Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Water Supply Resilience & Sustainability: Potential Solutions To Address Water Scarcity In Bogotá, Colombia, Sophia Alvarez Wong

Master's Projects and Capstones

Municipal water utilities are in urgent need of adapting to the intensifying impacts of climate change and population growth—key drivers of urban water scarcity worldwide. In rapidly expanding cities like Bogota, Colombia, these pressures have contributed to a severe water crisis driven by prolonged droughts, ecosystem degradation, increasing water demands, and overdependence on limited water sources. This study explores potential adaptation and management strategies that utilities can implement to sustainably strengthen supply system resilience and enhance water security, in the context of low- to middle-income regions. A series of comparative and case study analyses were conducted to assess the feasibility …

Analyzing Ballast Water Treatments, Invasive Species, And Pathogens, And A Decade-Long Analysis On The San Francisco And Baltimore Ports, Jasmin Ibarra-Cortes

Master's Projects and Capstones

Installation of advanced technologies to treat ballast water on ships is necessary to meet current ballast water management standards and reduce the secondary spread of invasive species during intracoastal voyages. This research includes a literature review on non-native aquatic species, particularly diapausing eggs, and available treatment methods for installation. A comparative analysis from 2014 - 2024 on bulker, tanker, and container vessels arriving coastwise to the ports of San Francisco and Baltimore was performed to evaluate treatment installation trends, traffic patterns, and the effectiveness of treatment(s) on targeting diapausing eggs. Use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation combined with filtration has increased …

The Politics Of Being Heard: Communication And Power Struggles In Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Caroline Trejo

Master's Projects and Capstones

The environmental and public health challenges in Bayview-Hunters Point have catalyzed widespread community activism, as residents and advocates respond to the ongoing fallout from radiological contamination at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Communication plays a vital role in bridging the gap between affected communities and government entities throughout the cleanup process. This research asks: how have the communication strategies of advocacy groups influenced government actions and policies during the Bayview-Hunters Point Shipyard cleanup? To explore this question, I conducted semi-structured interviews with three community advocates, two former members of a non-partisan civil jury, one independent researcher, and one government official. …

Sustainability In Professional Sports: A New Nexus Of Profit And Social Responsibility, Matthew Teplitz

Master's Theses

The world is facing a climate crisis – corrective action that will improve our collective situation is needed, now. Those with the power to do so, in the capitalist structure under which we live, are largely the individuals, corporations, and governments with financial resources and the platform to inspire others to act. Two such entities, complete with the financial heft to make a difference and inspiration to spare, are North America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) and Spain’s La Liga. This thesis seeks to understand what distinguishes the NBA’s approach to sustainability from La Liga, and by employing each league as …

Climate Change Anxiety And Hope Both Predict Action: A Moderation Analysis, Yuhan Bi, Grace Hyde, Orei Z. Odents, Kai Okagawa, Cassandra Hoffman, Kimberly A. Barchard

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Climate change is associated with extreme weather events that have devastating effects on communities worldwide. These events disrupt ecosystems, damage infrastructure, and influence physical and mental well-being. Urgent action is needed. Prior studies demonstrate that people are more likely to take action if they feel anxious about climate change and if they feel hopeful they can make a difference. However, we hypothesized that anxiety and hope would interact: that anxiety would only predict action when people felt hopeful. Therefore, we used path analysis to determine if hope moderates the relation between anxiety and action.

In a cross-sectional design, 500 United …

Creating A Shade Tree Commission For Shamokin, Skye Sunderhauf, Beth Williams, Marques Owens, Olivia Follansbee

Final Reports in ENST 411: Environmental Community Projects

Final Project for ENST411 Environmental Community Projects

Turtle Creek Tree Restoration Project, Rebecca Beneroff, Risa Kanefsky, Max Dicerbo, Pj Newhart, Amanda Mitchell

Final Reports in ENST 411: Environmental Community Projects

Over the course of this project our group members Rebecca, Max, PJ, Amanda, and Risa worked closely with Jim Knight and Brian Auman from Turtle Creek Park to help research, plan, and execute a tree transplanting event that would be efficiently implemented and environmentally sound. This work involved extensive preparatory work in the park including soil testing, bare leaf tree identification, tree and shrub species characterization, and recommendation. The entire process was rooted in the most up to date literature and scientific practices surrounding bare root tree nurseries, existing land management plans, invasive species and public park management, ecological succession, …

Independent- May 15, 2025, Leslie Lozada

The Independent (1988-present)

No abstract provided.

Passive Envelope Retrofits As Climate Justice Infrastructure Against Extreme Heat: A Gis-Guided Approach For Outdated Single-Family Homes In Urban California, Mert Oztekin Mr.

Master's Projects and Capstones

I examined the opportunities to enhance equity in energy performance, climate resilience, and environmental adaptation through climate-resilient envelope retrofitting and spatially guided implementation strategies (via mappings of the Urban Heat Island -UHI- and socio-economic vulnerability indicators). Passive envelope retrofits of attic insulation; high-performance windows; cool roofs; and green roofs / walls, are examined across multiple climate zones of California' aged single-family housing stock, focusing on the Disadvantaged Communities (DACs). Through spatial analysis, strong overlap between Urban Heat Island(UHI) exposure; pre-1980 housing; socioeconomic disadvantage, and thus the need for spatially-directed action is underlined. The policy landscape analysis provides confirmation of the …

Risk Allocation In Power Purchasing Agreements (Ppas): Implication For Renewable Energy Development In Emerging Markets, Alexia Tata

Master's Projects and Capstones

Energy poverty persists as a critical challenge in Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs). Despite the urgent imperative to electrify these nations, investment in the deployment of renewable energy projects remains comparatively low, a phenomenon reflected in risk allocation within Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The prevailing explanations for this trend often cite a scarcity of bankable projects, inconsistent political commitment, and regulatory frameworks in power markets that fail to adequately address the fundamental factors hindering investor confidence. To gain deeper insights, we utilized data from surveys and interviews conducted with industry stakeholders to identify the primary risk factors encountered within …

Matching The Narrative Fragments And Customer Identity Fragments In Omni-Channel Fashion Retail, Jinze Lyu

Designing Retail and Services Futures SIG

Omni-channel fashion retail integrates diverse channels and touchpoints, generating complex overlaps and combinations. In this dynamic environment, fashion brand narratives need to shift from selling products to selling experiences. This transformation challenges brands to maintain narrative coherence while adapting to distinct channel characteristics. Simultaneously, consumers exhibit varied identity expressions across channels, reflecting different consumption needs. However, existing narrative design approaches struggle to accommodate this fluidity. This study introduces a Narrative Design Alignment Framework, examining narrative fragments from the brand’s perspective and identity fragments from the consumer’s perspective. By mapping brand narratives and consumer identities across channels, the framework aligns these …

Advancing Supply Chain Sustainability Through Circular Economy Principles, Adeyinka Adimula

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Explore how circular economy principles can significantly enhance supply chain sustainability by reducing waste, optimizing resource use, and improving both environmental and economic outcomes. By shifting from traditional linear models to circular systems, businesses across industries can redesign processes to extend product life cycles, foster resource efficiency, and create closed-loop supply chains.

Life Cycle Assessment Of Co-Located Floating Solar And Offshore Wind, Danela Sadikaj, Meghann Smith

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Is combining floating solar and offshore wind platforms feasible for increasing energy capacity while displacing the environmental impacts that each of these systems has independently? In recent years offshore wind has become a very popular option to decarbonize the energy sector without overtaking valuable land. While floating solar is not a new technology, using solar in a marine environment is still in an experimental phase. This research proposes a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model of co-located solar technology within the proposed offshore wind farms near New Jersey’s coastline. While both technologies themselves are zero-emission while operating, they each require a …

Reducing Emissions And Increasing Resource Efficiency In Offshore Wind Turbines: Insight From Life Cycle Analysis, Jean Claire Pineda, Meghann Smith

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Globally, offshore wind (OSW) has been identified as a key technology for decarbonization. While OSW’s development timeline remains uncertain in the United States, New Jersey has set the ambitious goal of 11 GW by 2040. OSW produces zero carbon emissions; however, it relies heavily on resource-intensive materials like steel, rare earth elements, and copper, and manufacturing those materials have numerous environmental impacts, including carbon emissions. Supply chain disruptions—from COVID-19, rising material costs, and geopolitical challenges—add further complexity. Previous research modelled the environmental impacts of Atlantic Shores OSW South Project with an established domestic supply chain, producing 0.013kg CO2 per kWh. …

Camaraderie Or Commodity: An Examination Of The Human Connection To The Land, Amelia Hong

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the role of land in the United States by examining it as both a commodity and a spiritual being. The emphasis on profit and productivity in the United States agricultural industry insists that land be viewed as a commodity, skewing and influencing citizens’ relationships with nature. Agribusiness, or commercial farming, is a leading source of desertification and land degradation in the United States. This paper seeks to understand the necessity of a breadth of spiritual and philosophical knowledge when writing environmental policy, especially regarding commercial agriculture. Chapter One provides quantitative information on the effects of uncontrolled Agribusiness …

Escalating Hydrological Extremes And Whiplashes In The Western U.S.: Challenges For Water Management And Frontline Communities, Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Joshua B. Fisher, Thomas Piechota, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The Western U.S. is experiencing significant changes in its hydrological dynamics, marked by increased variability and rapid “whiplash” shifts between extreme drought and flood conditions. This study quantified these changes using a customized hydrological water year index, which correlated better with surface water storage in the basins than other drought/wetness indicators. Application of the index revealed heightened hydrological extremes and whiplash events post-2015 in all Western U.S. basins, with nearly 72% of stations facing critically dry conditions in 2021 and over 54% experiencing extreme wet conditions in 2023. Future projections indicate a decline of 8.5%–13.2% in non-extreme water year types …

Proceedings Of The 12th Research Symposium At Mammoth Cave National Park, Pat Kambesis Editor, Lee Anne Bledsoe Editor, Ana K. Celis Editor

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

Proceedings of the 12th Research Symposium at Mammoth Cave National Park: Celebrating 100 Years of Scientific Research & Resource Management in the Mammoh Cave Region.

Lubin Business Magazine Spring 2025

Lubin Business Magazine

No abstract provided.

Materializing Data: A Macramé-Inspired Framework For Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Creative Participatory Research, Emma Shercliff, Asha Ward, Berit Bliesemann De Guevara, Fiona Hackney, Chinelo L. Njaka, Eliana Sánchez-Aldana, Angelika Strohmayer, Amy Twigger Holroyd, Claire Wellesley-Smith

Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG) Conference Series

This paper presents the development of a macramé-inspired framework for evaluating the effectiveness of creative participatory research (CPR), addressing gaps in conventional framework models that overlook the complex, multidimensional and experiential nature of these research approaches. The framework was designed to visualize and materialize the evolving nature of CPR, where participant engagement, contextual factors, and the sometimes organic and unpredictable creative activities shape both the research process and its outcomes. To achieve this, we worked with a group of experienced researchers with expertise in participatory textile-making methods in a series of three online workshops. Through these sessions, the research team …

Rethinking The Interior Design Process: Advancing Circularity Through Evidence-Based Design, Selin Aktan Ábrahám, Deniz Deniz

Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG) Conference Series

The footwear industry in Portugal is one of the sectors with the greatest representation in national exports and a sector of high importance for the country's economy. Although it is a mechanized industry, it is still very dependent on human labour and for which it is increasingly difficult to attract talent and captivate younger generations, putting this sector in danger in terms of its continuity. The digitalization of the footwear industry could be one of the alternatives to solve this problem, enabling cost reduction, greater autonomy, and production flexibility, as well as a closer approach to the demands of customers …

Spirituality And Outdoor Recreation In Higher Education, Sierra G. Hilton

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my project is to explore the role of spirituality in an outdoor recreation office called Outdoor Adventures at the University of San Diego. My project question is: How can I integrate spiritually focused activities in outdoor recreation to foster students’ faith and increase well-being? Themes that emerged included the perceived positivity of engaging with spirituality, the value of art in doing so, and the relevance of Catholic spirituality in the lives of college students and staff. Recommendations include the development of stronger partnerships with campus partners, the creation of a database for Catholic resources for student affairs …

Ethical Elegance: Navigating Consumer Morality And Production Practices In Fashion Through Analyzing Shein, Zara, & Vivienne Westwood, Joshua Todd Auskalnis

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis examines current gaps within sustainable business and sustainable fashion within the global fashion industry by carrying out a comparative analysis of the three companies: Shein, Zara, and Vivienne Westwood. These companies have different positions along the sustainability spectrum and offer insights into how profitability is weighed against environmental and ethical concerns. Chapter 1 addresses environmental sustainability, assessing how each brand is responsible for damaging the environment through overproduction, wastage, synthetic materials, and greenhouse gas emissions. Chapter 2 addresses ethical and social responsibility, considering workers' conditions, fair compensation, and labor protections along international supply chains. Chapter 3 draws on …

Environmental And Labor Exploitation In Dominican And Haitian Sugar Cane Plantations: A Failure To Achieve Sustainable Development Goals, Norah S. Mosquea

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper explores the dual issues of labor and environmental exploitation in sugar cane plantations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, focusing on these countries' actions in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Chapter 1 outlines the relevant SDGs, particularly those addressing labor conditions and pollution reduction. It discusses several types of pollution and its impact on laborers and surrounding communities, framing these impacts within the concept of environmental justice. Additionally, it explains how plantation-related pollution degrades all four types of ecosystem services, emphasizing cultural ecosystem services that affect people's overall well-being. Chapter 2 inspects the historical context, …

The Rainbow Nation Goes Dark: Unjust Energy Production And Load Shedding In South Africa, Grace E. Yearwood

Student Theses 2015-Present

Numerous inequalities experienced by South Africans right now are a result of the country’s previous apartheid government. One example is South Africa’s current energy distribution, which is extremely inequitable across communities due to the structurally failing energy grid and corruption within the government. Energy distribution in South Africa encapsulates the practice of load shedding, which is essentially controlled rolling electrical blackouts. Chapter One examines quantitative data regarding energy production and distribution in South Africa, including the details of load shedding. Moreover, this chapter explores the negative relationship between energy production, load shedding, and ecosystem services. The quantitative data lays the …

Climate Change Behind Prison Walls: Environmental Justice, Prison Abolition, And Social Welfare, Mia Moody

Student Theses 2015-Present

Unbeknownst to many, human rights violations occur on a large scale behind prison walls. This paper examines some of these violations, especially those exacerbated by climate change, through an environmental lense in order to emphasize the need for social welfare-based solutions in the abolition of the prison industrial complex. It also seeks to illustrate the connection between the environmental justice movement and the prison abolition movement so that marginalized peoples may be free from shouldering disproportionate effects of environmental hazards and imprisonment. This paper is introduced with a brief overview of the human rights violations occurring in prisons. Using quantitative …

Waste In The Food Industry: How Farm-To-Table Restaurants Reduce Food Waste And Promote A Circular Economy, Maia J. Werner

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the issue of food waste and how farm-to-table restaurants use minimal waste through their promotion of a circular economy. Using quantitative and qualitative data, Chapter 1 describes the current issue of wasteful human habits, diving into the causes and effects of food waste and how excessive waste affects our ecosystem. Chapter 2 explores the environmental history of farm-to-table restaurants and how we went from living on farms to living in cities, where there is a demand for more local produce. Chapter 3 delves into the environmental economic aspects of farm-to-table restaurants and their monetary versus non-monetary costs …

Breaking Down Black Beauty: Deconstructing Unsustainable Racist Practices In The Beauty Industry, Jaron Givens

Student Theses 2015-Present

The glitter of the beauty industry creates an undeniably attractive fantasy. Cosmetics and dermatology allow for finding a new sense of self through beauty. However, is beauty's fantasy world accessible to everyone, specifically the Black dance community? The beauty industry, historically and presently, has disproportionate effects on people of color communities like the Black dance community. The unsustainable practices and toxic products in the beauty industry hinder the health of Black individuals at different rates than other racial counterparts. There is still work to be done in deconstructing the racist practices of the beauty industry and in facilitating environmentally sustainable …

Consider The Culture: The Role Of Local Engagement In Global Conservation, Nicole Bailey

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper discusses global conservation efforts, making a case for community-led conservation on the bases of efficacy and long-term sustainability. As environmental conservation grows ever-important, it’s imperative that the people local to these efforts are holistically integrated into the conservation work and considered as the stakeholders they are. Local human interests are a key condition to assess when aiming for lasting, practical conservation. This paper opens with a look at the reforestation of Gunung Palung National Park as a case study of successful community-led conservation. Chapter 1 outlines the harm of environmental degradation and habitat loss through quantitative data. Here, …

Ecologies Of Urban Encroachment: How La’S Built Environment Shapes Urban Ecosystems And Wildlife, Ainsley Ramin

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper examines the impact of Los Angeles’ built environment on its ecosystems and biodiversity through the destruction of wildlife corridors and habitats and the threats urbanization poses to its native species. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, Chapter 1 describes the current threats that wildlife faces and ecosystem services that are at stake in Los Angeles due to suburban sprawl and the impacts of urbanization on its ecosystems. This chapter introduces data on the decrease in population of important species and statistics on how urbanization has been encroaching on and breaking apart habitats. Chapter 2 explores the history of …

The Dark Side Of Global Supply Chains, Megan Soong

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This article highlights the unfair supply chain practices many companies succumb to in order to increase their profits. Touching on the clothing industry, electronics, and food corporations, many big name brands hide their lack of pay, e-waste, and deforestation related operations in order to protect their name and image.