Digital Commons Network^™

Harmful Algae In Nashville’S Urban Watersheds: Challenging Traditional Monitoring Programs, Devin Matthew Moore

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

As climate change intensifies, harmful algal blooms (HABs), specifically the species that produce microcystin-producing cyanobacteria, are becoming more frequent in urban environments. In the current state of HAB research, most monitoring and research is focused on agricultural areas. This study challenges traditional monitoring practices by evaluating the presence and abundance of microcystin in urban water bodies within Nashville, TN. Using field sampling, passive toxin tracking, ELISA testing, and GIS- based environmental and demographic analysis, data were collected at sites in densely populated areas. These sites were located at Tennessee State University, Ted Rhodes golf course and Shelby bottoms Park, and …

Wofford Today Summer 2025, Wofford College. Office Of Marketing And Communications

Wofford Today

No abstract provided.

Us Food Waste, Kawika Barry

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This essay touches on the food waste problem we have in the US and various ways to help reduce the issue at hand.

Toward Integrated Urban Observatories: Synthesizing Remote And Social Sensing In Urban Science, Danlin Yu

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Urbanization is reshaping landscapes and posing unprecedented sustainability challenges, necessitating more integrative approaches to urban observation. This review synthesizes recent advancements in traditional remote sensing and emerging social sensing technologies, emphasizing their convergence within urban science. A systematic thematic analysis of 667 peer-reviewed articles highlights the methodological progress, practical applications, and theoretical innovations arising from this integration. Traditional remote sensing effectively captures urban physical features but lacks insights into human behaviors. Conversely, social sensing, leveraging digital traces from social media and mobile data, introduces essential human-centered dimensions into urban monitoring. The fusion of these complementary paradigms through advanced data analytics …

Morris Climate Action Plan, University Of Minnesota - Morris

Miscellaneous Campus Publications

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century and impacts people, communities, and ecosystems—both locally and globally. The University of Minnesota Morris Climate Action Plan (CAP) provides a road map to address climate change through strategic mitigation and adaptation in alignment with the campus mission, goals and objectives. The 2025 CAP charts the course to reduce campus greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 87% by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The CAP was developed in tandem with the 2025 UMN Morris Campus Plan to address intrinsically linked strategic goals stated in MPact 2025 Systemwide Strategic Plan. …

Irrigation Companies: Perspectives In The Great Salt Lake Basin, Bailey M. Holdaway, Courtney G. Flint

Environment and Society Student Research

In an effort to better understand the water management practices of Utah irrigation companies within the Great Salt Lake Basin, interviews and surveys were conducted with company representatives. These discussions aimed to capture insights across a variety of key topics related to water resource management. This report describes the interview and survey efforts undertaken to assess these irrigation companies. Findings from both interviews and surveys are organized by question topic and then by theme.

Isolation And Enumeration Of Salmonella Enterica From Fresh Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) Leaves And Its Susceptibility To Different Washing Protocols, Meinard Talplacido, Angella Melissa Carlos, Bryan Rey Oliveros, Ida Dalmacio

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Lettuce is one of the most consumed fresh produce items in the country, but it also serves as a vehicle for human pathogens, posing a risk of foodborne illness. This study used conventional microbiological and molecular analyses to obtain the concentration and prevalence of Salmonella enterica in fresh Green Ice and Iceberg lettuce leaves from selected supermarkets in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. The efficacy of different household washing procedures in reducing S. enterica on lettuce leaves was also investigated. Of the 19 composite Green Ice lettuce and 21 composite Iceberg lettuce samples tested, 5.26% and 4.76%, respectively, were contaminated with …

Reconciling Theology, God, And Climate Change In The Pacific Islands: The Emergence Of Syncretism And Ecotheology, Dan F. Orcherton

Pacific Studies

No abstract provided.

Facilitating Culturally Affirming Experiences For Pacific Islander Stem Students Through An Apprentice Model For Undergraduate Research, Tobias Irish, Joseph Genz, Monique Storie

Pacific Studies

No abstract provided.

Arctic Law: Even More Sustainable? Roles Of The Us And Eu, Joseph F.C. Dimento, Jessica L. Pierucci

UMKC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Long-Range Transport Of Canadian Wildfire Smoke: Public Health And Earth System Impacts, Erica L. Simon

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

In the summer of 2023, Canada experienced an unprecedented wildfire season with total burned area reaching 15 million hectares, doubling the previous record. Notably, smoke plumes from Eastern Canada were transported to the Northeast United States, resulting in record-breaking measures of poor air quality in early June 2023. This thesis employs a multi-method analysis to understand the June 2023 Quebec wildfires, focusing on atmospheric science, public health effects in New York City, and albedo changes on the Greenland ice sheet. Through this analysis, I find record-high monthly mean aerosol optical depth values in June 2023 in three regions– the Northeast …

Environmental-Friendly Consumption: Measuring The Impact Of Lifestyle On Household Carbon Emissions, Faisal Madjid Alyasa, Adam Hawari, Afif Akbar Syawala, Estro Dariatno Dariatno Sihaloho

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

In 2060, Indonesia aims for a clean, emissions-free society. However, achieving this goal requires understanding how lifestyle choices affect household carbon emissions. This study, based on data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey 2014, examines the impact of different diets (plant-based, vegetarian, Mediterranean, full meat-based, and mixed) on carbon emissions. Using Ordinary Least Square Panel Data Regression, the research finds that plant-based and vegetarian diets have a lower carbon footprint compared to mixed and full meat-based diets. The findings suggest that transitioning to more environmentally friendly consumption patterns can help reduce carbon emissions and benefit the environment.

Service-Learning For Teachers/Exegetes: A Postcolonial Avenue For Biblical Sustainability Education, Maricel S. Ibita

Theology Department Faculty Publications

While textual excavation mainstreams biblical scholarship, studies on biblical pedagogies for social justice have also proliferated. In Activism, Bible, and Research-based Teaching (2024), the contributors expound on their biblical research and activism in areas of disability studies, gender-sexuality, community grounding and university pedagogies, Judaeophobia, climate change, etc. Although the book mentioned sustainable development, there is no discussion yet of “education for sustainable development”. In this study, I will briefly present the debate on education for sustainability (EfS), especially in relation to faith-based organizations, including educational institutions. Next, I will delve into the participative, community-based methodology of service-learning and its limits, …

Increasing Soil Respiration In A Northern Hardwood Forest Indicates Symptoms Of A Changing Carbon Cycle, Angela R. Possinger, Charles T. Driscoll, Mark B. Green, Timothy J. Fahey, Chris E. Johnson, Mary Margaret K. Koppers, Lisa D. Martel, Jennifer L. Morse, Pamela H. Templer, Angelina M. Uribe, Geoffrey F. Wilson, Peter M. Groffman

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soil carbon dioxide (CO2) flux, or soil respiration, is a critical control on net ecosystem carbon (C) balance. Using long-term (2002-2020) measurements at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (New Hampshire, U.S.), we show that soil respiration rates have notably increased since ~2015. In 2020, cumulative summer respiration flux was approximately 90% higher than the average summer flux over the 2002–2015 period. The increase in soil respiration cannot be explained directly by temperature or pH change alone. We also found that heterotrophic microbial C mineralization and microbial biomass C have also increased rapidly since ~2015, pointing towards an increase in the …

Rebuilding Consent: Fear, Trust, And The Future Of Nuclear Energy, Austin Dunham

University Honors Theses

This thesis traces the cultural and emotional roots of nuclear fear in the United States and explores how those inherited anxieties continue to shape public resistance to nuclear energy in the face of a worsening climate crisis. Drawing on personal narrative, risk perception theory, and the history of nuclear discourse - from Hiroshima to Chernobyl to today - the research examines how trust, rather than technology, remains the largest barrier to progress. By analyzing the stories we tell about energy, disaster, control, and overall perceived risk, this work asks what it would take for Americans to imagine nuclear energy not …

Building Urban Resilience, Winston T. L. Chow

Asian Management Insights

Cities can lead on services, resources, and partnerships.

‘Making A Positive Environmental Impact’: Exploring The Role Of Volunteering At A Campus Community Garden, Dina Izenstark, Barbara Ann Boone

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Promoting sustainability in higher education is a social and environmental imperative. This paper explores how and why volunteering at a campus community garden (CCG) can serve as a unique context for promoting sustainability. Twenty-five undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 27, who had volunteered at a campus garden, participated in individual semi-structured interviews. A majority of participants identified as female (80%) and Asian American (52%). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we first found students were motivated to volunteer for personal and academic reasons as well as to learn more about gardening. Childhood gardening experiences influenced participants’ re-engagement as adults. …

Influence Of Mate And Nest-Site Fidelity On A Declining, Urban Avian Population, Lynne A. Trulio, Debra A. Chromczak, Philip G. Higgins

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

As urbanization reduces species’ habitats and population sizes, managers need information on whether within-population processes, such as changes in mate and nest-site fidelity and dispersal distances, may be contributing to declines. Few avian studies have examined changes in these behaviors in declining populations or in urban settings. We investigated whether mate fidelity, nest-site fidelity or breeding dispersal distance changed over time in a population of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia), a short-lived, socially-monogamous species. During the 18-year period of the study, the population declined by 69% in urban Santa Clara County, California, USA-a region of rapid urbanization. We assessed whether these …

"Change Is All There Is": Exploring Journalistic Coverage Of Gentrification In The St. Johns Neighborhood Of Portland, Or, Eva Kovolitsky

University Honors Theses

Gentrification, as an increasingly significant characteristic of contemporary urban spaces, has been the subject of a vast body of literature. This has prompted further research into how gentrification is described and the implications of language used in both academic research and popular media accounts. This study explores discourse used in journalistic coverage of gentrification in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. Guided by past work in discourse analysis and critical urban geography, this study attempts to understand how academic discourse on gentrification is both reflected in and divergent from neighborhood-level discourse. This study used data from the St. Johns …

Heat, Smoke, And Resilience In East Central Spokane: Community Insights On Climate Adaptation, Sarah Bliss Matousek, Amanda Gray, Dante Jester, Brian G. Henning

Climate, Water, and the Environment Research

This report presents findings from a multi-methods research initiative exploring the impacts of climate-related hazards—specifically extreme heat and wildfire smoke—on residents of Spokane’s East Central neighborhood. The project combined a community survey with a World Café-style symposium to gather both quantitative data and lived experiences from local participants. Key themes that emerged include the need for more cooling infrastructure, accessible health education, improved indoor air quality, and stronger neighborhood-level communication and support networks. The report highlights how systemic underinvestment in East Central intersects with climate vulnerability, underscoring the urgency of equitable, community-driven solutions. Recommendations include expanding tree canopy, increasing funding …

Building A Smoke-Resilient Spokane: Guidance From Community Conversations, Anna Reed, Hannah Mckinley, Dante Jester, Brian G. Henning, Tania Busch Isaksen

Climate, Water, and the Environment Research

Wildfire season has grown in length and severity in the western United States due to decades of fire suppression and climate change. This trend is projected to continue, worsening air quality and increasing the risk to public health. In response, the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment, in partnership with the University of Washington, hosted the Smoke Ready Spokane Symposium in July 2024 in Spokane, Washington. The event convened community partners across sectors to reflect on past wildfire smoke events and discuss locally-relevant wildfire smoke exposure reduction strategies. Symposium participants engaged in small group discussions using the World …

A Neutrosophic And Q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy Sets Approach For Desertification Susceptibility Mapping: A Case Study In Matrouh, Egypt, Nabil M. Abdelaziz, Khalid A. Eldrandaly, Amira M. Fawzy, Gehan A. Fouad, Safa Al-Saeed

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This study introduces an innovative approach to desertification susceptibility mapping by integrating q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets (Q-ROFS) with a neutrosophic environment. Conducted in Matrouh, Egypt, the research quantifies desertification risk through advanced modeling techniques that address uncertainty and non-linearity in environmental data. The Q-ROFS framework enhances risk prediction by capturing complex relationships among desertification indicators. Neutrosophic logic, meanwhile, effectively addresses imprecision and ambiguity. The resulting susceptibility map clearly distinguishes between vulnerable and non-vulnerable regions, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and planners. The analysis revealed that approximately 79.98% of the study area falls under moderate susceptibility, 14.27% under high susceptibility, and …

Infrastructure From Below: Mediasi Dan Politik Pembangunan Infrastruktur Air Di Kota Balikpapan, Muhammad Althaf Nandiati Yusfid

Antropologi Indonesia

The city of Balikpapan is experiencing a water crisis. The discrepancy between the city's water supply and Balikpapan's demography put pressure towards the city's capability of supporting its own citizens. This issue is exacerbated by the development of Indonesia's New Capital (IKN) which is located just outside Balikpapan. Therefore, the development of water infrastructure is imperative for the city. Yet, there's no recent visible development of water infrastructure in the city. However, I argue that water infrastructure development actually exists, though in a subtle form. The informal water suppliers that are prevalent in the city is tied with how the …

United Seas For Resilient Reefs: A Blueprint For Coral Conservation Through International Cooperation, John J. Bohorquez, Maoz Fine, Dana I. Grieco, David A. Gill, Ali Al-Swalimih, Jacqueline Padilla-Gamino, Isaiah W. Bolden, Margaux Hein, Callum Backstrom, Melanie Mcfield, Raphael Martinez, Benjamin Midberry, Fahd Al-Guthmy, Ellen K. Pikitch, Natalia Benejam, Chen Azulay, Britt Ronen, Oren Levy, Anne Mcelroy, Karine Kleinhaus

School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences Faculty Publications

Coral reefs are one of Earth’s most vital and threatened ecosystems. They protect coastlines, generate billions of dollars of tourism revenue, support valuable fisheries, and contribute to the development of vital medicines. Yet half of the world's coral reefs have been lost in the last 50 years, and 90% of remaining reefs are projected to die off by the middle of this century, mainly due to warming seas from climate change.

Despite these challenges there is reason for hope. Some coral reefs – such as in the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba – have demonstrated remarkable resilience to …

Transmedial Econarratology: Environment And The Subject Of Science Fiction, Joseph R. Boisvere

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation argues that narrators are constructed by their interactions with diegetic space and time in an ecological relationship. This argument draws upon Erin James’s work on econarratology, particularly her book The Storyworld Accord: Econarratology and Postcolonial Narratives, putting her theories of narrating time and place in dialogue with contemporary “unnatural” narratology as theorized by scholars such as Jan Alber and Brian Richardson. Science fiction (SF) offers a rich complement to these theoretical stances. I also focus much of my dissertation on how narratology works across and is influenced by specific media, featuring literary, audiovisual, and digital media, including novels, …

Disturbance And Diversity: Lichens In Changing Landscapes, Laura Boggess

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Disturbance is a fundamental ecological force that shapes biodiversity, community composition, and ecosystem function. Human-driven disturbances—such as habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and air pollution—are increasing worldwide, altering ecosystems at unprecedented rates. While ecological research has illuminated many effects of disturbance, significant knowledge gaps remain for underappreciated but ecologically vital organisms, such as lichens. Lichens are obligate symbioses between at least one fungus and one alga or cyanobacterium. As such, they are sensitive bioindicators of environmental change, offering unique insights into ecosystem health due to their responses to stressors such as poor air quality, habitat fragmentation, and deforestation. Yet, their responses to …

The Language Of Development: A Case Study Analysis Of Climate Development In Central America, Alexandra Altomare

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to better understand the impact of locally led development activities on local populations. The focus of this thesis is on climate mitigation and adaptation activities in Central America led by international donor organizations such as USAID. The research consists of an in-depth review of existing literature and analysis from the fields of environmental justice, political ecology, postcolonial studies, and Indigenous Studies. This is accompanied by a case study analysis of various development projects in Guatemala and Honduras, as well as auto-ethnographic observations. In addition, this thesis analyzes the power and impact of language and …

Challenges And Opportunities In Teaching Marxist Theory Courses: A Quality Assessment Study Under Plithogenic Sets,, Qingchao Wang

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

The Density Of Virgin, Consumer And Environmental Plastics: An Investigation Using Gas Displacement Pycnometry, Andrew Turner, Katie Jones, Montserrat Filella

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Density is a fundamental property of plastics and is particularly significant in determining the transport and fate of waste plastics that enter aquatic systems. However, densities are rarely determined in the environmental literature and values employed for modelling or impacts are often unsourced or derived from secondary databases. In this study, we employ helium displacement pycnometry to determine the skeletal densities of non-porous plastics whose polymer composition had been established from manufacturer's data, resin codes or Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Two independent, collaborative laboratories, providing measurements within 3.5 % of each other and with precisions of <1 % (as relative standard deviation), analysed a total of 42 virgin, consumer and environmental plastics consisting of ten common polymer types. Measured densities of plastics in all categories, and most notably for polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride, were often outside the ranges reported by a comprehensive online resource. Possible reasons for discrepancies include the occurrence of dense additives (evaluated by X-ray fluorescence analysis), the presence of inaccessible microscopic pores below a laminated surface, contamination of the main polymer by a secondary one, and structural changes on weathering. Regardless of precise causes, most results suggest that individual polymers have a broader range of densities than is generally published or considered in the literature. Accordingly, and in particular where buoyancy is critical, more precise, sample-specific measurements are recommended.

The ‘Double-Exposure’ Of Riverine Communities In Northeast India To Dams And Climate Change, Costanza Rampini

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.