Digital Commons Network^™

Psychosocial Factors Assessment: The Influence Of Community Knowledge, Attitudes, And Perceptions On The Willingness To Participate In The Development Of Karst Caves As Geosites In Rongkop District, Gunung Kidul, Indonesia, Herdiana Anggrasari, Ni Kadek Ema Sustia Dewi, Peter Pratistha, Adha Ikhwannur, Nila Indriyana Wulan Agustin, Ichsan Nur Cahyanto

Jurnal Pendidikan Geografi: Kajian, Teori, dan Praktek dalam Bidang Pendidikan dan Ilmu Geografi

This study aims to analyze the relationship between community knowledge, attitudes, and positive–negative perceptions toward the willingness to participate in the development of karst caves in Rongkop, Gunung Kidul, as a geosite. This area possesses unique geological potential but is threatened by limestone quarrying, making conservation initiatives urgent. Primary data were collected through interviews with 60 respondents selected via simple random sampling and analyzed using the Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The results show that attitude is the strongest predictor of willingness to participate. This attitude is significantly shaped by positive perception (PP) and inhibited by negative perception …

A Feminist Examination Of Ao Naga Practices In Relation To Gender Roles And Care Work, Limatula Ozukum, Aswathy V. K.

Journal of International Women's Studies

Food practices within Indigenous communities are important sites of caregiving, cultural identity, and knowledge transmission. This study examines the food practices of the Ao Naga Tribe in Northeast India through a feminist ethnographic lens, focusing on the gendered organization of cooking, caregiving, and traditional healing practices. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork conducted in 2025, including semi-structured interviews and oral histories with community members in Nagaland’s Mokokchung district, the study explores how everyday food preparation and care practices shape household and community life. The findings reveal that women perform most of the daily cooking and caregiving responsibilities. At the same time, men …

Lesson 2. Food Systems, Climate Risk, And Food Sovereignty, Jaysel Magno, Genesis Barbon, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

Students examine how food moves through a food system and investigate how climate disruptions can affect food access in rural and tribal communities. Through analysis of food supply chains, transportation networks, and weather-related challenges, students explore the concept of food sovereignty and its connection to community resilience. Students evaluate how hydroponics can reduce vulnerability within local food systems by increasing year-round food production and local control. This lesson builds upon students’ understanding of hydroponics from Lesson 1 and prepares them to view hydroponics as a community-based solution to environmental and food access challenges.

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Scenario: A severe winter …

Resilience In Recreation: Stories Of A Changing Climate, Casey L. Auberle

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

As the impacts of climate change become increasingly prevalent, the outdoor activities that bond us to our local communities and environments are under threat. In Missoula, MT, drought, rising temperatures, and wildfire smoke change what it means to fish, ski, run, and recreate in our town. In a series of Q&A style podcasts, environmental philosophy graduate student Casey Auberle creates a platform to share stories of a changing climate through the lens of local recreators and climate activists. Capturing these voices invites us to consider our relationship with nature on both an individual and communal scale, to find unity in …

Redeveloping Mississippi: A Case Study On Brownfields In Central & Southern Mississippi, Sahrah R. Yeroozedek

Master's Theses

Brownfields, or properties that are or possibly are contaminated with dangerous materials, represent a common obstacle for communities in Mississippi. The real or potential presence of contaminants at these sites often deters investors due to costly cleanup requirements (EPA, n.d. -b). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Brownfield Revitalization Program, implemented guidelines for covering the costs and labor associated with the remediation of these properties. The EPA is not, however, responsible for redevelopment that supports long-term environmental and economic sustainability. Although the EPA maintains inventories of all Brownfields, there is also no comprehensive database of Brownfields and their current …

The Practice Of Inclusion: Indigenous Knowledge And Ethical Design, Kate E. Van Der Zalm

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Indigenous Knowledge is a cumulative body of practices and beliefs developed by Indigenous communities through generations of interaction with the natural environment. This knowledge offers valuable insights for caring for the land in sustainable and respectful ways but is not fully considered in modern planning and design practices. This research examines how Indigenous Knowledge is currently understood and used within landscape planning and design firms in British Columbia, Canada. Using a combination of existing research and interviews with design professionals and Indigenous participants, the study explores where Indigenous Knowledge is being applied, where challenges exist, and what opportunities remain for …

Development Measures For Slums Of Dhaka City : Case Study Area Korail Slum, Sanjida Ahmed Sinthia

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is extremely populated, unhygienic and environmentally degraded city. The growing number of population and environmental degradation are due to natural disaster and economic depression. As a result, the rate of urban poor is and producing huge pressure on urban lands, housing and infrastructure. Due to limited resources these poor people encroached open spaces, wetlands, vacant plots or even footpath for shelter. They don’t have any access to proper job market, healthcare facilities, education and sanitation either. These constraints are mostly resulted from the failures of the government in initiation proper policies and measures. Past …

Assesses The Green Infrastructure A Proposed Development Plan For Green Infrastructure To The City Of Kut, Ihsan Jasim

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The Problems increase dramatically day after day in cities and declining quality of life, Resulting the decline on ecosystems, To address the problems in an integrated manner infrastructure green concepts emerged in the nineties of the last century and spread throughout the world, but there seems to be lack of understanding of green infrastructure in Iraq, as well as the weakness of environmental awareness and the important role of biodiversity for human life, Therefore, the search is trying to address the knowledge gap of this concept, as well as the development of strategies for the development in the city of …

The Effect Of Landscape In Sustainability Of Schools, Sanaa Sati Abbas, Aseel Jafer Jasem

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The landscape in sustainable schools acquires great importance in the knowledge era, which is of essential development. This era deals with the components of educational system, concentrates on the educator, transfers teacher from the impart teacher to a trainer teacher, and ensure on selfeducation activity to achieve the aim of modern education, which visualize by sustainable teaching or teaching to the sake of sustainable development. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt the Environment school with the new educational needs, which ask to the development of the relationship between teachers and students and the openness on outdoor environment. So the aim …

Becoming Laser-Focused On Sustainability Leadership In Higher Education Institutions, Ray F. Coleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This dissertation explored leadership responses to integrating sustainability into higher education institutions (HEIs). Specifically, it compared statistical differences between self-perceptions of leadership and student, staff, and faculty perceptions regarding leadership effectiveness for sustainability in two Florida based HEIs: one holding a sustainability certification and one without such certification. In response to a shortage of survey instruments regarding this topic, I produced a new instrument to assess perceptions of leadership sustainability, made statistical comparisons between these two institutions to inform others of those perceptions, and synthesized several leadership components into a proposed change process identified as the Attitude Based Cognitive Dissonance …

Crafting Sustainability: Fiber Artists And The Limits Of Sustainable Production, Hallie R. Cole

Senior Theses

This research examines the role of individual fiber artists in advancing sustainability within the slow fashion movement, with particular attention to the operational decisions that shape sustainable craft practices. Scholars and practitioners acknowledge that individual fiber artists are not only key agents in sustainable production but are foundational to the existence and persistence of the slow fashion movement; however, the existing literature mainly focuses on firms or consumer behavior. Motivated by the need to fill this important research gap, this research aims to understand the decision-making of fiber artists with the goal of enhancing the progress of the Slow Fashion …

Umn Morris Receives Stars Gold Rating For Sustainability Achievements, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

Harnessing Higher Education For Regional Transformation: Case Of King Salman International University, South Sinai, Egypt, Ashraf S. Hussein, Dalia A. Elsorady

HBRC Journal

As the globe becomes more urbanised, anchor Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are becoming increasingly crucial to the well-being of cities and communities. Egypt's Vision 2030 positions universities as key pillars of national development, aiming to transform them into fourth-generation universities that foster innovation, research, entrepreneurship, and community service. The plan aligns education with economic needs, promotes a knowledge economy, and improves quality of life through digital transformation and specialized institutions to meet rising demand and accomplish Sustainable Development Goals. This paper explores the role of fourth-generation universities as anchor institutions in promoting regional development, considering various aspects, including education, urban, …

Developing Transformative Pilgrimage Tourism: Seeing The Relationship Between Stakeholders In Religion-Based Tourism Practices In Quds, Indonesia, I Nyoman Ruja

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The growing transformation of the pilgrimage tourism sector worldwide cannot be separated from relations between community groups, pilgrims and the tourism industry. This research analyses the relationships between stakeholders involved in faith-based tourism practices in Quds, Indonesia. Through a qualitative approach, we investigate, in Quds the interactions and relationships of multiple parties involved in the religious tourism industry, including pilgrims, government, local communities and related institutions. This research collects data through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. The results show that stakeholder relationships significantly create a sustainable religious tourism experience in Quds. Collaboration between pilgrims, the government and local …

Powering The Machine, Draining The Planet: Whether U.S. Environmental Law Is Equipped To Regulate The Energy And Water Demands Of Ai Data Centers, Michael Marcu

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Artificial intelligence (AI) data centers have become one of the United States' fastest-growing and least-regulated sources of environmental stress. In 2024 alone, U.S. data centers consumed 183 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity more than the entire nation of Pakistan and consumed an estimated 17 billion gallons of water (IEA, 2025; Berkeley Lab, 2024). By 2030, electricity demand from these facilities is projected to reach 426 TWh, a 133% increase in six years (Pew Research Center, 2025). This paper examines whether the existing U.S. environmental regulatory framework put by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the …

Identifying And Prioritizing Essential Healthcare Services For A Private Start-Up Healthcare Hub In Laxmipasha, Bangladesh, Ferdous Ara Mostofa

Dissertations

This quantitative study identifies and prioritizes essential healthcare services for developing a private start-up healthcare hub in Laxmipasha, Bangladesh, a rural community with significant gaps in healthcare access. Using secondary data from national and international sources, the research analyzed disease burden, population characteristics, and service availability to determine the most urgent health priorities. A structured, evidence-based framework was used to evaluate services based on mortality and morbidity, service gaps, and potential health impact. The findings indicate that Maternal and Child Health (MCH), Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) management, and infectious disease control represent the most critical priorities for initial implementation. The study …

Journeying Together: A Coaching Framework Empowering Voice And Transforming Teams, Kari Michele Kinard

Doctor of Leadership

To be seen, heard, and to have a voice are deeply human desires, regardless of where one finds oneself in the world. In the culturally and ethnically diverse Saharan nation, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (RIM), the capital, Nouakchott, serves as a central hub shaped by a strong Islamic identity, historical hierarchies, and long-standing foreign involvement in development efforts. These dynamics create both meaningful opportunities and real challenges for leadership practices across sectors.

Development efforts in RIM have long sought to strengthen communities through education, healthcare, and economic initiatives. While these efforts are well-intentioned, sustaining impact has remained a persistent …

Exploring The Principles And Values Of Co-Operative Economics And Sustainability To Inform Positive Solutions With Communities Impacted By Incarceration, Mary A. Sutton

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The United States incarcerates more people than any other country. Each month, tens of thousands of people across the country are released from prison or jail. Most return to communities that are economically, socially, and environmentally disenfranchised. The cycling of targeted populations in and out of the carceral system has imposed devastating consequences and inequities on poor Black and Brown communities, consequences that will reverberate for generations. The literature indicates a need for a critical sustainability assessment tool to examine incarceration policies and measure their real impacts on individuals, families, and communities. There is a need for sustainable solutions to …

The Networked City: City Climate Change Networks And U.S. Climate Governance, Caroline G. Cox

American University Law Review

City climate change networks complicate common narratives about the local role in environmental and climate change governance in the United States. These networks—organizations with three or more member cities or representative city staff that share information and resources—are crucial actors in supporting the increasing interest in local climate change mitigation. Building upon prior scholarship addressing mayor-led networks and municipal collaborations, this Article considers how city climate networks challenge notions of local parochialism and rebut some critiques of local climate action. The Article also evaluates the growing importance of these networks in light of changes in federal climate policy, including the …

A Proposed Model For Assessing The Impact Of Sustainable Practices On The Affordability Of Affordable Housing In Egypt Using Ahp, Ayman M Zakaria Eraqi, Omnia Nagy Abd El-Hafez, Amany Nagy Abd El-Hafez

HBRC Journal

Amid rising inflation and a housing crisis in Egypt, this research develops a model to assess the affordability of sustainable housing for low- and middle-income groups by integrating environmental, social, and economic sustainability criteria. The research methodology used Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate the relative weights of sustainability criteria in housing projects. Based on their impact on construction costs, these criteria were classified by experts into five main groups: Design Criteria (preliminary studies, initial cost, environmental planning), Neighborhood Criteria (location, design, management), Social and Cultural Criteria (privacy and safety), Natural Resource Sustainability (water, energy), Housing Unit Criteria (design and …

Connecting Business Innovation & Climate Impact, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, Alexander Pourfard, Aranza Ruvalcaba, Fowzia Farah

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The La Mesa Green Business Network (GBN) is a City-led initiative developed in partnership with the San Diego Regional Green Business Network to advance local climate goals by engaging the business community in practical, measurable sustainability actions. Launched in 2022 as part of La Mesa’s Climate Action Plan, the GBN addresses common barriers faced by small and medium-sized businesses such as limited capacity, resources, and technical expertise by providing free, industry-specific consulting, certification, and public recognition. Through tailored guidance on energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and transportation practices, the program translates citywide climate objectives into on-the-ground action while delivering …

Bringing Mutuality And Reciprocity Into Focus: A Case Study On Sustaining University-Community Partnerships For Local Systems Change And Student Learning, Jessica L. Lucero, Lucas Martin, Jayme Walters

Transforming Communities

This case study explores a long-term university-community partnership focused on addressing homelessness, highlighting the principles of mutuality and reciprocity in achieving systemic change. Over nearly a decade, the partnership has evolved to engage university resources, faculty, and social work students through research, courses, and outreach activities, such as community surveys, the Point-in-Time Count, strategic planning, advocacy, and service system expansion. These collaborative efforts have contributed to enhanced public awareness, increased state funding, and the establishment of vital services, including a warming center. The case study also underscores the challenges inherent in community-engaged scholarship, including capacity constraints like funding and staffing …

Mountain Communities During A Time Of War: A Case Study Of The Hutsul Region In The Carpathian Mountains Of Ukraine, Pavlo Rybaruk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the ethno-ecological technologies employed by the Hutsul people within the highland agrarian economy of the Carpathian Mountains. Over centuries, the Hutsuls have developed ethno-ecological technologies that maintain ecological integrity while supporting community livelihoods.

The study addresses three primary research questions: What are the most important ethno-ecological technologies of the Hutsul highland economy? How might these traditional ethno-ecological practices be applied to economic, agricultural, and tourism development in the Hutsul region? How might these traditional ethno-ecological practices be combined with contemporary approaches to encourage sustainable development in the region?

The research explores the devastating impact of the Russian …

Upcycled And Rightful: Navigating Trademark Law And The Circular Economy, Irene Calboli, Gabrielle Armstrong

Texas A&M Journal of Property Law

This Article elaborates on the practice of upcycling and argues that upcycling should be considered a lawful practice under current trademark rules in the United States. Upcycling is the process of taking existing products lawfully sold on the market, in most instances, used products, and giving these products a second life by adding additional elements and decorations or by using the still viable product parts to create new products altogether. Because of its focus on reusing existing products or product parts, the practice of upcycling has become increasingly popular, also because it promotes circular and environmentally friendly production practices. However, …

People’S Plate: The Recipe For Equitable Food Distribution, Bayleigh Nicole Thurston

Theses

Food insecurity remains a pressing issue in the United States that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, leaving millions without access to nutritious meals. In 2023 alone, over 50 million people turned to food assistance programs for additional support1. While traditional nutrition programs like food banks and soup kitchens provide a vital service to many communities, they often lack the capacity to address the multifaceted nature of hunger. The social stigma and alienation associated with seeking food assistance become of little concern when organizations are grappling with daunting challenges of limited resources, logistical hurdles, and the need to provide quality, nutritious meals. …

Sustainable Planning In Gateway Natural Amenity Region Communities, Kori Ann Kurtzeborn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study used six principles of sustainability to comprehensively score general plan documents from seven Gateway Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) communities. The goal was to investigate the sustainability values of communities with public land recreation access based on the understanding that individual participation in outdoor recreation positively influences environmental concern. The study found that while strong sustainability themes are present in gateway community general plan documents, these themes don’t necessarily correspond to higher overall sustainability scores. However, GNAR community plans prioritize the Harmony with Nature principle, indicating an emphasis on ecosystem health in communities with adjacent public land recreation.

Integrated Evaluation Of Airtightness, Acoustics, Thermal Performance, And Life-Cycle Carbon Emissions In Code-Compliant Wood-Framed And Thin-Shell Concrete Dome Residential Structures, Eduardo Ibanez Vasquez

Theses and Dissertations

The residential construction industry faces increasing demands for energy-efficient and sustainable housing solutions. In the U.S., residential buildings significantly contribute to energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, highlighting the need for enhanced building envelope performance. This study compares four residential structures: a traditional code-compliant wood-framed structure built in 1970, a traditional code-compliant wood-framed structure built in 2016, a modular code-compliant wood framed structure built in 2024, and a thin-shell concrete dome built in 2022. The analysis focuses on airtightness, acoustic insulation, passive thermal performance, and life-cycle carbon emissions, including both embodied (cradle-to-gate) and operational energy use. Field-based methods included …

Sustainable Advertising And Brand Engagement: The Role Of Consumer Minimalism And Scepticism, Hesham O. Dinana, Donato Masi, Reza Marvi, Farbod Fakhreddin

Faculty Journal Articles

Recognizing the significance of sustainable advertising practices and their influence on consumer behaviour, this study explores their capacity to not only enhance consumer engagement with the brand but also strengthen brand reputation. Additionally, it examines how these practices can promote more conscious consumption patterns, contributing to broader sustainability goals. In this line, we propose a theoretical conceptual model highlighting how customers perceive sustainability-related activities and how these perceptions can influence brand engagement, ultimately enhancing brand reputation and fostering mindful consumption. Furthermore, we also investigated the moderating roles of consumer minimalism, scepticism towards advertising, and brand value congruence in relation to …

Mapping Construction 4.0 And Sustainability For Innovation In The Construction Industry Of Developing Countries, Natalia E. Lozano-Ramírez, Nelly P. Garcia-Lopez

CIB Conferences

A country's inclusive and sustainable growth depends largely on efficient infrastructure, making it a crucial aspect of governmental, urban, and social decisions, particularly in developing countries. However, these regions face significant barriers to progress, such as low digitalization rates, limited adoption of technology, and socio-economic obstacles that hinder sustainable development. Addressing these challenges is vital to fulfilling the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and requires strategic partnerships, innovative practices, and integration within the construction sector. Furthermore, Industry 4.0 represents a promising pathway toward sustainable, technologically advanced construction; however, its adoption in developing countries remains in the early stages and …

Tourism Networks As A Mechanism For Degrowth: The Case Of The Burren Ecotourism Network In Ireland, Aisling Ward, Shirley Millar

Publications

This exploratory paper examines how a community-based ecotourism network can sustain a destination from an economic, environmental and social perspective while pertaining to a degrowth approach that measures success beyond the traditional economic variables of volume and revenue. It focuses on the Burren Eco-tourism Network (BEN) in the West of Ireland, a region known for its unique landscape and natural heritage. Nine qualitative in-depth interviews were completed using a community-based tourism case study methodology. Evidence of a degrowth mindset was littered throughout the research and this was verified through the voluntary nature surrounding its origins, the equal requirements, training and …