Illustrations by Image via Public Domain
The Future is not Bright
Author: Sarah Hemminger
When my ENGL110 professor assigned us the task of developing a research question for our essays, I immediately knew what I wanted to focus on. Fireflies have fascinated me since childhood. I’ve been fortunate to grow up in a quiet, wooded neighborhood where fireflies were once a common sight. Each summer, come May or June, I would eagerly peek out the front door, hoping to catch a glimpse of their tiny, glowing signals in the night air. The moment I saw the first firefly of the season, I would spend the rest of my evenings outside, either watching them dance through the darkness or gently catching them in my hands. Even now, that same childlike wonder comes rushing back every time I spot one.
Last year, I came across an article claiming that our generation may be the last to experience fireflies. I was both heartbroken and curious—what was causing their decline? As I began to research, I quickly learned that it was us. My documentary explores the key factors of human involvement contributing to the decline not only of fireflies but of many nocturnal insect species. Among the leading causes are light pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction. These disruptions are threatening the delicate balance of ecosystems that these insects depend on.
Despite the damage that has already been done, there are still steps we can take to help protect fireflies and other vulnerable species. Reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting, especially in rural and semi-rural areas, can significantly minimize light pollution. Supporting conservation efforts, preserving natural habitats, and planting native vegetation can help restore the environments that fireflies rely on to reproduce and thrive. By making conscious choices—such as using motion-activated lights, avoiding pesticide use, and advocating for sustainable development—we can play a part in preserving the magic and wonder of fireflies for future generations.
Instructor: Tim Jadick
My class has three parts starting with a synthesis essay from pre-selected sources. Next, students generate a research question to use for their academic paper and multimodal i-Movie assignment. Ultimately, the goal is for the two projects to work together as students need a minimum of 8 secondary sources for the written paper and then seek out an expert to interview for their multimodal. The interview questions they ask their expert stem from the scholarly sources used in their paper, and through the back-and-forth of multimodal creation and research essay drafting, students gain depth on the topic, seeing the broader context of the topic. The final multimodal i-Movie is a celebration of the work throughout the entire process bringing the paper to life on the big screen for an audience of fellow E110 students to showcase the passion of the entire research endeavor.
Works Cited
Bolliger, Janine, et al. “Contrasting effects of street light shapes and led color temperatures on nocturnal insects and bats.” Basic and Applied Ecology, vol. 64, 12 July 2022, pp. 1–12, doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2022.07.002.
Lewis, Sara M, et al. “A global perspective on Firefly extinction threats.” BioScience, vol. 70, no. 2, 1 Feb. 2020, pp. 157–167, doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz157.
McNeil, Darin J., et al. “Illuminating patterns of Firefly abundance using citizen science data and Machine Learning Models.” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 929, June 2024, doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172329.
Owens, Avalon C., and Sara M. Lewis. “The impact of artificial light at night on nocturnal insects: A review and synthesis.” Ecology and Evolution, vol. 8, no. 22, 23 Oct. 2018, pp. 11337–11358, doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4557.
Images Used (in order of appearance)
skyglowproject.com/#light-pollution
dailyhive.com/seattle/famous-cities-without-light-pollution-photos
www.bigbenddarkskyreserve.org/what-is-light-pollution
nightskytourist.com/nighttime-pollinators
www.rowland.harvard.edu/directory/avalon-owens-phd/?cp-dir-id=406
www.udel.edu/alumni-friends/stories/2024/beyond-the-classroom-doug-tallamy.
www.nsrwa.org/natures-best-hope-by-doug-tallamy
www.ficonservancy.org/grassland-restoration/doug-tallamy-entomologist
earthworms.kdhxtra.org/doug-tallamy-nature-of-oaks
https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-1108470035-moths-fly-around-street-lights-night-ephemera
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/unique-predatory-moth-lurks-still-darkness-2254523967
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/macro-photo-moth-after-landing-on-1793421334
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/night-moth-sphinx-feeds-on-flower-1796768470
www.cnet.com/science/fireflies-worldwide-are-at-risk-of-extinction-and-humans-are-to-blame
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2019/12/protect-pollinators-food-security-biodiversity-agriculture/
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/vector-image-food-web-consumerresource-system-1228210480
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/64528207152718983/
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