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Financing A Cooler Future: Sustainable Finance And Environmental Justice In The Bronx, Akhila M. Dissanayake

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis examines the ways in which sustainable finance and green marketing might be used as instruments to address climate injustice, using the Bronx as a case study of a neighborhood that is disproportionately impacted by the urban heat island effect. The research intends to demonstrate how creative financial mechanisms and successful messaging tactics may promote more equitable adaptation to climate change in urban contexts by fusing ideas from environmental history, economics, and communications. The concept of environmental justice is presented in Chapter 1, which also describes how the Bronx's demographic groupings are disproportionately affected by climate change, including excessive …

The Legacy Of Lead: Lead Exposure's Harmful Effects And Its Concentration In Poc Communities, Layla Sophronia Barber

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis examines the disproportionate burden of lead exposure carried by low income, POC communities. The systemic nature of this problem is a symptom of a longstanding legacy of environmental injustice in the United States. Decades of federal neglect are reflected in the higher statistics of lead exposure and poisoning in predominantly black communities. While it is understood that lead exposure poses a serious threat to physical health and early cognitive development, there is a discouraging lack of urgency to remove the toxin from non-wealthy communities. The material covered by this thesis aims to identify and correct the discriminatory social …

A System That Runs On Beef: The Effects Of Modern Cattle Farming On The Environment, Sean E. Fitzgerald

Student Theses 2015-Present

Abstract

This paper discusses the economic, ethical, and environmental impacts of modern cattle ranching in the United States, as well as e4orts taken to mitigate environmental damage as a result of agriculture. With the world population on the rise, and society becoming more disconnected from their food than ever, is important to understand the history of how modern-day agriculture came to be as it is, and how we can combat some of the unique challenges it poses. Chapter 1 covers the current problems in modern day cattle farming, as well as the ecology of cattle, both behavioral and biological, and …

Feeding The Desert: From Food Insecurity To Food Sovereignty In Rural And Urban America, Megan Scalera

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis examines the realities of food insecurity in the United States. Through comparing rural and urban hotspots of insecurity, it aims to address the frameworks that create the inability for certain regions to access safe, nutritious food. Chapter 1 details the current status of food insecurity in the United States and reveals the relevance these issues hold in regard to ecosystem services. Chapter 2 summarizes the environmental history of both rural and urban areas now described as food insecure or considered food deserts. This chapter uses small case studies, rural Appalachia and urban Detroit, MI, to assist in describing …

The Rise Of A New Dawn: Solar Energy And Us-China Relations, Regina Miller

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis addresses the challenge of aligning a renewable energy transition with the pursuit of US-China relations in a period defined by climate change and growing energy demand. Using quantitative and qualitative data in Chapter 1, the global problem is introduced by describing key differences in the impact of renewable and nonrenewable energies on ecosystem services, outlining the justifications for an energy transition focused on sustainability. Chapter 2 draws on historic and political perceptions of solar power to examine the shift toward renewables. This chapter highlights differences between the US and China to show how solar energy systems emerge under …

The Prospect Of F.E.W. Resources: How Food, Energy, And Waste Management Workforce Programs Address Global Equity And Sustainability, Quincy P. Biddle

Student Theses 2015-Present

As a global society, the issues affecting a specific city or country are no longer isolated; instead, they impact other places in myriad ways. Over the past few decades, environmental degradation and economic inequality, both within and between countries, have caused shortages of necessities like food and water, inadequate access to safe energy sources, and increased pollution, impacting people’s prosperity and the well-being of the planet. It is of global interest to remediate these issues for the betterment and progress of society, and thus, an approach to addressing these complications collectively and comprehensively is of utmost importance. This paper investigates …

Secondhand Or Second-Class? Environmental Injustice In Global Textile Waste Trade, Wendy S. Escalante

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the issue of textile waste dumping, specifically how secondhand clothing exports from the Global North create environmental, social, and public health burdens in the Global South. The study focuses on case studies in Chile’s Atacama Desert, where shipments of used clothing overwhelm local waste infrastructures and worsen patterns of environmental injustice. Chapter 1 describes the global flows of textile waste, including trade volumes, landfill accumulation, and the impacts of discarded clothing on ecosystem services such as clean water, fertile soils, and breathable air, alongside health risks from microplastic pollution, toxic runoff, and respiratory hazards from textile fires. …

Lithium Extraction In Chile, Estrella Pallares Medina

Student Theses 2015-Present

This article examines the environmental, political, and economic dimensions of lithium mining in Chile's Atacama Desert, a critical site within South America's "Lithium Triangle." Chapter 1 utilizes both quantitative and qualitative data to introduce the environmental problems of water shortage, ecosystem stress, and biodiversity loss associated with lithium mining, presented within the framework of the ecosystem services approach. This approach categorizes the impacts into four categories: supporting, regulating, provisioning, and cultural, which affect both human and ecological well-being. Chapter 2 applies the academic field of political ecology to analyze how corporate accountability, government policy, and governance shape environmental performance and …

A Sturdy Future: Mangrove Restoration Against Climate Extremes, Gabriella Marie Siasoco

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the impacts of climate change on natural disasters and examines how rehabilitation of mangrove forests in Mesoamerica and the Caribbean can mitigate those effects. Rising ocean and atmospheric temperatures contribute to higher sea levels and more severe hurricanes and tropical storms, characterized by increased frequency, duration, and intensity in peak winds, storm surges, and rainfall. Mangrove ecosystems act as vital buffers against coastal disturbances such as tsunamis and extreme storms, while contributing to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. Additionally, they improve water quality by filtering nutrients, preventing eutrophication. Despite their ecological and economic value, mangroves in …

Isolated By Design: An Analysis Of The Texas Energy Grid, Samantha Prado

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper examines how climate change impacts Texas’s energy grid and identifies strategies for building grid resilience by focusing on renewable energy solutions and the inclusion of marginalized groups in decision-making processes. Understanding the conditions that led to the 2021 energy crisis and how they continue to impact Texas residents is critical in advocating for policy reform and climate adaptation. Therefore, the paper begins with the grid’s failure during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 to demonstrate how the crisis resulted from extreme weather, market design, policy choices, and inadequate infrastructure. Chapter One analyzes the environmental impact of generating electricity …

Solid Waste Management In Greater Khartoum City, Sudan, Roba Mahmoud

Student Theses 2015-Present

This study investigates the rising solid waste management (SWM) dilemma in Greater Khartoum City (GKC), a critical environmental and public health issue caused by fast urbanization and inadequate infrastructure, with historical linkages to Sudan's colonial and postcolonial growth. Chapter 1 describes the current problem using quantitative and qualitative data, demonstrating that GKC produces approximately 3,340 tons of waste each day, with 56% organic matter, 8% plastics, and 16% paper. Collection efficiency remains severely poor, at 31.5%. Informal recyclers known as Nakasha or Barkata collect approximately 7% of total waste, supporting roughly 3,900 people, whereas filthy open dumps and unsorted medical …

Consulting For Chicagoland: Updating The Greenest Region Compact, Samantha Soria, Max Alexander, Ryan Regelbrugge

Honors Capstones

The Greenest Region Compact (GRC), created by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC), is a regional sustainability framework used by over 176 local government signatories in the Chicagoland region, but was last updated nearly a decade ago. Students in this capstone project were tasked with proposing updates to a portion of the framework’s 49 goals, offering practical insights, new viewpoints, and integrating the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region (CAP). Students consulted municipal experts, identified relevant case studies, and gathered resources to support municipalities in applying the framework to their planning and operations. As part of their work, students enhanced …

Taxidermy And Technology: A History Of Climate Change Exhibitions At American Museums Of Natural History, Laura Haushalter, Amy Woodson-Boulton

Honors Thesis

My research is on the history of temporary and permanent climate change exhibitions at natural history museums in the United States. My primary research question is: How have natural history museums responded to human-caused environmental destruction through their exhibitions, and what, if anything, are natural history museums doing now to address our current environmental crisis? My research begins with a historiography of natural museums and examines how early 20th-century museums responded to a sense of environmental crisis and widespread threats of species extinction. In the early 20th century, museums shifted from Victorian-era glass cases to modern and artistic dioramas that …

Master Of Social Work Portfolio - Rooted In Relationship: A Journey Toward Integrated, Justice-Oriented Social Work Practice, Elisabeth Noel Marshall

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio represents my professional development throughout the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana. Grounded in systems and ecological perspectives, trauma-informed practice, and the Just Practice framework, this work demonstrates the integration of clinical, mezzo, and macro social work practice across diverse settings, including therapeutic residential care, collegiate wellbeing, assisted living, and substance use treatment.

Through direct practice experiences, policy analysis, program evaluation, advocacy, and community engagement, this portfolio highlights the development of competencies aligned with the Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Particular emphasis is placed on relationship-centered practice, justice-oriented advocacy, …

A Restoration By Mangroves: Marilao And Pasig River Plan For Restoration, Julian Luis Flores

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper discusses the restoration of the Pasig Rivers of the Philippines using the wondrous magic of mangrove trees to bring back various aquatic, flora, and bird species. The Pasig River was once the Philippines’ most beautiful river, spanning the entire Metro Manila, with different floral species blooming, teeming marine life, and being a significant transportation route. However, throughout the years, urbanization has caused the state of the river to decline drastically. Improper waste segregation, disposal, and improper river maintenance have given it the title “Manila’s toilet.” This is why it is essential to restore the river to its status …

Empirical Results From The Eliminations Of Municipal Minimum Parking Requirements, David A. Griffith

Honors Theses

Minimum Parking Requirements (MPR) are municipal zoning ordinances mandating a set number of off-street parking spaces for new developments. Since the 1950s, MPR has been the near-universal way American municipalities supply parking, though growing criticisms since the late 1990s have targeted the policy for distorting development patterns, imposing high costs, and subsidizing personal vehicle use. Beginning in the early 2010s and increasingly in the early 2020s, cities and counties across the United States have moved to reform or eliminate MPR. This paper is the first empirical study of the economic effects of these removals. Using a two-way fixed-effects difference-in-differences OLS …

Novel Use Of Ped-Xrf For Identification Of Ccr In Fill Units And Comingled Media, Charla Barnes, Harris Byers, Eric Hageman

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The EPA CCR Legacy Rule requires utilities to identify any areas of land on which noncontainerized accumulation of CCR is received, is placed, or is otherwise managed. While performing preliminary delineation efforts for implementation of the Legacy Rule, it has become apparent that not all encountered materials are easily identified through visual means. Depending on unit location, previous uses of the land underlying the potential CCR Management Units, and the type of native soils present, there may be uncertainty if an encountered material is CCR, native soil, or another non-CCR material. In cases where the color/texture of CCR fill is …

Invasive Macrofungi In The United States: A Mushrooming Crisis, Emily Torres

Student Theses 2015-Present

Globalization has accelerated the spread of invasive species, making them one of the largest contributors to biodiversity loss worldwide. While invasive macrofungi remain largely absent from scientific discourse on invasive species, they represent a growing ecological concern throughout the United States. Invasive macrofungi disrupt forest ecosystems, alter soil communities, and displace native fungi. Beyond these ecological impacts, their presence and establishment profoundly affect human-nature relationships, most notably mushroom foraging and cultivation practices. This paper adopts a multidisciplinary approach to examine the ecological, economic, and anthropogenic impacts of invasive macrofungi in the United States. Chapter 1 provides a quantitative overview of …

Stability Of Sufentanil Sublingual Microtablets (Dzuveo) In Extreme Cold Weather Conditions: An Experimental Study, David Mcconnell, Hayley Manners, Paul Sutton, Nicola Gawman, Tim Parham, Jonathon Lowe

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Introduction Extreme cold weather environments are challenging for medication storage and delivery, particularly for injectable analgesics vulnerable to freezing and device failure. These risks may compromise pain management in austere or operational settings where temperature control cannot be maintained. Sufentanil sublingual microtablets (sold in the UK as Dzuveo) provide an oral analgesic option with manufacturer-reported sub-zero stability. Evidence describing the effects of sustained extreme cold exposure and repeated freeze–thaw cycling on chemical stability and delivery system function is limited.Methods We conducted a laboratory study assessing the effect of sustained freezing and repeated freeze–thaw exposure on sufentanil sublingual microtablets (30 µg …

The Lumberjack, May 06, 2026

Cal Poly Humboldt's Student Newspaper

The student newspaper of Humboldt State University.

Cougar Insider Vol. 1 Iss. 7, University Of Minnesota Morris. Chancellor's Office

Cougar Insider

A Message from Michael C. Rodriguez, Chancellor -- UMN Morris Faculty and Staff Honored -- UMN Morris Signs Okanagan Charter -- Baade Finds More is Morris... in Less than Four Years -- Digital Accessibility Deadline Extended -- Upcoming Events

2026-05-06 Union Green Provides Sunny Haven For Students, Julia Pilch

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Blockchain Technology Activation By Audit Clients On Internal Control Structure Effectiveness: An Experimental Study, Samir Ibrahim Abdelazim, Fahad Saad Alrobia

Scientific Journal of King Faisal University: Humanities and Management Sciences

The research aimed to study and test the impact of blockchain activation by audit clients on the effectiveness of the internal control structure. To achieve the research objective, an experimental approach was used to test the research hypotheses on a sample of auditors belonging to accounting and auditing firms in Egypt. According to auditing standards, specifically the second fieldwork standard, the auditor is responsible for performing tests of compliance and adherence related to internal controls for the purpose of assessing the level of control risk, and thus the risk of material misstatement, leading to the planning of detection risk. The …

Exploring Adventure Tourism In Saudi Arabia: A Strategic Analysis Of Emerging Opportunities, Enas Fares Yehia

Scientific Journal of King Faisal University: Humanities and Management Sciences

This study explores Saudi Arabia's emerging adventure tourism sector, highlighting its potential as a dynamic destination for enthusiastic explorers. Anchored within the strategic framework of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is rapidly transforming its tourism landscape to diversify its economy and attract visitors. Leveraging its diverse geographical features, including the Rub' al Khali and Red Sea, the Kingdom offers a wide array of adventure tourism experiences. The aim of this study is to investigate various facets of adventure tourism in Saudi Arabia, including desert expeditions, marine activities and cultural exploration. Additionally, insights from a comprehensive stakeholder survey are integrated to unveil …

Employing Artificial Intelligence Applications And Their Implications For Developing The Saudi Sports System, Wael Abdel Raouf Khalifa

Scientific Journal of King Faisal University: Humanities and Management Sciences

This study aims to explore the reality of employing artificial intelligence (AI) applications and their impact on the development of the Saudi sports system. This is achieved through identifying the strategic objectives of employing AI applications in the sports field, the methods of utilizing them in this area, the Kingdom's efforts to provide the appropriate technological environment for AI applications, and the gains achieved from employing these applications to develop the sports system. The researcher used the descriptive method (survey studies approach), in which the research community consisted of the employees of the Ministry of Sports in the Kingdom of …

The Role Of Organizational Learning In Transforming Universities Into Learning Organizations - A Comparative Study At The University Of Majmaah, Amal Said Habaka

Scientific Journal of King Faisal University: Humanities and Management Sciences

Organizational learning is one of the most important activities and procedures that transform university members from individual learning to team learning through sharing knowledge among themselves and at all organizational levels within the university, making it a learning organization that can compete with other universities. Therefore, the research aims to benefit from the experiences of some foreign universities to transform the University of Majmaah into a learning organization in the light of organizational learning. The research has followed the comparative approach, which depends on the comparative analysis of some foreign universities to reach the results of the research. The results …

Analyzing Preparedness For Compliance With The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Cbam) Across Member States Of The European Union, Vincent Pfattner

Politics Honors Papers

The European Union’s implementation of the CBAM is a climate change-driven initiative aimed at preventing carbon leakages. This thesis aims to investigate the underlying reasons for the variation in preparedness to comply with CBAM. Exposure to CBAM-covered Extra-EU imports serves as a proxy for preparedness, a measure of the economic constraints EU countries face. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, including Regression Analysis, Bayesian model averaging, and comparative case studies of EU countries. The results show a strong association between preparedness levels and institutional factors, particularly regulatory capacity. In contrast, political, financial, and geographical factors exhibit limited influence on a …

Invisible Fallout: Economic Health, Environmental Injustice, And The Social Legacy Of The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Isabella G. Bailey-Sims

Honors Theses

This paper examines the long-term impacts of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) in western Kentucky, framing its legacy as a form of “invisible fallout” in which economic growth was accompanied by delayed environmental and public health consequences. Established in the early 1950s, the plant served as a major economic driver, providing stable employment and transforming the regional economy. However, its operation involved the handling of radioactive materials and hazardous chemicals, leading to environmental contamination and occupational exposure risks that were not fully disclosed during its active years.

Drawing on epidemiological studies, environmental reports, and socioeconomic analyses, this study identifies …

Illinois Wesleyan Announces Candidates For Graduation 2026, Ryan Gibson

Press Releases 2020-2029

No abstract provided.

Red Lines, Green Blooms: Assessing The Effects Of Historical Environmental Disparity On Algal Communities In The Twin Cities, Mn, Georgia C. Akins

Environmental Studies Honors Projects

Redlining, a discriminatory housing policy from the 1930s, shaped lastng urban inequalites that may extend to environmental conditons. This study examines links between redlining and urban water quality in the Twin Cites using algal communites as indicators. Across 28 water bodies sampled in 2022 and 2024, physical, chemical, and biological metrics were compared by redlining grade. Results show limited relatonships between redlining and most variables, with only surface water temperature differing significantly. Nutrients and algal diversity were unrelated to redlining, instead reflectng present-day conditons. These findings suggest contemporary factors play a stronger role than redlining in shaping urban freshwater ecosystems.