I've been motivated-and demotivated-by other folks' achievements all my life.
When I was a teenager, a neighborhood friend 1 a marathon race. Feeling motivated, I started running2 , but then two things happened. First, a girl I met one day told me she was3 for a "super, "referring to a 52.4-mile double marathon. Then, the next day I went on my longest run-15 miles. To be honest, I 4 it! Between the girl making my 5 seem small and the pure boredom of jogging, I decided that the only6 I'd ever run again is if a big dog was running after me!
So I 7 cycling. I got a good bike and rode a lot. I 8 of entering cycle races until I flew to San Diego to visit my sister. While she was at work one day, I 9 her bike and went for a ride. The10 : The roads there went through large valleys where I'd be riding uphill for miles at a time. I'd never faced such 11 . That day, I got12 by about 100"local"bikers who were used to such roads. When I got back home, suddenly riding my bike didn't seem quite as 13 .
I've 14 a lot since then. I've come to accept that whatever 15 I set for myself, they just have to be my own.
Heatherwick Studio recently built a greenhouse at the edge of the National Trust's Woolbeding Gardens. This beautiful structure, named Glasshouse, is at the centre of a new garden that shows how the Silk Road influences English gardens even in modern times.
The latest (engineer)techniques are applied to create this protective (function)structure that is also beautiful. The design features ten steel "sepals(尊片)"made of glass and aluminium(铝). These sepals open on warm days (give)the inside plants sunshine and fresh air. In cold weather, the structure stays(close)to protect the plants.
Further, the Silk Route Garden around the greenhouse (walk)visitors through a journey influenced by the ancient Silk Road, by which silk as well as many plant species came to Britain forfirst time. These plants included modern Western (favourite)such as rosemary, lavender and fennel. The garden also contains a winding path that guides visitors through the twelve regions of the Silk Road. The path offers over 300 plant species for visitors to see, too
The Glasshouse stands a great achievement in contemporary design, to house the plants of the southwestern part of China at the end of a path retracing(追溯)the steps along the Silk Route brought the plants from their native habitat in Asia to come to define much of the (rich)of gardening in England.
In the race to document the species on Earth before they go extinct, researchers and citizen scientists have collected billions of records. Today, most records of biodiversity are often in the form of photos, videos, and other digital records. Though they are useful for detecting shifts in the number and variety of species in an area, a new Stanford study has found that this type of record is not perfect.
"With the rise of technology it is easy for people to make observations of different species with the aid of a mobile application, "said Barnabas Daru, who is lead author of the study and assistant professor of biology in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. "These observations now outnumber the primary data that comes from physical specimens(标本), and since we are increasingly using observational data to investigate how species are responding to global change, I wanted to know: Are they usable?"
Using a global dataset of 1. 9 billion records of plants, insects, birds, and animals, Daru and his team tested how well these data represent actual global biodiversity patterns.
"We were particularly interested in exploring the aspects of sampling that tend to bias(使有偏差)data, like the greater likelihood of a citizen scientist to take a picture of af lowering plant instead of the grass right next to it, "said Daru.
Their study revealed that the large number of observation-only records did not lead to better global coverage. Moreover, these data are biased and favor certain regions, time periods, and species. This makes sense because the people who get observational biodiversity data on mobile devices are often citizen scientists recording their encounters with species in areas nearby. These data are also biased toward certain species with attractive or eye-catching features.
What can we do with the imperfect datasets of biodiversity?
"Quite a lot, "Daru explained." Biodiversity apps can use our study results to inform users of oversampled areas and lead them to places -and even species -that are not well-sampled. To improve the quality of observational data, biodiversity apps can also encourage users to have an expert confirm the identification of their uploaded image. "
HABITAT RESTORATIONTEAM
Help restore and protect Marin's natural areas from the Marin Headlands to Bolinas Ridge. We'll explore beautiful park sites while conducting invasive(侵入的)plant removal, winter planting, and seed collection. Habitat Restoration Team volunteers play a vital role in restoring sensitive resources and protecting endangered species across the ridges and valleys.
GROUPS
Groups of five or more require special arrangements and must be confirmed in advance. Please review the List of Available Projects and fill out the Group Project Request Form.
AGE, SKILLS, WHAT TO BRING
Volunteers aged 10 and over are welcome. Read our Youth Policy Guidelines for youth under the age of 15.
Bring your completed Volunteer Agreement Form. Volunteers under the age of18 must have the parent /guardian approval section signed.
We'll be working rain or shine. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Bring layers for changing weather and a raincoat if necessary.
Bring a personal water bottle, sunscreen, and lunch.
No experience necessary. Training and tools will be provided. Fulfills(满足)community service requirements.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Time | Meeting Location |
Sunday, Jan.15 10:00am-1:00pm | Battery Alexander Trailhead |
Sunday, Jan.22 10:00am-2:30pm | Stinson Beach Parking Lot |
Sunday, Jan.29 9:30am-2:30pm | Coyote Ridge Trailhead |
Tu Youyou is the first Chinese woman scientist(win) the Nobel Prize. She was born on December 30, 1930 in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. In 1955, she graduated from Beijing Medical College and(begin) working in China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, where she is now Chief Scientist. At the age of 39, she became the leader of a research team(aim) to discover a treatment for malaria. Three years later, the team managed to extract Qinghaosu from a Chinese herb(草药), which is very(effect) in fighting malaria. In 1986, after about 14 years of efforts, they obtained a New Drug Certificate(新药证书) for Qinghaosu,was issued by the Ministry of Health of China. Tu had spent decades on scientific research (attentive) before the inspiring news came in 2015 that Tu Youyou won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine discovering a new treatment against malaria.
"The(discover) of Qinghaosu is a gift to mankind from traditional Chinese medicine.
It is the collective achievement of the research team. Winning the prize is great honor for China's science and traditional Chinese medicine," TuYouyou told Xinhua.
In 2019, Tu Youyou was nominated for China's Medal of the Republic. In my mind, she is really the (great) person that makes a difference to the world.