Digital Commons Network^™

Seizing The Moment: Climate Mainstreaming In The Ethekwini Municipality And Lessons On Leveraging Major Events, Xenia Ellis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Abstract

With the significant threat that climate change poses to societies across the world and specifically those in the Global South such as the eThekwini municipality, urgent and comprehensive action is necessary to mitigate and adapt to the devastating effects of climate change. Climate mainstreaming, which is the process of integrating climate strategies into all policies, plans, investments, decisions, and implementation in a government, is essential to addressing the issue. Existing literature has emphasized this importance, however, there has been minimal study of the process within the eThekwini municipality. This study aims to fill that gap and build an understanding …

Harvesting Connections: A Creative Documentary On Sustainable Food Practices & Community In The Byron Shire, Abigail Wadkins-Daub

Australia: Sustainability and Environmental Action

This research explores the intersection of sustainable food practices and community connection in the Byron Shire, New South Wales Australia. This study specifically focuses on how practices such as composting, organic agriculture, farmers markets, and shared meals encourage both environmental well-being and social bonds. This project is presented as a 21 minute documentary titled Harvesting Connections, which included five semi-structured interviews with community members, including local farmers, home gardeners, market managers, and community garden leaders. Interviews were conducted over a five week period in November 2024, with participants including Sharon Gibson, Dave Forrest, Sue Mangan, Allie Godfrey, and Ahbi. These …

Wrack Lines Volume 24, No. 2, Fall-Winter 2024-2025, Farwa Mohsin, Seth Kinter, Elena Smith, Eden Torres, Dominic Moore, Isaiah Sosa

Wrack Lines

Six recipients of the Wrack Lines Voice of Diverse Youth Scholarship share personal essays about their relationship to nature and climate change.

2024 Celebration Of Scholarship, Creativity, And Engagement, Todd Bruns, Anna Nelson

Programs

Annually, Eastern Illinois University honors faculty achievements in the areas of research, creativity, and engagement. The list of faculty accomplishments is truly impressive, reflective of an engaged faculty committed to excellence and the ongoing pursuit and creation of knowledge. Many of these accomplishments occurred in collaboration with our students, who serve as co-authors, research assistants and partners in bringing these activities to fruition. In some cases, these professional ambitions transpired over many years and are a testament to persistence and tenacity. We extend a sincere message of congratulations for this diverse range of achievements, which bring distinction to our departments, …

دور محاسبة استهلاك الموارد في تحقيق الميزة التنافسية للوحدات الاقتصادية, سحر ياس الاسدي

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

يناقش هذا البحث أهمية محاسبة استهلاك الموارد(RCA) كأداة محاسبية وإدارية في تحقيق الميزة التنافسية للوحدات الاقتصادية، يتمثل الهدف الرئيسي من البحث في استكشاف كيف يمكن لمحاسبة استهلاك الموارد أن تساهم في تحسين الأداء المالي والتشغيلي للوحدات الاقتصادية، وبالتالي تعزيز قدرتها على المنافسة في الأسواق، ويعتمد البحث على منهجية تحليلية تشمل مراجعة الأدبيات السابقة وتحليل البيانات المالية والتشغيلية، لمعمل إطارات الديوانية، من خلال المقابلات مع المدراء والمحاسبين لفهم دور محاسبة استهلاك الموارد(RCA) على القرارات الإدارية والاستراتيجية، فيما تشير ابرز الاستنتاجات الى أن تطبيق محاسبة استهلاك الموارد يسهم بشكل كبير في تخصيص تكاليف المنتجات الأقرب للدقة، من خلال تجنب الهدر والتخلص من …

Battery Recycling In Nebraska, Kathryn Singh, Keegan Dunn, Emily Klinger

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

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, fall 2024

A poster titled Battery Recycling in Nebraska for clients Douglas County Environmental Services and Recycling Council.

The Green Office Initiative: Managing Waste With Purpose, Allison Page, Lauren Smith, Naomi Mark

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

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, fall 2024

A poster titled The Green Office Initiative: Managing Waste with Purpose for client Lincoln Electric System (Katie Gutierrez and Dalton Johnson).

Optimizing Local Access To Information On Saving The Planet!, Sami Garcia

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

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, fall 2024

A poster titled Optimizing Local Access to Information on Saving the Planet! for client Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.

Local Energy For Local Water: Urban-Rural Collaboration, Meg Brady, Clementine Ewomsan

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

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, fall 2024

A poster titled Local Energy for Local Water: Urban-Rural Collaboration for client James Persson.

Conducting Structure-From-Motion (Sfm) Modeling Of Freshwater Environments Using Unpiloted Aerial Systems (Uas): Challenges And Lessons Learned, Benjamin T. Fraser, Christine L. Bunyon, Russell G. Congalton

Faculty Publications

The pairing of Unpiloted Aerial Systems (UAS) and Structure from Motion (SfM) has provided new capabilities for modeling freshwater environments. Applications of UAS-SfM range from water quality monitoring to the mapping of aquatic vegetation. The models produced provide users with the ability to analyze features at ultra-high-resolutions and across scales not easily achieved through in situ sampling. Despite the demonstrated benefits of UAS-SfM in freshwater and other natural resource disciplines, there remain fundamental technical challenges in the modeling of environments with homogenous surfaces (e.g., water). In this research, the effectiveness of several image collection and processing approaches for the modelling …

Food Science Affiliated Publications, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville: Snapshot Of The Research Publications, Jeremy J. Smith, Lutishoor Salisbury

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report provides a snapshot of the research publications for authors affiliated with the Food Science department at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, for the period 2018-2023. It includes publications by material type; co-author characteristics; ranking of journals according to journal citation reports.

Agricultural Productivity And Climate Mitigation, Keith O. Fuglie, Thomas W. Hertel, David B. Lobell, Nelson B. Villoria

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Agriculture will play a central role in meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets, as the sector currently contributes ∼22% of global emissions. Because emissions are directly tied to resources employed in farm production, such as land, fertilizer, and ruminant animals, the productivity of input use tends to be inversely related to emissions intensity. We review evidence on how productivity gains in agriculture have contributed to historical changes in emissions, how they affect land use emissions both locally and globally, and how investments in research and development (R&D) affect productivity and therefore emissions. The world average agricultural emissions intensity fell by …

Green Defense: Evaluating Potentials And Limitations In Transitioning Military Vehicles To Clean Energy, Aurora M. V. Bellingeri, Danielle M. Drumm, Zoe S. Koutsokostas

Student Publications

Army operations rely on fuel-intensive vehicles and aircraft, which contribute substantially to global emissions and the looming threat of global warming. This study evaluates the potential of transitioning five key U.S. Army vehicles, the M1301 ISV, HMMWV M1165, JLTV M1280, LMTV M1078, and M3A3 Bradley, from traditional diesel and JP8 powertrains to electric vehicle (EV) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) technologies. Vehicle specifications including engine power, fuel efficiency, weight, and payload were gathered for each vehicle and compared. Efficiency was estimated for EV and FCV powertrains using linear regressions with data from the AFLEET Online tool, which provided national …

How Did The Deer Cross The Road? Reducing Habitat Fragmentation And Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Deaths Through Connective Conservation In The South Mountain Region, Pennsylvania, Jack B. Joiner, Emily R. Kreider, Thomas H. Manning, Madison E. Rowell

Student Publications

While some deleterious effects of road networks and the vehicles that travel them– such as pollution, fossil fuel extraction, and carbon emissions– are widely recognized, their significant role in causing an estimated one million wildlife deaths per day (Shilling et al., 2021) and contributing to habitat loss and degradation, the leading causes of global biodiversity decline (Pinto et al., 2023), has garnered less attention. Connective conservation policies, such as designating wildlife corridors and constructing wildlife crossings on roadways, have been proposed as a means of mitigating these repercussions. This study proposes a connective conservation plan addressing the logistics of a …

Reimagining Gettysburg: Enhancing Walkability And Bikeability In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Gabriella Germano, Elif Ozturan, Jeanne-Marie Thomas

Student Publications

The overall goal of this study was to assess 28 selected locations in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, score them for walkability and bikeability, and suggest changes to low-ranking locations to improve the infrastructure of the town. We selected these points by focusing on areas of target for residents (grocery shopping, routes to work, schools, etc.), and to ensure we covered a major portion of the town for proper representation. We scored each of our sites using our instrument, which was broken down into two main categories: walkability and bikeability. We also conducted on-site interviews with passersby to collect first-hand accounts about these …

Gettysburg On The Go: A Bike Share Program For A Greener Gettysburg, Rachelle Dale, Emily Hazelrigg, Mishael F. Ohanwadi, Anastasia Volciak

Student Publications

A bike share program is a shared transportation system that offers convenient short-term bicycle access for a low cost. This study aims to assess the potential for a program in Gettysburg, PA and develop a proposal for implementation. We assessed the potential of a bike share program by administering a survey targeted to locals, tourists, and college students. We conducted a peer-system analysis of three bikeshare programs in cities with similar characteristics to Gettysburg in terms of population, rural areas, tourism levels, and three additional systems in a regional bike share to aid in the creation of a proposal for …

A Call To Strengthen International Collaboration To Assess Climate Change Effects In Polar Regions, Clare B. Gaffey, Narissa Bax, Naomi Krauzig, Kévin Tougeron

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Climate change is exerting complex and transformative effects in the Arctic and Antarctic; regions that are essential to global climate, biodiversity, and sustainable futures. Given the polar regions’ roles in Earth’s system, a robust, coordinated, and innovative strategy to monitor and manage climate change effects is needed. Insufficient baseline data, inconsistent international collaboration, and short-term financing are obstacles to effectively monitor these changes. This hinders our understanding of biodiversity shifts, their implications for food security, and climate change mitigation. Confronting the impacts of climate change will require interdisciplinary collaboration and genuine participation of nations, including Indigenous communities. This sentiment includes …

Environmental Justice And Social Work: A Study Across Practice Settings In Three U.S. States, Lisa Reyes Mason, Sierra Roach Coye, Smitha Rao, Amy Krings, Julia Santucci

Graduate School of Social Work: Faculty Scholarship

Environmental justice is essential for improved quality of life and sustainable wellbeing. This study examines how environmental issues and related injustices are surfacing in U.S. social work practice and social work readiness to respond, and what resources social workers are most interested in. Data are from an online survey of U.S. social workers (N = 337) in Colorado, Ohio, and Tennessee. Participants answered questions about their social work background, current job, environmental issues in practice, resources, and demographics. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. For nine issues, at least 30% of participants reported these as surfacing sometimes or often, with …

Exploring Indigenous Climate Change Perceptions Through Tribal Talking Circles In The Colorado Plateau, Bayli Hanson, Roslynn Brain Mccann, Danielle Smiley

Environment and Society Student Research

Marginalized communities, including Indigenous populations, experience climate change at a more extreme rate given where they live, despite their knowledge of and connection to the land. Due to this interconnection, there have been many negative impacts on cultural identities in correlation with climate change. For example, Indigenous communities that continue growing food, hunting and foraging on traditional lands now face increasingly limited resources due to changes in the land itself. To better understand Tribal experiences with our changing climate, this qualitative research study involved talking circles with Tribal members in the Colorado Plateau region of the United States. Specifically, our …

Deep Dive Into Pakistan's Ocean Economy: An Evaluation Of Performance And Constraints, Maaziya Aijaz, Omme Hany, Nooreen Mujahid, Ali Abbas

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

Pakistan, a coastal country with a 1,050 km coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone, relies on the ocean economy for approximately 0.4% of its national GDP. The ocean economy of Pakistan comprises various sectors, including fisheries, maritime transportation, offshore oil and gas exploration, tourism, and marine biotechnology. Over the years, Pakistan has made progress in these sectors, with notable growth in fish exports and the development of deep-sea ports. However, several challenges are hindering the full realization of the ocean's economic potential. These challenges include inadequate infrastructure, outdated regulations, unsustainable fishing practices, pollution, and geopolitical tensions affecting maritime trade. Despite …

Statement From The Indiana Academy Of The Social Sciences And Board Of Directors

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Reviewers And Referees

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Editor's Note

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Volume 27, Issue 1 Full Contents

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Mission And Editorial Policy

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Are Economic Gender Differences The Same Everywhere? Cross-Societal Comparisons In The Early 21st Century, Joyce P. Jacobsen

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Are gender differences in economic outcomes the same everywhere? Using the most recent available data (generally from the 2021–2023 period), I consider the patterns for these gender differences and provide an annotated list of statistical sources for students and researchers to use in exploring these differences. Overall, women still work less than men in paid work, work more than men in unpaid household work, and make less than men; however, these patterns have converged somewhat, with some narrowing of work and pay gaps relative to the last part of the 20th century, and with women rapidly closing the educational-attainment gap …

Between Governance And Markets: An Assessment Of Environmental Boundary Organizations, Andy Tuholski

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

This article considers the genesis, characteristics, and dynamics of boundary organizations as they apply specifically to environmental boundary objects, that is, pieces of science on which policy is reliant. Boundary organizations have been widely discussed since the 1990s but are undertheorized in terms of political concepts; this paper approaches environmental boundary organizations as essentially liberal vehicles of power using Lukes’ definition, in which the liberal dimension of power is divided into (a) eliciting and (b) meeting wants of stakeholders equitably. Environmental boundary organizations are compared and contrasted with single-perspective organizations (that is, organizations beholden to either government or industry) and …

Author Biographical Notes

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Editorial History

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Recreational Charter Fishing Market In Florida: A Hedonic Price Analysis, Mehrnoosh Asadi, Pallab Mozumder, Mahadev G. Bhat

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

In this study we analyze the effect of a wide range of factors on the variation of recreational fishing trip prices in Florida. We collected extensive data from recreational fishing websites maintained by guides and outfitters and used different empirical methods for quantifying the relationship between trip price and various trip characteristics. The Hedonic Price model was used to estimate the implicit prices of freshwater and saltwater fishing trip characteristics. The results suggest that freshwater and saltwater anglers significantly value the lodging feature included in the fishing trip package. Moreover, saltwater anglers had a higher willingness to pay to catch …