Author Archives: invasivehunter

September 11, 2012 · 8:02 am

Patriot Day – Remembering 9/11

The Star-Spangled Banner
O say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Francis Scott Key, 1814

Today, my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of 9/11.

Your friend,
Ben

Leave a comment

Filed under Francis Scott Key, Patriot Day, September 11th, Star Spangled Banner

Tagged as , , ,

September 9, 2012 · 6:27 pm

Black Swan Events Explored at Hot Science – Cool Talks

Oh no! Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
Photo credit: Calvin Teo on wikipedia

This Fall 2012 kicks off another great semester of “Hot Science. Cool Talks.” presentations with Dr. David W. Orr’s “Black Swans & the U.S. Future: Creating Sustainable & Resilient Societies” on Friday, September 14, at 7:00 p.m. in UT Austin’s Student Activity Center. However, you’ll want to arrive early, as the fun pre-lecture events start at 5:45 p.m.

A professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Oberlin College, Dr. Orr will talk about “Black Swans” as infrequent and unpredictable events that drive change in human and natural systems. This summer, I wondered if
invasive species could trigger a black swan event, such as with the Mediterranean Sea and Oregon incidents.

The “Hot Science. Cool Talks.” presentations are fantastic for kids of all ages, but especially for middle and high school students. (I should add elementary students too since as young Commander Ben, I was able to meet Dr. John Grotzinger at a presentation in 2005. Dr. Grotzinger is now a project scientist for the Mars Science Laboratory that is part of the Curiosity Mars rover.)

Invasive Hunter Academy coming to Hot Science – Cool Talks

I’m sorry that I’ll miss this Friday’s presentation, but I’ll be at the “Lights. Camera. Help.” Focus on Good Film Festival! My Native Plant Avengers video about Texas wildflowers banding together to fight invasive species was selected to be shown at the festival.

However, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be bringing my Invasive Hunter Academy to the prelecture fun for the “Last Call at the Oasis: Will There be Enough Water for the 21st Century?” presentation by Dr. Jay Famiglietti on October 26, 2012.

I’ll bring fun activities to help kids learn about invasive species, and I’ll have special information about the Giant Reed, an invasive species that threatens our water and riparian ecosystems, for this special event.

Thanks Mr. Geoff Hensgen, Outreach coordinator, and Dr. Jay Banner, Director of the UT Austin Environmental Science Institute, for inviting me to join your wonderful event!

I hope to see you there!

Your friend,
Ben

Leave a comment

Filed under black swan, Curiosity Rover, Dr. David Orr, Dr. Jay Famiglietti, Dr. John Grotzinger, Environmental, Environmental Science Institute, ESI, Geoff Hensgen, Hot Science - Cool Talks, Invasive Hunter Academy, Invasive Species, Jay Banner, Lights Camera Help Annual Nonprofit Film Festival, Lights. Camera. Help., Mars Rover, Mars Science Laboratory, Native Plant Avengers, University of Texas, UT Austin

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

September 8, 2012 · 7:09 pm

West Nile Virus Swatted at Science Under the Stars

Mosquito
Photo credit: User Salvadorjo on Wikipedia

Don’t miss the Science Under the Stars lecture series on Thursday evenings once a month this Fall 2012:

  • September 13 – Stavana Strutz, West Nile Virus
  • October 11 – Patrick Stinson, Frog Calls and Response to Noise
  • November 8 – Chintan Modi, Vaccine Development and Fluorescence
  • December 13 – Michael Gully-Santiago, Astronomy

Science Under the Stars lectures are held at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory at 7:30 p.m. They serve great refreshments and have fun activities for kids.

West Nile Virus

This Thursday’s lecture on West Nile Virus is very timely. Travis County and all of Texas has been hit hard by this virus carried by mosquitoes.

Ms. Stavana Strutz will talk about why this year has been so terrible with hundreds of infections across the state. In addition to West Nile virus, she will also talk about Chagas disease, another illness transmitted by insect carriers.

Here are some ways to combat mosquitoes and the virus:

  • Drain standing water.
  • Put fish that eat mosquitoes in your ponds.
  • Wear insect repellent.
  • Wear long sleeves and pants.
  • Avoid going outside at dusk or dawn when mosquitoes are active.

Brackenridge Field Laboratory

Science Under the Stars is held at the Brackenridge Field Lab, where they also hold the fun Insecta Fiesta in the Spring.

In the Austin American Statesman, I saw that Mr. John Crutchfield retired as resident manager of the Brackenridge Field Lab. I only met Mr. Crutchfield a few times but each time he was very kind and I knew he had a love of nature. I hope that I will see him again.

I had a great time over the summer at the lab volunteering for Ms. Laura Dugan’s graduate research on the Jeweled Cichlid, an invasive species invading the waterways of Northern Mexico. Learn more about this invasive fish:

Science Under the Stars will always be special to me, because I won my first video contest with them for my first video, “Who will fell this titan?”, in May 2011.

Your friend,
Ben

Leave a comment

Filed under Brackenridge Field Lab, Jewel Cichlid, John Crutchfield, Laura Dugan, Mosquitoes, Ms. Stavana Strutz, Science Under the Stars, West Nile Virus

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

September 7, 2012 · 10:31 am

Commander Ben Interviewed on KOOP 97.1 FM Radio!

Commander Ben on KOOP 97.1 FM Radio

This past Thursday I had the HUGE privilege of being interviewed by Mr. Robert Sims on his radio show, Lights, Camera, Austin,which airs on KOOP 97.1 FM, about my video, Native Plant Avengers, which was selected to be part of the “Lights. Camera. Help” Focus on Good Film Festival. Also on the radio show were two really terrific people…Mr. Aaron Bramley founder of the film festival and Ms. Brandy Amstel, another filmmaker whose short film, In Her Shoes, was also selected for the film festival.

Mr. Sims is a really nice man and was so kind to me. I was a bit nervous before we went on the air but Mr. Sims assured me that he wouldn’t ask me any “60-Minutes” type questions!  A few minutes before our segment of the show was to begin, Mr. Sims lead us into the studio which was amazing.  The door leading into the studio is very heavy and I really got a sense of the sound-proof nature of the room once the door closed.  Putting on the headphones and positioning the mike in front of me was so cool.  All I could think to myself was, “Oh wow!  This is big-time!”   Once we went “live”, I felt a lot more relaxed and the interview went great.  A recording of the interview is posted here.

My video will premiere at the film festival this coming Wednesday at 7:00PM at the Spirit of Texas Theater at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Be sure to come out and support a really great cause!

Thank you, Mr. Sims, for having me on your radio show…and another big thank you to Mr. Bramley for selecting my video to be part of the “Lights. Camera. Help.” Focus on Good Film Festival!

Your friend,
Ben

Update: Thanks Lady Bird Wildflower Center for featuring “Native Plant Avengers” in your September 2012 newsletter. And thanks too iWire, the monthly online newsletter for invasive plants and pests in Texas, for mentioning my video and the “Lights. Camera. Help.” Film Festival in your August 2012 newsletter.

Leave a comment

Filed under Aaron Bramley, Brandy Amstel, In Her Shoes, iWire Texas Invasives Newsletter, KOOP 97.1 FM, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Lights Camera Austin, Lights Camera Help Annual Nonprofit Film Festival, Lights. Camera. Help., Native Plant Avengers, Robert Sims

Tagged as , , , , , ,

September 3, 2012 · 9:49 pm

Commander Ben ziplining on the Cover of Austin Family Magazine

Commander Ben ziplining on the Cover of Austin Family Magazine

Austin Family Magazine contains information about fun activities for kids living in and around Austin, Texas.  You might remember that a number of months ago, I entered one of the magazine’s contests and was one of six winners chosen to have their picture on the cover of the magazine!

Well the time has arrived, and my picture is on the September issue of the magazine.  Also, the magazine, along with my cover picture, will be featured each Friday morning during the month of September during the show “Good Day” on the local Austin FOX affiliate KTBC channel 7.

My “photo shoot” was held at the Twin Lakes YMCA in Cedar Park, where I got to zip-line and rock climb.  The YMCA is a beautiful property with two lakes offering all sorts of nature oriented activities including canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and hiking.  I spent part of the afternoon there but I could have spent the entire day!

Austin Family Magazine is a free publication available at over 500 locations in the Austin metro area from Kyle to Georgetown including HEB, Whole Foods, Central Market, Randalls, Sam’s Club, Regal Cinemas, as well as schools, libraries, and recreation centers, so be sure to pick-up your copy soon!

Many thanks to Austin Family Magazine for a great day and for talking about my work helping to teach kids of all ages about invasive species!

Your friend,
Ben

5 Comments

Filed under Austin Family Magazine, Austin Texas KTBC FOX Channel 7, My FOX Austin Good Day, Rock Climbing, YMCA, Zip-line

Tagged as , , , , ,