Digital Commons Network^™

A Call To Action: Engaging With The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel On Chemicals, Waste And Pollution, Miriam L. Diamond, Gabriel Sigmund, Marlene Ågerstrand, Michael G. Bertram, Alex T. Ford, Rainer Lohmann, Andreas Schäffer, Maria Clara V.M. Starling, Anna Soehl, Noriyuki Suzuki, Penny Vlahos, Marta Venier, Martin Scheringer

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Faculty Editor, Beth Kegley

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Featured Faculty Mentor/Student Team, Lauren Rogers, Danielle Reeves

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Overture: Journal Of International Affairs

Overture: Journal of International Affairs

Full issue of Overture: Journal of International Affairs vol. 6. Editors-in-Chief: Sydney Pascal '26 & Anavi Khanna '27. Sponsored by the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs.

Act Thompson Garden Project: Proposal And Accessibility Recommendations, Craig A. Condella, María Barragan, Olivia Costa, Kate Markowski, Sophiabella Nebroski

ENV 334 Environmental Justice

As a community oriented environmental justice project, the authors researched community gardens in school settings to make recommendations regarding the building of a community/school garden at Thompson Middle School in Newport, RI.

Water Resource Governance And Health Equity In Angola, Mads Harner

Public Health Theses

AbstractBackground: Angola is confronting a set of intertwined challenges including water insecurity, increasing climate variability, and deep structural inequality that together intensify the burden of waterborne and water-related diseases (Lombana Cordoba et al., 2021; World Health Organization, 2025). Roughly half of the population does not have reliable access to safe drinking water, and gaps in sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, especially in peri-urban and rural areas, facilitate the spread of illnesses such as cholera, diarrheal diseases, and malaria (UNICEF Angola, 2025; Moreira et al., 2012). These issues are further exacerbated by drought and broader climate variability, and underlying them are historical …

January 2026 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Signs Of Life: Interkingdom Communication And The Sympoietic Organism, Scott F. Gilbert

Biology Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Complexity Theory And Environmental Conservation Management: A Case Study With Coyote And Red Wolf Hybridization, Gretchen E. Mahalic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Conservation biology and invasion biology are value-led scientific disciplines founded on environmental advocacy, operating at the intersection of research and action. Though these disciplines are known for their scientific veracity, unexamined values are often promulgated without scrutiny and drive decisions that work against good ecological outcomes. A case in point is that coyotes migrating into southeastern territory are framed as the greatest threat to the conservation of the endangered red wolf because hybridization is seen as diminishing their species integrity. Applying Val Plumwood’s ecofeminist account of dualistic frameworks, I will use this case to show how the vilification of the …

Manatee Dock Sign Distribution And Its Influence On Publicly-Sourced Sighting Reports In Alabama, Daniela Payán Arias, Sophia C. Corde, Ruth H. Carmichael

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

A Marine Science Career In The Eastern Caribbean: Witnessing Four Decades Of Change, Hazel A. Oxenford

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Reflecting back on a long and rewarding career from 1980—2023 at the University of the West Indies, based on the small island of Barbados, this paper tracks the many and often remarkable changes in the marine environment, in attitudes and policies, and available opportunities that have influenced my journey as a marine scientist in an ever—changing but resilient Caribbean. From free—access fisheries to degraded stocks, from coral to algal dominated reefs, from flyingfish to Almaco Jacks, from sandy beaches and clear water to a Sargassum crisis — these are just some of the fundamental changes in the marine environment that …

How Well Does Humboldt County Incorporate Indigenous Values Within Conservation Tourism?, Ula Simonsen-Webb

IdeaFest 2026

In what ways and how well does Humboldt County incorporate Indigenous values within conservation tourism? Through this project I applied the term of conservation tourism as a methodology for creating better tourism management strategies. Indigenous knowledge, values and perspectives are at the forefront of this project.

Sustainability Employee Educators Developing Solutions (Seeds), Katie Koscielak

IdeaFest 2026

My poster shares information, photos, and lessons learned from four years of implementing a campus sustainability program called SEEDS (the acronym stands for: Sustainability Employee Educators Developing Solutions): Born from gaps identified in the triennial STARS report, SEEDS brings together volunteer staff and faculty to advance peer sustainability education at Cal Poly Humboldt. Now in its fourth year and contributing to EN 3 Staff Engagement & Training points earned in STARS, the program incentivizes the growth of sustainability champions across campus.

Addressing Eco-Ableism In Richmond, Virginia's Urban Master Plan, Ren Hollis

UROP Posters

As Richmond, Virginia, approaches its 300th anniversary in 2037 and continues implementing Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth, questions remain about whether individuals with disabilities are equitably represented in the city’s future planning. Richmond 300 is the comprehensive plan guiding Richmond’s policies, programs, zoning changes, and redevelopment. This master plan is a “living document” that will evolve as the city grows, meaning revisions and improvements are possible before its full implementation. This study asks: Is eco-ableism present in Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth, and how could the City of Richmond address this issue?

Ableism refers to discrimination against individuals …

The Myopia Epidemic: Integrating Genetic, Environmental, And Epigenetic Pathways To Define A Critical Window For Intervention, Pranavika Balaji

UROP Posters

Myopia, or nearsightedness, has increased rapidly worldwide and is now a major public health concern caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Current understanding shows that too much near work, limited time spent outdoors, and prolonged screen use contribute to abnormal eye growth in individuals who may already have a genetic predisposition. At the molecular level, epigenetic changes and shifts in DNA activity, often influenced by environmental conditions, affect the signaling pathways that regulate eye development and may help explain why myopia is increasingly common among children. This paper synthesizes recent environmental, genetic, and epigenetic research to explain how these …

Allowing Unlimited Pfas Manufacturing Contradicts The Core Intention Of The European Union’S Pfas Restriction Proposal, Anna J. Miller, Amanda Rensmo, Ian Cousins, Rainer Lohmann, Gretta Goldenman, Dorte Herzke, Xenia Trier, Zhanyun Wang, Martin Scheringer

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Systems Analysis Of Long-Term Community Recovery Following The 2023 Lāhainā Wildfire: Understanding Recovery As A Complex Adaptive Social-Ecological System, Christy Shaver

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Spatiotemporal Changes And Predicting Land-Use Dynamics Using An Artificial Neural Network In Worcester City, Massachusetts, Mst Sanjida Alam, Mijanur Rahman, Nusrut Sharmin, Md Naim Molla, Hossain Al Mahbub, Mohammad Muniruzzaman, Md Nadim Rahman, Edris Alam

Student Publications [Scholarly]

The land use and land cover (LULC) change has a remarkable impact on the urban ecosystems due to its effect on the environmental processes, natural resources, and urban sustainability. The aim of this study was to conduct the spatiotemporal analysis of LULC in Worcester City, Massachusetts, and to identify the dynamics of forest cover and justify its causes in the given time range of 2003–2023. LULC classification and forest change detection were done with high-resolution datasets provided by the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). The MLP-ANN outperformed logistic regression and achieved higher in overall accuracy percentages and location Kappa values. …

Modeling And Performance Evaluation Of Machine Learning For Historical And Future Land Use And Land Cover Dynamics In Chattogram District, Bangladesh, Mst Sanjida Alam

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Introduction – Land use and land cover (LULC) change is rapidly redrawing the environmental landscape of coastal Bangladesh. Methods – This study integrates Landsat-based classification, machine learning-based approaches, and Markov Chain simulation to assess historical and future LULC dynamics in Chattogram District. Results – Random Forest classification achieved overall accuracies of 95.96%, 90.45%, and 94.25% for 2006, 2015, and 2025, respectively. Results reveal substantial cropland expansion (+32, 375 ha) and continued growth of built-up land, accompanied by declines in vegetation, waterbodies, and bare land. Random Forest demonstrated strong predictive performance, achieving an out-of-bag (OOB) accuracy of 92.63% and a skill …

“I Don’T Always See A Future For Me Here”: Oppressive Political Pressures On Lgbtq+ College Students’ Well-Being, Jodi Linley, Olivia M. Copeland, Kathleen J. Buell, Cindy Ann Kilgo, Megan Pendleton, Alex C. Lange, N F. Tennessen

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

In recent decades, colleges have broadly supported LGBTQ+ students. Now, institutions have shuttered LGBTQ+ initiatives in response to political pressures, with little consideration for the effects on students. This study answers the question, what current policy factors do LGBTQ+ college students describe as affecting their well-being, and in what ways? We analyzed 426 responses from a multi-institution study of LGBTQ+ students. By and large, students feel anxious and fearful as they navigate the current climate. Our analysis illustrated numerous factors, from the President and his administration to states and general emboldened violence, and the real and potential consequences of those …

Lessons For Transformative Ocean Science From The Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (Imber) Project, Deborah Santos Prado, Ella-Kari Muhl, Mia Strand, Derek Armitage, Nina Bednaršek, Stephanie Brodie, Christopher Cvitanovic, John Claydon, Sam Dupont, Karen Evans, Alistar Hobday, Eileen Hofmann, Raleigh Hood, Laura Kaikkonen, Dongyan Liu, Jessica Melbourne-Thomas, Franz Mueter, Eugene Murphy, Prateep Kumar Nayak, Alice Newton, Heidi Pethybridge, Carol Robinson, Samiya Selim, Rowan Trebilco, Micaela Trimble, Fang Zuo

CCPO Publications

This paper synthesizes the key contributions and lessons learned from Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR), a large-scale global research project aimed at fostering ocean sustainability under global change for the benefit of society. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development has catalyzed a renewed focus on the importance of transforming ocean science. IMBeR’s global activity over the past decade has focused on promoting transformative science by generating, mobilizing, and communicating the knowledge needed to support ocean governance. Key contributions from IMBeR participants include quantifying and comparing historic and present structure and functioning of linked ocean and human systems, …

Letter From The Dean, Jeff Edwards

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Culturally Grounded Interventions Within Natural Settings: An Investigation Of How Cultural Learning Within Place Can Lead To The Enhancement Of Well-Being, Dean Masaji Tanikawa

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examines the impact of Culturally Grounded Interventions within Natural Settings on participants’ health and well-being, using Wilson’s (2008) Indigenous Paradigm to counter the limitations of past positivist approaches used by non-Native researchers. Culturally Grounded Interventions incorporating traditional Hawaiian practices such as mahi ‘āina (farming), koa ‘āina (reforestation), and Lā’au Lapa’au (herbal therapy) were performed at Ho’oulu ‘Āina, a nature preserve in Kalihi Valley, Hawaiʻi,  Ho’oulu ‘Āina, sits on a wahi pana (sacred site), and serves the Kalihi community with cultural education and healing. The study highlights, how relationships, including connections to land (‘āina), …

Restoring The People-Powered Energiewende, Carol Hager

Environmental Studies Research and Scholarship

Germany was an early leader in the energy transition. In contrast to the country’s general top-down policymaking style, the Energiewende proceeded from the bottom up, through the activism of small innovators and local communities. The 2000 Renewable Energy Sources Act supported the local transition primarily through feed-in tariffs. The locally based Energiewende yielded diverse benefits, including climate resilience, economic vitality, and community efficacy. Technological challenges, however, combined with pressure from incumbent utilities, led the German government to shift back toward a more centralized model. As community ownership stalled, local opposition to facilities imposed from outside grew, slowing the transition and …

The Conservation Value Of Silvicultural Systems For Breeding And Post-Fledging Bird Communities In Northeastern North America, Christopher Andrew Liazos

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Forest bird community decline in the eastern United States is partly due to the lack of early-and-late-successional forests stemming from historic land use. Silviculture can create underrepresented forest age classes and structures to support avian communities during the breeding and post-fledging periods. In southwestern New Hampshire, we conducted a case study evaluating avian conservation value indices across silvicultural systems. Our goal was to observe how avian conservation value indexes and abundance differed between recently managed and unmanaged stands. We surveyed 215 breeding and 118 post-fledging points across 22 sites using point counts and vegetation surveys. Conservation values in the breeding …

Assessing Use Of Invasive Understory Plant Species By The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene Carolina Carolina) Within A Massachusetts Wildlife Management Area, Karoline Weston

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Eastern box turtles are facing population declines across their range due to habitat loss, vehicular strikes, and illegal collection. A lesser-explored aspect of eastern box turtle conservation is the role of non-native, invasive vegetation in shaping fine scale habitat use. Invasive vegetation can alter habitat structure and quality, yet its role in eastern box turtle behavior remains unstudied. To evaluate this relationship, I tracked 19 eastern box turtles via radio telemetry throughout the 2022 active season in a Massachusetts wildlife management area. My study addressed six questions: (1) Do eastern box turtles exhibit a preference for microhabitats containing invasive vegetation? …

Octavia E. Butler's Healing Heroines: An Exploration Of Black Girl Magic In The Patternist Series, Monique Skinner

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explores the concept of healing as Black Girl Magic in the five novels that make up Octavia E. Butler’s Patternist series. Through textual analysis backed in Afrofuturist theory the study answers the questions: How does Butler depict Black women as healers in the Patternist series? and What is her vision of Black women in the Afrofuture? On a deeper level, the study uses character analysis to examine the literary trope of the Black woman healer and how her magical power translates as literal Black Girl Magic. Through a journey of speculative literary discovery, we uncover the archetypes of …

Sustainable Justice: A Critical Contemplative Approach To Sustainability In Higher Education, Jessica A. Reneau

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The field of sustainability studies increasingly asks students to confront ecological crises alongside considerations of power, privilege, and unequal environmental harm. This work can be emotionally challenging as well as intellectually complex. Contemplative practices, such as meditation and yoga, may offer meaningful pedagogical support, helping students cultivate the attention, reflection, and emotional capacity needed to stay engaged with justice-centered sustainability learning. Although the use of contemplative pedagogies is growing in higher education, little research has examined how these practices shape justice-orientated learning outcomes in sustainability education. This dissertation addresses that gap by exploring how both student and instructor experience contemplative …

Climate Resilience In Action: Process-Based Equity For Co-Governed, Socially Cohesive, Ecologically Integrated Democracies Through The Design And Implementation Of Nature-Based Solutions, Donna Choih

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) governance and behavior have the potential to become more equitable, beginning with a closer examination of what equity entails. Governance and behavior together are the actions manifest from internal dispositions and thoughts that facilitate the process of decision-making, in this case, for equitable NbS. This critical review seeks to (1) address the gap in literature on human development and behavioral dimensions of procedural justice for NbS by further defining process-based equity (PbE), and (2) present a framework of best practices for equitable NbS. This framework, along with a complementary conceptual model, was developed using the Preferred Reporting …