With the phrase 鈥淯DC Inmate鈥� printed on the back of most of their shirts, the men represented a wide variety of ages, races and academic levels. While some were there just to get a change of scenery, others were prepared with paper and pens ready to take notes.
Beaming with passion, , professor of biology at the University of Utah, launched into her presentation and within minutes, her love of forest science and arboriculture was apparent. Her lecture, similar to what the students in her classroom would hear, was fast-paced, animated and thorough.
Nadkarni discussed tree biology and how trees relate to human health, art and music, and explained, 鈥淭rees are the lungs of the earth.鈥� After responding to many questions the inmates posed, she said, 鈥淚 want you guys in my class.鈥�
She ended by discussing what types of jobs are available in the field of arboriculture and said that even with a record, jobs can be obtained either though apprenticeship or education.
After the lecture, the inmates quizzed Nadkarni about her vast knowledge of ecology. They asked her questions about research, how trees affect the environment and how they can become involved in arboriculture.
鈥淭his was awesome,鈥� says Jesse David, 28, an inmate serving time in the substance abuse program and just one of the 7,000 inmates at the Utah State Prison. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in the environment and science and want to work in nature.鈥�
Three years in the making, Nadkarni was finally able to bring the University of Utah鈥檚 program to the Utah State Prison. The initiative aims to create a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment to advance scientific knowledge and help offenders rebuild their lives through education.
鈥淏y bringing these lectures to inmates, we hope to provide some inspiration and university-level education,鈥� said Nadkarni, whose nature imagery in prison project was recently named one of . 鈥淣ot only do the lectures focus on basic science, we discuss how the topics can be applied to employment.鈥�
As part of a monthly series funded by the National Science Foundation and private donations, the program, known as the Initiative to Bring Science Programs to the Incarcerated, or INSPIRE, will address topics such as biology, ecology, chemistry, physics and math.
鈥淭his lecture really sparked my interest and I want to learn as much as I can while I鈥檓 here,鈥� said David, who is serving two years for stealing credit cards. 鈥淎s soon as I found out the University of Utah would be giving lectures, I signed up right away and I鈥檓 going to be here for everyone.鈥�
The University of Utah鈥檚 program is modeled after the , which Nadkarni co-founded in 2005 to bring science and nature into prisons in the state of Washington. The program has since formed a national network and has expanded into 12 state prisons in Washington and eight additional sites across the country.
Images can be found here (please credit the University of Utah):
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