Ethan Duke

Prospecting grad student

Today’s Date: 11 August 2008

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

Listing to birdsong and spending countless hours in the field during all seasons and in all weather.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

Yes

Now? Yes

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

It’s hard to name just one. I suppose birds draw my greatest interest, but I would say that my favorite animal would be the domestic dog. We have so many connections with them with such long histories. They are expressive and loving, seeming to read us better than we know ourselves. They in turn are easy to love.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

So many issues. They culminate and require a broad cultural revolution. People are lazy now-a-days and have odd value systems. The biggest challenge is convincing people that even though change may be difficult we have no other option and the rewards will be beyond our reckoning.

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Take it one day at a time. The little things make a difference. (Sounds like two pieces of advice, but they are connected).