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Articles 1 - 23 of 23
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Wonders Of The Galapagos Islands: Experiential Learning Is Deep Learning, Paul Ax Bologna
The Wonders Of The Galapagos Islands: Experiential Learning Is Deep Learning, Paul Ax Bologna
Sustainability Seminar Series
Experiential learning is one way of creating deep understanding of subject matter, as well as developing a passion for the field. I have been engaged in leading extended field experiences with students for almost 20 years to ‘immerse’ students in the natural world. In March 2020, Dr. Krumins and I led a group of graduate and undergraduate students to Ecuador to explore and learn about the incredible wildlife and the enduring legacy of revolutionary ideas that this region has generated. Our time in the Galapagos, while short, spanned centuries of scientific thought and millions of years of geologic history. The …
Climate Change And Ecosystem Transformation: Plant Wax Evidence From Indian Ocean Drilling, Sarah Feakins
Climate Change And Ecosystem Transformation: Plant Wax Evidence From Indian Ocean Drilling, Sarah Feakins
Sustainability Seminar Series
Plants – from lush rainforests to desert shrublands – map climatic differences on the landscape. The waxy molecules coating plant leaves are some of the most resilient biochemicals made by plants and they contribute to the sedimentary legacy of past environment, archived in deep sea sediments. The International Ocean Discovery Program has recently drilled the two largest submarine fans in the world, the Bengal Fan (Expedition 354) and Indus Fan (Expedition 355). These megafans yield thick deposits of dominantly terrestrial organic matter derived from the GangesBrahmaputra and Indus River systems respectively. In addition, legacy cores from the Gulf of Aden …
Modeling Biotic & Abiotic Drivers Affecting Biogeomorphic Coastal Foredunes, Bianca Charbonneau
Modeling Biotic & Abiotic Drivers Affecting Biogeomorphic Coastal Foredunes, Bianca Charbonneau
Sustainability Seminar Series
Coastal dunes are exceptionally dynamic terrestrial habitats that will only grow increasingly vulnerable with climate change. A structured approach to protect and restore these and other coastal biogeomorphic interface habitats is needed to maintain their invaluable ecosystem services. Vegetation in these habitats acts as ecosystem engineers such that, to achieve this, one must understand and accurately forecast vegetation dynamics at the nexus of shifting abiotic conditions and drivers of change. We developed a process-based model for coastal dune vegetation ecology, specifically, growth, density, and colonization as it affects and is affected by shifting habitat topography and storm event impact. The …
Declining Co2 Price Paths, Gernot Wagner
Declining Co2 Price Paths, Gernot Wagner
Sustainability Seminar Series
Pricing greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions involves making trade-offs between consumption today and unknown damages in the (distant) future. While decision making under risk and uncertainty is the forte of financial economics, important insights from pricing financial assets do not typically inform standard climate–economy models. Here, we introduce EZ-Climate, a simple recursive dynamic asset pricing model that allows for a calibration of the carbon dioxide (CO2) price path based on probabilistic assumptions around climate damages. Atmospheric CO2 is the “asset” with a negative expected return. The economic model focuses on society’s willingness to substitute consumption across time and across uncertain states of …
Applications Of Thermodynamic Modelling Techniques In Earth And Environmental Sciences, Jihua Hao
Applications Of Thermodynamic Modelling Techniques In Earth And Environmental Sciences, Jihua Hao
Sustainability Seminar Series
In nature, kinetic laws control how fast one reaction is, but thermodynamic laws determine whether one reaction can happen or not. In this talk, Dr. Hao will introduce some basic thermodynamic theories and explain how to determine affinity of reaction in natural environments. In addition, Dr. Hao will present several examples of using thermodynamics to understand cycles of elements on our Earth based on his own research outputs. Furthermore, this talk will cover some discussions on how to apply thermodynamic simulations to figure out potential ways to maintain sustainability in nature.
Improved Sustainability Of Bridges Through Better Diagnostics And Deeper Understanding Of Deterioration Processes, Nenad Gucunski
Improved Sustainability Of Bridges Through Better Diagnostics And Deeper Understanding Of Deterioration Processes, Nenad Gucunski
Sustainability Seminar Series
Effective and economic management of bridges depends on an accurate assessment of their current condition, and, in turn, prediction of their future performance. Deterioration processes in reinforced concrete, since they are a result of multiple inputs and actions, are inherently complex. To fully and accurately characterize various types of deterioration and gauge its severity, it requires using multiple nondestructive evaluation (NDE) tools in concert with other technologies. Among all the components, reinforced concrete decks deteriorate fastest, primarily due to their direct exposure to traffic and environmental loading, and maintenance actions. Therefore, the most significant advancements in NDE technologies’ efficacy for …
Creating Evidence For Resilience: A Case Of Monsoon Floods Affected Communities In South Asia, Alark Saxena
Creating Evidence For Resilience: A Case Of Monsoon Floods Affected Communities In South Asia, Alark Saxena
Sustainability Seminar Series
The concept of resilience has been rapidly accepted across multiple disciplines and applied work, but operationalizing resilience poses several methodological challenges. Taking the case of two monsoon flood affected transboundary communities situated in the Gangetic plains of South Asia, we provide a framework and methodology to create evidence and evaluate resilience. We present and test two propositions focusing on the variation in wellbeing and the coping capacity that need to be simultaneously satisfied for increased resilience. The two propositions and the methodology are robust to a wide range of shocks and social-ecological systems.
What Cities Can Learn From Trees: Lessons In Urban Ecomimicry, Nathan Phillips
What Cities Can Learn From Trees: Lessons In Urban Ecomimicry, Nathan Phillips
Sustainability Seminar Series
Tree physiologists use a vernacular that translates amazingly well as a lens for understanding the structure, function, and sustainability of cities. Concepts of tree architecture such as efficiency, safety, vulnerability and their tradeoffs find parallels in our urban water, energy and food networks. In this talk I will compare and contrast the world of trees with that of cities and explore how urban planners and policymakers can learn from trees how to build more resilient and sustainable cities.
Taking The Fingerprints Of Sea Level Changes, Jerry Mitrovica
Taking The Fingerprints Of Sea Level Changes, Jerry Mitrovica
Sustainability Seminar Series
The concept of eustasy, that is, the assumption that ice mass changes are accompanied by a globally uniform change in sea level, has -- until relatively recently -- been pervasive in the analysis of paleo and modern sea level records, and has stymied progress in both fields. I will demonstrate, using examples ranging from the last tens of millions of years to the modern world, that a variety of geophysical processes drive sea level changes with significant geographic variability. Modeling of these processes has improved estimates of global mean sea level change, but it has also motivated recent efforts to …
Systems Microbiology: From Genomes To Ecosystems, Jizhong Zhou
Systems Microbiology: From Genomes To Ecosystems, Jizhong Zhou
Sustainability Seminar Series
Twenty-first century microbiology faces several grand challenges, e.g., linking structure to functions, mechanisms controlling extremely high diversity, information scaling from genomes to ecosystems, modeling simulation and predictions. With the recent advances of omics technologies, microbiologists have begun to tackle some of these challenges. In this talk, I will report the most recently progresses in these areas at the Institute for Environmental Genomics, with respect to genomic technologies, global microbial diversity and biogeography of wastewater treatment plants, climate warming, community assembly and network tool development, and ecosystem modeling.
Application Of Net Zero Principles To The Army’S Industrial Base, Christos Christodoulatos
Application Of Net Zero Principles To The Army’S Industrial Base, Christos Christodoulatos
Sustainability Seminar Series
In January 2014, the Secretary of the Army distributed Army Directive 2014-02 "Net Zero Installations Policy". The Net Zero Policy requires installations to: (1) reduce overall energy use, maximize efficiency, implement energy recovery and cogeneration opportunities, and offset the remaining demand with the production of renewable energy from onsite sources and (2) reduce overall water use, regardless of the source; increase use of technology that uses water more efficiently; recycle and reuse water. The Army's industrial base and especially munitions manufacturing facilities generate waste streams with high nutrient and carbon content and therefore present unique opportunities for development and application …
Project Icebreaker: Offshore Wind Project In Lake Erie, Xiangwu (David) Zeng
Project Icebreaker: Offshore Wind Project In Lake Erie, Xiangwu (David) Zeng
Sustainability Seminar Series
Wind energy is one of the most promising renewable energy resources. The Great Lakes region in the US has huge potential for offshore wind energy development. However, ice loading in winter brings a unique challenge to the foundations for wind turbines. Model tests and numerical simulation have been conducted to investigate different types of foundations and techniques to reduce the ice loading. The ultimate goal is to design a safe and economical foundation for future large-scale wind farms in the Great Lakes.
Contrasting Storm Surge Barriers And Nature-Based Flood Mitigation For Port-Estuaries, Philip Orton
Contrasting Storm Surge Barriers And Nature-Based Flood Mitigation For Port-Estuaries, Philip Orton
Sustainability Seminar Series
Deepwater port-estuaries have virtually no accepted and effective nature-based solution for sea level rise, because there is typically too little space for wetlands and deep shipping channels provide relatively friction-free pathways for floodwaters to reach neighborhoods. The Corps of Engineers is evaluating flood risk reduction strategies for the Port of New York and New Jersey and its estuarine waterways, with initial results pointing to gated storm surge barriers as the optimal solution. Jamaica Bay is one relatively unused port sub-estuary where a surge barrier is proposed, and I will demonstrate with computational modeling how a gradual “sedimentary restoration” over several …
Energy Policy: Creating Connected Communities And A Clean Energy Future, Marisa Slaten
Energy Policy: Creating Connected Communities And A Clean Energy Future, Marisa Slaten
Sustainability Seminar Series
Marisa Slaten is the Director of Regulatory Strategy and Services for Pepco Holdings (PHI), an Exelon company. Marisa is responsible for leading the regulatory activity and stakeholder engagement for Delmarva Power & Light in Delaware and Atlantic City Electric Co. in New Jersey. In this role Marisa manages regulatory and compliance filings, testifies as a policy witness, and regularly meets with government officials and industry leaders to discuss energy policies and priority initiatives. Prior to joining PHI, Marisa was the Director of the Division of Clean Energy at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and practiced as an attorney …
Reconstructing Deep-Ocean Circulation During Cenozoic Climate Transitions From The Marine Sediment Record, Brian Romans
Reconstructing Deep-Ocean Circulation During Cenozoic Climate Transitions From The Marine Sediment Record, Brian Romans
Sustainability Seminar Series
Ocean circulation plays a critical role in the Earth’s climate system through the storage and transfer of heat and carbon dioxide. The North Atlantic and Southern Ocean are of particular interest because these are regions where deep-water components of global circulation develop. Dr. Romans uses the deep-sea sedimentary record to reconstruct past ocean circulation and its relationship to past climatic and tectonic conditions. He integrates information from a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, from seismic-reflection data that reveals regional sedimentation patterns to high resolution records based on quantitative grain-size analysis from cores. Dr. Romans will present research from …
The Lake Hopatcong Foundation: Fighting To Improve New Jersey’S Largest Lake, Marty Kane
The Lake Hopatcong Foundation: Fighting To Improve New Jersey’S Largest Lake, Marty Kane
Sustainability Seminar Series
Learn about the rationale and background to establish a non-profit organization to improve the Lake Hopatcong region through programs and initiatives centered on the environment, education, community and historical preservation, recreation, arts, and culture. How does an organization such as this work with Republican legislators in a Democratic state? What is the organization doing to confront and battle an algal bloom crises that nearly closed the lake and other bodies of water in the northeast? How do you gain consensus on a recreational body of water with 2,200 lakefront homeowners that feeds one of the state’s great watersheds? Learn of …
The Role Of Island-Marsh Couplings In The Long-Term Sustainability Barrier Islands In The Face Of Accelerated Sea-Level Rise, Christopher Hein
The Role Of Island-Marsh Couplings In The Long-Term Sustainability Barrier Islands In The Face Of Accelerated Sea-Level Rise, Christopher Hein
Sustainability Seminar Series
Barrier islands are one of the most ubiquitous features of the coast . . . at least here along the US East Coast, which accounts for >10% of the world’s barrier islands. Little more than large, partially vegetated, subaerial sand bars, barrier island provide for recreation, ecosystem services, and protection of mainland communities from storm impacts. They are also some of the most dynamic features on earth, constantly changing in the face of waves, tides, wind, and currents. With examples from northern Massachusetts and the Virginia Eastern Shore, this talk will focus on the long-term sustainability of barrier islands, and …
Modeling The Morphology Of Modern Barrier Islands To Reconstruct Past Coastal Change, Daniel James Ciarletta
Modeling The Morphology Of Modern Barrier Islands To Reconstruct Past Coastal Change, Daniel James Ciarletta
Sustainability Seminar Series
Barrier islands are dynamic landforms that protect 10% of all coasts, not accounting for barriers in bays and lakes. Yet, the ability to predict their future response to changes in sediment availability, rate of sea-level rise, and storm frequency is impeded by the lack of historical records detailing their past behavior. Using models and targeted field investigations, Dr. Ciarletta will explain novel approaches to use the morphology of modern U.S. east coast barriers to reverse-engineer their past evolutions and sediment budgets.
Bacterial Solutions To Challenging Problems: New Approaches To Bioenergy, Bioremediation, And Biomanufacturing, Ellen Neidle
Bacterial Solutions To Challenging Problems: New Approaches To Bioenergy, Bioremediation, And Biomanufacturing, Ellen Neidle
Sustainability Seminar Series
Microbes play a critical role in Nature due to their ability to produce and degrade a vast array of diverse chemicals. This powerful metabolic versatility holds great promise for biotechnology. To harness such potential requires multidisciplinary scientific knowledge and application. This seminar will describe a novel approach to adaptive laboratory evolution in which a soil bacterium can be engineered to broaden its natural catabolic activities. The method, Evolution by Amplification and Synthetic Biology (EASy), exploits the unique genetic system of a non-pathogenic soil bacterium, Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1. The long-term goal of the research is to reduce our dependence on fossil …
An Overview Of Climate & Sea-Level Changes Over The Past 100 Million Years, Kenneth Miller
An Overview Of Climate & Sea-Level Changes Over The Past 100 Million Years, Kenneth Miller
Sustainability Seminar Series
Sea-level history reflects the thermal and cryospheric evolution of the Earth, providing a history of ice- sheet behavior and operation of the climate systems under ice-free and glaciated conditions. I compare ice-volume and sea-level estimates obtained from deep Pacific δ18O and Mg/Ca records with those from the mid-Atlantic U.S. obtained by “backstripping”, progressively accounting for the effects of compaction, loading, and thermal subsidence. Peak warmth, sea levels, high CO2 (>1000 ppm), and mostly ice-free condition occurred in the Hothouse Late Cretaceous (ca. 100-66 Ma) and Early Eocene (55-47.9 Ma). During the cool greenhouse (Paleocene, Middle-Late Eocene) sea level was …
Arctic Ice And The Ecological Ascent Of The Dinosaurs, Paul E. Olsen
Arctic Ice And The Ecological Ascent Of The Dinosaurs, Paul E. Olsen
Sustainability Seminar Series
Despite the extremely high levels of atmospheric CO2 (+2000 ppm) in the Late Triassic and earliest Jurassic (~232-199 million years ago), there is evidence of seasonally freezing conditions in the Arctic of that time. This evidence consists of abundant icerafted debris in lake sediments. Based on phylogenetic bracket analysis, dinosaurs at this time were insulated, and could take advantage of the rich Arctic deciduous and evergreen vegetation, even under freezing winter conditions. Transient volcanic winters caused by the eruptions of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province led to a mass extinction at 201.6 million years ago, at the close of the …
Reconstructing Last Interglacial Sea Level To Understand How Ice Sheets Behave In A Warmer World, Jacqueline Austermann
Reconstructing Last Interglacial Sea Level To Understand How Ice Sheets Behave In A Warmer World, Jacqueline Austermann
Sustainability Seminar Series
The last interglacial (125 ka) marks a time during which global mean temperatures were 1-2º warmer than pre-industrial values. This time period has therefore been used as a natural laboratory for studying ice sheet stability and sea level rise in a warmer world. Local sea level during the last interglacial can be reconstructed using sea level indicators such as fossil corals. In order to infer global mean sea level, or equivalent ice volume, one needs to correct local sea level estimates for post-depositional deformation. In this presentation I will explain what solid Earth deformation needs to be accounted for in …
Using Low-Cost Renewable Energy For Waste Valorization, Zhiyong Jason Ren
Using Low-Cost Renewable Energy For Waste Valorization, Zhiyong Jason Ren
Sustainability Seminar Series
With renewable electricity costing 2 cents per kwh to even negative in some places during some periods, how to use cheap renewable energy to maximize waste valorization can become an interesting direction. In this talk, I will discuss some recent progress in identifying the synergy between microbial electrochemistry and photoelectrochemistry that led to the development of new materials and systems for spontaneous high rate H2 production from wastewater and sunlight. I will also report some development on functional hydrophobic gas transfer membrane electrodes that enabled specific resource recoveries from wastewater and CO2. While we have been focusing on energy-neutral wastewater …