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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Barriers To And Uncertainties In Understanding And Quantifying Global Critical Mineral And Element Supply, Brian A. Mcnulty, Simon M. Jowitt
Barriers To And Uncertainties In Understanding And Quantifying Global Critical Mineral And Element Supply, Brian A. Mcnulty, Simon M. Jowitt
Geoscience Faculty Research
The critical minerals and elements are natural substances that are essential to modern life but have insecure supply. This lack of a secure supply clashes with the increasing importance of these elements, especially given their use in technologies needed to reduce global CO2 emissions and mitigate against anthropogenic climate change. In this contribution we review the by-product nature of the critical minerals and elements and the inherant uncertainties in reported critical mineral and element annual production as well as the relationships between these commodities and main-product metals and associated concentrates. We explore the geological and geographical barriers to critical mineral …
Life Cycle Assessment Comparing End Of Life Treatment For Paper And Plastic Bags, Olivia Tsamparlis
Life Cycle Assessment Comparing End Of Life Treatment For Paper And Plastic Bags, Olivia Tsamparlis
Honors Projects in Science and Technology
This research focuses on the effects plastic, paper, and textile grocery bags have on our environment. This project aims to answer two questions: Based on an LCA approach of the disposal stage, which is better for the environment: plastic or paper? Which type of grocery bag, paper or plastic has a higher sustainability potential based on end of life data? LCA software and assessment tools identified the risks paper, plastic, and textile waste has on the environment the disposal stage. OpenLCA was used as a platform to compile the life cycle data. To obtain the data needed, the European reference …
Infectious Diseases In A Warming World: Using A Modified Sir Model To Investigate The Incidence Rates Of Lyme Disease In The New England Area, Carly Sullivan
Infectious Diseases In A Warming World: Using A Modified Sir Model To Investigate The Incidence Rates Of Lyme Disease In The New England Area, Carly Sullivan
Honors Projects in Science and Technology
The effects of climate change are global and unprecedented in scale. Public health is likely to suffer as a result of the warming climate, and one particular risk is the increase in the occurrence of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in different regions across the world. The purpose of this project is to investigate the impact of rising temperatures on the incidence rates of Lyme disease in the New England area. Following a review of the existing literature relating to the impact of climate factors on VBDs, an SIR model modified for temperature conditions will be utilized to produce several simulated scenarios. …
Assessing The End-Of-Life Environmental Impacts Of Glass, Metal, And Plastic: An Lca Approach, Gabrielle Ritzer
Assessing The End-Of-Life Environmental Impacts Of Glass, Metal, And Plastic: An Lca Approach, Gabrielle Ritzer
Honors Projects in Science and Technology
In this study, the environmental impacts of landfilled glass, ferrous metal, and plastic were evaluated and analyzed. This study utilized a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to determine the environmental impacts of each beverage packaging. The beverage packaging materials glass, ferrous metals, and plastic were analyzed from an end of life of perspective. The significance of this study was to determine the extent and severity of the environmental impacts these materials have once deposited into a landfill. The information gained from this study determined which of the products was more sustainable from an end-of-life perspective. Ferrous metal was found to …
Effectiveness Of Plastic Ordinances In Santa Monica, Ca: Do Regulations At The Municipal Level Reduce Plastic Waste?, John W. Hayes
Effectiveness Of Plastic Ordinances In Santa Monica, Ca: Do Regulations At The Municipal Level Reduce Plastic Waste?, John W. Hayes
School of Public Policy Capstones
Plastic is a cheap, robust and versatile material with numerous practical uses that contribute to the convenience of modern day life. However the very same properties that make it uniquely diverse and hardy also contribute to the hazards it poses to the ecosystems and human health. If current consumption and manufacturing practices remain unchanged, there will be hundreds of millions of additional tons of plastic introduced into the environment over the coming decades. To mitigate this issue, some cities, such as Santa Monica, have implemented ordinances and policies directly aimed at this growing problem, albeit with ambiguous results. To better …
Quantifying Eco-Friendliness Of Plastic, Paper, And Reusable Bags, Leah Ryan
Quantifying Eco-Friendliness Of Plastic, Paper, And Reusable Bags, Leah Ryan
Honors Projects in Science and Technology
The plight of the consumer in regards to making eco-conscious decisions is growing as concerns regarding the environment increase. This study was conducted in an effort to give consumers a tool to combat some of this issue and compare the types of shopping bags they use in terms of eco-friendliness. Research conducted in this avenue thus far contains convoluted conclusions, all made with consideration of some variables, but not all. This purpose of this study therefore lay in trying to give consumers a standardized tool to compare bag types that considered variables across all stages of a bags’ life (pre-use, …
The Intersection Of Crude Palm Oil & Deforestation: A Sustainability Analysis, Amelia Olsen
The Intersection Of Crude Palm Oil & Deforestation: A Sustainability Analysis, Amelia Olsen
Honors Projects in Science and Technology
In recent years, palm oil has gained international attention as an efficient, versatile, and inexpensive oil, and is now an ingredient in 50% of items in the grocery store. As a result, there has been an increase in complaints regarding the environmental impact stemming from the production of palm oil, including those of deforestation and harmful emissions. In response to these complaints, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was created to certify palm oil that meets certain criteria, (including being produced without an element of deforestation) as sustainable. Now, the RSPO certifies over 3.09 million hectares of palm oil …