Hi guys welcome to another episode of Living Life at Life You, this is your host, Dr Veronica Garcia. And today we have a very special guest like we always do. Her name is Doctor Stephanie Wakefield, thank you for joining us today. How are you doing today?

Hi guys welcome to another episode of Living Life at Life You, this is your host, Dr Veronica Garcia. And today we have a very special guest like we always do. Her name is Doctor Stephanie Wakefield, thank you for joining us today. How are you doing today?

I'm great. Thanks for having me.

I'm great. Thanks for having me.

Thank you, thank you for being here. And you have you wear a lot of hats. We were just talking about that within your specialty and within the undergraduate program at Life University. Talk to us a little bit about all those hats that you wear.

Thank you, thank you for being here. And you have you wear a lot of hats. We were just talking about that within your specialty and within the undergraduate program at Life University. Talk to us a little bit about all those hats that you wear.

Okay, so I am research chair for the and I am program coordinator and assistant professor for the human ecology program within the division of social sciences. And

Okay, so I am research chair for the and I am program coordinator and assistant professor for the human ecology program within the division of social sciences. And

What is exactly human ecology?

What is exactly human ecology?

It's a good question because it's a it's not the term that's always used for some of these topics. So it needs a little explaining human ecology is the study of the relationship between people and their environments.

It's a good question because it's a it's not the term that's always used for some of these topics. So it needs a little explaining human ecology is the study of the relationship between people and their environments.

Um and so by environments, we mean the sort of complex environment that we all have inhabit in the 21st century, right? So not just nature, but also technologies, economics, you know, uh social environment that we all inhabit too. And so in the program students learn about things like

Um and so by environments, we mean the sort of complex environment that we all have inhabit in the 21st century, right? So not just nature, but also technologies, economics, you know, uh social environment that we all inhabit too. And so in the program students learn about things like

how people have adapted to really diverse environments throughout the existence of humanity on earth. Um past and present. But primarily the program is really focused on the current moment and the big challenges that we face in the world. Sustainability, environmental destruction, you know, so on. Um and coming up with the resiliency solutions to those

how people have adapted to really diverse environments throughout the existence of humanity on earth. Um past and present. But primarily the program is really focused on the current moment and the big challenges that we face in the world. Sustainability, environmental destruction, you know, so on. Um and coming up with the resiliency solutions to those

That's important. Even even even more so that what to do once you are

That's important. Even even even more so that what to do once you are

in that in that environment, that's beautiful. How how long has this program been going on? Are you aware?

in that in that environment, that's beautiful. How how long has this program been going on? Are you aware?

It's only been a few years. So I've been here since 2020 and it is transitioning into a new sort of phase as a B A program, Bachelor of Arts program starting right now. And so we just actually today had our very first graduates walk across the stage at graduation. Yeah, I had a little tear in my eye. Destiny, Rivera and Jasmine Hamburg. It was really cool to see

It's only been a few years. So I've been here since 2020 and it is transitioning into a new sort of phase as a B A program, Bachelor of Arts program starting right now. And so we just actually today had our very first graduates walk across the stage at graduation. Yeah, I had a little tear in my eye. Destiny, Rivera and Jasmine Hamburg. It was really cool to see

congrats.

congrats.

That's amazing. And what are what are some ways that that you are focused And you also mentioned that you were doing research your research share for the Sega CGUS by the way stands for center of undergraduate studies, correct

That's amazing. And what are what are some ways that that you are focused And you also mentioned that you were doing research your research share for the Sega CGUS by the way stands for center of undergraduate studies, correct

College of Graduate and undergraduate studies.

College of Graduate and undergraduate studies.

Thank you. Thank you. So what are some of those those research opportunities that you are? I guess the leading and are happening right now at the university

Thank you. Thank you. So what are some of those those research opportunities that you are? I guess the leading and are happening right now at the university

So that it's a big topic. So

So that it's a big topic. So

in the research chair role, one of my kind of areas of focus is just increasing the support and the opportunities for faculty students and staff to get involved in researcher or scholarly activity in whatever way they're interested in. So um when we say scholarly activity, we don't only mean research in the sense that you might imagine of, you know, you're in a lab with a microscope or something that obviously includes that, but also scholarship meaning, you know, creative work on

in the research chair role, one of my kind of areas of focus is just increasing the support and the opportunities for faculty students and staff to get involved in researcher or scholarly activity in whatever way they're interested in. So um when we say scholarly activity, we don't only mean research in the sense that you might imagine of, you know, you're in a lab with a microscope or something that obviously includes that, but also scholarship meaning, you know, creative work on

the real work service work. Um All big kinds of, you know, projects that all the different faculty and students in our in our school are working on. So we have the CETL funded projects and rise scholarship opportunities, which are incredible funding opportunities actually that I would encourage everybody if you're interested in working on some kind of scholarship to apply for. Um And then we've been hosting a series of events kind of you know, with the broad range

the real work service work. Um All big kinds of, you know, projects that all the different faculty and students in our in our school are working on. So we have the CETL funded projects and rise scholarship opportunities, which are incredible funding opportunities actually that I would encourage everybody if you're interested in working on some kind of scholarship to apply for. Um And then we've been hosting a series of events kind of you know, with the broad range

of creating an environment of sort of scholarly discussion and exchange because I think that's a really important thing to have. Um as a university we need these spaces where people can share ideas thought cross pollinates. We give each other feedback. This is where amazing research can grow, we have that environment. So we have the faculty research talk series, um We've just done a whole bunch of those this quarter will be another set next term. And we have the student research symposium in the spring.

of creating an environment of sort of scholarly discussion and exchange because I think that's a really important thing to have. Um as a university we need these spaces where people can share ideas thought cross pollinates. We give each other feedback. This is where amazing research can grow, we have that environment. So we have the faculty research talk series, um We've just done a whole bunch of those this quarter will be another set next term. And we have the student research symposium in the spring.

So that's some of the big overarching initiatives and then we have a bunch of students and a bunch of faculty working on their own projects within this kind of broad heading. Yeah.

So that's some of the big overarching initiatives and then we have a bunch of students and a bunch of faculty working on their own projects within this kind of broad heading. Yeah.

And I was always preparing for this interview. I read a little bit more about some specific topics within the research department that are going on for

And I was always preparing for this interview. I read a little bit more about some specific topics within the research department that are going on for

from the perspective one of them specifically talking about and I have it in my notes, biodegradable plastics. It definitely caught my attention because I'm very much of a if you can't reuse please reuse everything that you can kind of person. So talk to us a little bit about where is that in in what stages is and what is it focusing on?

from the perspective one of them specifically talking about and I have it in my notes, biodegradable plastics. It definitely caught my attention because I'm very much of a if you can't reuse please reuse everything that you can kind of person. So talk to us a little bit about where is that in in what stages is and what is it focusing on?

So this was a research proposal from one of our human ecology students, Abigail Bachmann,

So this was a research proposal from one of our human ecology students, Abigail Bachmann,

um she's also a rugby superstar on the women's team here, great student and so she was really interested in kind of going behind the scenes on some of this sort of green marketing that's out there because there are a lot of products you see it like you know, whole foods or whatever, the advertise that they're you know, alternatives to you know, you know polluting or wasteful products like these ones that advertise themselves as biodegrade

um she's also a rugby superstar on the women's team here, great student and so she was really interested in kind of going behind the scenes on some of this sort of green marketing that's out there because there are a lot of products you see it like you know, whole foods or whatever, the advertise that they're you know, alternatives to you know, you know polluting or wasteful products like these ones that advertise themselves as biodegrade

plastics. So the idea being that rather than um contaminating the environment when they're disposed of that they can just break down and affected and not affect the soil in any negative way. Um And so she was interested in seeing is that actually the case because there there are some studies coming out kind of showing that there are contaminants that will um

plastics. So the idea being that rather than um contaminating the environment when they're disposed of that they can just break down and affected and not affect the soil in any negative way. Um And so she was interested in seeing is that actually the case because there there are some studies coming out kind of showing that there are contaminants that will um

go into the soil or into the landscape regardless of these claims. And this is a really interesting project, It's really only in its sort of proposal phase, but what I love about it is that it really gets at this, at the critical focus in human ecology

go into the soil or into the landscape regardless of these claims. And this is a really interesting project, It's really only in its sort of proposal phase, but what I love about it is that it really gets at this, at the critical focus in human ecology

and this is important to distinguish our program here at life. Um the students are learning to be critical thinkers who go behind the sort of, you know, the veneer of some of this kind of advertising or some of these systems that are being put online even in the name of environmentalism to say, well what's actually going on here, we don't want the students, you know, to just simply accept at face value, anything that says, it's eco

and this is important to distinguish our program here at life. Um the students are learning to be critical thinkers who go behind the sort of, you know, the veneer of some of this kind of advertising or some of these systems that are being put online even in the name of environmentalism to say, well what's actually going on here, we don't want the students, you know, to just simply accept at face value, anything that says, it's eco

it's great, right? Because there's a whole world of greenwashing, right? And all these kinds of things. And so it's really cool to see the students, you know, taking this critical approach in their own initiatives to

it's great, right? Because there's a whole world of greenwashing, right? And all these kinds of things. And so it's really cool to see the students, you know, taking this critical approach in their own initiatives to

and I love that you mentioned greenwashing, What does that exactly mean for the listeners that maybe have kind of heard it, but are not as familiar with the term.

and I love that you mentioned greenwashing, What does that exactly mean for the listeners that maybe have kind of heard it, but are not as familiar with the term.

I mean, greenwashing is a term that's used to describe, you know, marketing a product um towards a demographic that is looking for something that would be sustainable, good for the environment, you know, healthy for people, something along these lines, right? So typically you'll see the like kitchen, you know, spray cleaner or something with like leaves on the front and sort of like a green look and you know claims about its environmental um it

I mean, greenwashing is a term that's used to describe, you know, marketing a product um towards a demographic that is looking for something that would be sustainable, good for the environment, you know, healthy for people, something along these lines, right? So typically you'll see the like kitchen, you know, spray cleaner or something with like leaves on the front and sort of like a green look and you know claims about its environmental um it

impact and sustainability when often these are simply you know, there may be a few ingredients that are different, you know, I'm not saying that there's nothing different, right? But sometimes these are just ways of creating new consumer markets, right? Um selling more products, making more money, you know, like so many things are um I'm sure you know, in in health, in the in the realm of like health and fitness and wellness, there's a whole set of this as well. So the

impact and sustainability when often these are simply you know, there may be a few ingredients that are different, you know, I'm not saying that there's nothing different, right? But sometimes these are just ways of creating new consumer markets, right? Um selling more products, making more money, you know, like so many things are um I'm sure you know, in in health, in the in the realm of like health and fitness and wellness, there's a whole set of this as well. So the

it's also a way to make money.

it's also a way to make money.

Absolutely, absolutely. I think it definitely is and I think it's definitely a very important conversation to have and create awareness, which is why I believe that the research that's being done right now and the proposals that are being done, whether they are at the beginning or at the end stage are just impactful on our everyday living. So thank you, thank you so much for like spearing head into, into that program and to help guide the students

Absolutely, absolutely. I think it definitely is and I think it's definitely a very important conversation to have and create awareness, which is why I believe that the research that's being done right now and the proposals that are being done, whether they are at the beginning or at the end stage are just impactful on our everyday living. So thank you, thank you so much for like spearing head into, into that program and to help guide the students

with their ideas right and critical thinking, which means thinking outside of the box. And that's something that I think Life University is sets apart a lot of our students and a lot of our experiences is by allowing people to have questions and connecting them with professionals such as yourself to get those questions answered. So thank you so much for doing so, another one that I saw and I was reading through is um

with their ideas right and critical thinking, which means thinking outside of the box. And that's something that I think Life University is sets apart a lot of our students and a lot of our experiences is by allowing people to have questions and connecting them with professionals such as yourself to get those questions answered. So thank you so much for doing so, another one that I saw and I was reading through is um

research surrounding rainwater garden. Um Talk to me about that.

research surrounding rainwater garden. Um Talk to me about that.

Yeah, this is a really cool project as well. So this is a student research project by Destiny Rivera who actually just graduated and she has been working on this for a couple of quarters um with Cobb County watershed division as well, where she just interned um It's been very cool. And so this is

Yeah, this is a really cool project as well. So this is a student research project by Destiny Rivera who actually just graduated and she has been working on this for a couple of quarters um with Cobb County watershed division as well, where she just interned um It's been very cool. And so this is

the project that she has been working on to design a rainwater garden outside the treehouse building on our campus here um to help mitigate the flooding, the persistent flooding that we see from these intense precipitation events on campus. And the idea here is to use nature as infrastructure rather than um sort of traditional industrial model of a of a big flat wall or or you know, the drainage kind of methods that we see in traditional engineering.

the project that she has been working on to design a rainwater garden outside the treehouse building on our campus here um to help mitigate the flooding, the persistent flooding that we see from these intense precipitation events on campus. And the idea here is to use nature as infrastructure rather than um sort of traditional industrial model of a of a big flat wall or or you know, the drainage kind of methods that we see in traditional engineering.

Um and so this is where this is an approach of rainwater garden where you installed uh set of layers according to the specifics of that site of soil, sands, you know, and so on that will help uh

Um and so this is where this is an approach of rainwater garden where you installed uh set of layers according to the specifics of that site of soil, sands, you know, and so on that will help uh

Phil Phil trait the water as it comes through and let it go a little more slowly through um the soil rather than just right into the parking lot and just filling up and flooding. Right? And and then she's installing native plants on the top and things like this um selected according to the specifics of this region. And it's a it's a really interesting project which brings up something that I think about a lot, which is the connection between vital ISM and human ecology. Um

Phil Phil trait the water as it comes through and let it go a little more slowly through um the soil rather than just right into the parking lot and just filling up and flooding. Right? And and then she's installing native plants on the top and things like this um selected according to the specifics of this region. And it's a it's a really interesting project which brings up something that I think about a lot, which is the connection between vital ISM and human ecology. Um

you know, there's something we were building into the program a lot um as as the courses get rolled out. And so this idea of nature as infrastructure and using either living or natural systems as infrastructure is quite new, but it's really all about kind of rethinking this 20th century engineering model of, you know, you build, you know, big flat surface is made of concrete on top of diverse ecosystems or you know, what have you.

you know, there's something we were building into the program a lot um as as the courses get rolled out. And so this idea of nature as infrastructure and using either living or natural systems as infrastructure is quite new, but it's really all about kind of rethinking this 20th century engineering model of, you know, you build, you know, big flat surface is made of concrete on top of diverse ecosystems or you know, what have you.

Um And so rather than we think of infrastructure as, you know, like a bridge or electrical grid or some kind of like hard infrastructure. There's been a huge turn within urban planning and design to think about how the sort of innate capacities of living systems and natural systems like, you know, uh you know, a plant ecosystem or oysters, oyster reefs. This is something they're using in new york, how these innate capacities can be used um to manage urban problems,

Um And so rather than we think of infrastructure as, you know, like a bridge or electrical grid or some kind of like hard infrastructure. There's been a huge turn within urban planning and design to think about how the sort of innate capacities of living systems and natural systems like, you know, uh you know, a plant ecosystem or oysters, oyster reefs. This is something they're using in new york, how these innate capacities can be used um to manage urban problems,

mitigate environmental impacts and things like that. So the rainwater garden is an example of that. Um and so I thought it was a really cool one for her to be using to sort of connect with this idea of vital ISM that we sort of restore these living systems and natural systems and harness them rather than just paving them over.

mitigate environmental impacts and things like that. So the rainwater garden is an example of that. Um and so I thought it was a really cool one for her to be using to sort of connect with this idea of vital ISM that we sort of restore these living systems and natural systems and harness them rather than just paving them over.

That's that's very impactful. And I have so many other questions right now from this beautiful conversation and one of them being kind of, you answered a question

That's that's very impactful. And I have so many other questions right now from this beautiful conversation and one of them being kind of, you answered a question

I don't know if I even had is how is it that the university involves vital IsM into? Because we have the elastic pools and we have beautiful areas that they tell us this is what vital is um is and this is how, how we, how the body works. And as as a graduate of the chiropractic program, I understand it very well from that perspective, and also as a graduate from the biology program, I understand it very well as that perspective, but how is it that vandalism keeps getting involved into the undergraduate and graduate programs that are outside

I don't know if I even had is how is it that the university involves vital IsM into? Because we have the elastic pools and we have beautiful areas that they tell us this is what vital is um is and this is how, how we, how the body works. And as as a graduate of the chiropractic program, I understand it very well from that perspective, and also as a graduate from the biology program, I understand it very well as that perspective, but how is it that vandalism keeps getting involved into the undergraduate and graduate programs that are outside

of those two realms to understand that it goes so much more beyond what the actual human is, but what the ecology of the environment is, so, that is beautiful and amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that information. How can people get in contact with you? What are some ways that maybe if a student is interested in knowing more about this program, um they can get in contact with you and ask questions.

of those two realms to understand that it goes so much more beyond what the actual human is, but what the ecology of the environment is, so, that is beautiful and amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that information. How can people get in contact with you? What are some ways that maybe if a student is interested in knowing more about this program, um they can get in contact with you and ask questions.

They can email me anytime my email Stephanie dot Wakefield at life dot e d U. They can call me anytime.

They can email me anytime my email Stephanie dot Wakefield at life dot e d U. They can call me anytime.

My office is down here in one of three. Um and I would just say that, you know, I'm working on a new project here, which is a center for Human Environment Vital is um, which will explore sort of these different applications, uh, and and sort of new experimental approaches to incorporating vital ISM in human environmental relationships. And this will embed student and faculty chances for research. So if that's something that

My office is down here in one of three. Um and I would just say that, you know, I'm working on a new project here, which is a center for Human Environment Vital is um, which will explore sort of these different applications, uh, and and sort of new experimental approaches to incorporating vital ISM in human environmental relationships. And this will embed student and faculty chances for research. So if that's something that

people are interested, I would love for them to get in touch and talk about it. Yeah,

people are interested, I would love for them to get in touch and talk about it. Yeah,

absolutely. Well, now, you know, thank you so much for having us. I said thank you so much for coming in and having this conversation. I think it is very impactful and thank you guys for having us at your disposal. Please make sure that you leave us a review and you follow us and until the next time. Thank you so much. Have a beautiful day.

absolutely. Well, now, you know, thank you so much for having us. I said thank you so much for coming in and having this conversation. I think it is very impactful and thank you guys for having us at your disposal. Please make sure that you leave us a review and you follow us and until the next time. Thank you so much. Have a beautiful day.

Thank you.

Thank you.