Digital Commons Network^™

Ai-Driven Sustainable Textile Waste Utilization In New York State: Part I, Kyshia Anderson, Alyssa Dana Adomaitis

Publications and Research

While technology and awareness are advancing, a significant lack persists in how New York State utilizes innovative reports and enveloping contexts to envision solutions for textile waste, particularly evident in the context of interdisciplinary collaboration among fashion, technology, and construction design, a challenge that remains even with New York State's historical efforts in textile waste utilization (Tonjes, Manzur, Wang, Firmansyah, Rahman, Walker, Lee, Thomas, Johnston, Ly, Medina, Shi, Srivastava, Tucker, Maung, Thyberg, & Hewitt, 2024). Despite a more than nine hundred (900) percent increase in textile waste between 1960 and 2018, from 1,760,000 tons to 17,030,000 tons, current alternatives like …

Frederick Collins - Part 1, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

Dr. Collins tells the story of 1520 Sedgwick as a place of loss and morality, where tragic events happened “few and far between,” but the community always looked out for each other and was primarily peaceful and safe. It was this environment, of eager youth and supportive adults, that helped the culture that hip hop would blossom from. The sounds that would subsequently be created were a product of this safe space. Also prevalent in the interview is the accurate account of this development from Collins’ perspective, as one of the first three children to live in the building. He …

Universal School Meal Policies And Perceived Stigma: Quantitative Evidence From Eight Us States, Dania Orta-Aleman, Monica D. Zuercher, Leah Chapman, Marlene B. Schwartz, Caitlin D. French, Anisha I. Patel, Lorrene D. Ritchie, Juliana Cohen, Wendi Gosliner

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Universal school meals (USMs) policies, which provide free meals to all students regardless of income, have the potential to improve child nutrition and reduce stigma. Quantitative evidence on the association between USM and stigma is limited.

Methods

Leveraging a natural policy variation in state‐level USM implementation, we surveyed 1066 middle and high school students from eight US states (four with USM, four without) during the 2022–2023 school year. Stigma was measured as self‐reported embarrassment about eating school lunch. We used generalized estimating equations to examine the associations between USM, embarrassment, and lunch participation.

Results

Overall about one in nine …

The Divided Self: Gothic Duality In Literature, Sarah Anna Meeks

Masters Theses

Gothic literature of the nineteenth century is haunting due to its frequent use of ghosts and monsters. However, the true terror lies in a deeper horror, one that is more intimate and destabilizing– a fright that leaps out of the text, looking into the heart of the reader: the fractured mind of the self torn between reality and repression, haunted by its own, newly manifested internal disunity rather than external monsters. The characters of Gothic fiction are typically caught in a psychological turmoil. They battle with split morals between duty and desire, morality and madness, and science and spirituality. Specifically, …

From Protest To Harmony: The Global Language Of Change, Valerie Brooke Missick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative historical study investigates how music functions as a unifying force within global social and political movements, transcending cultural, linguistic, and national boundaries to foster collective identity and sustain long-term activism. Drawing on Social Identity Theory, Cultural Diffusion Theory, and Framing Theory, the research analyzes archival documents, historical records, media sources, and case studies from movements such as the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the Anti-Vietnam War Movement, anti-apartheid struggles, Black Lives Matter, the Arab Spring, and contemporary climate justice activism. Findings reveal that music operates as both an emotional catalyst and a strategic communication tool, shaping narratives, strengthening solidarity, …

The Servant’S Ear: Study Of The Servant In Whom Yhwh Is Well Pleased: An Expositional Connection Of Exodus 21:5-6 And Deuteronomy 15:16-17 To The Servants Of Revelation, Warren Eugene Hoskins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation undertakes an extensive investigation into the theological, historical, and literary development of the biblical servant motif. This study examines the evolution of the concept of servitude, beginning with its origins in Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) laws and culture.

It is anchored in the tradition of ear-piercing for the willing servant, as outlined in Exodus 21:5-6 and Deuteronomy 15:16-17. This research unpacks how ideas about servitude changed in the Old Testament law and how this relates to the end times and the early church, as described in Revelation. This study also compares Old Testament servant laws with those of …

The Holy Spirit Fulfills The Great Commission By Affecting The Soul – The Conscience, Intellect, And Affections – Of Believers Through The Agency Of Discipleship, Farrah K. Stewart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Statement of Problem

A knowledge and awareness of the Holy Spirit tends to be the missing from the church today, although his power, presence, and role is not only needed, but is necessary to fulfill the last commandment given by Christ. Though silent, he and his work are – and should be – evident among, to, and through believers, both corporately and individually.

Research Question

What do the Great Commission passages in the Gospels and the book of Acts reveal about the mission of the Holy Spirit for the church today?

Thesis Statement

This dissertation argues that, according to the …

People And Nature And The Mountaintop, Ruth M. Alexander, Catherine Moore

Rocky Mountain National Park

A Resource and Impact Study of Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park

Adamson, Stan; Alexander, James; Aspinall, Wayne; Bird, Isabella; Blaurock, Carl; Bossier, Floyd; Browser, David; Butler, William; Canfield, David; Carr, Ethan; Chapin, Frederick; Charles, Eliot; Clark, Gerald; Collier, Betty; Collier, Robert; Crouch, Dee; Daske, Larry; Davis, Earl; Disney, James; Diver, Van; Eubanks, Bill; Goss, Wayne; Grove, Jim; Hartzog, George; Herkinham, Norman; Holubar, Roy; Hurley, George; Jardine, Ray; Johnson, Dale; Johnson, Lydon Baynes; Kamps, Bob; Kezlan, Richard; Kiener, Walter; Kor, Layton; Lamb, Elkanah; Mclaughlin, John; Mills, Enos; Moomaw, Jack; Muir, John; Nesbit, Norman; Nugent, Jim;

Theorising The Everyday Sporting Lives Of Africans, Manase K. Chiweshe

Journal of Global South Sport Studies

Sport in Africa is often studied through the lenses of elite competitions, colonial legacies, or development agendas, yet the everyday sporting practices of ordinary Africans remain under-theorised. This paper focuses on African agency in producing sporting cultures. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted across Zimbabwe, I argue that informal football matches, schoolyard games, and community fitness rituals are not merely recreational but rather sites of meaning-making, resistance, and social negotiation. Theoretical frameworks from African sociology (e.g., Nyamnjoh’s incompleteness and Mbembe's banality of power) illuminate how sport operates as a terrain of ordinary ingenuity, where tactics such as repurposed equipment, self-organised leagues, …

The Role Of Digital Media In The Promotion Of Cultural Heritage And Art, Arben Arifi

International Journal of Business and Technology

The goal of this paper is to provide an overview of how digital media are creating new conceptual and operational landscapes. On one hand, digital media are altering expectations regarding digital tools for both individuals and institutions. On the other hand, they are giving artists new opportunities to explore and innovate in their creative expressions. The question arises: Is culture merely our past, our roots, ancient artifacts, or historical art? Culture encompasses all the elements that shape our identity and influence how we behave and interact in various aspects of our lives both personal and public. It includes practices we …

Minutes 12-3-2025 | Institutional Effectiveness, Writing Across The Curriculum Subcommittee, Katelyn Walker

Institutional Effectiveness Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

The College Voice, Vol. 62, No. 7 [December 3, 2025], Connecticut College

2025-2026

No abstract provided.

Towards Resilient Data Governance: An Industry Study On Practitioner Perspectives On The Current State Of Data Governance, Anthony Mazzarella Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Experts agree that data governance is crucial for managing data as an asset, yet in practice, it remains inconsistently defined, unevenly implemented, and poorly understood. Earlier industry studies offered valuable descriptive benchmarks of governance adoption and professional roles, but provided limited theoretical insight and little empirical evidence explaining how governance functions within organizations. Building on this foundation, the current research offers a more substantial and analytically rigorous contribution by transforming descriptive observations into empirical explanations. Through a collaborative academic–industry partnership, the study utilizes a global survey of 565 respondents (348 valid cases) to analyze governance structures, motivations, challenges, and the …

A Practical Introduction To The Method Of Blending Through Pattern In Weft-Knitted Stripe Structures To Improve The Overall Tactility Of Breed-Specific Wool Fibres., Wilmott Julia, Gaston Elizabeth, James Alana

IASDR Conference Series

The paper introduces ‘blending through pattern’, a method for significantly enhancing the tactile qualities of individual British broad wool fibres when combined in knitted fabrics. This approach is an alternative to traditional blending processes, such as spinning and twisting, because it utilises weft-knitted pattern structures to combine two, three or more yarn types together. Each yarn type is knitted through a single feeder, with the blending occurring in the same way that a pattern on the knitting machine combines different colours. Successfully blended fabrics exchange yarn types regularly to incorporate different fibre types effectively. This material-led approach to textile design …

Reimagining Speculative Design For Inclusion: An Narrative-Based Prototype For Civic Participation, Sandy Claes, Gitte Vande Graveele, Erica Bol

IASDR Conference Series

Speculative design has the potential to foster civic reflection but often remains inaccessible to broader audiences due to its cultural and conceptual complexity. This paper presents a research-through-design (RtD) exploration of how speculative design can become more inclusive by embedding reflection into the narrative experience itself. We redesigned INWARDS, a policy-oriented speculative artefact, by segmenting one of its films and integrating plain-language prompts at key narrative moments and reframing participation as introspection by triggering lightweight, personal reflections. The resulting prototype was deployed in a semi-public setting to explore spontaneous engagement beyond design- savvy audiences. We contribute (1) a design-led exploration …

Unraveling Sociomaterial Trajectories: A Qualitative Network Analysis Of Material, Human, And Nonhuman Entanglement In The Diy Material Project, Kazzmasa Tsujimura, Yasuaki Kakehi

IASDR Conference Series

This paper investigates the sociomateriality of collective creation in a practice-led design project, addressing how entanglement occurs in material-centric processes where it often remains largely unarticulated. Adopting a sociomaterial ontology, we employ qualitative network analysis (QNA) to trace sociomaterial trajectories of the DIY Material project. Our analysis identified 12 diverse actors (e.g., humans, tools, knowledge…) in five clusters, and 22 sociomaterial entanglement 'events' classified into three types: Material Emergence, Social Intra-action, and Sociomaterial Assemblage. The resulting network visualizes these moments, explicating their role in instantiating inter subjective design ideas and contributing to project formation, offering a new methodological lens for …

Design When Policy Cycle Begins: Participatory Design As Relational Infrastructuring For Local Policy, Shin Okamoto, Daijiro Mizuno

IASDR Conference Series

This paper explores the role of design when participatory design intervenes more deeply in decision- making processes of local policy making. In the domain where design and public policy share common interests, participatory design has been considered effective as a better policy making approach adapted to complex contexts, particularly with municipalities. However, the process from organizations' understanding of participatory design legitimacy to design's involvement in deeper levels of decision-making involves many unpredictable barriers and often takes a long time. Particularly in the front-end phase before setting policy design criteria, unstable relationships exist between designers and policymakers, appearing as conflicts and …

A Study Of The Application And Experience Differences Between Embodied And Non-Embodied Interactive Ar In Cultural Tourism, Qijun Gao, Bingjie Gao, Hanyin Zheng, Shaohua Xue

IASDR Conference Series

The widespread application of Augmented Reality (AR) technology in cultural tourism has made the optimization of user interaction a key factor in enhancing the overall experience. This study takes the Gongtan Ancient Town in Chongqing as a case study to conduct a comparative analysis of embodied and non-embodied interactive AR in cultural contexts. A within-subject experiment with 36 participants was conducted, combining quantitative evaluations (UEQ-S scale, cognitive dimension ranking, and comparative scoring) and qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews. This mixed-method approach enabled a systematic comparison of emotional, cognitive, and usability- related differences between the two interaction modes. The results indicate …

Crafting The In-Between: Weaving With Hybrid Bamboo And 3d Printed Mesh As Regenerative Practice, Saumya Gupta, Avinash Shende

IASDR Conference Series

This paper explores a regenerative approach to hybrid craft by integrating 3D printed PLA mesh with traditional bamboo basketry techniques from India. Situated at the intersection of digital fabrication and natural fibre weaving, the research investigates how manual and machine-led processes can co- exist meaningfully within a unified design language. Moving beyond superficial material combination, the study proposes a co-authored methodology where both craft and technology actively shape form, structure, and aesthetic. Through a series of experimental prototypes, the research develops hybrid three-dimensional forms by manually weaving bamboo slivers onto partially printed flat PLA mesh surfaces, which are then thermally …

Confucian Ritual Space As More-Than-Human Design: Reframing The Zaojing In The Forbidden City, Ning Gao, Yongsheng Tong, An Sui, Hui Zeng

IASDR Conference Series

This article explores the Forbidden City’s zaojing (coffered ceiling) as a case study in reinterpreting ritual space through a “more-than-human” design lens. Bridging Confucian cosmology with contemporary post-humanist design theory, we argue that the imperial Chinese ritual environment was inherently more-than-human-centric, embedding non-human agencies (cosmic forces, mythical beings, and natural elements) into architectural design. We begin by examining Confucian cosmology and imperial architecture, highlighting how the built environment embodied a cosmological order beyond human-centered needs. We then outline a theoretical framework drawing on more-than- human design principles and spatial semiotics to understand architecture as an active mediator between human and …

Foregrounding Subplots And Shifting Practices In Co-Design: An Ethnographic Journey In A Chinese Village, Jingyuan Tan

IASDR Conference Series

Co-design is increasingly recognized as a means of public participation with the potential to bridge top-down policies and locally grounded change. Yet, when professional co-design practices remain aligned with dominant narratives of progress, they risk becoming instruments of govern mentality, reinforcing existing hierarchies and marginalizing local communities. This raises a critical question: how can co-design praxis disentangle itself from these narratives and attune to local competencies and imaginaries, particularly in rural contexts shaped by centralized governance? This research is embedded in a two-year co-design initiative focused on age-friendliness improvements in a village in Southern China. It employs design ethnographic approaches …

A Practice-Led Exploration Of Bricolage Theory In Micro Craft Branding: The Case Of Wings Of Pen By Mufun, Shih-Chieh Shen, Yueh-Hsiu Giffen Cheng

IASDR Conference Series

In an environment of fierce market competition and limited resources, the ability to continuously develop products that meet market needs is critical to the survival of micro-craft enterprises. Adopting a practice-led perspective, this study examines how a 15-year-old micro craft brand applied bricolage theory to transform its cultural products under resource constraints and severe market challenges. Starting from the founder’s student woodworking projects, the brand was established in 2010, experienced a decade of commercialization attempts, and pivoted in response to market difficulties. Its 2015 “Wings of Pen” avian pen series has received long-term acclaim in the gift market and remains …

Breathing Beside The Leaf That Guides Us: An Experimental Study On A Plant-Human Symbiotic Meditation System Design, Yule Chen, Shengbo Sun, Yiwen Wang, Ying Hu, Wenyu Xu, Yuexin Zhu, Yiming Bai

IASDR Conference Series

Unlike interactions with electronic devices—which demandthe full focus ofhuman cognition through screen-based interfaces—our engagement with nature is subtle, embodied, and continuously perceived, even without conscious attention. In the context of a decent connection between human and nature life rhythms, this study introduces a novel plant- human symbiotic meditation system that transforms real-time photosynthetic signals into generative soundscapes, enablingaform ofcross-species interaction in which plant rhythms serve as perceptual cues in human meditative regulation. Distinct from prior human-plant interaction work that treats plants as passive background elements or aesthetic artifacts, this research emphasizes the expressive role of living plants in shaping human …

Hongshan Culture: Controversy, Numbers And A Proto-Industrial Design Society?, Ashley Hall

IASDR Conference Series

The Neolithic Chinese Hongshan culture attracts fascination and controversy in equal measure. It represents one of the highest volumes of diverse jade making with spectacular technical achievements and almost unparalleled variety. While researchers have explored Hongshan culture from different disciplinary perspectives, this research seeks to combine insights across archaeology, anthropology, geology, geochemistry, and history to make a new case for a design led analysis of Hongshan culture jade ‘products’ from a creative and production technology perspective. Examining Hongshan culture through a design lens creates new insights into the motivations for making jade artifacts, hints at the spiritual significance and socio-technological …

Toward Sustainable Transitions: A Design Ethnographic Study Of Volcanic Risk Perception In Ecuador, Maria Ramirez Cifuentes, Michael Arnold-Mages

IASDR Conference Series

This study explores how the dynamics of risk perception influence disaster preparedness in high-risk environments such as the volcanic regions of Ecuador, and how these insights can inform the design of interventions for sustainable transitions. It analyzes the ongoing interactions between communities and their environment, examining factors such as infrastructure, visual representations (e.g., frescoes in churches), and local practices in the provinces of Pichincha, Cotopaxi, and Tungurahua—areas known for their proximity to active volcanoes—with a particular focus on how these elements shape collective intelligence and coping strategies. By identifying current conditions, opportunities and obstacles, and interpreting the core challenges experienced …

Sustainable Design Through Tradition: Insights From The Cuia Craft Of Amazonian Women, Andrea Bandoni, Nacional De Belas-Artes

IASDR Conference Series

This article examines the work of Amazonian women artisans who, in collaboration with the cuieira tree (Crescentia cujete), create the traditional cuias of Santarém. These vessels are distinguished by their black organic lacquer and intricate carved motifs, which give cultural value to objects primarily used as containers. The study seeks to inform design methodologies that foreground environmental responsibility while demonstrating how ancestral knowledge can inspire sustainable practices. It also underscores the central role of women in preserving and transmitting this heritage. To address these aims, the research employed a mixed-method approach: a literature review on sustainable design; a historical analysis …

The Emergence Of Cultural Signals In Typographic Systems, César Arturo Puertas, Juan Alfonso De La Ros

IASDR Conference Series

This paper explores how through visual analysis of contemporary design of typographic systems in Colombia, it is possible to create a custom framework for clustering and analysis to help recognize the possible emergence of cultural signals of colonised communities and cultural groups. Based on that framework we described these signals in four categories: Abstracted indigenous heritage (cultural revival); hybrid graphic vernacular (vernacular typography); Indigenous linguistic forms (direct linguistic revival); and hybrid cultural abstraction (indirect linguistic revival). We argue that local/regional type design and typography are increasingly serving as a medium of cultural resistance (intentional or unintentional), where designers engage with …

The Ought-Is Problem: A Foundational Theory For Diagnosing The Ai-Driven Crisis In Design Education, Franklyn Mosher

IASDR Conference Series

The rapid proliferation of generative AI has precipitated a foundational crisis in design education, challenging long-standing pedagogical models and the very definition of authentic student work. While its symptoms are widely recognized, the design field lacks a formal theory for diagnosing this and other systemic failures. This paper introduces and formalizes the "Ought-Is Problem" as a foundational theory for design critique, defining it as the consequential gap between a designer's idealized model of a system and its users ("Ought") and the observable, complex reality of human behavior ("Is"). We argue that this cognitive dissonance is the root cause of many …

Making A Case For Handmade Observational Mark-Making In Service Design Insight Phases, Eirin Mari Fossøy

IASDR Conference Series

Using a particular tool can give rise to processes or knowledge about the world that differ from those generated by other tools. In other words, humans use tools and technologies to shape the world, but these tools, in turn, shape us back - our minds, skills, and the way they extend our bodies. Service design, among many other fields, is significantly impacted by digital transformation, where digital tools are frequently used to create visualizations and representations. An important part of a service designer’s profession is understanding new fields and actors, which often involves aspects that are complex, messy, and emotional. …

Maps That Matter: Design As A Translation Tool In Industrial Sustainability Transitions, Delphine Wang Leger, Annie Gentès

IASDR Conference Series

This paper explores how organizational design can support sustainability transitions in complex industrial contexts, through the development of situated, visual tools. The study is based on a one- year design intervention within a railway maintenance facility in France, aiming to improve industrial waste sorting practices following the departure of the site's waste manager. Drawing from system design, service design, and Actor-Network Theory, the project approaches waste management not as a technical issue, but as a socio-material system of routines, infrastructures, and tacit knowledge. To navigate this complexity, the design team produced a series of hybrid documents— field enquiry maps, analog …