Digital Commons Network^™

Kev's Dinghy Boat Workshops, Ruiyang Xiao

Masters Theses

In a culture where convenience replaces process, this project argues that making — even when inefficient, imperfect, or unnecessary — enables forms of engagement that buying cannot.

Technologies and Services nowadays are able to fulfill human’s desire to travel and explore at ease. However, this convenience proposes a mode of engagement based only in deeper knowledge of context and thus our experience with the world around us is hence diminished. Our engagement with the world becomes heavily mediated, regulated and controlled.

This project investigates how hands-on engagement with water can reintroduce + restore our sense of joy, curiosity, consequence, and …

Care Ecologies Between Knots, Eliza R. Marris

Masters Theses

Discarded fibers like raw wool behave the way harm reduction does. Harm reduction resists stigma and works to move beyond assumptions and oversimplifications of substance use and addiction. Wool is irregular, complicated, and emotionally charged. It resists compression and maintains its own being even when pulled apart. Working with raw wool is in relationship with complexity, as is harm reduction.

At its core, harm reduction is grounded in thoughtfulness and empathy towards people, their lived experience, and its nuances. It is a witness to lives, memories, and imprints, acknowledging the entangled realities of addiction. Our detachment from fiber remainders, materials …

Weaving Grounds: Connecting Canyons And Empowering Borderland Communities, Maria D. Lopez Vazquez

Masters Theses

National policies materialize in the United States-Mexico political divide, also known as the borderlands. Willow Canyon is a dissected land form inextricably linked to the Tijuana River watershed, forming with the adjacent landforms on both sides of the border one landscape. The Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty¹, signed in 1848 by the US and Mexican governments, traced an arbitrary line across these landscapes, disregarding their relationship. The consequences of these actions are visible in the physical deterioration of the landscape and ecology, as the hydrological cycle has been modified. In the 1940’s, the picturesque flow of Willow Canyon was dissected by urbanization, …

American Paradise, Virginia Hanusik

Masters Theses

The following is a collection of stories and ideas about the making of our physical and emotional worlds, along with their fracturing, deconstruction, and degradation within the American industrial landscape.  It suggests the value of the unknown and the grace of mistakes, emotional and material friction, and the hiccups that come with learning.

For American Paradise, I’m bringing my interest in landscape extraction, and the people and families within them, to my own autobiography. In this work I turn to where I grew up, the people that brought me there, my connection to manual labor, and the use of specific …

Hidden Systems, Samuel Choi

Masters Theses

Across buildings and cities, moisture is managed, concealed, and discharged through convoluted systems of containment. Still, water ultimately resists this framework. It reveals itself as leaks, puddles, condensation—moments typically understood as technical failure. Hidden Systems reframes these conditions as architectural knowledge, one that becomes evidence of water’s material capacity, limits of infrastructure, and a record of time.

NYC is constructed on, powered by, and profiting from water. Although it hosts a robust network, seepages disrupt control, allowing systems to be traced across scales. As pipes expand, contract, and freeze, the project unfolds seasonally, moving through water’s three states: solid, liquid, …

Environmental Mercury Alters Immune Pathways Linked To Autoimmune Risk In Mice Mirroring Humans, Maurgan Lee, Paul Stemmer, Randall Gill, Allen Rosenspire, Anil Aranha, Heather Gibson

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background and Purpose: Mercury is a pervasive environmental contaminant, and human epidemiologic studies have linked chronic low-level exposure to increased autoimmune disease-risk. Dysregulated lymphocyte activation and impaired signaling tolerance are central mechanisms in human autoimmunity. Protein phosphorylation governs lymphocyte differentiation and function, alterations in phosphoproteomic networks may represent a signature of immune disruption. This study evaluates how low dose mercury exposure modifies B and T cell abundance and intracellular signaling patterns in BALB/c and Diversity Outbred (DO) mice.

Methods: BALB/c and DO mice were exposed to low dose HgCl2 in their water for two weeks or provided standard water controls. …

Towards The Integration Of Living Plants In Urban Design For Desert Regions \Fontsize1213\Selectfont\Textcolorblack(A Dynamic Shading Unit Inspired By Plant Movements), Amira Medhat Ibrahim Gouda

HBRC Journal

With the rapid urban expansion of new cities in hot desert climates, the challenge of designing open urban spaces and public squares becomes evident, particularly in providing thermal comfort. These spaces are exposed to intense sunlight and temperatures exceeding 40°C for extended periods, limiting their usability and increasing reliance on traditional, non sustainable shading methods. Addressing this issue, the research explores the potential of bio-dynamic shading units that utilize plants with self-moving responses such as nyctinastic and heliotropic movements as sustainable alternatives that adapt automatically to climatic changes without mechanical systems or energy consumption. The study assumes that integrating plants …

Goodness-Of-Fit Test For The Kumaraswamy Distribution Via Energy Distance Approach With Applications To Real Data, Joseph Njuki, Thomas Gilbert

Mathematics and Statistics

In this article, we develop a goodness-of-fit test for the Kumaraswamy distribution based on energy statistics. Due to the availability of its quantile (inverse) function, the Kumaraswamy distribution has been shown to be the preferred alternative to the Beta distribution, since both have bounded support in the (0,1) interval. The proposed test procedure is simple and more powerful against general alternatives. Under different settings, simulations show that the proposed test is capable of being well controlled for any given significance (nominal) levels. In terms of power comparisons, the proposed test outperforms other existing methods in different settings. We then apply …

Spectaor 2026-05-21, Editors Of The Spectator

The Spectator

No abstract provided.

Mapping The Impact Of Hurricane Katrina On The Health Sciences Literature: A Scoping Review Pilot Project (Mla), Elizabeth H. Holt, Sharon Duffy, Matthew Folse, Rowan Marye, Chandler D. Smith

Library Faculty Publications

Background: In recognition of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans (LSUHSC-NO) Libraries created a digital archive commemorating the event. Included in the archive is a bibliography of literature published by LSUHSC-NO affiliated authors about the storm and its aftermath. That collection of articles now serves as the pilot for a scoping review of literature by authors beyond LSUHSC-NO. The goal is to identify and map the existing health sciences literature related to Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the federal levee system, and its impact both immediate and long term …

Sustainable Choices, Generational Voices: Unraveling The Green Buying Behavior Of Millennials And Zoomers Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Bhadra Thulaseedharan Pillai, Aishwarya Nagarathinam, Shikha Bhagat, Senthilmurugan Paramasivan

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Younger generations have begun to change their purchasing behaviour in response to growing environmental concerns and global sustainability efforts. This research evaluates the eco-friendly shopping habits of Zoomers (born 1997–2012) and Millennials (born 1981–1996) in India. The research employs the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to analyse how the stewardship model, subjective norms, perceived consumer effectiveness, environmental attitudes and ecological values influence green product buying behaviour. A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected from 391 respondents across urban, semi-urban, and rural regions using a structured questionnaire. The relationship between the constructs were examined using structural equation modelling …

From Agroecology To Democratic Resilience: Community-Based Food Security And Climate Adaptation In West Sumatra, Dina Yulianti, Virtuous Setyaka, Arry Bainus, Deasy Silvya Sari, Akim Akim

Jurnal Wacana Politik

The West Sumatra has a high index of food security and because of its dependence on modern farming systems that are chemical based, farmers are susceptible to environmental degradation and market forces worldwide. Through the Critical International Relations (CIR) approach of Robert W. Cox, this paper analyzes how community-based agroecological practices can be the solution to a transition between climate change adaptation and democratic resilience in West Sumatra. The current study is dedicated to the case of Cheap Staple Rice Fields (Sawah Pokok Murah - SPM) an agroecological farming system, a grassroots movement that helps to break free of the …

2026-05-20 We’Ve All Come To Look For America: Inside Seattle U’S Spring Choral Concert, Hannah Mwangi

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

Modeling Alternative Futures: Scenario-Based Land-Use And Land-Cover Projections For Nepal (2030-2050), Gita Bhushal, Pankaj Lal

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Nepal has undergone significant land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes from 2000 to 2020, driven by urbanization, agricultural shifts, and broader socioeconomic dynamics. This study analyzes historical changes and projects LULC dynamics for 2030, 2040, and 2050 across four scenarios: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Rapid Urban Development (RUD), Forest Degradation and Terai Contraction (FDTC), and Agricultural Land Abandonment and Ecological Recovery (ALER). A CA-Markov modeling framework in TerrSet was used to simulate future land-use patterns, utilizing scenario-specific transition probability matrices and spatial constraints to reflect different socio-economic and policy assumptions. Under the BAU scenario, land-use change remains moderate, characterized by gradual urban expansion …

A Shallow Landslide Hazard Assessment Using A Probabilistic Approach: An Example From Northeastern Türkiye (Beşikdüzü, Trabzon), Kübra Tezel, Aykut Akgün

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The objective of this study was to identify and assess shallow landslide hazard in both spatial and temporal terms within the boundaries of Beşikdüzü District in northeastern Türkiye. The workflow was initiated with the development of a detailed multitemporal mass‑movement inventory map derived from satellite imagery provided on the Google Earth platform,1 covering the period between 2000 and 2018. Inventory mapping was complemented by extensive field verification campaigns to identify discrepancies, confirm spatial accuracy, and document additional morphological details that could not be detected from imagery alone. A 10-m spatial resolution digital elevation model (DEM) was generated from 1:25,000-scale digital …

The Environmental Cost Of Artificial Intelligence, Ava G. O'Connor

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the increasingly innovative and evolving world of artificial intelligence. As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated within global economies and infrastructures, its  environmental and economic impact has grown significantly, but still remains understudied in the conversation surrounding societal advancement and growth. This thesis delves into the history and development of artificial intelligence, AI's integration into modern life, Big Tech jumping to get ahead of AI development through investment, the cost of artificial intelligence, and the ethical and environmental implications of increasing artificial intelligence usage. Using multiple case studies, this thesis deeply explores the emergence of artificial intelligence as …

Fluid Identities: Using Seattle's Diverse Water Narratives To Shape Cultural Values And Adaptive Conservation Strategies, Brooke J. Vanden Berg

Honors Projects

This paper explores human interactions with the environment in and around Seattle, Washington, following its trajectory from the Vashon glacial episode to its present standing as a city on the frontier of future urban climate resilience. By examining the shift from indigenous stewardship to a twentieth-century settler-led industrial “taming” paradigm, ecological vulnerabilities are considered through the lens of ill-advised hydraulic regrading and the centralization and privatization of water infrastructure and rights. This history is contextualized in the 21st century as climate projections indicate that Seattle's reliance on mountain snowpack, increasing thermal extremes, sea-level rise, and hydraulic instability caused by climate …

Undergraduate Commencement Exercises Program, May 16, 2026

Bryant University Commencements

No abstract provided.

Perception, Payment, And Pollution- Examining The Effects Of Air Quality On Health And Healthcare, Colin Sleeper

Economics ETDs

Abstract

This dissertation examines how air quality and public attention to environmental shock affect perceived health status and healthcare utilization. The first chapter uses publicly available survey data from BRFSS and a triple difference framework to analyze the effects of the 2018 wildfire season in Oregon on self-reported mental and physical health. Findings indicate that those in Oregon in 2018, during the period of heightened attention to wildfire smoke, experienced approximately 1.4 additional poor mental health days, on average. The second chapter includes Merative MarketScan commercial insurance claims data to test whether these changes translate into a behavioral response. Results …

Agricultural Water Management, Farmer Decision-Making And Climate Adaptation In Dryland Agriculture: A Case Of The Middle Rio Grande Basin, Oluwatosin A. Olofinsao

Economics ETDs

Agriculture in dryland regions faces mounting pressure from climate change, water scarcity, and shifting land-use demands. The Middle Rio Grande Basin (MRGB) of central New Mexico exemplifies these challenges, where irrigated agriculture relies on increasingly variable surface water supplies. This dissertation examines agricultural water use, farmer decision-making, and adaptation strategies across farm types and climate conditions in the MRGB. The first study presents a spatial descriptive analysis of farm size, crop patterns, groundwater access, evapotranspiration (ET), and effective ET, revealing a landscape numerically dominated by smallholder farms that account for a substantial share of irrigation water use. The second study …

Commencement 2026

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Heavy Metal And Metalloid Accumulation In The Gallinas River Following The Hermit's Peak / Calf Canyon Wildfire, Olivia A. Kelly

Geography ETDs

This study evaluates the persistence and bioavailability of heavy metals and metalloids in the Gallinas River three years after the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Wildfire of 2022 using a multicompartment sampling framework that includes water, sediment, and benthic macroinvertebrate tissue analysis via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicate that the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire continues to influence the hydrogeochemical condition of the Gallinas River. Sediments contain elevated concentrations of several metals and metalloids, and these same elements are detectable in macroinvertebrate tissues, linking sediment contamination to biological uptake. Zinc (Zn), silicon …

Plastic Bottle Transformation Drawing, Molly Szado

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

Plastic Bottle Transformation Drawing, Kylie Sweren

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

Plastic Bottle Transformation Drawing, Troy Stockwell

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

Plastic Bottle Transformation Drawing, Jill Sexton

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

Plastic Bottle Transformation Drawing, Gannon Moore

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

Plastic Bottle Transformation Drawing, Aidan Monahan

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

Plastic Bottle Transformation Drawing, Logan Lefebure

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

Plastic Bottle Transformation Drawing, Anthony Lapante

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.