chyna’s photo depicts washington, d.c.’s rock creek surrounded by changing fall foliage. the photo was selected by planet forward staff and interns for capturing a true sense of a newly discovered “home.”

this photo was taken at rock creek regional park after a long day at work. a friend suggested this park for a walk to see the start of the fall foliage in the area. i’ve been in this area for a little over a year now, but have not been able to really embrace the nature around me. this is just outside my home, and it’s been there this whole time. while i’ve been working away on my laptop, letting the fluorescent glow from the screen hit my face, this breath of fresh air and scenery grounded me here at this place. the clouds were moving with the sun, and the trees were bustling with one another, excited for the start of fall and winter. it was a reminder to slow down and literally be like the nature in this photo—calm and poised. -chyna vargas

see the full un-cropped photo below!

emma’s photo depicts the rocky face of casa grande peak in big bend national park as it is bathed in glowing orange sunlight. the photo was selected by planet forward staff and interns for its gorgeous attention to a natural space and for its colorful connection to last month’s theme of “orange.”

in the heart of big bend national park, casa grande peak towers over the chisos basin campground. the late summer light illuminates the rock face while a sign of resilience frames the vast west texas sky. amid uncertainty in a changing environmental and political climate, the conservation of public spaces remains at the forefront of many minds. big bend national park is rugged and wild. flora and fauna that thrive are resilient through cold winter nights and scorching summer days. a level of determination is needed to see – and save – places like these. – emma montgomery

thanks to everyone who submitted this month! next month’s theme is “home“! as you start planning your trips to see family for the holidays, don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a free t-shirt!

check out some of our amazing runners-up from october!

this is the wisconsin state fair by guin maclowry, george washington university.

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wetlands in the santuario de la naturaleza río cruces, valdivia, chile by shayah kosak, middlebury college.

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a marigold mocktail backstage at the smithsonian folklife festival by chloe levine, george washington university.

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]]> //m.getitdoneaz.com/story/artists-galapagos/ thu, 23 oct 2025 18:37:24 +0000 //m.getitdoneaz.com/?p=50566

the galápagos islands are perhaps most famous for the key role they played in the work of british naturalist charles darwin. the archipelago’s remarkable biodiversity was instrumental in the development of darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, first presented in his 1859 book, “on the origin of species.” 

to this day, the galápagos islands are admired for their scientific legacy — but conservation on the islands is a project that extends far beyond the sciences. for many creatives living on the archipelago, creating, sharing, and teaching art has become another form of ecological stewardship. 

growing up galapagueño: living and learning among nature

during an expedition to the galápagos in july 2025 with national geographic-lindblad expeditions and planet forward, i had the opportunity to connect with iván vasquez, a naturalist guide and the voyage’s certified photography instructor. vasquez is also a multidisciplinary artist who has extensive experience in a variety of mediums including video, photography, music, and painting.

growing up on san cristobal island in the galápagos, vasquez developed a strong connection to nature at an early age. his community was small, close-knit, and — of course — teeming with fascinating wildlife. as such, he enjoyed the freedom to explore his curiosities and engage with the natural world independently. 

“i think there’s something very special about growing up in a place like this — a small place where you have more of this feeling of safety, a little bit more freedom,” he said. “in fact, when i would come back from school, i would do my homework as quickly as i could after lunch so that i could just go and wander around on my own and with my friends.”

vasquez’s upbringing inspired a fascination with the natural world that extended beyond home. his interest in nature became a lens through which he viewed other places, as well. “i think that [growing up in the galápagos] gives you a natural connection to nature…. and more than connection, thinking so much about [nature] was just a normal thing… every time i went to the mainland or to other places, i had a lot of curiosity and wanted to see more nature and contrast how it is different from where i was.” 

vasquez also grew up in a very artistic family — another element of his childhood that shaped his relationship to the environment. his father painted, while his siblings pursued various artistic passions over the years. his social circles and broader community also included many artists.

vasquez believes that his wide-ranging exposure to the arts helped to heighten his existing sensitivity to nature and his passion for conservation. “i think when it comes to the environment and caring about the environment… i saw the animals painted on the walls by my dad from an early age — or going out with paper and pencils to observe them and draw them,” he said. “naturally that creates a sense of wanting to protect the place.”

this sentiment has been present in much of vasquez’s own art — particularly in his paintings, the first medium he found himself drawn to. in his realist renderings of animals and landscapes, vasquez aimed to capture and share the beauty of the archipelago with others. 

later, he became interested in music and started a band called arkabuz with several local friends. naturally, the group’s upbringing in the galápagos influenced their sound and the themes they explored in their music. one song, vive libre (“live free”) directly ties the beauty of nature to a lived sense of place. “‘vive libre’ talks about how you have so much freedom growing up here. one of the parts of the lyrics says, ‘you live in the mountains and i live in the sea, and there’s a reason to be here.’ i like that the lyrics are a lot about trying to live in harmony with the place,” he said.

in his work as a naturalist and guide with lindblad expeditions, vasquez likes to incorporate moments of stillness during hikes so that guests can silently observe and connect more deeply with the flora and fauna around them. he sees his own photography as accomplishing a similar goal: “there’s a lot that you can gain by hearing, by being present…. i hope that i get to evoke that in people through my images, through my videos.”

introducing environmental art to the next generation

before taking on his current role with lindblad in 2010, vasquez attended a photography workshop that he says motivated him to begin his career in the industry. the organizer of that workshop was josé guerrero, another photographer, galápagos resident, and lindblad expeditions naturalist guide. he has also been a photographer in the tourism industry for 12 years, focusing specifically on the interaction between people and wildlife in galápagos national park.

in addition to shedding light on important environmental topics, guerrero believes that the act of artistic creation itself is a rewarding process that anyone can participate in — a sentiment that guides his practice of teaching photography to others. “i have also been doing art workshops and photography workshops particularly, and it’s very interesting how kids can become much more aware of the uniqueness of the place where we live once they use the camera. they realize that even the same sea lion that we see every day now looks much more interesting,” guerrero said.

as certified photography instructors, both guerrero and vasquez believe in the artform’s capacity to change one’s perspective, especially in regards to the environment. perhaps even more than looking at an affecting photograph, engaging in the creative process presents an opportunity to relate to nature in a new and intimate way. 

during our conversation, vasquez reflected on the role that photography instruction plays in lindblad expedition’s galápagos trips. while aboard the gemini, vasquez taught multiple photography workshops that introduced guests to the fundamentals of the medium and encouraged them to make use of the powerful cameras they already possessed: their smartphones.

in making photography accessible to passengers of all ages and experience levels, vasquez shared with us a new way of seeing — and caring about — the galápagos. “you can hear many talks or lectures about the environment… but when you can take a picture that evokes an emotion in somebody else and in yourself, that’s gonna probably help also,” he said.

guerrero described a similar phenomenon that he has observed in himself and in his own students. for guerrero, artistic creation invites an opportunity for contemplation and even mindfulness. “for the person who is doing art, i think there is a reflective process around it. when you try to just be in nature and get some inspiration to create any artistic outcome, you really need to be present and have a much deeper emotional connection with the place,” he said.

art, community, and conservation in the galápagos 

beyond local artists and international visitors finding inspiration in the archipelago’s natural beauty, it seems that art has become a cornerstone of many conservation efforts across communities in the galápagos. 

according to vasquez, it is imperative that locals are personally invested in the project of protecting and preserving the galápagos. one way that local organizations have attempted to bolster community engagement is through art — a project with which both vasquez and guerrero have been involved throughout their careers. 

guerrero is particularly deeply involved in cultural development in the galápagos. he is a founding member of the cultural and ecological nonprofit geco galápagos, which aims to engage the community of san cristóbal in a collective pursuit to improve the quality of life for all beings on the islands and to build a healthier environment in line with ecuador’s “good living” national framework.

geco galápagos’ work integrates environmentalism and artistic expression through a breadth of workshops hosted in schools and in the broader community: these have included theater, music, visual arts, and handicrafts, among others. from making musical instruments from recycled materials found on beaches to supporting larger environmental campaigns through artwork, guerrero’s organization has deepened students’ and locals’ involvement in a variety of local issues. although the organization has unfortunately been inactive since the pandemic due to practical constraints, guerrero looks forward its revitalization in the future.

in his other community-focused work, guerrero practices the methodology photovoice, a participatory research method that empowers communities to document and share their perspectives on critical issues. the photovoice process involves identifying an issue or issues, training a group of participants in photography skills, conducting field assignments that put these skills into practice, hosting group discussions, and eventually using the resulting work in larger advocacy campaigns. 

guerrero’s first photovoice project engaged a group of young participants in examining urban biodiversity as the central issue. after a series of group discussions, tutorials, and fieldwork, the group met with the mayor of san cristobál to present their findings, illustrated by the images they created. 

“the mayor was very open to listening to us. we discussed a lot of these topics,” guerrero said. “and although we cannot say that this particular process created one specific policy in a direct relationship… [we had] the opportunity to take the voice of the young people into local authorities…. and definitely give visibility to some of the problems that the participants were finding around this topic.” 

even still, there is evidence that guerrero’s work with the photovoice method has made a splash. “the mayor listened to us and it was clear that she put some funding, for example, in doing the rehabilitation of some beaches, or if there are sea lions or iguanas who are in areas that can be a conflict with the with the urban environment, they will work together with the galápagos national park to prevent that,” he said. 

in addition to the tangible impact that guerrero’s photovoice group has had on local ecological issues and legislation, the project’s positive impact on the participants and the broader community is evident. “the kids, in some way, got motivated, and they felt proud of showing their photos, not just to the mayor. we also did a big exhibition in town, and these photos stayed in the main interpretation center of the galápagos national park for about six months. so the photos and the results and the reflections were really visible for many other people,” guerrero said. 

in addition to empowering youth to use their voices — and cameras — to advocate for change, guerrero’s work demonstrates how art can accessibly disseminate important messages across large groups of people.

an essential tool, a deeply held tradition 

for guerrero, art is an important tool in promoting sustainability and documenting environmental stewardship on the islands and beyond. “through art, one can get inspiration to find solutions and to spread the word of the good work that has been done and the things that we need to do as local people, as a country, and even as a global society because so many people visit galápagos,” he said. “the message that we are spreading is also a way to share the message with the world that we are responsible for protecting islands and oceans, like the one we live in.”

universally created and understood, art is a deeply human tradition that can transcend linguistic, geographic, temporal, and cultural barriers. art invites us to feel, to consider new perspectives, and to look inward. these capabilities are particularly salient in the context of conservation — a truth reflected in both guerrero and vasquez’s work. 

one of vasquez’s comments during our conversation was a helpful reminder of the truly democratic nature of art. everyone has the capacity to create and, therefore, the power to share their perspectives, to inspire others, and to advocate for our shared home. 

as vasquez put it, “i think that the more we all show the beauty of this planet, regardless of where you are, even just in your backyard….  the more chances we will have to make people a little bit more aware of trying to protect the planet.”

maya’s photo depicts a florida beach at dusk with storm clouds rolling in. the photo was selected by planet forward staff and interns for its striking composition and the direct connection to last month’s theme of “summer”.

the crab trap in destin, fl, is a popular “hidden gem” summer spot for the south. taken just after sunset, growing storm clouds creep in from the right as locals and tourists watch the last dwindling minutes of sun. born and raised in the panhandle, florida is home for me. i am “flogrown,” as locals say. most of the people from my high school stayed in florida for college, so when i came to gwu last fall, it was freeing, lonely, exciting, and alienating altogether. the movement of the storm clouds towards the shoreline parallels these pressures of adulthood — relishing in the last few moments of peace before the real world demands your life. but, it is also a promise of change. in a way, this photo resembles the transition to college: anticipating the storm, weathering the rain and wind, waiting for the sun. -maya delamater

we received submissions from multiple schools during our kick-off session of this contest, which will be continuing this month with the theme of orange! you can submit your best orange photo now that connects to sustainability and the environment.

check out some of our amazing runners-up from september!

yellowstone canyon by megan montgomery, george washington university.

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common snapping turtle by christopher pierce, george washington university.

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monterey bay tidal shore by carlotta gessler, brown university.

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]]> //m.getitdoneaz.com/story/microplastics-faux-sands/ wed, 18 jun 2025 16:56:09 +0000 //m.getitdoneaz.com/?p=48219 each microplastic bead travels with uncertainty of its destination. remnants of the once beloved plastic… a word so often utilized, yet so rarely recognized for its full power over and against humanity.

for 50 years, mankind has been dominated by a realm of perpetual convenience, as this versatile material reserved a permanent home inside our hearts and minds. yet little did we know — while society was marveling at its sheer durability — that each micro-particle would soon become its own time-bomb across every crevice of the globe.

looking translucently flawless on the outside, the deep dive under plastic’s surface tells a whole different story. the history of plastic begins with the origin of crude oil, becoming plasticized and shaped into products, before utilization, and periodically directed to recycling. this is where, due to economic inefficiency, plastic instability, and a rise in single-use goods, less than 5% of u.s. plastics wind up here, even if placed in recycling bins.

for those recycled, new chemicals are introduced in this universal mixing of products, as plastics’ permeability enables pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and numerous chemicals to be added. across the globe, the un environment programme reports the association of over 13,000 chemicals with plastic products, of which 7,000 are potentially harmful substances, and 3,200 of those substances carry one or more harmful properties. under this surface, plastic conceals multi-layered toxicity, slowly leaching out of even the smallest particle upon breaking down.

between arctic sea ice riddled as a sink for microplastic concentrations, increasing pfas chemicals in polar bear livers, mountains of plastic fast-fashion clothing in chile’s deserts, mosquito-infested plastic-clogged waterways in uganda, and the over 8 million tons of plastic deposited from land to the ocean yearly, these microplastics travel by the wind, land, and sea to coat the globe. most are undetectable by the naked eye, seamlessly blended as a foreigner in our natural world, infiltrating our bodies without obstruction.

once inside, the smallest microplastics — nanoplastics — have a mysterious way of slipping past bodily defenses, spreading chemicals, and often claiming indefinite residence inside organs. pfas and plastic particles are presumably in every person, present in the lungs, brain, kidneys, blood, placenta, liver, and testicles, causing cancers, hormonal imbalances, infertility, and adhd, among many other health issues. the larger the plastic, the more impassable it becomes, making it harder for the body to excrete it. this proved true for a whale on the philippines’ coast, washed ashore deceased with 88 pounds of plastic inside.

this harrowing reality, caused by something so ubiquitous, is what threatens every living being on this planet. from fruits and vegetables, to cotton plants and maple trees, to wild salmon and livestock, plastic is not only a perceived everyday necessity, but woven into each fiber of our very existence. to open this window of truth behind this inanimate material, we must take a first-hand look at its journey. continue reading below.

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what am i? that is the universal question circling my mindless presence while being stretched, heated, and morphed into a creation entirely new. polished, perfect, thousands of polymers intertwined, just waiting for their capacity to be tested.

significance is a new concept, yet it feels like an old friend. it is easy to get drowned out in this warehouse among millions of my clones, rolled up in tightly wound bales, loaded into trucks, and distributed like a web across the globe. yet somehow, in my short life, i feel my significance measured in dependence. someone is waiting for me.

my voyage ships me to a familiar place. a dark warehouse acts as the separation between our storage and the stimulating world. hands unbox me into a grocery store, becoming stationed on two metal rods. children, scanners, and blinding lights take up the space. people file past — dutifully pushing their carriages — as i am newly unsealed, stuffed with two small items, and placed alongside my counterparts.

carried out, handles stretching, my finality and purpose are solidified in an instant. dependence by humanity constituting only a negligible moment of my existence. the magic period of my creation has been reduced to myself in tatters. whisked by the breeze from the individual’s hand, i get caught in a tree. dangling, before my memory is swept away in the wind.

i am nearly torn in two by the time someone rescues me from the roadside, drops me in a blue bin, which lands me in a truck surrounded by multitudes of soiled plastic. chemicals, medicine, fertilizers, and spoiled milk aromas swirl. appreciation floods while witnessing other plastics’ fate, but this prompts the realization of how little i was utilized. a new question forms in my inanimate presence.

why was i made?

plastic. everywhere… plastic. i begin to realize my existence and my reason in this odorous truck.

we’re heading back to a factory.
it is the only sensible purpose behind this confinement, soon leading to light. loaded on conveyors, loosely sorted, while the accumulation of products’ chemicals permeates my surface. even the sanitization does not remove their foreign presence. the air fills with micro-particles as my worn surface is shredded, melted, and remade. tainted, manipulated, thousands of polymers intertwined, just waiting for their breaking point.

i survive the next years of over-stimulation and tattering, before landing in a cold watershed, where a piece of myself breaks off in the current.

minuscule enough to evade obstacles, the liquid feels like preservation as much as a trap. i feel myself diminishing as salt particles surround me. its harsh touch holds no effect in corroding my already contaminated being.

plankton. coral. stingray. sea ice. the current carries me across new stimuli, new biodiversity, and new environments in which i am embedded. my predetermined purpose relinquished, now ebbing and flowing from fish gills, whale baleen, and among the shrimp in this endless new home. presumably forgotten, slowly leaching chemicals into the serene abyss. permanence is now an unargued notion, as a final fish—a salmon—innocently engulfs me. i meld into its muscle walls, which soon become frigid and hard on ice.

i am small. i am insignificant. all it took was the transition from the fork to the mouth, and down into the stomach, before becoming lodged in a human’s liver. the species that morphed me into creation, now to never be rid of my presence. this is where i will remain, along with thousands of my friends, for a time i do not know how to measure.

i suppose it will be until something dislodges me. i never thought this would be the end of my journey, with so much left to see, so much life left to touch.

maybe my other pieces made it farther. but as insignificant as i feel, somehow this seems monumental. i am only one out of billions.

they are out there, circling the globe, just waiting to invisibly settle. settle on the bottom of the ocean floor. settle in someone’s lungs. settle in the roots of a coffee plant in africa.

but somehow i feel discontented. i know my presence here isn’t wanted, and i will be causing harm for the rest of my existence. living forever, just waiting to see where i will land next.

]]> //m.getitdoneaz.com/story/blossom-bush-ecofeminist-reflection/ thu, 12 jun 2025 18:40:53 +0000 //m.getitdoneaz.com/?p=48171 this short creative story explores a world not far from ours where care is transactional, and pain is profitable. inspired by ecofeminist thought and the lived realities of women across the globe, this story asks: what happens when we can no longer afford to heal?

studies have found that women and children are far more likely to die during climate-related disasters than men. in response, this piece is rooted in the framework of ecofeminism, exploring how neoliberal systems contribute to environmental degradation in ways that reflect and reinforce a global pattern: one where patriarchal capitalism treats both nature and women’s bodies as expendable resources in the pursuit of profit and power.

the woman in this story isn’t alone. from an ecofeminist perspective, she is emblematic of the millions who are forced to labor through poisoned air, dwindling resources, and institutional neglect just to survive.

read the full story by clicking on the presentation below!

]]> //m.getitdoneaz.com/story/poetry-mykah-scott/ thu, 03 apr 2025 20:19:26 +0000 //m.getitdoneaz.com/?p=47397

representing planet forward as correspondent, mykah scott is a tuskegee university student in her junior year studying political science and english, while minoring in creative writing. in addition to pursuing her degree, she has a passion for drawing and poetic storytelling. not only has she been on a slam poetry team in houston, tx, she is currently a member of the afrofuturism collective of the american bird conservancy, in which she will use visual art and poetry to explore how themes in the african diaspora connect to ecology in historical and contemporary contexts.

her poem, we play in ashtrays, is a multimedia story with satirical metaphors and raw imagery that reflects on how pollution and greed have negatively impacted marginalized communities. scott uses her sketches and poetic words to attract different audiences and address her concerns about environmental racism and air pollution through vivid imagery.

]]> //m.getitdoneaz.com/story/art-science-environment-interview/ mon, 17 mar 2025 15:16:17 +0000 //m.getitdoneaz.com/?p=45651

this video is an investigation into the relationship between art, science, and the environment, aiming to emphasize the importance of using art to convey science, particularly in the environmental sciences. this story is told through an interview with bonnie monteleone, co-founder of the plastic ocean project, a non-profit focused on the plastic pollution crisis based in wilmington, north carolina.

their mission is based on three pillars: scientific research, artistic storytelling, and collaborative solutions. monteleone, an artist at heart, created the traveling art exhibit “what goes around, comes around”, a mural made of plastic waste collected from the ocean in the shape of “the great wave of kanagawa” by katsushika hokusai.

monteleone is an expert in merging the arts and sciences in environmental storytelling and emphasizes the importance of using art to convey science, “it’s this little dance that we’re constantly doing, just so hungry to share, to communicate with one another. and that’s where, when i started this conversation the science was locked up, and helping people understand how horrible we were treating the ocean because we weren’t communicating.”

did you know that afrofuturism intersects with the environment? if not, have no fear — amber robles gordon is here. 

gordon is an afro-puerto rican mixed-media visual artist who uses found objects and textiles to create installations, sculptures, and public artwork that explore ethnicity, gender, the environment, and her philosophical experiences.

since obtaining a master’s degree in fine arts from howard university, and a bachelor of science, business administration from trinity university, gordon’s works have been featured in various publications such as the washington post, the huffington post, msnbc, and the miami herald, not to mention she had been commissioned to create public art installations for organizations such as the d.c. commission on the arts and humanities, northern va fine arts associations, washington project for the arts, and humanities council of washington d.c. 

a strong advocate for the washington, d.c. arts community, gordon’s work also ties into the concept of afrofuturism, a concept that allows us to look at realities and the future through a black lens. according to gordon, she believes that through this lens, people can start to see a better future for safe, sustainable living.

learn more about gordon’s work and connect with her on social media by visiting her website.

growing up with my grandparents, who are farmers, had a profound impact on my life. every saturday, i was expected to help out on the farm. however, in 2018, when the anglophone crisis in my country of cameroon began, our routine changed. we had to stop attending school on mondays, and instead, spend those days on the farm. as a result, mondays and saturdays became our designated farming days.

my grandmother practiced traditional farming methods, using natural manure for crops and weeding by hand instead of relying on chemical sprays. however, as the area around the farm began to develop, with people building houses nearby, our farm became polluted with waste products like baby nappies and plastic bags. this contamination destroyed the soil quality, making it challenging to produce healthy crops. we were forced to start buying produce, and the widespread use of fertilizers for vegetables led to stomach problems.

one sustainability initiative in cameroon that inspired this poem is the “mount cameroon ecotourism project.” this initiative aims to promote eco-friendly tourism practices, conserve biodiversity, and support local communities around mount cameroon, an active volcano and biodiversity hotspot.

the project encourages sustainable farming practices, reforestation efforts, and waste management, while also promoting cultural heritage and community-led tourism. by supporting local communities and promoting eco-tourism, this initiative helps preserve the natural beauty of mount cameroon and its surroundings, aligning with your poem’s themes of environmental stewardship and harmony with nature.

we forgot our roots

i saw how tenderly my grandmother toiled the soil,

under scorching skies, 

back bent like alkebulan trying to pick up her innocent child from shame.

i remember the scent of freshly harvested green vegetables entrancing me,

as visions of the green vegetable meal danced, 

like butterflies in my belly

the branches of broad trees became the safe place we ran to,

escaping weary backs and tired feet,

the smell of nature,

the crisp breeze that whispered secrets on lazy saturdays.

it was a picture perfect world.

but dear mother earth,

i confess that i’m lost.

i’ve been trying to protect you, but in doing so, i’ve died twice. 

now, i am the villain in my own story.

your soil which once you treasured, 

now lies barren and ignored. 

you hold humanity in your gentle hands like a lamb,

yet remains an entity in an unforgiving world.

the universe is burning, 

consumed by a fire that never ceases, not a flame fueled by passion, but rather the dark releases of greed. 

we’ve ravaged the land, depleted the seas, and yet we still demand more.

we’ve lost our connection with nature, forgotten the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the soothing rain that falls from the ocean’s sky. 

the ocean’s tears rise,

she is lamenting for its pain, 

screaming through the desolate landscape.

forgive us, gentle mother, for our thoughtless ways.

we’ve strayed, 

forgotten our roots, 

and lived recklessly. 

please,

call us back to order, 

that we may rediscover our place in harmony with you.

yet, there is hope for a brighter tomorrow,

a future where sustainability and innovation lives in harmony,

we can harness renewable energy, reduce waste, and preserve,

restore the balance of nature, reviving our earth.

together, 

we can make a change, a conscious shift in our ways,

embracing eco-friendly technologies, and sustainable living days.

we will nurture the soil, protect the seas, and preserve the air,

and create a world where humanity and nature align, 

without a single care.