Student Symposium Project

Adam Moen

“The Beauty of Ohio in your Hands”

“Nature” is complex and multifaceted. It can be approached as a scientist, a humanist, and an artist. However, those alone cannot capture its complexity and importance. Nature could be the plant in your window, an untouched forest, a wildlife preserve, a tree in your backyard, and so much more. not only do we need nature to survive, but humans have the ability to help nature prosper with just a little bit of help. We use nature to make our crops, help endangered plants and wildlife, make our building materials, manufacture the things we use in everyday life, and breathe the air that plants produce. Likewise, the species we protect are able to survive because of us, the seeds we bury are able to create beautiful plants, and many of the things we produce will decompose and become one with nature over time.

But what does it mean to experience nature? To appreciate it? Throughout history, humans have had both positive and negative impacts on the world around us. But no matter what we do, nature is something we rely on. So how do we promote environmental and sustainability practices? Something I have learned during my time here at OWU is that experience is the best way to gain appreciation. To be able to understand and care about something, you have to get to know it. However, with the Covid-19 Pandemic, it has become harder and harder for people to go outside and enjoy nature.

The objective of this project was to find a creative and integrative way to encourage people to think about care about environmental issues without having to leave OWU’s campus. The outcome was a tangible book that was distributed to various faculty, staff, students, and community members. I traveled from Lake Erie to Hocking Hills to take pictures of the nature that is available right here in Ohio. Each photo was paired with an original poem designed to not only showcase nature but bring positivity to the reader. The book encourages readers to share the book with others and share the positivity it brings.

Click here to view the full 40-page book online.

The Writing Process

I have been writing every since I learned to read. I still have a poem I wrote in 1st grade. From scientific writing to fiction to poetry-- writing holds a very important place in my heart.

Step 1

I always started with looking at the photo and picking one thing to focus on (how the tree looks like steps, how the sun reflects, a specific animal or plant, etc). From there I just write and write till I can't think of anything more to say.

Step 2

I take what I wrote and pull out lines or phrases I think are important. Then I rearrange the order and wording so it fits the format of poem that I want.

Behind the Photo

Some photos were harder to take than others-- be it the editing process or the actual act of taking the picture.

This image was a lot of fun to create. It required copying the same picture over itself and making one black and white so that the color really pops.

For this photo I climbed out onto a rocky area underneath a bridge. I almost slipped a few times but it was a beautiful location right next to a waterfall.

I walked right into a thorn bush without realizing it when I crept towards this small pond to take pictures of the two turtles. I hope I didn't bother them too much when I struggled to make my way back towards the trail trying to avoid the thorns.

This photo was taken at Hocking Hills. I had to adjust the camera quite a bit to get enough light for the photo since the cave was dark. Not to mention trying not to hold up the other people hiking nearby.

This is a photo of Lake Erie. Thankfully the beach wasn't busy so there weren't many people. But it was hard to avoid getting man made objects in the picture.

Talk about right place at the right time. I was walking back towards my car when I walked past a small clearings and saw the sun reflecting off the water. Make sure to keep your eyes open so you don't miss small things like this.

For this photo I almost did the splits-- holding myself carefully above the water while taking a picture straight down. I got a lot of odd looks.

I wanted to get a higher viewpoint for this image. There was a walking bridge that went underneath this train bridge. However, I am short and was not able to get the point of view I wanted. The photo turned out well regardless.

This photo was actually taken at OWU's green house in the Science Center. So if you're too busy to leave campus check out the green house and see what you can experience right here on campus.

Excerpt from "The Beauty of Ohio in your Hands" by Adam Moen

About Me

I am a 2021 graduate from OWU with a double major in Zoology and Environmental Science with minors in English and Communications. I grew up camping and being outdoors giving me a strong appreciation for nature. Taking classes from 2D design to developmental biology, I am very happy I found a way to incorporate the culmination of knowledge I've gained here at OWU.

I greatly enjoyed my time working on this project. It is hard when you’re busy with classwork to go outside and hike. I would imagine it’s the same for faculty & staff here on campus. But when you are able to go out and experience nature it is an amazing feeling. It’s important to remind yourself how beautiful the natural world around us is. We affect it and it affects us.

Me driving for this project. Photo taken by Halley Gearhart.

Self Portrait on Lake Erie

What I Learned

Something important I learned is just how important we are to nature as it is to us. We need plants to breathe. Likewise, protected areas would not be nearly as pristine or diverse without human interaction. Many parks I visited had programs in place to help stop invasive species and spread diversity in plant and animal species. This is key for the survival of these different species and for conservation work in general. We make a big impact on the environment around us, and we need to stay aware of how exactly we are affecting it-- be it positive or negative.

I really love this photo but it didn't make it into the book.

This photo didn't make it into the book but I enjoy the perspective.

This image really captures the size of the surroundings. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to keep it in the book.

My Hopes

This project gave me important insights on how we preserve the environment and gave me a wonderful chance to spread the natural beauty of the state of Ohio with those who are not able to get out and experience it firsthand. This project’s goal was to not only spread positivity throughout the community but also show that we have a lot of beautiful scenery that is worth protecting and preserving. Hopefully, those who read my book will be more likely to push for environmental programs, sustainability practices, and be more invested in exploring the natural areas around them.