By Danielle Dweck
Over the course of Sept. 14 and 15, Macaulay Honors sophomores from all CUNY campuses, including those at Brooklyn College, gathered at Van Cortlandt Park for “BioBlitz”: a 24 hour deep dive into the park’s hidden biodiversity. The BioBlitz involved an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to catalog the plant and animal life within the designated area.
Macaulay students did not have to undertake this task alone; the event provided students with a unique opportunity to collaborate with scientific experts and other knowledgeable enthusiasts who led teams and guided them through the park.
During the course of the event, students were divided into various teams, each focusing on a specific aspect of the park’s diverse wildlife. The topics of interest ranged from birds to insects to fungi, but all research groups shared the same goal: to gain a deeper understanding of the biodiversity that lies within Van Cortlandt Park.
“This event is so important because we need to document the biodiversity of Van Cortlandt Park, and most parks in the city, so that we can better understand the different species that live in and around it,” said Shelly Zebak, a BC attendee.
With this aim in mind, the teams took off and ventured further into the park’s grand territory to start their research journey. Immersed in the park’s abundant wildlife, the teams thoroughly analyzed their subjects and collected various points of data using crowdsource technology to document their findings. This experience allowed students to develop a comprehensive understanding of wildlife they might not have had the opportunity to study before, or cultivate a newfound interest in species they had previously overlooked.
“When I was first put into the insect group, I was hesitant about the subject, but as I started to discover more about all of the various insect species and the processes taken to identify them, my interest grew. It was fascinating,” said Natsha Herman, a BC student attendee.
For other students, it created an opportunity to further learn about the species they are interested in, getting firsthand experience of the wildlife they study.
“Coming in to this event, I was hoping that I would get a chance to become familiar with the birds that inhabit the area, and when I was later assigned to the bird watching team I was thrilled to be able to learn so much about the species I am passionate about,” said Vicky Kabareti, a BC student.
The goal of the project was to have students engage in civic responsibility and global awareness towards the environment. Through this event, Macaulay gave students the opportunity to extend their scientific knowledge beyond the classroom and apply it to real-life scenarios.
“It’s an essential form of citizen science in a way, and being here we’re able to collect data and learn more about our environment,” said Maria M., a student from Queens College.
Students also remarked on the event’s broader significance in enhancing our understanding of New York as a whole. “It’s critical to know about the different geographical features of New York and how the Parks Department established these areas, so that we can both preserve the natural beauty of the city, and understand the natural ecosystems that make it up,” Pawel Ceislak, a BC student, explained.
To attendees, the event also allowed them to engage with the broader community, meeting those with shared interests of science and environmental engagement. Additionally, as the students connected with nature and each other, they developed a lasting commitment to the environment that extends beyonds the park, underscoring the vital role of citizen science in preserving New York’s rich biodiversity.
“It’s fun meeting students from the CUNY system, where I am from as well, and engaging them in community science in our New York parks while teaching them the basics of what I know,” Christian Liriano, a sixth-year leader, said. “It’s also enjoyable to participate in this multi-year snapshot of biodiversity, as I have been interested in studying biodiversity for about 15 years now.”
Not only did participants acknowledge the importance of the event and the information that they gained, but many immensely enjoyed their time in nature. As the BioBlitz came to a close, participants acknowledged just how interconnected humans are with the NYC ecosystem.
“It’s great to learn about all of the living creatures that surround us,” said William Sesai, a student from the College of Staten Island. “It can impact our actions in life and the way that we see the world around us.”
To learn more about the findings from this year’s BioBlitz and access the data collected by the students, interested parties can visit the official Macaulay Honors College BioBlitz website at https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/bioblitz