June, 2023 – Ecosystemic Magazine

20Jun

By Ariana ThorntonNo Comments

Eco-STEM, Interviews

A Conversation With George Thatos

Transcribed by Ariana Thornton George Thatos is the co-founder and head of design at Coastal Technologies Corp (https://coastalprotectiontechnologies.com), a startup whose mission is to deliver the most cutting-edge, effective technology to give humanity a fighting chance in the face of a rising climate crisis. Ecosystemic's Editor-in-Chiefs Ariana Thornton and Anais Joubert chatted with George Thatos about his interest in sustainable technology, CTC's philosophy, and the company's latest projects. What originally inspired you to create Coastal Technologies Corp., and did you have a passion for the coast growing up? I've been very interested in the environment for my whole life. I've always been someone who watched YouTube videos of animals, and I've always been really into hikin...

20Jun

By Saanvi BapatNo Comments

Eco-STEM

A Look At Fast Fashion Vs. Slow Fashion

Image courtesy of Rio LecatompessyBy Saanvi Bapat How many times have you gone to the mall and walked into famous stores, such as Forever 21, H&M, Zara, or Gap? How many of you are wearing clothes from those stores right now while reading this? I, for one, am typing this in a hoodie from H&M and pants from Forever 21. Buying from these stores means trendy clothes at little cost to your wallet but a rarely considered yet enormous cost to the environment. This is called fast fashion. Let’s look at another option. Think about your local small business boutiques and shops that might be family-owned or your neighbor’s start-up that was built from scratch. Buying from here is generally more expensive and you may have to pre-order that hoodie you want in your size two weeks in...

20Jun

By Sofia CalderonNo Comments

Activism & Social Change

Why Volunteering Matters

Image courtesy of Hannah BusingBy Sofia Calderon “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead At the beginning of my freshman year, I joined my school’s biggest club. With over 200 members, our club had its eyes set on supporting our community in any way we could. Through a student-led board, leaders of the club reached out to other community organizations to find out when and where we could help. One of my very first events was the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. At a local park, we helped to pass out water and T-shirts and inform visitors of the event. The summative activity was a walk on a two-mile pond loop. My friends and I walked, talked, and laughed about the past few hours an...

GreenWave’s Regenerative Ocean Farming: Building Coastal Resilience

20Jun

By Amelia PNo Comments

Eco-STEM

GreenWave’s Regenerative Ocean Farming: Building Coastal Resilience

By Amelia Petty A fisherman, Bren Smith, realized amidst his long hours at sea fishing off the coast of Newfoundland for a depleting population of hunted wildlife that the ocean’s potential as a food and energy source is far greater than we have been utilizing. After experiencing the hardships of the Newfoundland cod stock crash, and an eye-opening view into the unsustainable practices at a salmon aquaculture farm in Northern Canada, Smith understood that a new approach needed to be taken in the way that the world utilizes and feeds from the ocean. Years later, Smith moved to the Long Island Sound, where he started fishing and farming various shellfish and seaweed simultaneously. What he learned was that this mode of polyculture farming required no external “inputs” of food, fertiliz...

15Jun

By May ChanNo Comments

Art & Multimedia

A More Sustainable Shopping Bag

By May ChanPrompt: Imagine and design a more sustainable version of an everyday household product.

How Both Individual and Corporate Actions Can Contribute to Positive Change

15Jun

By Eyob SisayNo Comments

Activism & Social Change

How Both Individual and Corporate Actions Can Contribute to Positive Change

Image courtesy of Martin SpiskeBy Eyob SisayClimate change is a global challenge that can only be addressed through a united effort between individuals and corporations. While governments and international agreements aid in the effort, individuals and corporations have a unique opportunity to contribute to positive climate action. By adopting sustainable practices, both individuals and corporations can become engines for change and pave the way for a brighter, greener future. Global society is composed of billions of individuals, each of them having the power to alter small aspects of their daily lifestyle in order to live a more sustainable, environmentally conscious life. One way that an individual can contribute to positive climate action is simply by staying informed on current clim...

Habitat Loss in Los Angeles and What to Do to Help

14Jun

By Esme HyattNo Comments

Community News & Policy

Habitat Loss in Los Angeles and What to Do to Help

Image courtesy of nps.govBy Esme Hyatt I live in Los Angeles, California. California is home to unique habitats and resources. For instance, the majority of California is situated in The California Floristic Province, a biodiversity hotspot. California is one of 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Santa Monica, which is in Los Angeles County, is known for its beaches and mountains. In the Santa Monica Mountains, biodiversity is especially important with the rare species located in the area. One-third of all plant species growing in The California Floristic Province is solely found in the Santa Monica Mountains. Habitat loss has been rapid in the area for a number of reasons, firstly due to population growth. Los Angeles has a large population (3.8 million people in ...