Digital Commons Network^™

Hemp-Lime Insulation: A Climate Friendly Building Material, Ginger Rose Jensen

Student Research Symposium

It is critical to reduce greenhouse gas from the atmosphere to reduce the impacts of climate change. Oregon’s Climate Action Plan has established goals to reduce emissions by developing ‘Clean Buildings’ and increasing the CO₂ sequestered by the state's ‘Natural and Working Lands’. Carbon negative construction materials like hemp-lime insulation could contribute to both goals.

Hemp-lime is a non-structural insulation material made from crushed hemp hurd, a lime-based binder, and water. It is non-toxic and versatile alternative to traditional insulation materials. Hemp-lime was submitted to be added to the International Residential Codes (IRC) index in 2022. IRC approval would …

Centering Farmers’ Perspectives In Assessing The Resilience Of Food Farming In Rapidly Urbanizing Regions, Jude Wait

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

Alarmed by farmland conversion, growing food insecurity, and increasingly threatened resources, multi-stakeholder groups endeavor to improve access to fresh food and protect farmland’s multiple community benefits. To inform the allocation of scarce resources needed to sustain local food production, this transdisciplinary action research investigated farm-level resilience within a fragmented county context. What will be needed to retain and enhance local food production capacity for the long term? Iterative analytical approaches utilized multiple data sources framed by agroecological resilience principles. Immersion in the local food movement, as a researcher, consumer, educator, and farmer advocate, offered ample participant observation opportunities across the …

Which System Works For Capitalism?: An Analysis Of Supply Side And Demand Side Economics Tax Policy, Collin Nissley

Capstone Showcase

There are two economic theories that dominate tax policy in American law. Demand-side economics and supply-side economics offer contrasting explanations for economic growth, and offer separate methods to improve the economic climate in America. Tax rates and government involvement in the economy are two main points of contention between these two theories. Through the method of pattern matching, I conduct an analysis of several major policy changes through the years from President Ford to President George W. Bush, and analyze empirical data to match it to the claims of theoretical predictions. My findings show that through a balance of both …