Digital Commons Network^™

A Guided Ungrading Example For Independent Research Projects In An Upper-Division Ecosystem Ecology Stem Course, Christine S. O'Connell

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Ungrading is a pedagogical approach that, in some iterations, emphasizes formative feedback and student self-assessment over traditional point-based grading. While increasingly popular in the humanities and social sciences, ungrading remains uncommon in STEM courses, particularly those that are content-intensive. This article presents a structured example of ungrading implemented in an upper-division ecosystem ecology course through a 7-week independent research project. Students used public or previously collected ecological data to investigate a scientific question, culminating in a short-format, manuscript-style research paper and a 10 min oral presentation. The project was scaffolded with multiple checkpoints, including structured reflections, peer review, and instructor …

Wine-Rs Or Losers: Assessing The Socio- Economic Impact Of Eu Regulations On Climate-Exacerbated Pests And Diseases In Northern Italian Viticulture, Kyley Fishman

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

As climate change creates extreme weather events, unprecedented disease and pest infestations, European farmers are challenged by these threats. Balancing sustainable and traditional practices while maintaining socio-economic stability under European Union agroregulations can be extremely difficult. An area of concern for the EU is viticulture, which is among the most climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. My study examines in what ways the EU’s regulations addressing climate-exacerbated pests and plant diseases influence the socioeconomics of different vineyard farms in Northern Italy. Three key socio-economic findings emerged from the analysis. First, top-down and research-driven management strategies can subvert local, place-based knowledge, which undermines traditional …

The Colby Echo (2025-10-30), Colby College

The Colby Echo

Published by the students of Colby College since 1877, The Colby Echo is the weekly, editorially independent student-run newspaper of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Published monthly, 1877-1886; semi-monthly, 1886-1897; and weekly during the academic year, 1898-present.

Community-Engaged Research For Gulf Resilience, Devon Brenner, Brenna Jungers, Katerina Sergi

Publications

The Gulf Coast faces complex environmental, economic, and cultural challenges, often resulting in conflicting community interests. Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) offers a collaborative approach where researchers and community members co-design and implement studies to address these issues. By involving communities from the onset, CEnR fosters trust, respects local knowledge, and ensures research outcomes are beneficial and equitable. This method is particularly vital in the Gulf region, where diverse interest group needs must be balanced to maximize positive impact and minimize harm.

The Lumberjack, October 29, 2025

Cal Poly Humboldt's Student Newspaper

The student newspaper of Humboldt State University.

The Role Of Standardisation In Enhancing Employee Performance And Customer Satisfaction In Nigerians Hospitality Industry, Okadigwe John Chukwujekwu

Bulletin of Culinary Art and Hospitality

In today’s highly competitive and service-driven global economy, the hospitality industry in Nigeria faces increasing pressure to deliver consistent, high-quality services. Standardisation, which involves the implementation of uniform procedures and operational guidelines, has emerged as a strategic tool for ensuring service consistency, enhancing employee productivity, and improving customer satisfaction. The study used a descriptive survey design. Ninety-four respondents, including hotel employees and customers, were selected through purposive and convenience sampling. Data were gathered using an online questionnaire based on a four-point Likert scale, reviewed for validity by academic experts and tested for reliability using Cronbach’s Alpha. SPSS software was used …

Rewilding The Built Environment: Navigating Economic, Political, And Social Barriers To Urban Ecological Restoration, Carly E. Smith

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Urban rewilding offers a nature-based approach to restoring ecological processes in cities while advancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and public well-being. Unlike conventional green infrastructure, rewilding allows ecosystems to develop with minimal intervention, emphasizing succession, complexity, and long-term adaptability. This paper examines the political, economic, and social factors that frame how rewilding is understood and implemented in urban planning. Governmental frameworks often prioritize order, predictability, and short-term results, making it difficult to accommodate the uncertainty and ecological complexity that rewilding requires. Economic models struggle to capture its long-term value, frequently overlooking ecosystem services or reconciling competing land uses. Social perceptions of …

Immigrant Catholics’ Perspectives And Engagement On Climate Crisis, Tison Vadakkekudiyil Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this generic qualitative study, how immigrant Catholics in the United States make sense of climate change and environmental justice was examined, addressing a critical gap in understanding how faith and cultural identity shape environmental engagement among marginalized communities. Guided by sensemaking theory and the Catholic principle of integral ecology, as outlined in Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’, the research question addressed how church-going immigrant Catholics in Maryland perceive and engage with the climate crisis, considering their religious beliefs and concerns for environmental justice. Seventeen first-and second-generation adult immigrants participated in semistructured interviews, and data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s …

Circular Aesthetics: Designing For Longevity And Emotional Durability In The Post-Fast-Fashion Era, Arana Gjoni

UBT International Conference

This paper examines the intersection of circular design and emotional aesthetics in contemporary fashion, proposing the concept of “circular aesthetics” as a design philosophy that prioritizes longevity, repairability, and emotional attachment over disposability. Moving beyond the limitations of fast fashion, the study explores how designers can cultivate deeper affective connections between users and garments by integrating material authenticity, narrative symbolism, and participatory design processes. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Jonathan Chapman’s Emotionally Durable Design (2005), Kate Fletcher’s Sustainable Fashion and Textiles (2014), and Tim Ingold’s Making (2013), the research emphasizes fashion’s potential to evoke empathy, memory, and care as …

International Conference On Integrated Design, University For Business And Technology (Ubt) In Kosovo

UBT International Conference

UBT Annual International Conference is the 14th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make them be aware of the recent …

Employment And The Impact Of Nepotism In Human Resources, Arsim Gjinovci, Dren Gjinovci

UBT International Conference

The two interconnected problems of nepotism and corruption damage economic growth and public institutions while breaking down the rule of law. Nepotism manifests when organizations give employment opportunities to family members and personal acquaintances instead of selecting candidates based on their professional qualifications. Nepotism and corruption together create an environment of unfair competition that damages public trust between citizens and investors which threatens democratic governance. The research investigates which elements support nepotism and corruption while studying their effects on organizations and economic performance of the nation. The research investigates how these phenomena directly influence personnel selection and career progression throughout …

Understanding Rice Production Stagnation In The Philippines: Regional Evidence And Development Implications, Henry Bartelet, Alenn Jhulia D. Prodigalidad, Janelle S. Dy, Jan Gabriel N. Manzano

Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Faculty Publications

Despite decades of investment in agricultural research and rice development, the Philippines continues to face stagnation in domestic rice production. This persistent trend, occurring despite a sizable arable land base and large rural workforce, has contributed to the country’s growing reliance on rice imports to meet national food needs. In response, the government has implemented a tariff-based import system designed to fund domestic productivity improvements. While previous studies have explored the technical and environmental constraints affecting rice production, such as irrigation shortfalls, land degradation, and climate variability, few have examined recent national trends using regionally disaggregated data alongside qualitative insights. …

Semi-Automated Extraction Of Active Fire Edges From Tactical Infrared Observations Of Wildfires, Christopher C. Giesige, Eric Goldbeck-Dimon, Andrew Klofas, Mario Miguel Valero

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Highlights: What are the main findings? This article presents an image processing method to semi-automatically track wildfire progression. The algorithm was successfully applied to aerial infrared imagery acquired during tactical fire management operations. What are the implications of the main finding? These results illustrate how tactical data can be used in fire behavior studies. The proposed method may facilitate real-time analysis of tactical information during wildfire emergencies. Remote sensing of wildland fires has become an integral part of fire science. Airborne sensors provide high spatial resolution and can provide high temporal resolution, enabling fire behavior monitoring at fine scales. Fire …

Volume 66-1, May 2025: Complete, Nancy Hoalst Pullen, Mark W. Patterson

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 66-1, May 2025: Complete

Cover And Foreword, Nancy Hoalst Pullen, Mark W. Patterson

The Geographical Bulletin

Cover and Foreword

Seasonal Variation Of Phytoplankton And Zooplankton Biomass In Correlation With Physio-Chemical Variables Of Some Water Bodies In Dolly Smaquli, Erbil, Iraq, Sana Kayfi Najmadden, Luay Abdul-Qadir Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

The seasonal variation of phytoplankton and zooplankton groups in correlation with physio-chemical variables has been examined by monthly water samples from eight distinct locations in Smaquli Dam and Streams within Dolly Smaquli in Erbil city, Iraq. The sampling time spans from September 2021 to August 2022. Nineteen physical and chemical variables were examined including Air and water temperature, Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Turbidity, pH, Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Nitrite (NO₂), Nitrate (NO₃), Reactive phosphate (PO₄), Ca⁺², Mg⁺², Na …

Spartan Daily, October 23, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 165, Issue 27

Assessing Septic Service Availability And Pricing Across Coastal South Carolina, Dawoon Jeong, Amy E. Scaroni, Marzieh Motallebi

Journal of South Carolina Water Resources

Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS), also known as septic systems, are widely used across the United States, particularly in rural and coastal areas that lack access to centralized sewer infrastructure. Regular maintenance, such as pump-outs, is essential for preserving system performance and protecting environmental health. This study examines the availability, pricing, and accessibility of septic services in coastal South Carolina, a region increasingly impacted by environmental pressures, including tidal flooding, rising sea levels, and frequent storms. Drawing on survey data from both septic service providers and users, we identify key barriers to effective septic system management. Our findings reveal that …

Spartan Daily, October 22, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 165, Issue 26

Umn Morris Featured In The Princeton Review Guide To Green Colleges, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

The Fierce Green Fire: Vol. 16 Issue 1, Wofford College Environmental Studies Program

The Fierce Green Fire

No abstract provided.

The Field Research Grant Colloquium, Latin American And Iberian Institute

LAII Events

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | 02:00 pm

Latin American and Iberian Institute (801 Yale Blvd NE)

801 Yale Blvd NE (campus building #165)

Join the LAII for a panel event where former field research grant recipients discuss their research projects.

Graduate students can benefit significantly from the opportunity to conduct field research in Latin America, where they combine practice with theory and connect their scholarship to lived experiences or archival data. To make field research more accessible to students, each spring the LAII offers field research grants (FRGs) to graduate students across campus.

All potential applicants are encouraged to attend. …

Decarbonization Is Happening In U.S. Higher Education, But Carbon Neutrality Goals Alone Are Not Delivering It, Alexander R. Barron, Nubraz F. Khan, Greta Anesko, Emma S. Larsen, Junwen Ding, Shey P. Sanges, Aaron L. Strong

Environmental Science and Policy: Faculty Publications

Carbon neutrality emerged as an overall framework for climate action several decades ago, with the assumption that institutions would follow a carbon management hierarchy - reducing their own emissions (i.e. decarbonization) and relying on high-quality offsets to address any residual emissions. In practice, offsets and other accounting-based emissions reductions have often dominated both discussion and action. However, sector-wide studies examining the balance between decarbonization and offsetting have been limited. Here, we examine 23 U.S. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that have declared carbon neutrality and contrast their direct (Scope 1) greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts with a broader universe of U.S. …

Soil Ph Analysis Of Pig Decomposition In Southeast Nebraska, Camryn Nelson, William Belcher

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

This study investigated the effects of a decomposing pig carcass on soil pH in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem of Southeast Nebraska, using pigs as proxies for human decomposition. The experiment spanned 171 days, encompassing decomposition stages from fresh to advanced decay. Soil samples were collected at regular intervals from four cardinal directions (north, east, south, west) and distances (0, 33, 66, and 100 cm) from the carcass to analyze changes in pH over time. Results indicated that decomposition significantly influenced soil pH, with the most dramatic changes occurring on the south side of the carcass, where the pig burst. pH …

Investigation Of Different Pretreatment Methods On Macroalgal Biomass For Efficient Biohydrogen Production Via Dark Fermentation, Abeer Dhafer S. Alqahtani, Bassam O. Aljohny, Arulazhagan Pugazhendi

The Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Science

Traditional fossil fuel sources cannot meet increasing energy demand and lead to rising health and global warming concerns. Biohydrogen is a promising alternative to fossil fuels in the zero-carbon economy of the future. The third generation of biofuel that microorganisms produce is biohydrogen. Dark fermentation is gaining attention, which needs little energy and has a higher production rate than other techniques. The biomass of macroalgae has excellent potential as a substrate through dark fermentation. Macroalgae, also known as seaweed, is a highly abundant, fast-growing, and renewable resource that can be sustainably harvested. Macroalgae with significant carbohydrate and no lignin content …

Spectator 2025-10-16, Editors Of The Spectator

The Spectator

No abstract provided.

College Of Liberal Arts Faculty Bylaws 2025-2026, College Of Liberal Arts Faculty, Rollins College

College of Liberal Arts Bylaws

No abstract provided.

U.S. Water Infrastructure: Diving Into Needs And Recent Policy Developments, Joseph Kane

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presents a lecture titled, "U.S. Water Infrastructure: Diving Into Needs and Recent Policy Developments" by Brookings fellow in Brookings Metro, Joseph Kane. Whether providing drinking water, treating wastewater, or managing stormwater, water infrastructure in the United States spans a wide range of human-made and natural systems. In turn, the enormous scale and variety of these systems is leading to an array of challenges: aging and vulnerable infrastructure; fragmented governance and siloed planning across different geographies; a lack of financial, technical, and managerial capacity; difficulties adapting to new industrial and …

2025-10-15 [Review] Turnstile And The Rise Of Alternative Music, Phillip Agonoy

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

2025-10-15 Seeds Of Change: How Seattle Students Are Growing Community Through Urban Farming, Fatima Ali

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.