Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Institution
- Keyword
-
- Sustainability (9)
- Energy (8)
- Green (5)
- Carbon (4)
- Conservation (3)
-
- Renewable energy (3)
- Water quality (3)
- Agriculture (2)
- Changes (2)
- Construction (2)
- Consumption (2)
- Deforestation (2)
- Efficiency (2)
- Environment (2)
- Environmental health (2)
- Environmental science (2)
- Food security (2)
- Human activity (2)
- Maine (2)
- Oil (2)
- Renewable (2)
- Acadia National Park (1)
- Algal bloom (1)
- Alternative energy (1)
- Alternatives (1)
- Aluminum dosing (1)
- Anthropocene (1)
- Architecture (1)
- Beer (1)
- Bio fuels (1)
- Publication Year
- Publication Type
Articles 1 - 30 of 46
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Sewer System Infrastructure And Stressors On Water Quality In Streams Within The Alplaus Watershed In Upstate Ny, Camryn Ragland
Sewer System Infrastructure And Stressors On Water Quality In Streams Within The Alplaus Watershed In Upstate Ny, Camryn Ragland
Honors Theses
Healthy aquatic ecosystems require clean water, but many creeks and streams may be impaired by human activity. This study is focused on surface water quality of the Alplaus, and Indian Kill streams located within the Alplaus Watershed in Schenectady and Saratoga Counties (NY). The primary goal of this study is to understand the extent of water quality impairment within the Alplaus and Indian Kill using a range of indicators to understand the impacts of failing infrastructure and stressors to surface water. Sixty-five water samples were collected in the fall of 2021 from six locations in the Alplaus and Indian Kill …
The Sustainability Rhetoric Among The Spanish Fashion Companies Involved In The Rana Plaza Collapse Of 2013, Keegan Lyle
The Sustainability Rhetoric Among The Spanish Fashion Companies Involved In The Rana Plaza Collapse Of 2013, Keegan Lyle
Honors Theses
Over the last century, fashion has evolved to become a commodity that is rapidly changing and easily available. The processes that have led to this accessibility of fashion, however, have proven to be harmful to the environment and, most recently, proven to be potentially fatal for the people making the clothing. In 2013, a garment factory in Bangladesh, housing production for major global fashion brands, like Zara and The Children’s Place, collapsed following a series of negligence. The event has sparked years of awareness-raising in the public dialogue of fast fashion. As a part of the newly-developing research in sustainable …
The Design Of An Agricultural Youth-Centered Rural Development Program In Rwanda, Laetitia Igiraneza Sinyigenga
The Design Of An Agricultural Youth-Centered Rural Development Program In Rwanda, Laetitia Igiraneza Sinyigenga
Honors Theses
Rwanda is primarily a rural, young, and agriculture-based country. The referred variables- agriculture, rural population, and youth- can be creatively merged to engage and empower youth for rural development. This paper indicates the utilization of cross-disciplinary knowledge to design an agricultural youth-centered rural development program in Rwanda. The program uses the interdependence of economic sectors (agriculture and education) with resources (environmental & natural resources and human resources) to boost rural community development. The program’s main activities- mentorship, agribusiness training, tutoring, exposure visits, and community work- highly reflect the requirement for advancing the selected main economic sectors and resources. There is …
The Research And Design Of Sustainlnk: An Online Hub Of Sustainability Resources In Lincoln, Nebraska, Kayla Kremke
The Research And Design Of Sustainlnk: An Online Hub Of Sustainability Resources In Lincoln, Nebraska, Kayla Kremke
Honors Theses
SustainLNK (www.sustainlnk.org) is a website serving as a hub of sustainability resources in Lincoln, Nebraska. The site began as a personal project before becoming my UNL Honors Program Senior Project in Spring 2021, and consists of a website of resources along with two social media accounts providing more timely updates on sustainability-related events. This document outlines the thought and planning that was behind the development of the resource, along with relevant links to grow a deeper understanding of this new community resource.
Assessing Sustainability At Ccu, Savannah Billings
Assessing Sustainability At Ccu, Savannah Billings
Honors Theses
An assessment of sustainability initiatives and culture at Coastal Carolina University, recommending stronger institutional support for sustainability.
Investigations Involving Mononuclear And Dinuclear Transition Metal Catalysts For Photochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction, Ansu Edwards
Investigations Involving Mononuclear And Dinuclear Transition Metal Catalysts For Photochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction, Ansu Edwards
Honors Theses
There is currently a global energy crisis, which is in desperate need of solutions. New energy sources are required that will not pollute as much as our longstanding reliance on nonrenewable fossil fuels as an energy source. This pollution involves large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, predominantly carbon dioxide (CO2), that contribute to environmental problems such as climate change. In this context, a fairly recent research direction to address this problem is the development of transition metal catalysts that can convert CO2 into reduced carbon products that can serve as chemical fuels. This work focuses on the …
Building Institutional Knowledge Into Student Leaders: A Repository Of Student-Led Climate Change Initiatives At Wmu, Aida Amirul Bahri
Building Institutional Knowledge Into Student Leaders: A Repository Of Student-Led Climate Change Initiatives At Wmu, Aida Amirul Bahri
Honors Theses
Students and registered student organizations (RSO) at Western Michigan University (WMU) have increasingly shown interest in climate change and environmental issues. However, student leadership roles are often held short-term due to the rapid displacement cycle of student bodies caused by graduation, institution transfers and other factors. New leaders often struggle with picking up where former students left off and advancing previously established efforts. WMU student groups lack an effective system of maintaining institutional knowledge, including student-led campaigns and accomplishments, to support a smoother transition that would empower student leaders and build upon prior progress. The goal of this project is …
The Quantitative Assessment Of Pond Scum: An Examination Of The Biogeochemistry Of Phosphorus Cycling In The Belgrade Lakes, Abbey M. Sykes
The Quantitative Assessment Of Pond Scum: An Examination Of The Biogeochemistry Of Phosphorus Cycling In The Belgrade Lakes, Abbey M. Sykes
Honors Theses
The internal recycling phosphorus in freshwater lake bottom sediments represents a significant source of hypolimnetic phosphorus (P) release for many of Maine’s lakes. In summer months, Maine lakes often thermally stratify and the lake hypolimnion develops anoxia, leading to a reduction in redox potential at the sediment-water interface. These reducing conditions facilitate the reductive dissolution of ferric iron, and, since phosphorus is often present in freshwater lake sediments as solid FeOOH-PO4 complexes, results in release of soluble phosphorus into the water column. Our current study presents field and laboratory data from sediment fractionation extractions designed to quantify concentrations of …
Groundwater Isotopes Across Scales: Continent-Wide Modeling And Local Field Characterization, Jaclyn Gehring
Groundwater Isotopes Across Scales: Continent-Wide Modeling And Local Field Characterization, Jaclyn Gehring
Honors Theses
Groundwater is one of the world’s most important natural resources. The use of stable water isotopes (𝛿2H and 𝛿18O) as natural tracers through the water cycle has provided a unique observational technique for characterizing hydrological processes and establishing connections between water distribution systems and their respective environmental sources. Groundwater contains information about the timing and efficiency of recharge, allowing for the use of isotopes to understand the physical hydrology and climatic influences on such processes in places with groundwater isotope measurements. We estimate the seasonal recharge proportion and efficiency at thousands of locations across the U.S., …
Rain Gardens: The Return Of Ecosystem Services, Katie Dehaan
Rain Gardens: The Return Of Ecosystem Services, Katie Dehaan
Honors Theses
In the modern world impervious surfaces, especially in urban areas, abound. These include roads, highways, sidewalks, parking lots, and roofs that have replaced permeable surfaces, mainly open land, forests, and wetlands. Rainwater runs off of these surfaces collecting pollutants on its way to permeable areas. Rain gardens collect and process rainwater. Native plants with deep root systems process large volumes of rainwater and the microorganisms living in the soils and roots can process pollutants. The purpose of my research was to find out what variables affect species presence or absence in rain gardens. Species presence or absence at the time …
Environmental Clearinghouse Of Schenectady, Kate Van Patten
Environmental Clearinghouse Of Schenectady, Kate Van Patten
Honors Theses
This paper analyses Environmental Clearinghouse of Schenectady, a local nonprofit environmental organization. The paper investigates the history of the organization as well as the effectiveness of its organizational and funding habits. A literary review was conducted to analyze the success of ECOS mission as well as the positive effects ECOS has on society using elements such as environmental education, the importance of early environmental education, how well the organization connects urban residents with the outdoors and the effectiveness of environmental programs. This research promotes the importance of early environmental education on our future generations health and environmental conditions. Additionally, through …
A Comparison Of Frankenbrew And Traditionally Manufactured Brewing Equipment, Daniel King
A Comparison Of Frankenbrew And Traditionally Manufactured Brewing Equipment, Daniel King
Honors Theses
Opening a new business can be a daunting task. Between the legal paperwork, securing the best perceived location, hiring new employees, the investment can require the use of a life savings. In the brewing industry, this investment can be amplified by the cost of purchasing production scale brewing equipment. Because of this, many start-up brewing operations have turned to the use of Frankenbrew equipment within their brewing process. The term “Frankenbrew” was coined by Tom Hennessy of Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery. The term refers to any equipment incorporated into a brewery that was not originally intended for that purpose, …
Gastrointestinal Helminth Prevalence In Lesser Scaup (Aythya Affinis) Wintering On Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Usa, Sydney Cottingham
Gastrointestinal Helminth Prevalence In Lesser Scaup (Aythya Affinis) Wintering On Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Usa, Sydney Cottingham
Honors Theses
No abstract provided.
Biodiversity Of Larval And Adult Dragonflies And Damselflies (Odonata) Of Interdunal Wetlands At Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area, Devon Volz
Honors Theses
The effects of climate change on insects in the United States have yet to be fully understood. Research on the insect populations of Lake Michigan’s interdunal wetlands has been particularly limited. As these vibrant habitats are already at risk of destruction due to increased development, it is vital to have a working knowledge of the species that are living in the habitat. However, to date, there have been no studies on assemblages of interdunal wetlands in Michigan. Examining community compositions is critical to understanding the ecological problems that could occur in the future. This study is the first to look …
Predictors Of Exotic Plant Species In United States National Parks, Rachel S. Fried
Predictors Of Exotic Plant Species In United States National Parks, Rachel S. Fried
Honors Theses
Invasive species are recognized as a major threat to biodiversity. Understanding what factors facilitate invasion is of great conservation value, as this will allow for more specific and targeted conservation efforts related to non-native species. Knowledge of factors that contribute to invasion play an important role in conservation of particularly unique habitats, such as the iconic United States National Parks. Though National Parks have some legal protections against some forms of habitat degradation, they are still vulnerable to the introduction of non-natives. The purpose of this study is to characterize species invasion in National Parks and identify what environmental conditions …
How To Plan, Budget, Write, And Implement A Student Sustainability Grant, Annalisa Wilder
How To Plan, Budget, Write, And Implement A Student Sustainability Grant, Annalisa Wilder
Honors Theses
The Student Sustainability Grant program was created to give students valuable grant writing experience and to promote a culture of sustainability on Western Michigan University’s campus. Despite the enormous opportunity that this program provides, few students apply for the grants with their sustainable ideas. Even fewer students are able to fully complete the projects, research, and initiatives that receive funding. In order to help increase the number of grants that are fully implemented and to provide students interested in writing a grant with a useful resource, this guide was created. This ‘how-to manual’ provides an undergraduate student’s perspective on the …
Path From Paper To Paperless At Abana O&P, Stephanie Lutfallah
Path From Paper To Paperless At Abana O&P, Stephanie Lutfallah
Honors Theses
No abstract provided.
America's National Parks And The Anthropocene: Addressing The Present To Accommodate The Future In Acadia National Park, Sophie A. Swetz
America's National Parks And The Anthropocene: Addressing The Present To Accommodate The Future In Acadia National Park, Sophie A. Swetz
Honors Theses
In 2000, atmospheric chemist, Paul J. Crutzen, and limnologist, Eugene Stoermer, formally proposed the idea of “the Anthropocene,” a new geologic epoch in which humans are the dominant force shaping the Earth. To claim the Anthropocene's existence is to declare that human actions have altered the Earth in such a way that geologic indicators render it a distinct epoch in the stratification of geologic time. This new epoch emerges as a consequence of increased technological development employed to accommodate an anthropocentric human existence. That is, rapid advancements in technology have driven the transformation from a primarily naturally controlled planet to …
Sustainable Agriculture: How France Promotes Sustainability, Jordan Pulling
Sustainable Agriculture: How France Promotes Sustainability, Jordan Pulling
Honors Theses
High consumption lifestyles led to a rapid decline in natural resources. The daily gestures of the people of the world use a quantity massive resource and energy that cannot be replaced. Decision makers of the world are invited to consider what changes will be needed to focus about sustainable and sustainable practices if we want to continue living in the way which we have become accustomed to. The development of renewable energies was a first step towards total sustainable development. Recently, however, we have seen a new way to reduce negative impacts on the rights of the Earth: changes in …
Missing The Trees For The Forest: The Socioecological Significance Of Dispersed Farmland Trees In Northern Ethiopia, Jacob A. Wall
Missing The Trees For The Forest: The Socioecological Significance Of Dispersed Farmland Trees In Northern Ethiopia, Jacob A. Wall
Honors Theses
Scattered trees are prominent features in the agricultural landscape of the Ethiopian highlands. The dry Afromontane forests of the Amhara Region in northern Ethiopia have faced centuries of deforestation - the FAO estimates only 3% of the region is forested today. The remaining landscape has been largely converted into agricultural and grazing lands, with the exception of some limited government-protected lands, as well as thousands of small forest fragments left around Orthodox Churches (“church forests”). But while a growing body of scholarship has highlighted the ecological and cultural importance of church forests and other natural forest fragments, the roles of …
Electrical Characterization Of Nanomaterials, Chase Martin
Electrical Characterization Of Nanomaterials, Chase Martin
Honors Theses
Our dependence on energy sources and depleting fossil fuel reserves are forcing the world to look for efficient and renewable sources of energy. Current renewable technology lacks the efficiency and storage capability necessary to continue our heavy reliance on energy. This project focuses on understanding the physical and electrical properties of nanomaterials for their use as super capacitors and as photovoltaic cells. Using multiple microscopy techniques on the Cascade Probe Station and Veeco Dimension V Atomic Force Microscope, local and bulk conductivity measurements were performed on Laponite RD infused polyaniline (PANI) samples synthesized by Union College Chemistry Department Students. Four …
The Effects Of Recreational Rock Climbing On Vascular And Nonvascular Plant Communities In Southeastern Tennessee, Caitlin A. Ruby
The Effects Of Recreational Rock Climbing On Vascular And Nonvascular Plant Communities In Southeastern Tennessee, Caitlin A. Ruby
Honors Theses
Popularity for non-consumptive outdoor recreations has rapidly increased over the past decades. With many national and state park regulations failing to regulate rock climbing, scholars are concerned for the amount of ecological disturbance that may occur if left unmonitored. Visual assessments to disturbance disparities between remote climbing locales and contradictory scientific literature confirmed the need for further research on the effects of rock climbing on cliff ecology. Two climbing centers were focused in Southeastern Tennessee: Foster Falls in Sequatchie County and Leda in Hamilton County. Convenience sampling was used to collect 24 transects from intermediately graded routes and 24 transects …
Local Response To Climate Change: A Case Study Approach, Nora Gimpel
Local Response To Climate Change: A Case Study Approach, Nora Gimpel
Honors Theses
The scientific consensus on the causes and consequences of climate change is clear and experts continue to strongly recommend immediate mitigation and adaptation responses (IPCC, 2014). Responses to climate change are occurring at the international, national, and subnational level, but adaptation to climate change is also highly local. Local communities across the world are organizing groups and institutions to determine their best responses for local mitigation and adaptation actions. This study analyzed the formal local community organization, the Kalamazoo Climate Change Coalition (KCCC), and its structured activities in order to evaluate how Kalamazoo has responded to climate change. Methodology for …
An Investigation Of Renewable Energy Projects And Their Potential Applications At Assumption College: Wind Turbines And Geothermal Heat Pumps, Melanie Mccauley
An Investigation Of Renewable Energy Projects And Their Potential Applications At Assumption College: Wind Turbines And Geothermal Heat Pumps, Melanie Mccauley
Honors Theses
This thesis researches the possibility of a renewable energy project specifically for Assumption College. As the school is already investing in solar power, my study looked at the feasibility of a wind turbine or geothermal heat pump unit on the campus. I conducted interviews with various institutions that have already undertaken similar projects so that I could better understand the process of installing these technologies, to discover possible funding that could be available, and the success of this technology in other schools. The economic advantages and the positive impacts on students and the neighboring communities were some of the benefits …
Nurturing Environmental Literacy At Colby College: Higher Education And The Environmental Crisis, Molly Nash
Nurturing Environmental Literacy At Colby College: Higher Education And The Environmental Crisis, Molly Nash
Honors Theses
The environmental crisis will affect all people, career paths, and academic disciplines. Acknowledging this, does higher education have an obligation to educate all students for environmental literacy (EL)? This study reviews literature on how to effectively assess and implement EL initiatives and highlights how other colleges successfully nurture EL in all students. This study also uses quantitative and qualitative survey measures to understand student levels of EL at Colby College and to highlight specific programming or curriculum that leads to high EL levels in students. Findings include significantly different EL scores between environmental studies student respondents and respondents in all …
Assessing The Carbon Impacts Of Colby College’S Biomass Plant, Alice Hotopp
Assessing The Carbon Impacts Of Colby College’S Biomass Plant, Alice Hotopp
Honors Theses
Biomass energy plants are considered to be carbon neutral systems under some definitions. However, this concept of carbon neutrality needs to be rethought in order to understand the true carbon impact of biomass plants upon global climate change. A biomass plant’s wood source, the extent to which the biomass plant emits carbon dioxide, and the timescale over which the biomass plant emits carbon should all be taken into account. In this study, I consider the Colby College biomass plant’s role in carbon cycling. Colby’s Physical Plant Department provided me with information on how much carbon (tons of woodchips) is used …
Using Green Building To Mitigate Climate Change In The Twenty-First Century, Lisa Battiste
Using Green Building To Mitigate Climate Change In The Twenty-First Century, Lisa Battiste
Honors Theses
The need for green buildings are rapidly becoming more important as the nation faces impending energy crises and the world heats up from the overabundance of greenhouse gases. Buildings in America are one of the largest consumers of energy and one of the greatest contributors to CO2 emissions; more than the total emissions from all the transportation vehicles used every day. By making the construction and use of buildings more resource efficient, this can help alleviate the environmental strain of climate change. Neutralizing or eliminating carbon emissions from building use will significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the …
Application Of A High-Performance Optically Enhanced Solar Thermal Collector System, Timothy H. Cameron
Application Of A High-Performance Optically Enhanced Solar Thermal Collector System, Timothy H. Cameron
Honors Theses
In an effort to make Union College a more environmentally friendly campus, this research project focuses on the application of Union’s liquid-based solar thermal collector system. The motivation for this research project is due to the increasing demand for renewable energy sources in order to decrease our society’s dependence on fossil fuels. The system features nine, 16-tube, evacuated tube solar modules which absorb radiant solar energy from the sun. Through a two loop system, thermal energy is stored in water within two-80 gallon storage tanks. This research project involves the design, construction, and analysis of two applications in order to …
Proving Widespread Deforestation Of The Ancient Mediterranean As Myth: A Detailed Examination Of How Anthropogenic Activities During Antiquity Affected The Mediterranean Landscape, Carolyn Hooper
Honors Theses
This thesis examines the debate surrounding the possible deforestation of the ancient Mediterranean landscape through anthropogenic activities. Until the ancient Mediterranean landscape is understood more clearly, it is impossible to impose current beneficial land-use laws in order to conserve and preserve the future landscape of the region. Currently there are three predominant views surrounding the debate: (1) deforestation did occur and drastically altered the landscape from a forested region to a more desert-like region, (2) human activities did not cause deforestation, rather the Mediterranean has always been home to a distinct and resilient landscape that is able to regenerate following …
Looking For Small Changes In Heat Capacity Using A Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Will Linthicum
Looking For Small Changes In Heat Capacity Using A Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Will Linthicum
Honors Theses
One of the major difficulties in development of renewable energy is the lack of an adequate and economical means of energy storage. In the case of concentrated solar power a large mass of thermal fluid is required to store a reasonable amount of energy. This is primarily because the fluids tend to have a low specific heat capacity. Formulating composites of these fluids can enhance their specific heat capacity and avails opportunities to make concentrated solar power more attractive. In most cases, the specific heat capacity of composite materials is a weighted average of the individual component heat capacities. This, …