Journal Emtry #12

Our discussion of Ackerman and her piece Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall provided thoughtful conversation about the balance of science and human story telling. Honestly, I have never read a piece that offered such a great balance of the two components. I feel as though I often read excerpts that are one or the other and I don’t take away as much. When an article is purely science and fact based, I think the reader can lose focus of the article, despite the important message it supports. However, when excerpts are purely memory reflection, the reader often loses the technical support of the scenario, and depending on the issue being discussed, not fully understand the gravity of the topic. While Ackerman discusses the falling of leaves and the seasonal transition, she was able to make the science of the topic relatable for the reader by incorporating the memories of children and playing in leaves. In doing this, the reader is more likely to make a connection to the piece with memories of their own, and then in turn remember the science of this transition when recalling the story.


I think when discussing environmental issues going forward, there should be an emphasis on the additional of a personal anecdote with the information delivery. People are more likely to listen and act when they are emotionally connected and invested to the issue and the science behind it. This would create a greater response from the global community and potentially increase climate change activism.