Dear Loyola Community,
At Loyola, we always strive for the Magis, the more, the greater. When Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si was published in 2015, we embraced his words and knew this was an incredible feat. The head of the Catholic Church was encouraging its more than one billion members “to collaborate in the care for our common home” by having a dialogue about the environment, how humans are affecting it and how we should care for it.
Pope Francis emphasized the need for more environmental education to support greater ecological awareness. He called for educators capable of developing an ethics of ecology and helping people, through effective pedagogy, to grow in solidarity, responsibility and compassionate care. He encouraged action “such as avoiding the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating refuse, cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living beings, using public transport or car-pooling, planting trees, turning off unnecessary lights, or any number of other practices. There is a nobility in the duty to care for creation through little daily actions.”
We practice this every day at Loyola, where we understand our responsibility to take care of the earth and teach others the importance of doing so.
The word ecology comes from the Greek “Oikos,” which means “a house.” One way to learn how to care for the earth is to learn about the organisms that inhabit our home. This includes birds and bees, lions, tigers, and bears, but it also includes bacteria, fungi, plants, and yes, spiders. Ecology goes deeper, exploring how these organisms interact with each other and their environment.
My science has taught me much about the Magis. It's about doing more, being more, and achieving more than originally thought possible. On this eve of Earth Week, I challenge you to educate others about the importance of the environment, the importance of reducing our environmental impact, the importance of living sustainably, and ultimately, protecting our home. We hope you come to as many of our Earth Week 2024 events as you can and learn how you can make a difference. In everything you do, I challenge you to strive for the Magis.
Dr. Aimée K. Thomas
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences + Environment Program
