Sustain AI Planet

Ep 07: Conservation at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago with Edward Warden

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"One of the biggest hurdles that led to an organization like ours, which is really trying to be sustainable across its operations, is that just that it's across our operations. We're trying as hard as we can to make sure that there are no cut corners, that every area where potentially as an institution like ours, we can be wasteful, we're trying to address that and reel that in." said Edward Warden, Conservation Action Coordinator at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

 

Welcome to the Sustain AI Planet Podcast, where passion meets purpose. Join us as we delve into the world of sustainability, climate action, artificial intelligence, and their transformative impact on our planet. Today's episode features an enlightening conversation with Edward Warden, the head of conservation action programs at Shedd Aquarium. Learn how Edward and his team are on a mission to protect aquatic ecosystems, engage the community, and foster a sustainable future.


As we conclude our conversation with Edward Warden, we are left with a profound appreciation for the tireless efforts of the sustainability department at Shedd Aquarium. Their dedication to making a positive impact on the environment, from beach cleanups to embracing AI-driven tools for conservation, serves as an inspiring model for others to follow. We are reminded that even the smallest actions, like picking up nurdles on the beach or collecting native plant seeds, can have a significant impact on the well-being of our planet. As Edward says, "Personal actions really do make a significant impact on the world around us."

Quotes

  • "My job is working with volunteers to do everything from cleanup beaches to taking folks kayaking on the Chicago River to helping remove invasive species from really high priority habitats all across Chicago." (01:58 | Edward Warden)
  • "We're trying as hard as we can to make sure that there are no cut corners, that every area where potentially as an institution like ours, we can be wasteful, we're trying to address that and reel that in." (02:58 | Edward Warden)
  • "Right now, all of the kind of conservation programs and the action day programs are based in the Greater Chicago area. So we will do events in sort of Chicago suburbs or farther-flung areas. Currently, we're restricted to Chicagoland in Illinois right now, but a lot of our advocacy work and larger conservation work across different teams does extend beyond Chicagoland and into other areas in the Great Lakes as well." (06:18 | Edward Warden)
  • "One of the biggest offenders is actually diapers. Diapers are a very essential thing, right? People are bringing their kids to the aquarium all the time. And sometimes they need... But the problem with the way that diapers are produced today is they're not recyclable. They're not compostable, and they don't degrade." (11:42 | Edward Warden)
  • "We don't use AI directly, but one of the couple of the tools that we use actually does utilize AI. The app is incredibly powerful because what it does is it basically crowd sources citizen science or community science." (14:04 | Edward Warden)

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    #SustainAIPlanetPodcast #ConservationAction #SustainableFuture #AIforGood #ProtectOurPlanet

     

    Links

    Connect with Edward Warden:

    https://www.sheddaquarium.org/

    https://www.sheddaquarium.org/care-and-conservation



    Connect with Dylan:

    Website: https://www.sustainaiplanet.com




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    Sustain AI PlanetBy Dylan Singla