Martha M. Carroll

Biologist, 45th Space Wing - US Air Force

July 23, 2009

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

The oceans and its inhabitants (invertebrates, sea turtles, fish, whales).

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

Yes, the ocean. Now it's the ocean and the mountain woods.

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

The crab. They eat all the wiz dizzes on the ocean bottom and turn it into a delicious meal. Seriously, they help to keep our oceans clean; one of the many janitors of the ocean

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?

The greatest environmental challenge we face right now is permanent damage to the environment (CO2, overharvesting the oceans, deforestation, overpopulation and a dwindling food supply. We can all say to everyone until we are blue in the face to recycle, don't pollute, save energy, don't ruin the environment etc. We need to also realize that many populations are dealing with survival for themselves on a daily basis (what am I going to eat, how can I make a dollar today, if this thing kills me in 20 years who cares-I've got to eat today). If the western world and the more affluent countries continue with the insatiable quest for more, more, more, the world as a whole may be doomed, thrown into the real natural world of survival of the fittest and money will not be able to help or quench their want or need. Our greatest challenge in the future will be feeding the enormous populations and surviving without war over the remaining natural resources (food, air, water) that will have been so permanently depleted.

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

Just do your part, we cannot change the world in our lifetime but we can change ourselves.