effects on the climate and the issue is extremely pressing, for scientists have warned that if we do not correct our mistakes, in the next eleven years our damage could be irreversible.

Aleeya Barrolle said...

"A Song of Ice" was the article that most intrigued me because it is interesting to think about all of the ice on this earth that has melted due to climate change. Most people had heard about ice melting away but to read a description of a place before and after ice is different.

-Aleeya B.

Samontriona Perkins said...

Of all the articles I have read this semester, the one that intrigued me the most is Elizabeth Kolbert’s “A Song of Ice.” It was the most intriguing because it allowed me to be more open-minded about the climate around me and how climate change is affecting the world. Although I was aware of it, I did not know it was happening to that degree. It is just an interesting and important topic that is greatly overlooked.

Adejoke Adanri said...

The article that I found the most interesting was “The Case for Leaving City Rats Alone”. I still find it fascinating that learned to adapt to our environment. Its interesting that the reason that they have thrived for so long and carry the diseases that they do is because of human activity. I don’t think anyone ever thinks about we are making the problem with rats worse than it could be.

Mackenzie Cohoon said...

The article that most intrigued me is "altered taste". The fact that the whole concept of eating can be completely altered if you only change how you view it sounds so simple. However, this can actually be groundbreaking, especially since obesity is an issue that is ever increasing in America currently, and the idea of neurogastronomy can provide a possible solution to this.

Mackenzie Cohoon

Sierra Taylor said...

I really liked Elizabeth Kolbert's "A Song of Ice". After coming to SIUE, I've learned a lot more about climate change and have actually created new habits in order to lessen the waste that I make. I used to be very passive about climate change. I didn't analyze my daily routine and figure out what can I change to be more sustainable until recently.

Asher said...

I really enjoyed Becca Cudmore’s “The Case for Leaving City Rats Alone”. I've always detested rats and any kind of rodents, but after reading her article I have a new outlook on how important they are to our ecosystem. We often think how much rats make our lives' worse because of them eating through things or just being plain gross and unsanitary, but we also need to realize that it's also because of us, human beings that cause them to thrive as long as they have.

- Asher Denkyirah

Anonymous said...

The article that intrigued me most was "A Song of Ice" because it overall expanded my knowledge of climate change. I found it interesting that damage caused to the earth from 20 - 30 years ago STILL affects us today. I recall the article saying something about this summers dead fish is a result of warming that became inevitable 20-30 years ago. It really opened up my eyes and made me realized that I need to start doing my part to fight against climate change.

-Jada Baker

Unknown said...

I think that the article that most intrigued was Elizabeth's Kolbert's " A Song of Ice." I think this intrigued me was that it was something that I thought I knew about and until I read this I realized I was very oblivious. When you hear about how climate change melts the ice caps you don't really think about the animals that live there. This article opened my eyes to the world around us.
- Tara T

Jasmin Smoot said...

Although all the readings were very interesting, Maria Konnikova’s “Altered Taste” left the biggest imprint. I took a personal interest in the article. Health is an important factor in my life, especially given my family history. Eating healthy is always going to be a challenge when thoughts like, "Healthy food is nasty" or "Healthy food is tasteless" are what you truly believe. I would love to know more about this study so that I could apply it to my life so I could lead a healthier lifestyle. I believe food would be a great start, while incorporating occasional exercising.

Brandy Collier said...

The article that intrigued me the most was "A Song of Ice". This article was intriguing because of the topic of climate change. It talked about the ice that is melting due to the warmer temperatures which is also raising the sea level as well. A;though I already knew about climate change this article made me learn more and it brings awareness to the problems that climate change causes.

-Brandy Collier

Ronald Akpan said...

The excerpt that resonated with me the most was "A Song of Ice." This one stood out to me the most because it discusses environmental issues that lead up to real-word problems like the greenhouse effect/global warming. It also serves to show that small-scale temperature issues have also been a massive contributing factor to the greenhouse effect.

Jordan R. said...

Becca Cudmore’s “The Case for Leaving City Rats Alone” was the most intriguing for me to read this semester. I loved how it related to the Immunology class I'm taking right now. All in all, reading that passage was like a review, but also gave more in depth detail about the topic!

Zuriah Harkins said...

The article that intrigued me the most was, "Altered Tastes." This article was interesting to me because it introduced a new way of thinking about the food that we eat. Usually, we only focus on the taste from the signals we get from our taste buds. However, Konnikova helps us realize that how we interpret taste and flavor has a lot to do with our brain as well. She goes on to explain how "tricking" our brain to perceive foods in different ways can help with malnourished individuals, and with cancer patients who have just gone through chemotherapy and can no longer enjoy the taste of their food.

-Z. Harkins

Kendall Clark said...

The “Altered Tastes” article intrigued me the most because I was completely unfamiliar to the idea of neurogastronomy. The idea was new and interesting to me, and the science behind the idea was fascinating. I enjoyed reading about the manipulation of taste and flavor, the difference between the two, and overall learning about a whole new and diverse area of science.

Stella Nguepnang said...

The article that most intrigued me was actually our most recent one, "The Devil is in the Details." I ended up reading it multiple times. It intrigued me how even when the people directly affected are gone, hate can live through descendants. Stories are told and pain is passed down. It also opened my eyes to how relationships continue to be today, or are positively or negatively impacted. It makes me think about what kind of future we are building for our descendants. This article overall made me curious about history and the future and how they are both connected to this moment right now.

J'kolbe K. said...

The article that I found the most intriguing was "The art of saving relics," by Sarah Everts. this article caught my interest because of the space suit. That piece of human technology is built to withstand the lifeless vacuum of space but under the test of time it has begun to wear away. I believe that history, and what it leaves behind, is the best teacher and it is our responsibility as history's students to care for these items. This article emphasizes this need to preserve as well as how to go about so that future generations will have the chance to learn as we did through these relics.

Kenisha Townsend said...

The article I found most intriguing was Elizabeth Kolbert's "A song of Ice". It opened my eyes to the seriousness of climate change. Also, it dawned on me that a place I really admire, New Orleans, can be soon wiped away by the affects of climate change due to rising sea level.Overall, it was a good article and caused me to want to know ways in which I can help towards this battle.

Nia Piggott said...

The article that stuck out the most to me this semester would be the “The Case for Leaving City Rats Alone”. This article introduced me to how rat play apart in our ecosystem. I also found it interesting how several of the practices use to lower the rat population in urban areas was doing more harm than good.

Anonymous said...

The article that most intrigued me was "A song of ice" because it showed how climate change was effecting our environment. For so long many people ignored climate change and blew it off as some myth. But more and more evidence shows it real and having negative consequence in our environment.

-Thomas Moses

Ivyanne B. said...

Out of all the articles that I read this semester I think the one that intrigued me the most was "Altered Taste". This article was really cool I loved how there is a science to everything. This article showed that even a simple thing like taste isn't so simple and that there is science in everything. It also showed how the human body can do amazing things that we don't even realize.
-Ivyanne B.

Jayla Pierce said...

The article that intrigued me the most was “The Devil is in the Details.” It just showed just how misrepresented and distrusted minority’s are especially the Native American. You do not typically hear about Natve American fighting for equal rights or for fair treatment. They tend to deal with things on their own. You realize you sometimes forget theri other people suffering quietly out their but still wanting to heard and recognized.

alishiana Ivy said...

The song of ice as well as the other article relating to climate change most intrigued me because this topic is something i am passionate about. It really confuses me when people act like climate change is a myth when we have all the facts and statistics proving that it exists. I am also concerned because if we don't all get on board and help improve the earth, we too could go extinct.

Jasmyn Kloster said...


The article that intrigued me the most would be the “The Case for Leaving City Rats Alone”. It really stuck with me that rats are able to carry bacteria from other environments rather than their own. So they would be carrying all sorts of diseases, not just diseases created from the rat population. Something else I remember is that even though we love to kill rodents, we should find another way because that could lead to the outbreak of the diseases, possibly with no cure.

Alliyah M. said...

The article that I found the most interesting was Sarah Everts's "The Art of Relics". I thought Evert's article brought a new perspective on how destructive plastic can be. Usually when we think about plastic and how it affects our environment, we think about how it's destroying marine life and polluting the earth. However, Evert brought a new perspective onto the effects of plastic by showing that it is still very destructive once it starts decomposing. I thought this emphasized how there isn't much positives to the use of plastic.

Brandon Nichols said...

"A Song Of Ice" was the most intriguing to me because most people do not take global warming seriously. Sadly, people would rather believe the lies that politicians tell them than listen to actual evidence. This article provides a personal look at how global warming affects a group of people, and hopefully that will tug at the emotional appeal of people everywhere.

-Brandon N.

Jeremiah Terrell said...


"Altered Tastes" intrigued me most because it made me think about food and taste in a different way. I had never connected the mind, biology, and senses to preferences of our taste buds. I now think about why I am craving a particular food, what is in the food I am eating or thinking about eating, and how to make food taste better. This article was so interesting to me because it made a lot of things regarding taste buds make sense and provided a lot of information to satisfy my curiosity.

KaelynB said...

The most interesting one to me was "the Devil is in the Details". This one was my favorite because it gives undeniable proof over the effects we have on this planet. Of course there has been proof of this for centuries, but this article points out such specific details about climate change that I have shared them with quite a few people. This is the type of article that I will not forget and will continue to share for as long as the issue of climate change is ignored.
Kaelyn Blunt

Desmond Crumer said...

"A Song of Ice" was the most intriguing and relevant story to me. Even though backed by research and documentation of how pollution affects the earth's ecosystem, climate change is still a highly debated topic. It is good to see articles publish tangible and identifiable results of global warming.

Unknown said...

The blog that I enjoyed the most was the article that covered the issue of Climate change. I believe that is was essential to assign this article to the students, as this issue is so important and relevant. The article reaffirmed my beliefs that climate change is a very pressing matter that the world needs to seriously look at. It is evident through this chapter that climate change is occurring more rapid then common knowledge, and if we don't change what we are doing and stop the release all harmful toxins (such as greenhouse gases) our world will die. I liked how the book recognized the true importance of the issue!

Jazsmine Towner said...

In my opinion, Kolbert’s “ A Song of Ice” intrigued me most because it discussed global warming. To explain, the article talked about how the effects of global warming is melting ice sheets and making its own weather. This article was the most important to me because we are now beginning to realize the threat of global warming is increasing and many people are taking action to save the planet. This epidemic interests me and I enjoyed reading about the effects of global warming in a different way.
-Jazsmine Towner

Donovan Washington said...

The most interesting reading for me was the article titled, "A Song of Ice" by Elizabeth Kolbert. This article stood out to me solely based on the fact that this article increased my knowledge on the current situations regarding climate change.

JaLeah McKinney said...

The article that intrigued me the most was Konnikova's "Altered Taste". Informing the general public that why we eat what we eat originates in the mind rather than the palate is a powerful statement. With diabetes and obesity increasing rising and being problems in healthcare today it would be extremely beneficial for society to learn to control their eating habits.

Maya Searcy said...

The article that was most intriguing to me was Altered Taste. It is something so simple and automatic that I don't give it much thought, but it was interesting to learn how our brains react to taste and can change taste. I never thought about how our minds and our taste buds interact on a complex level. Also its not a topic that's talked about a lot, so it was something very new to me.

Crystal R. said...

The post that intrigued me the most was "Altered Taste." This was the most intriguing to me because it was the one I connected with the best and could definitely have a conversation about how it applied to my life. It's crazy to know how your thoughts can change how you perceive the taste of something.

Crystal R.

Lyric Barnes said...

A Song of Ice was the most interesting article to me because of my major and course work i am taking now. It related very much to my environmental health course.
Lyric B.

Dakarai P said...

The Art of Saving Relics was my favorite article of the semester because it brought my attention to something I had never even thought about. I never would have thought that these historical artifacts would break down due to their plastic coating. It piqued my interest in a topic that most people would never think twice about. Preserving these artifacts is key to being able to pass down the history of past generations, so the longer they last the better.

Joshua Jones said...

Elizabeth Kolbert’s “A Song of Ice" was the most notable piece. Climate change is real and occurring. Kolbert explained the concept thoroughly and presented it in an easy to understand tone. I enjoyed reading about it because of this and the relativity to my degree. Thank you for having me read this piece.



-Joshua J.

Alexis Acoff said...

The article that I found the most intriguing was "The Case for Leaving City Rats Alone". I actually have done independent research with my biology faculty mentor and we study mice ecology on campus. I found this article interesting because it is relevant to my research. Even though rats and mice aren't exactly the same, I think the overall concepts in the article are relevant to other people as well.

Cheniya A. said...

The article I found most intriguing was, "A Song of Ice." As previously stated, the reality of climate change and how fast it is occurring is both jarring and unsettling. The fact that we are already seeing its effects makes one think about the expense of all the new technology and its waste. One must ask themselves if the pros outweigh the cons.

Jada James said...

The article that most intrigued me was A Song of Ice, because it gave immediate and personal consequences to the horrors of climate change. I think my generation already has such a bleak outlook on the future as it pertains to global warming, but reading about the aspects of what's actually happening right now gives such a strong perspective. It really inspires empathy in people.

Kamela Cross said...

The articles "The New Harpoon” and “A Song of Ice" intrigued me the most. I am a big animal lover and I appreciate nature, so knowing that human, such as myself are responsible for killing them and not doing anything to help angers me. Reading these articles broke my heart because of all the destruction that climate change causes. I really want to believe that it will get better, but i know that that might not be true.

Shaina Falkner said...

The article that intrigued me the most is Elizabeth Kolbert’s “A Song of Ice". This article opened my eyes to the real-life effects of climate change and global warming that I wwas not aware of. I was unaware of all of the real events that occur because of global warming and this article educated me on it.

Erica King said...

The article that intrigued me the most was “Altered Taste” it’s so interesting how something not so superficial could be changed so drastically as time goes on and the our brains even think about the taste of things in a different way now.