Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

As The Clothing Industry Is A Major Polluter, Sustainable Fashion Is Rising, Gabe Herman

Capstones

That the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world is one of the industry’s best-kept secrets — it uses a quarter of the chemicals produced globally, and its share of the world’s CO2 emissions is expected to rise from 2 percent to 26 percent in the next 30 years. Developing nations — where many factories are located — are most affected. Every year in Bangladesh, for example, tanneries dump enough toxic waste into rivers to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools. Advocates and some in the fashion world are working to not only get the word out, …

Paper: An Ecowomanist View On The Dakota Access Pipeline, Ariana Raya

Womanist Ethics

This paper examines the Dakota Access Pipeline using ecofeminist and ecowomanist philosophies, provides a brief historical background of African American and Native American communities, explains the dangers of the pipeline to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, and offers constructive alternatives.

The Effectiveness Of The Use Of Solar Panels In Hotels Of Durres Area, Asllan Hajderi, Shkelqim Gjevori

International Journal of Business and Technology

In the present study is analyzing the case of the application of solar energy with vacuum tube collectors for heating water for sanitary needs in hotels of Durres areas. In recent years there has been a special interest by the leading authorities to the EU countries and the U.S., for the use of renewable energies in general and solar energy in particular. This is mainly related with the reduction of environmental pollution from gas CO2, which directly influences the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Unlike other forms of renewable energy, like wind turbines, photovoltaic panels and biomass usages, the use …

The Use Of Bacteriophages To Control Legionella Spp. In Environmental Water Samples, Naama Abdulla Ali Al-Kaabi

Theses

Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia which can affect human, but principally affects those who are susceptible and predisposed to infection due to old age, illness, immunosuppressed and patients at risk. Legionnaires' disease is caused by Gram-negative rod bacteria called Legionella pneumophila. An estimation of 8,000 to 18,000 are actually confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease per year in the USA. In the UAE, there has been an increase in the number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease which are associated with recent travel to Dubai. Incidents doubled between October 2016 and August 2017. Legionella pneumophila is found …

What You Don’T See, Brent Sturlaugson

Architecture Faculty Publications

Follow the supply chains of architecture and you’ll find not just product manufacturers but also environmental polluters and elusive networks of financial power and political influence.

A Comparison Of Vnir And Mir Spectroscopy For Predicting Various Soil Properties, Joshua R. Gates

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soil plays an important role in our daily lives, namely producing food, cleaning water and storing carbon. The ability to rapidly and cost-effectively quantify the various components of soils can help us understand and better manage this important resource. This study aims to compare the ability of visible near-infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to quickly and accurately predict various important soil properties (electrical conductivity, soil pH, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable cations, phosphorus, carbon, beta-glucosidase enzyme activity and nitrogen). Prediction models were developed using partial least squares regression (PLSR) techniques. Three different calibration sampling methods were tested along with …

Cultural Politics Of Community-Based Conservation In The Buffer Zone Of Chitwan National Park, Nepal, Yogesh Dongol

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dissertation research examines the socio-economic and political effects of community-based conservation initiatives within the Bagmara buffer zone community forests of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. In particular, the study investigates the role of buffer zones creation in structuring the way rural property rights have been defined, negotiated, and contested, in reinforcing or reducing patterns of ethnic dominance and exclusion, and in influencing how cultural identities are constituted and renegotiated. Using a political ecology framework with a specific focus on theoretical concepts of environmentality and territorialization, I conducted 12 months ethnographic and quantitative survey field research in the buffer zone communities …

De-Icers: What Is Safe For The Environment And Is Effective?, Dylan Walker

The International Student Science Fair 2018

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the affect that various de-icers (both organic and inorganic based) had on the health of grass, as well as determine the efficiency of the de-icer in melting ice to then compare and contrast the data to find the best overall de-icer in terms of effectiveness and environmental impact.

An Investigation Of The Tissue Distribution Of Lead In Steelhead Trout, Ciaran Edwards, Bailey Hoplight, Justin Pavan

The International Student Science Fair 2018

Lead is a metal that interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs in humans and other animals. There is a legacy of lead pollution in the waterways of Western New York (WNY). Fish consumption advisories in WNY are partially based on the danger of lead contamination. However, it is not always clear if tissues of the fish that are commonly consumed are as highly contaminated as less commonly consumed tissues. In collaboration with a research team from D’Youville College, we investigated the lead concentration in different tissues of nine steelhead trout caught in the …

Optimising A Plant (Red Flame Ivy) Microbial Fuel Cell As A Sustainable Electricity Source, Ashley Chng

The International Student Science Fair 2018

This project is targeted at bettering the quality of life of people in the rural areas who do not have easy access to electricity by creating a sustainable Plant Microbial Fuel Cell (PMFC). The concept of a PMFC is fairy new and holds a lot of potential to be explored. By referencing previous research papers, optimum operating conditions were selected, including the concentration of chemicals used and the temperature the setup was placed such that all elements of a MFC were present, with room for a plant. In order to produce a self-sustainable PMFC, the plant had to be able …

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 …

Animal Agriculture And American Health: The Search For Sustainable Protein, Britta Brinkmann

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

This study examines the impact large-scale animal agriculture has on the environment. It links the environment and health. The goal is to find protein sources that are sustainable and nutritious in order to replace typical meat and dairy products. A study is proposed to measure the impact of the typical American diet, a vegan diet, an insect-supplemented diet and a diet heavy in seafood.

Climate Communication Through A Community Perspective, Kathryn Mcgee

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This project utilized psychology and science communication strategies to develop creative, locally framed climate change messaging. Through an online survey of 300 Gloucester County, VA residents, community themes of place attachment, environmental connection, risk assessment and climate change acceptance were recorded. Using the results from the survey I created a website, https://guidinggloucester.wixsite.com/home, which serves as an avenue for communicating with Gloucester residents. The website displays the results of the survey, explains climate change information that is relevant to Gloucester County, and gives examples of local actions to help increase engagement in climate solutions. In addition to the website, I …

Sustainable Agriculture: Integration Of Aquaponics At Punta Leona Hotel And Club In Costa Rica, Cailin Sierra Dyer, Paris Riley Smith

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Sustainable agriculture is becoming an increasingly important method of food production. As human populations continue to grow, attendant food demand has been increasingly met via agribusiness, including monoculture crop production and factory farming. As is well documented, the rise of agribusiness has led to resource degradation and declining stocks on which “sustainable agriculture” relies. This paper describes a local attempt to re-establish “sustainable agriculture” through the development of an aquaculture system that mimics a naturally occurring cycle that integrates fish and plants. The system was constructed over a three-week period in Punta Leona, Costa Rica. First, the ground was cleared …

Corporate Social Responsibility: Examining The Effects Of A Lean And Green Supply Chain On Bottom Line Costs And Market Valuation, Sharon Maskin

Senior Theses

This paper examines the link between a firm’s adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and the resulting monetary benefits. Specifically, it addresses four major areas of business operations that present great opportunities for supply chain cost reduction and a simultaneous decrease in environmental impact. These four areas include traditional/open-loop supply chains, product packaging waste, pollution at the manufacturing site, and logistics inefficiencies. The paper then identifies several business cases in which companies have addressed several environmental issues and driven down bottom-line costs in each of the four areas through innovation and increased resource productivity. Along with cost benefits, it …

Saving Olivet Money With Creation Care, Nicholas Boros

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Universities throughout the United States are searching for ways to reduce overhead costs, to help combat rises in tuition costs. Typically, one would think that installing solar panels on campus to help generate electricity would cost Olivet money, especially since the University is located in the Midwest. While such an undertaking would require an upfront investment, we will discuss how solar panels could save the University as much as $500,000 to $800,000 per year after an approximate 10 year break even point. We will also briefly discuss how similar approaches could be applied to other businesses and homes for a …

Historical Analysis Of Muskegon Lake, Sarah Steffens, Mitch Noworolnik, Claire Mcclees

Environmental and Sustainability Studies Undergraduate Projects

Problem Statement:

There continues to be a portion of residents in the Nelson and Nims neighborhoods that are afraid or feel a disconnection with Muskegon Lake, physically and mentally. What throughout the history of Muskegon has caused this reaction?

Elucidation Of The Toxicity Of Anthropogenic Nanoparticles In Environments Containing Heavy Metals, Chartanay Bonner

Dissertations

The design, synthesis, and applications of anthropogenic nanoparticles continue to rise as technologies utilizing the unique chemical and physical properties of materials with nanoscale dimensions emerge. Engineered silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) possess antimicrobial properties toward several strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The manufacturing and use of Ag NPs have led to their increased presence in the environment as pollutants. The interaction of Ag NPs with other pollutants influence their surface properties, aggregation state, stability and consequently, their toxic response toward microbial pathogens. In the present study, we examined the interaction of heavy metal ions (Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, and …

Regional Economic Vulnerability To Sea Level Rise In San Diego County, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, Center For The Blue Economy At The Middlebury Institute Of International Studies At Monterey

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative engaged the Center for the Blue Economy of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey to investigate the potential effects from climate change and projected sea level rise, and coastal storms on the economy of San Diego County. The importance of assessing these vulnerabilities arises because San Diego County is the 17th largest metropolitan area in the country and the 5th largest in California. San Diego County has a GDP that is larger than 25 other states.

Do Hotel Guests Act According To Their Intentions As It Relates To Sustainability In A Hotel Setting?, Heather A. Price

Honors Theses and Capstones

As humans continue to use our planet’s resources at a rapid pace, we must act quickly to implement solutions and strategies that will create a positive impact on our environment. The hotel industry represents a huge opportunity for increasing sustainability practices, as these establishments tend to consume tremendous amounts of natural resources through energy and water usage; thus creating quite a bit of waste. For this customer-centric industry, change starts with consumer expectations and intentions to act. The purpose of this study was to assess hotel guests’ values and intentions for sustainable hotels, and compare how this aligns with their …

2017 San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Annual Report, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative is a network for public agencies that serves the San Diego region to share expertise, leverage resources and advance comprehensive solutions to facilitate climate change planning. By partnering with academia, nonprofits, and businesses, the SDRCC also works to leverage the profile of regional leadership. This is the 2017 San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Annual Report.

Pharmaceutical Waste In Vermont: Results From A Survey On Purchasing, Use & Disposal, Christine Hart

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Pharmaceutical waste is an emerging form of waste with significant impacts on the environment. This study reports the results of a state-wide phone survey on pharmaceutical purchasing, use and disposal behavior among Vermont residents (n = 421). The objectives of this study were: 1) to compare the demographic nature of populations who purchase and use medicaton to those associated with leftover medication, and 2) to evaluate the impact of disposal behavior in Vermont and to recommend strategies to minimize pollution. The findings of this study showed that approximately 93% of survey participants reported purchasing of medication, 60% reported leftover medication …

Lead In The Environment, Msn Module, Dawn Blue

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

Module for MSN program in toxicology on lead in the environment.

University Of Richmond Sustainability Plan 2019-2025, University Of Richmond

Plans

University of Richmond’s Sustainability Plan is a blueprint for how we as a campus community will achieve a long-term vision of integrating sustainability into the fabric of the University. The result of a yearlong collaborative effort involving hundreds of stakeholders, the plan lays out clear steps to bolster the development of sustainability in the curriculum, support environmental management of our campus, promote a culture of sustainability, and further integrate stewardship into administrative policies and procedures. The time frame for the goals, strategies, and actions articulated in this plan is 2019-2025.

University Of Richmond 2018 Climate Action Plan Update, Robert Andrejewski

Reports

In 2007, University of Richmond (UR) signed onto the the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, pledging to become carbon neutral by 2050. Three years later, UR published its first Climate Action Plan, a framework that committed the university to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 30% below 2009 levels by 2020 and 65% by 2035, on its way toward eliminating net carbon emissions.

This Progress Report and GHG Inventory will explain UR’s emission calculation methodologies, provide a detailed analysis of the inventory, and document UR’s current GHG current footprint.

University of Richmond’s Climate Action Plan aims to provide …

Sr. Judith: Community And Environmental, Abigail Brown

Ask a Sister: Interview Wisdom from Catholic Women Religious

This paper includes an interview with Sr. Judith, a woman religious who has worked with environmental issues for the majority of her time as a woman religious. It highlights what she has worked on to improve the environment and how to keep our Earth cleaner in the future.

Meat Reimagined: The Ethics Of Cultured Meat, Valan Anthos

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In this paper I explore a relatively new technology that is being developed to try and solve some of the major issues with modern animal agriculture called cultured meat. I cover the short history of this technology and where it is at currently before addressing two different ways of evaluating the ethics of cultured meat. Responding to much of the praise for cultured meat based on consequentialist ethics, I lay out reasons for skepticism and how some of these estimates might be overblown due to those people advocating for it being situated in the ideology of ecomodernism. I argue that …

Habitat Characteristics Provide Insights Of Carbon Storage In Seagrass Meadows, Inés Mazarrasa, Jimena Samper-Villarreal, Oscar Serrano, Paul S. Lavery, Catherine E. Lovelock, Núrià N. Marbà, Carlos M. Duarte, Jorge A. Cortés

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Seagrass meadows provide multiple ecosystem services, yet they are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Because of their role as carbon sinks, protection and restoration of seagrass meadows contribute to climate change mitigation. Blue Carbon strategies aim to enhance CO2 sequestration and avoid greenhouse gasses emissions through the management of coastal vegetated ecosystems, including seagrass meadows. The implementation of Blue Carbon strategies requires a good understanding of the habitat characteristics that influence Corg sequestration. Here, we review the existing knowledge on Blue Carbon research in seagrass meadows to identify the key habitat characteristics that influence Corg sequestration in seagrass …

Discovering Wonders And Tragedies, Mackenzie Sayre Josephine Wardell

Senior Projects Spring 2018

Discovering wonders of the weather and the ever changing plant life in the Northeast, and tragedies about how disrespectful and selfish humans are towards the environment;My senior project is showing my viewers how exciting and diverse the natural world is and how necessary it is to recognize the destructiveness of plastic and our single-use culture.

During this past year, I’ve spent my time collecting from, observing, and recreating the natural world. I’ve experimented with new mediums such as cyanotype printing, which is brought to life by exposure to sunlight, and I’ve delved into my curiosities about the world of trash …