 rotate(10)'/%3E%3Cpath d='M.038.113v.15l.15.088.15-.088v-.15L.188.025l-.15.088Z' stroke='%23c44900' stroke-width='.0375' transform='rotate(10)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Eco-Wrangler Blog
Welcome to the Eco Wrangler Blog published by your campus team of writers to report and investigate sustainable impact, innovation and integrity happening on campus and across the Rio Grande Valley.
Aligning ourselves with the three pillars, we aim to spotlight efforts that amplify the cause of action-oriented sustainability impacts.
Do you have a spot that supports this cause, and you'd like for us to cover it? Fill out our form below!
Blogs
The Perfect Water Bottle
By Cindy Ruiz Zamundo
MARCH 31, 2026
Hello everyone, my name is Cindy Ruiz, and I am an Eco Wrangler in the Office for Sustainability at the University of the Rio Grande Valley. I am president of the Intersectional Feminist Student Organization, an organization that helps and educates students about their rights and fights for the improvement of said rights.
To be honest, I'm a little against mindless consumption. Sometimes I wonder how easily we carry accessories without overall ambition. In this case, I'm talking about water bottles. Water can be obtained everywhere. For example, here at UTRGV by means of fountains or some vending machine, but even then, I cannot understand the purpose, until we talk about ease. If I’m being direct, my favorite one is the one at the Interdisciplinary building due to the fact that it’s usually fresher than the rest (yet, I have to say, with my sensory issues I prefer to have water from home).
It's different to try to find a supplier when you can be your own supplier, after all you start with a water bottle made from plastic. Let's think about it a bit: There's only one vending machine in front of you, the other buildings are closed so you can't access the water fountains inside them, however, you can buy a single bottle and then recycle it and refill it with water at (for example) the gym's water fountain.
Here is a simple recycling method: Take the purchased bottle, consume all its contents before continuing your journey, and finally reuse the bottle to consume more content.
Let's say you have the machine in front of you, but in your backpack, you have a perfectly functional metal bottle, which helps you preserve the environment and the temperature of your water. Buying a plastic (sometimes not recyclable) water bottle when you already have a functional metal bottle is a bit paradoxical to a certain extent (unless of course the metal bottle you have is damaged, so it makes a little more sense).
My opinion of a perfect water bottle? Simple: If you can reduce your carbon footprint and reuse the bottle, for me, that already makes it more than perfect (And maybe if you throw so pastel blue or clear with flowers with a bamboo lid, oh, I love those).
Archived Articles
Bridging Research & Public Understanding: Collaboration Between UTRGV and Gladys Porter Zoo
Mueller Gibbon at the Gladys Porter Zoo | Photo by Claudia Martinez
By Karla Averanga
JANUARY 22, 2026
Dr. Valerie James-Aldridge, Curator of Behavior Research and retired professor of UTRGV, alongside Lab Director and Professor, Claudia Martinez from the UTRGV Comparative Psychology Lab, are collaborating with the Gladys Porter Zoo (Accredited by the Association of Zoo & Aquariums (AZA)). To bridge research into public understanding of animal welfare through protocol.
In fall 2025, students in Advanced Specialization in Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy Studies: Otherworldly Arguments (ENGL 4340) were asked to highlight the valuable efforts made by zoo professionals. Translating academic research into a public summary using the article, “How different zoo animals interact with each other: A Scoping Review,” published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science. Understanding primate dynamics, the students discovered patterns of interaction from: Claudia Martinez, Lecturer II of Psychological Science, Dr. Aldridge who brings 50+ years of expertise, and Todd J. McWhorter and Eduardo J. Fernandez from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia.
“The collaboration between our campus to the zoo is allowing public access to scientific research. There is potential to foster long-term cultural support for animal welfare and conservation,” responds Sergio Perez, the UTRGV Director of Sustainability, sharing the science behind animal behavior with the public can help advocate biodiversity.
FROM CLASSROOM TO PUBLISHED ARTICLE
Professor Martinez explains that the personal motivation behind the co-authored article, she “highlights how important the task of the zookeeper is. What we need to do is bridge the connection between experiences and make the best decisions for the animals. Every zoo should have a research center to combine insights in collaboration.” Her efforts in assisting primate research, reaction, and behavioral patterns are observed during transfers or deaths within primate groups. Including an exchange after the passing of one silverback that eventually inspired her to pursue an M.A. in Experimental Psychology. Ms. Martinez, who is currently pursuing her PhD in Veterinary Science views her choices “felt like everything fell into place on how she got to where she is but would like to be of help to all of the zoos and primates.”
BREAKING STEREOTYPES OF ZOOKEEPING
A major concern is the public’s belief in the disconnection of animals from their natural habitat. “Part of my conversation with visitors,” explains Dr. Aldridge, “is to reframe their perceptions. For instance, they may think animals are ‘doing nothing,’ but even stillness is behavior.” Zoo staff and researchers will act immediately using data-driven decision-making on certain animal behavioral issues. Holding the value of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) that mental and physical well-being is important for the maneuvering of the animal under any human care.
The home to 377 animal species includes 20 primate species researchers using data aimed at improving ongoing animal welfare and conservation efforts where science behind observational research follows patterns of social interactions, the use of real ID sheets in fieldwork, and facing challenges to create solutions animals face within their exhibits.
To learn more, visit the UTRGV Comparative Psychology Lab.
Rooted Locally: An Eco-Wrangler's Journey in Volunteerism
By Karla Averanga
FEBRUARY 27, 2026
I convinced myself I had missed my moment. You know that FOMO in college when everyone seems to be securing opportunities. However, I’ve learned that as an Eco-Wrangler, service doesn’t expire because it waits silently for you to step in.
My moment arrived on MLK Day, spreading mulch around the Casa Bella dormitories. I volunteered at the event hosted by UTRGV Center of Student Involvement (CSI) in Brownsville to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through action.
“From South Padre Island to Edinburg, we believe in coming together to serve our community,” said Assistant Director Ashley Guzman.
Figure 1. Volunteers attending MLK Day of Service in Brownsville, Texas on January 19th, 2026
BLACK FREEDOM IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
When February came, I wanted to see how Black history was celebrated in presence, resilience, and transformation, locally. I visited Restlawn Memorial Park, the only burial site in Hidalgo County where African Americans were once laid to rest. Walking there made history feel nearby.
I spent time at UTRGV’s Special Collections and Archives, researching the preservation across human presence in the RGV. Almost a quarter of a millennium ago, generations of cultural evidence whisper lifetimes of existence.
The Rio Grande Valley wasn’t just farmland. It was a passage of protection and partnership.
During the Antebellum period, the Valley became a route to freedom along the Underground Railroad. Historical records estimate that approximately 20,000 enslaved people escaped through South Texas into Mexico, where slavery was abolished. Mexico and nearby regions offered refuge, where Black and Mexican communities built relationships rooted in shared survival. Many accounts note that Mexican people generally did not practice enslavement and often aided those seeking freedom (p. 100).
Kearney, M., Knopp, A., & Zavaleta, A. (Eds.). (2006). Further studies in Rio Grande Valley history. Illustrated by E. Ybarra. Publisher.
Figure 2. Page 15 of Valley Morning Star, published in Harlingen, Texas on Thursday, July 24th, 1986
BRIDGING THE GAP: PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE | LOCAL CELEBRATION
On February 7, I attended the 2nd Annual Black History Month Festival at Lincoln Park, hosted by the Brownsville Parks & Recreation Department. Brooke Esparza, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Brownsville, calls Brownsville, “God’s Little Hidden Place,” noting that more Black families are choosing to call the Valley home.
I also met Cierra Thompson, who traveled from New Orleans to share her son Simeon’s story, ‘SIME the Sickle Cell Hero,’ inspiring other children to believe in their own strength. “I didn’t expect my first visit to be this uplifting,” she said. “Everyone was welcoming.”
Figure 4. Book signing with author Cierra Thompson
Being rooted locally isn’t about being born somewhere, it’s about recognizing a region shaped by resilience. Don’t assume you’re too late, choose to grow where you are, and help keep stories alive.
To learn more about exploring a public resource that dedicates to preserving stories, visit UTRGV Special Collections & Archives. Visit Engagement Zone at UTRGV for volunteer opportunities.