Ever wondered why some people gravitate towards art, music and language, whereas, others are led by the innate ability to solve mathematical problems or sums, are fascinated by chemistry atoms and molecules or the physics side of it all – motion, force, electromagnetism, spacetime or elementary particles.
As much as this seems straightforward, a concept of left-brain right-brain, black and white, there is in fact a grey area of interconnectedness – unrevealed magic.
Mr. Willem Matthee – lecturer at the Nelson Mandela University – George Campus – is the epitome of not losing touch with the finer things in life. Mr Matthee’s passion for nature surfaced, in his early life – at the age of seven. His keen interest in nature conservation – particularly birding – was evoked by his father’s passion for birdwatching. This hobby formed such an integral part of the Matthee’s lives, that they altogether bucked the tradition of buying presents for each other for Christmas.
According to Mr Matthee, “My siblings and I usually did not receive birthday or Christmas presents – instead, our parents saved up that money so we could afford to travel to conservation areas when we had enough money saved.” However, Mr Matthee’s propensity for this fulfilling hobby, was further fostered by looking at beautiful flowers, insects and birds – during walks around his hometown.
With so many existing branches of science, Mr Matthee specifically specializes in Ecology. Mr Matthee points out that “Ecology focuses on how the environment functions, how components within the environment are interlinked, and how species are adapted to survive in their environment.” Mr Matthee’s approach to his field of expertise, stems from little things – the subtleties. Highlighting his enthusiasm for Nature Conservation and his area of specialization; he has a keen eye for noticing the art in between the crevices of nature – much like his discipline, the interconnectedness of living organisms. “Start small – look at the termites, look at the ants, look at the smaller things below your feet. We are all in a rush from A to B, and back again, rarely stopping to marvel at the creation around us. If you stop to smell the flowers, you may notice fewer flowers to smell, due to our impact on the environment. Find a way to change that”, Mr Matthee remarks.
According to Mr. Matthee, it's crucial to understand that everything in nature has its role. The removal of certain species, such as baboons, frogs, spiders, or indigenous plants, can have far-reaching effects on ecosystems beyond the campus. Additionally, replacing indigenous plants with alien invasive species alters the environment, making it unsuitable for many species.
As stewards of this planet, it's our responsibility to prevent this from happening. This means taking care of the environment around us by finding ways to reduce human-wildlife conflict (like human-snake or baboon-human interactions) and restoring areas with invasive plants to a more natural state. These principles are key to everyday life on Nelson Mandela University – George Campus.
Senegalese engineer Baba Dioum said, “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught”. “My approach is to show people how amazing the smaller plants and animals around us are and getting them to interact with the species around them.
Take them on a hike in the forest, show them awesome plants, let them hug a tree and hold a stick insect. And let them understand that they can also make a difference. Few people will come out of that forest unchanged”, according to Mr Matthee’s words.