The Sound of Restoration with ‘Science Santa’ Win Everham

Welcome to the first episode of Your University: The FGCU Podcast. Today our host Katie Cribbs sits down with Win Everham, Professor and Program Coordinator for the Department of Ecology & Environmental Studies. Win takes us on a deep dive into his world and helps explain what ecology truly means, emphasizing the interconnectedness of living things and their environments, including the role that humans play. Their discussion highlights innovative projects like Frog Watch and the Picayune Strand Restoration Project, revealing some innovative ways in which sound is being used to track ecological recovery. Katie and Win also celebrate the importance of citizen science and community involvement in environmental restoration. With some heartfelt reflections on the joy and purpose found in teaching, service learning, and planting trees, Win kicks off the show with a must-listen for anyone passionate about the environment. Your University: The FGCU Podcast is produced by University FM. Episode Guide: 00:00 Win’s Background and Expertise 01:00 Defining Ecology and Its Importance 01:34 Restorative Ecology and Sound Measurement 02:05 FrogWatch and Citizen Science 03:09 The Role of Sound in Ecological Studies 06:18 The Picayune Stand Restoration Project 09:57: Using Pipes to Measure Frogs 12:26: The Number of Species on Campus 17:23 Mangrove Restoration and Community Involvement 22:12 The Joy of Teaching and Science Communication 27:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Episode Quotes: On building a campus that works with nature 16:05: When hurricanes come, our lakes fill up, our conservational areas fill up, and our roads don't. And our buildings don't. And the people downstream don't get flooded out from the stuff that comes off our landscape. If we could go back 50 years and build everything the way we built the university, we'd have a better landscape. And I just hope that in the next 50 years we can learn from that. Why Win actually loves going to work 22:53: I'm sure that there are people that would listen who think that I'm flawed because I love my job. And that expression about nobody wants on their gravestone. I wish I had spent more time at the office. I'm sorry that people feel that way about their work. I feel so lucky to feel good about going to work today. Maybe not today, because grades were due yesterday. I am tired. Why FGCU is a building in the right place  26:41: If you're new to Southwest Florida, come out and see the university. It's Southwest Florida’s University. If you've been here for a while, particularly if you've been here for a really long time and there was a controversy about whether we were building in the right place, I'd really encourage you to come out and see it. I think, of all the things that we've done right or wrong, this university footprint is an awful lot of right. If we could build more places for humans on this landscape that tried to follow the design that we've tried to follow on campus, we'd be in a lot better place. Additional quote option: The gift of real work 22:33: I like the people I work with. I like my students. I like the place I work, I love the campus. I find the job that I have been gifted with here to be incredibly satisfying… [23:10] The pitcher cries for water, and the person for work that is real. We do real work here. I feel gifted by that. When I have done my job, I can go home and say, you know, I made a difference today. The person cries for work. That is real. I think that is true. Show Links: Win Everham | FGCU Profile FrogWatch | Gulf Coast News Picayune Strand Restoration Project | FGCU360 Story Department of Ecology & Environmental Studies | FGCU FGCU | Website FGCU | Your University Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.