Digital Commons Network^™

Creating A Conversation That Everyone Is A Part Of: Community Newspapers And The Isolation Of Minorities And Disadvantaged Populations, Lily Bryant

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Leadership Within Nonprofits, Kendel Paulen

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

No abstract provided.

Net-Zero Affordable Housing, Nash Kelly, Calee Martin, Morgan Davis

Environmental Engagement in the Community (ENVR 319): Student Projects

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, spring 2021

Poster titled Net-Zero Affordable Housing with client City of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Communication And Social Education Of Emissions And Energy Use In Nebraska, Maya Kaechele, Diana Mcgraw, Kyle Hauder

Environmental Engagement in the Community (ENVR 319): Student Projects

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, spring 2021

Poster titled Communication and Social Education of Emissions and Energy Use in Nebraska with clients City of Grand Island, Nebraska; City of Norfolk, Nebraska; and University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Keeping Earth Healthy Together, Megan Shaw

Honors Projects

This project is a book for young children to be exposed to sustainable practices. Practices range from simple daily activities to career options. There is also a parents' section in the back for additional resources. The book can be accessed at: https://flipbookpdf.net/web/site/c2637bb1d14d17cf91b7262fb3fa2bf6a7f5fbec202104.pdf.html.

Covid 19 Vaccine, Michael Fuller

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

No abstract provided.

Community Engagement In Oregon Water Governance: Evaluating A State Water Policy And A Collaborative Q Methodology Research Project, Clare T. Mcclellan

Environmental Science and Management Professional Master's Project Reports

This work was primarily conducted by the Oregon Water Stories Project, an interdisciplinary research group at Portland State University, in collaboration with the Willamette Partnership, an environmental non-profit in Portland, and with additional involvement from community partner organizations across the state. The overarching goal of this paper is to explore the challenges and opportunities present at the intersections of water management, stakeholder engagement, community-engaged research, and environmental justice. This study investigates this nexus first through an evaluation of Oregon’s 100 Year Water Vision that points to areas for increased integration of environmental justice principles in water policymaking. In the second …

Aspirations Incubator: 2017–2023 Interim Evaluation Report, Sarah Goan, Elora Way, Alexa Plotkin

Publications

The Emanuel & Pauline A. Lerner Foundation’s Aspirations Incubator (AI) is a six-year pilot initiative invested in strategic capacity building for six youth development organizations in rural Maine. Grounded in the Trekkers Youth Programming Principles, the Aspirations Incubator invests targeted resources to provide long-term, comprehensive relationship-based programming to youth. This structured yet flexible program model aims to increase resiliency and introduce new opportunities to cohorts of young people starting in 7th grade and continuing through high school graduation. To document the potential impact and effectiveness of this unique model, the Lerner Foundation contracted with the Data Innovation Project to conduct …

Picking Up Where The Tmdl Leaves Off: Using The Partnership Wild And Scenic River Framework For Collaborative River Restoration, Alan R. Hunt, Meiyin Wu, Tsung-Ta David Hsu, Nancy Roberts-Lawler, Jessica T. Miller, Alessandra Rossi, Lee Lee

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects less than ¼ of a percent of the United States’ river miles, focusing on free-flowing rivers of good water quality with outstandingly remarkable values for recreation, scenery, and other unique river attributes. It predates the enactment of the Clean Water Act, yet includes a clear anti-degradation principle, that pollution should be reduced and eliminated on designated rivers, in cooperation with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and state pollution control agencies. However, the federal Clean Water Act lacks a clear management framework for implementing restoration activities to reduce non-point source pollution, of which …

Leadership Insights: Life Stories Of Three Individuals' Paths To National Leadership In Prek-12 Education For Sustainability, Alice Altfillisch Earle

Educational Studies Dissertations

Abstract This study focused on the narratives of three national leaders in the field of Education for Sustainability (EfS) for the purpose of illuminating pathways to leadership in PreK-12 EfS for educators and school leaders. Stanger’s (2011) eco-sociological model of human development and learning was used as a framework for examining contextual influencers of participants’ formative experiences associated with family of origin, land/places where they grew up, and education as well as pivotal experiences that informed their Prek-12 EfS leadership development. Five themes related to sustainability also served as core concepts throughout this study: positionality, spirituality, social justice, equity, and …

Island Specialties: Sustainable Company, Emily Klein

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

No abstract provided.

Pathways To Self-Governance And Success: An Exploratory Study Of Community Gardens In Louisville, Kentucky, Amanda Beavin

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Those involved in community gardens face multiple challenges to survival, including land tenure, lack of funding, lack of sustained interest, and poor infrastructure, but many successful, long-lasting gardens have found management style to be a key aspect of their success. This project investigated three community gardens in Louisville, Kentucky, in order to determine how self-governance, or internal management by gardeners, overlaps with other success indicators and what development processes lead to successful self-governance. Using qualitative, semi-structured interviews and participant observation, the researcher gathered and analyzed data relative to each garden site’s land tenure, community engagement, environmental design, resource mobilization, and …

The Future Of Living: Exploring Sustainable Residential Developments Through A Case Study Analysis Of The Sustainable City Dubai, Carys Davidson-Huxley

Honors Program Theses

With population growth continuing on an upwards trend and urban living projected to increase in the coming years, a redesign of typical property development is required to ensure that housing demand not only has a lesser impact on the environment, but also meets the needs of communities. Through a combination of literature review, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, this paper presents a case study of The Sustainable City Dubai (TSC), a key sustainable development within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), taking into account its social, economic and environmental strategies and consequent impacts. Investigation has been conducted into the importance of …

Exploring Eco-Friendly Strategies In Early Learning Businesses, Henry Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some early learning business owners (ELBOs) lack implementation strategies for eco-friendly programs. ELBOs that can successfully implement eco-friendly programs in their organizations can promote long-term sustainability. Grounded in Freeman’s stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify ELBOs’ implementation strategies for eco-friendly programs. The participants comprised of three ELBOs from three certified eco-friendly organizations. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: (a) managing stakeholders’ expectations, (b) health and wellness for sustainability, (c) business sustainability, (d) environmental sustainability, and (e) partnerships and community involvement. A key recommendation is for …

Advancing Applied Research In Conservation Criminology Through The Evaluation Of Corruption Prevention, Enhancing Compliance, And Reducing Recidivism, Jessica S. Kahler, Joseph W. Rivera, Zachary T. Steele, Pilar Morales-Giner, Christian J. Rivera, Carol F. Ahossin, Ashpreet Kaur, Diane J. Episcopio-Sturgeon

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Concomitant with an increase in the global illegal wildlife trade has been a substantial increase in research within traditional conservation-based sciences and conservation and green criminology. While the integration of criminological theories and methods into the wildlife conservation context has advanced our understanding of and practical responses to illegal wildlife trade, there remain discrepancies between the number of empirical vs. conceptual studies and a disproportionate focus on a few select theories, geographical contexts, and taxonomic groups. We present three understudied or novel applications of criminology and criminal justice research within the fields of fisheries, forestry, and wildlife conservation. First, we …

Resource Characterization And Utilization Of Lepironia Articulata (Retz.) Domin At Kg. Beris Tok Kuand Kg. Beting Lintang, Terengganu, Shoma Tani

Student Works (2020-2029)

This research focused on how handicrafts could contribute to sustainable community development with natural resource management. This research aims to characterize Lepironia articulata as a resource by taxonomy and distribution patterns, examine its utilization through group and semi-structured interviews with ten local residents who got involved in handicraft productions at two selected villages in Setiu Wetlands of Terengganu state and identify their capacity development opportunities by following a guideline provided by United Nations Development Programme. This research clarified that the height of Lepironia articulata in Setiu Wetlands was shorter than the records of the other description and the other site …

Synergygrids: Blockchain-Supported Distributed Microgrid Energy Trading, Moayad Aloqaily, Ouns Bouachir, Öznur Özkasap, Faizan Safdar Ali

All Works

Growing intelligent cities is witnessing an increasing amount of local energy generation through renewable energy resources. Energy trade among the local energy generators (aka prosumers) and consumers can reduce the energy consumption cost and also reduce the dependency on conventional energy resources, not to mention the environmental, economic, and societal benefits. However, these local energy sources might not be enough to fulfill energy consumption demands. A hybrid approach, where consumers can buy energy from both prosumers (that generate energy) and also from prosumer of other locations, is essential. A centralized system can be used to manage this energy trading that …

Homeowners’ Lived Experience In Developing And Using Accessory Dwelling Units In Ireland, Geraldine Mary Hurley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have explored the role of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a form of housing since at least the 1970s. Such exploration has taken place across a number of different disciplines, including gerontology, housing affordability, and urban planning. The literature tends to focus on specific policies, however, rather than on the lived experience of the homeowners impacted by those policies. Ireland’s national and local governments have yet to acknowledge the potential use of ADUs as a contributing solution to ongoing problems with housing supply, housing affordability, and homelessness, despite a government-declared national housing crisis. Formal research on ADUs in the …

Small And Medium Enterprises’ Green Energy Strategies For Profitability, Ekok Ajom Okpokam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of business strategies can negatively impact the generation of green energy, which may hinder business profitability and growth. Managers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who struggle to generate green energy to increase profitability are at high risk of their business failure. Grounded in the diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the business strategies managers of SMEs use to generate green energy to increase profitability. The participants were three SME managers in three energy companies in Lagos, Nigeria, who effectively used business strategies to generate green energy to increase profitability. …

Anticipating And Adapting To The Future Impacts Of Climate Change On The Health, Security And Welfare Of Low Elevation Coastal Zone (Lecz) Communities In Southeastern Usa, Thomas Allen, Joshua Behr, Anamaria Bukvic, Ryan S.D. Calder, Kiki Caruson, Charles Connor, Christopher D'Elia, David Dismukes, Robin Ersing, Rima Franklin, Jesse Goldstein, Jonathon Goodall, Scott Hemmerling, Jennifer Irish, Steven Lazarus, Derek Loftis, Mark Luther, Leigh Mccallister, Karen Mcglathery, Molly Mitchell, William Moore, Charles Reid Nichols, Karinna Nunez, Matthew Reidenbach, Julie Shortridge, Robert Weisberg, Robert Weiss, Lynn Donelson Wright, Meng Xia, Kehui Xu, Donald Young, Gary Zarillo, Julie C. Zinnert

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

Low elevation coastal zones (LECZ) are extensive throughout the southeastern United States. LECZ communities are threatened by inundation from sea level rise, storm surge, wetland degradation, land subsidence, and hydrological flooding. Communication among scientists, stakeholders, policy makers and minority and poor residents must improve. We must predict processes spanning the ecological, physical, social, and health sciences. Communities need to address linkages of (1) human and socioeconomic vulnerabilities; (2) public health and safety; (3) economic concerns; (4) land loss; (5) wetland threats; and (6) coastal inundation. Essential capabilities must include a network to assemble and distribute data and model code to …

Sociological Perspectives On Climate Change And Society: A Review, Md Saidul Islam, Edson Kieu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Society is at an important intersection in dealing with the challenges of climate change, and this paper is presented at a critical juncture in light of growing recognition that the natural sciences are insufficient to deal with these challenges. Critical aspects of sociological perspectives related to climate change research are brought together in this review in the hope of fostering greater interdisciplinary collaboration between the natural and social sciences. We fervently argue for the need to inculcate interdisciplinary approaches that can provide innovative perspectives and solutions to the challenges we face from the impacts of climate change. As such, some …

Developing A System Of Community-Based Agritourism For Sustainable Local Food Systems: A Multi-Case Study Of Rural Livelihood Diversification And Sustainable Urban Consumption In City-Regional Bangkok, Sofia Anna Enrica Cavalleri

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Current food systems fail to directly link rural producers and urban consumers. This research explores and categorizes emerging community-based agritourism practices as strategies to reconnect rural food producers with urban consumers. The main research question of this study is: how can community-based agritourism link rural food producers and urban consumers as a rural livelihood diversification strategy? Mixed methods for data collection were selected to answer this question and analyzed with a deductive and inductive approach. These include the review of secondary grey and academic literature, shadow observation in three rural provinces, content validity index calculation performed by experts (n = …

Distribution Of Green Spaces In Omaha, Nebraska, Sofia Gavia

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The distribution of parks often depends on the races, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class of a community’s households. Parks and green spaces provides community residents recreational opportunities, economic benefits, and improves community public health. The unequal distribution of parks and green spaces in a city is a social issue found across the country. Limited research has been done on the relationship between green spaces and park access and social justice in Omaha, Nebraska. This study discusses whether there is a difference in how parks are distributed in Omaha, NE in terms of social justice and equitable distribution. Research is done using …

Designing A Mobile App And Online Directory To Increase The Visibility Of Environmental Organizations In A Community, Kayla Vondracek

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Concern for environmental degradation, natural resource depletion, and public health has long been a necessary part of a strongly developed and sophisticated society. Humans are primarily responsible for the depletion of the natural environment as it supplies the commodities required to ensure the long-term survival of civilizations. As cultures continue to evolve, so does the practice of land stewardship and protection of resources. With the necessary expansion of industry and housing needed to support a rising human population, the management of natural resources, pollution control, and the environment has become increasingly important to people worldwide. Bernstein and Szuster (2019) suggest …

Ethical Product Havens In The Global Diamond Trade: Using The Wayback Machine To Evaluate Ethical Market Outcomes, Trina Hamilton, Seth Cavello

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Who benefits from ethical product markets? While most ethical products (e.g. fair trade and eco-certified products) are intended to benefit marginalized communities and vulnerable ecosystems, the reality is that the geographic preferences exhibited by so-called ethical markets may, in fact, reinforce global inequities rather than remedy them. It can be difficult to evaluate the outcomes of ethical product markets, however, because we are often limited to data from a small number of industries with widely used standards and certifications. This research pilots a new methodology, using an online archive—the Wayback Machine, to evaluate shifts in countries' ethical market share, focusing …

Security Against Data Falsification Attacks In Smart City Applications, Venkata Praveen Kumar Madhavarapu

Doctoral Dissertations

Smart city applications like smart grid, smart transportation, healthcare deal with very important data collected from IoT devices. False reporting of data consumption from device failures or by organized adversaries may have drastic consequences on the quality of operations. To deal with this, we propose a coarse grained and a fine grained anomaly based security event detection technique that uses indicators such as deviation and directional change in the time series of the proposed anomaly detection metrics to detect different attacks. We also built a trust scoring metric to filter out the malicious devices. Another challenging problem is injection of …

The Nebraska Water Leaders Academy Graduates’ Influence On Community Capitals And Community Capacity, Dakota W. Staggs, Mark E. Burbach, Gina S. Matkin, Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

An overarching goal of the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy is to prepare a diverse group of Nebraskans from across the state to impact change in their communities by working together to solve wicked water problems. With 136 graduates from across Nebraska there is potential for graduates to effect change and impact their communities’ capitals (i.e., Built, Financial, Political, Social, Human, Cultural, and Natural). This study explored the impact of Academy graduates on their communities’ capitals and community capacity to prepare for future challenges from the perspective of graduates and community members. Findings show that Academy graduates are impacting their communities …

The Bay Area Rail System: A Sustainable Network Or A Social Equity Phenomenon?, Whitney Libunao

Master's Projects and Capstones

Sustainable transportation, as it relates to sustainable development, aims to achieve economic stability, social equity, and environmental preservation via transit projects. However, gentrification processes and transit-oriented developments or TODs have attracted more households inward toward reinvested transit-centric areas. The San Francisco Bay Area, California has continued to see positive economic growth, with that, higher-income households inhabiting more centralized locations. Native low-income residents have started to feel displacement pressures on both a social and economic scale. Over time, displacement risk inevitably leads to residential displacement where low-income families are forced to relocate to distant, more affordable neighborhoods. As more distance separates …

Developing A Tourism Opportunity Index Regarding The Prospective Of Overtourism In Nepal, Susan Phuyal

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This research explores Nepal's overtourism scenario based on the capacity of a locality to manage sustainable tourism practices. Environmental degradation, local infrastructure degradation, negative tourist experience and local resident responses regarding visitors are the four main variables used in this study to analyze overtourism. In order to analyze the case study of overtourism, we select the three top touristic cities of Nepal, Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan based on the number of annual visitors. Nepal's case analysis of overtourism conditions reviews the overall threat of over-tourism and establishes a metric by which tourism can be viewed as potentially detrimental to sustainability. …

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Of Navajo Nation Water Resources In The San Juan River Basin, Nm: Utilizing Traditional Navajo Ecological Knowledge, Kirena Elana Yanibaa Tsosie

Water Resources Professional Project Reports

The Navajo Nation consists of 110 chapters, local government subdivisions, organized into five regional agencies. Over half of the Navajo Nation chapters have traditional names in the Navajo language that describe a local water source including springs, washes, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. Therefore, traditional Navajo names consist of Traditional Navajo Ecological Knowledge (TNEK) and can assist in documenting water sources that can be further assessed for vulnerability and sensitivity to climate change. There are 52 Navajo Nation chapters located in the San Juan River Basin and 28 chapters have water related names. Water sources associated with place names will also …