Phil Youngblood: A Texas Nature Ranger
HAC Presenter Series 1
Welcome to the Healthful Aging Through Lifelong Learning Presenter Series. Here you will learn about - and hopefully be inspired by - the many and diverse people we’ve assembled to share their thoughts about “healthful” aging and the role virtual worlds such as Second Life (SL) can play in the aging process.
Our first guest is Phil Youngblood, a retired scientist, educator, and nature enthusiast whose work in Second Life has focused on global STEM education, particularly in the sciences. Phil is one of the founders of Science Circle, “a multinational alliance of scientists, educators, students, and science enthusiasts collaborating to share knowledge and promote open source education around the world.” He first got interested in Second Life in 2007 when the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the university where he was teaching introduced him to the platform.
At first, Phil just explored. “I needed to learn and understand what I was looking at and why I was there,” he says. He was intrigued to discover a mosque where his avatar was asked to take off its shoes, an island where only Japanese was spoken, and a city on a hill with a resident dragon. That dragon turned out to be a fellow university department head. He even stumbled upon a woman working in a garden beside the home she’d built for herself and her husband. The woman explained that her husband was a soldier stationed in Iraq, and Second Life gave them a safe way to meet and enjoy each other’s company. “It wasn’t long before I felt I had a second home,” Phil says, and after more than 15 years in Second Life, he feels he is still learning and growing as a result of the diverse and active global community in SL. “I like interacting with people from all walks of life,” he adds.
For the Healthful Aging Through Lifelong Learning Conference, Phil will be talking about his relationship with nature and how the natural world can be beneficial to people of all ages. “I like to feel connected to nature because it reminds me that I am only one member of one species on one planet, and there is wonder in both the smallest of things as well as the very biggest,” Phil says. The title of his talk is “Getting Back to Nature,” and is based on studies showing that natural environments in virtual worlds can have positive effects on mental and physical health in both children and adults.
When asked how he himself approaches the subject of aging, Phil is quick to put a positive spin on the subject. “Well, first and foremost is to recognize and accept that aging is one of life's adventures,” he says. “So take it 'by the horns' and go for it, reminding yourself that aging beats the alternative!” Ever the scientist, he enjoys pointing to psychologists whose work suggests that “finding meaning is important, pursuing whatever makes you happy (that is socially responsible), and creating 'psychological richness' in your life are all keys to healthy aging.” He also credits being an avatar with his youthful approach to life. “Avatars are ageless. No one knows my age unless I choose to share clues with others, such as using my voice or referring to cultural events,” Phil says. “There is no age limit to being able to interact with the SL environment or other people in it.”
To learn more about Phil’s work and adventures in Second Life, plan to attend his presentation on Saturday, May 20th at 10:00 am (SLT) at the HAC Presenters Stage:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Inspiration%20Bay/210/123/21
Phil will share his own experiences with nature, then lead a facilitated discussion on attendees’ shared lived experiences with the topic. Participants will also have access to an annotated bibliography of 20 articles and studies.
- Jena Ball (Jenaia Morane)
Bio
Perpetually interested in learning. Excited about the natural world and what we learn and share about it. Have always loved to get out into nature. Glad we do not know everything yet. Enjoy knowing there are challenges that lay ahead. A bit disappointed in people in general, in particular our love of money, power politics, destructive objects, and organized religion used as a weapon, but am bolstered somewhat in knowing that not everyone is thinking only of themselves. At times in my life I have been a research biochemist (exobiologist and plant pathologist), military officer (retired), and professor of computer science and cybersecurity (retired), and world traveler. Love my wife, family, furry “kids,” and my life right now.
Links
The Science Circle on the web: https://www.sciencecircle.org/
The Science Circle in Second Life:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/100/129/25
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