Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Objective Indicators For Monitoring Drought In Grasslands, D H. White, S M. Howden

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Australia’s National Drought Policy was ratified by the Commonwealth (Federal), State and Territory governments in 1992. However, a sequence of El Niño-based events that started in Queensland in 1991 culminated in much of Australia experiencing abnormally low rainfall throughout 1994 and into 1995. Many farmers experienced substantial loss of income. The Commonwealth government therefore devised measures to determine which areas had been exposed to exceptional drought so that financial assistance could be directed as effectively as possible. In this paper we discuss progress in developing regionally-sensitive indicators and methodologies to aid in future assessments of drought exceptional circumstances.

Production V Conservation: A Policy Dilemma In The Tree Clearing Debate In Queensland, Australia, J C. Scanlan, E J. Turner

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A process for developing policy for tree clearing that meets the competing goals of conservation and production has been followed. There were two levels at which policy was developed. An overall Statewide policy outlined general targets to meet commitments of the Queensland Government. Local guidelines were developed by a large number of groups containing representatives of government and interested conservation movement and industry representatives. The policy and the local guidelines are an important part of the process used to assess applications for permits to clear woody vegetation.

Sustainable Grazing Systems- A Program To Develop And Deliver Improved Temperate Pastures In Australia, W K. Mason, G Kay, G Lodge

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Sustainable Grazing Systems Program aims to combine the efforts of producers, researchers and extension agents into a focused partnership to develop, manage and implement grazing systems that are more profitable and more sustainable. Rather than the traditional approach of undertaking the research and then developing extension packages for livestock producers, this Program has set up a network with producers, researchers and extension agents to collectively develop and test improved systems. The process is described as colearning. Compared with more traditional approaches, producer input is greatly increased as the role of researchers and extension agents is modified, but not decreased. …

Legume-Legume Complementary For Sustainable Pasture Development In The Tropics, M Peters, S A. Tarawali, R Schultze-Kraft, A Musa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of legume-legume mixtures to alleviate limitations of individual species in legume based technologies was investigated in subhumid Nigeria. The results indicate the potential of legume mixtures, through processes of complementation and compensation, to reduce the risk of legume establishment and survival and thus ensure sustainable legume yields and percentages. The implications for on-farm adoption of forage legumes are discussed.

Principles Of Tree Management In The Grazing Lands Of Queensland, Australia, J C. Scanlan, E J. Turner

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The key factors that influenced the appropriateness of clearing were identified for Queensland. The first stage was to identify endangered and vulnerable vegetation types, with final agreement being that clearing would not be undertaken in these regional ecosystem types. For other regional ecosystems, the degree of clearing that was appropriate was determined from the original and current extent of that ecosystem type, the sustainability of any development and any off-site effects of clearing. The maximum slope suitable for clearing, the width of riparian buffers and other corridors were also determined. These local guidelines for tree clearing became a central part …

Long Term Benefits Of Diversified Forage-Oriented Cropping Systems As Compared To Rotations Based Mainly On Cereals Or Maize, E Meister, V Mediavilla, P Weisskopf

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this study is to assess the long term effects of a forageoriented, versus a maize- and a cereal-oriented crop rotation on the yield potential and soil fertility, as well as the weed, disease and pest development. We report the results after four cropping cycles using silage maize (Zea mays L.) in 1994 and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 1995 as reference crops for all three rotations. Two years of a grass-clover mixture in a five-year rotation showed positive effects with respect to most soil and plant parameters.

Grassland Management For Geese: Sustainable Use For Conservation And Agriculture, S M. Percival, R Lilley

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Increasing numbers of overwintering wild geese have caused considerable problems to agriculture but are often also of conservation concern as their populations are relatively small. Islay, Scotland, is one site where this problem is particularly acute. We studied the two goose species which use this site, the barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis, and the white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons flavirostris, and found that they preferred younger pastures located closer to their roost sites. These preferred areas could be important in developing a sustainable strategy for future goose management. Further non-sustainable population increases might be avoided by increasing disturbance in these areas.

Learning Dynamic Multimodal Network Slot Concepts From The Web For Forecasting Environmental, Social And Governance Ratings, Gary Ang, Ee-Peng Lim

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Dynamic multimodal networks are networks with node attributes from different modalities where the at- tributes and network relationships evolve across time, i.e., both networks and multimodal attributes are dynamic; for example, dynamic relationship networks between companies that evolve across time due to changes in business strategies and alliances, which are associated with dynamic company attributes from multiple modalities such as textual online news, categorical events, and numerical financial-related data. Such information can be useful in predictive tasks involving companies. Environmental, social, and gov- ernance (ESG) ratings of companies are important for assessing the sustainability risks of companies. The process of …

Securing Tomorrow: Synergizing Change Management And Cybersecurity In The Digital Era, Sharon L. Burton

Publications

In the rapidly evolving business environment of 2024, organizational change management (OCM) leaders face unprecedented challenges driven by technological advancements, digital transformation, the integration of remote work, and a heightened focus on sustainability. This study examines the efficacy of traditional OCM models in addressing these modern complexities. Through a qualitative methodology employing an extensive literature review, the research identifies vital issues such as resistance to change, digital transformation imperatives, the shift to remote and hybrid work models, and the imperative for sustainable and ethical business practices. The study posits that while classical OCM frameworks offer foundational insights, there is a …

Digital Transformation: Two Sides Of A Coin, Tze K Koh

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

It is of paramount importance to examine the intersection of digital transformation and sustainability. At the same time, there is a growing imbalance between digitalisation within the workforce and the pace at which sustainability awareness is picking up. Addressing this gap is crucial.

Plas 439: Organic Farming And Food Systems Faculty-Led Inquiry Into Reflective Scholarly Teaching Benchmark Portfolio, Christian Stephenson

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

Organic Farming and Food Systems is a senior and graduate level course for students in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. This course was previously offered but has been significantly modified as I have taken on responsibility for the course. Goals for the course include student comprehension of the methods of organic and regenerative farming and the impacts of those methods on economic, environmental, and social sustainability. An additional goal is to build student competency in the evaluation of primary, secondary, and tertiary information resources and critical thinking surrounding issues in food production. Assessment for the course was through diverse …

Pet And Polyolefin Plastics Supply Chains In Michigan: Present And Future Systems Analysis Of Environmental And Socio-Economic Impacts, Utkarsh S. Chaudhari, Kamand Sedaghatnia, Barbara K. Reck, Kate Maguire, Anne T. Johnson, David Watkins, Robert M. Handler, Tasmin Hossain, Damon S. Hartley, Vicki S. Thompson, Alejandra Peralta, Jenny L. Apriesnig, David Shonnard

Michigan Tech Publications

Many actions are underway at global, national, and local levels to increase plastics circularity. However, studies evaluating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of such a transition are lacking at regional levels in the United States. In this work, the existing polyethylene terephthalate and polyolefin plastics supply chains in Michigan were compared to a potential future (‘NextCycle’) scenario that looks at increasing Michigan’s overall recycling rate to 45%. Material flow analysis data was combined with environmental and socio-economic metrics to evaluate the sustainability of these supply chains for the modeled scenarios. Overall, the NextCycle scenario for these supply chains achieved a …

The Use Of Repurposed Whole Textiles To Modify The Mechanical And Hydrogeological Properties Of Green Roof Media And Granular Soils, Angelis Almanzar-Chevalie, Yehya Elfgeeh, Calvin O. Walters Jr.

Publications and Research

This study investigates using repurposed whole textiles to modify the mechanical and hydrogeological properties of lightweight Green Roof media and granular pavement soils.

Green Roof Media Green roofs aim to bring the advantages of suburban agriculture to urban environments while improving energy efficiency and enhancing stormwater management in public, commercial, and residential buildings. Previous studies by City Tech undergraduate research assistants demonstrated significant modification in hydrogeological properties when incorporating textile fabric up to 3% textile by weight (%Tex) at an aspect ratio of 1:1. The effects of mixing repurposed whole textile fiber with Green Roof media is evaluated with regards …

A Just, Sustainable Transition At Fordham University, Ethan Shepard

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper takes a deeper look at Fordham University’s environmental impact and concludes with a strategy outline that works towards a just, sustainable future on the university campus and surrounding areas. New York City is an area already facing the adverse effects of climate change, and there are several threats that have the potential to cause grave consequences moving forward. Prior to constructing a climate action plan, it is integral to understand the past and present status of The Bronx under a socio-environmental lens. Chapter One focuses on the current status of Fordham’s Rose Hill Campus from a sustainability perspective …

Sustainable Accounting: The Benefits And Challenges Of Its Implementation, Collin Eckstein

University Honors College

This thesis is centered around the idea that sustainability is a necessary component within the world. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are key components of analyzing sustainable practices. Although accountants have historically focused on financial reporting, they now have the added function of sustainable accounting as environmental implications are an area of concern for companies. A substantial component of this thesis centers around analyzing how ESG factors contribute to an organization’s financial performance. It also observes how comprehensive sustainability reports impact investor decisions and examines the challenges that auditors face when providing assurance for sustainability initiatives. Furthermore, it examines …

Analysis Of Circular Design Principles For The Sustainable End-Of-Life Management Of Renewable Energy Assets: Investigation Of Illinois And Germany Renewable Energy Policies And Programs., Samuel N. Nimaful

2024 Student Research and Creativity Conference

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of circular design principles applied to the sustainable end-of-life management of renewable energy assets, focusing on the comparative study of renewable energy policies in Illinois, USA, and Germany. As the deployment of renewable energy technologies like solar panels and wind turbines expands globally, the question of their sustainable disposal becomes increasingly critical. This research delves into how circular economy approaches can be integrated into policy frameworks to ensure that these technologies are sustainable not only in their operation but also at the end of their lifecycle.

The study methodically reviews existing policies and programs …

Sustainable Service Trends In Restaurants, Suruchi Bhatt

School of Business

Being Sustainable is an essential milestone in the food industry. Companies form and fall because of consumers' reactions to the industry. The food industry and restaurants account for some of the highest Food Waste and Pollution, approximately 34% of the Global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, including food production, processing, distribution, and consumption. (Crippa et al., 2021) In a sector like this, ensuring a complete understanding of sustainability in the industry is of utmost importance. However, the sheer relationship between the sustainable image, the prospect of sustainability, and the reality of implementing it may be far from reality. (Yuying-Huang, 2022)

Harnessing Social Media For Climate Action In Developing Countries: A Case Study Of Egypt, Nicolas Hamelin, Passant Halawa

Faculty Journal Articles

Like many developing nations, Egypt is facing a climate crisis due to its agricultural dependence and the Nile Delta’s vulnerability. Despite government plans for sustainable development, recent infrastructure projects have resulted in large-scale green space removal. Effective communication about environmental issues can spark pro-environmental behavior and citizen activism. This study explores social media’s potential to bridge this gap in Egypt. Utilizing Facebook AB testing with a limited budget, we reached a significant 2.3% of Egypt’s online population (nearly 2 million users). This study explored message framing, with findings showing that rational posts resonated best while fear appeals had minimal impact. …

Assessing Sustainability Within The Brewing Industry: A Literature Review And Benchmarking Analysis., Elijah Thomas Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goals of this study were twofold: to further examine sustainability within the brewing industry through a literature analysis across four academic journals, and a benchmarking analysis of a Louisville, Kentucky brewery’s resource consumption and emissions production. Publications related to the brewing industry were examined for the presence of sustainability keywords: “efficiency, sustainability, carbon footprint, climate change and greenhouse gas”. Benchmarking examined the local brewery’s primary production facility to determine their performance compared to other surveyed breweries pursuing sustainability across the country. Literature examination found noticeable discrepancies between the appearance of sustainability topics within article abstracts and their discussion within …

Analysis Of Circular Design Principles For The Sustainable End-Of-Life Management Of Renewable Energy Assets: Investigation Of Illinois And Germany Renewable Energy Policies And Programs., Samuel N. Nimaful

2024 Student Research and Creativity Conference

This poster presents an analysis into the integration of circular design principles within renewable energy policies, comparing the approaches of Illinois, USA, and Germany. With the global shift towards renewable energy to combat climate change, the sustainable management of end-of-life (EoL) renewable assets has become crucial. The study utilizes a thematic analysis to explore seven key policies from Illinois and five from Germany, employing NVivo software to dissect aspects such as design strategies, support for innovation, and enforcement mechanisms.

Feed More, Waste Less, Kaitlyn Dietz

Honors Projects

With college prices and the cost of food increasing, so has the rate of food insecurity among college students. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of availability or access to food to meet someone’s basic and necessary needs. Food insecurity is associated with lower grades, depression, higher perceived stress, and lower graduation rates. Campuses across the country are responding to the problem in a variety of ways, including distribution of food directly to students through food pantries. Meal plans are expensive in the addition to college tuition and housing. The lowest cost for a meal plan at Bowling Green …

The Social And Economic Dimensions Of One Of The World’S Longest-Operating Shark Fisheries, Matias Braccini, Maddison Watt, Clinton Syers, Nick Blay, Matthew Navarro, Michael Burton

Fisheries Research Articles

Context

Social and economic information is limited for coastal commercial and recreational fisheries, particularly shark fisheries, which are perceived as unsustainable and as targeting sharks for fins.

Aims

To characterise the social and economic dimensions of one of the world’s few long-standing sustainable shark fisheries.

Methods

We reviewed historic data and surveyed stakeholders to understand the economic and social dimensions of the shark fishery currently operating in Western Australia.

Key results

Since the fishery’s historic peak, there has been a substantial reduction in the number of operating vessels and ports due to management intervention. For the vessels that have remained, …

Enabling Sustainable Mining Via Ai-Based Techniques, Nurul Asyikeen Binte Azhar

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The precedence-constrained production scheduling problem (PCPSP) in Long-Term Mine Planning (LTMP) is NP-hard and conventionally prioritizes the Net Present Value (NPV) of profits. Even so, heightened sustainability concerns necessitate heightened sustainable practices. Yet, research still lags. This dissertation addresses this paucity by integrating sustainability elements through Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO), introducing novel algorithms and proposing an uncertainty assessment within a dual Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA) setup.

Firstly, our systematic review of past LTMP research focused on the PCPSP and highlighted sustainability elements. Overall, it furnished real-world components incorporated into mathematical formulations, trends, quality of solutions (efficacy) and computation time (efficiency) of …

Creating A Sustainabili-Tour, Lily Dubray, Caden Fisher, Allison Gross, Morgan Hrivnak, Emily Kilstrom, Sushant Mukhia, Hannah Nelin, Sam Parrish, Waverly Patterson, Bowen Rand, Caleb Swanson, Wyatt Wiebelhaus

Sustainability & Environment Projects

Executive Summary

The University of South Dakota has taken significant steps to become more sustainable in the last few years. Students, faculty, and administrators have worked together to raise awareness and advance sustainability on campus. Because of these efforts, the University of South Dakota was recently recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education as a STARS Bronze Institution based on our accomplishments in campus sustainability.

Every year, Dr. Meghann Jarchow teaches the Sustainability Capstone course, leading a class of seniors on a semester-long project aimed at furthering community sustainability by synthesizing student expertise. Throughout …

Exploring Cation Exchange: Unveiling Its Significance In Biochar And Bioenergetics Applications, Gyanendra Kharel

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Cation exchange, a cornerstone of soil chemistry and nutrient cycling, is a fundamental chemical process that occurs in soils, sediments, membranes, and other solid materials. It involves the interchange of positively charged ions, or cations, between a solid matrix and a surrounding solution. This process is crucial in various natural and engineered systems, leading to a range of applications across different fields.

This dissertation presents an extensive investigation into the applications of cation exchange in the fields of biochar and bioenergetics, encompassing three distinct aims. The first aim concentrates on the surface oxygenation of biochar through ozonization, aiming to achieve …

Género Y Resiliencia En La Amazonía Peruana: Las Experiencias Y Respuestas De Agricultoras Indígenas Ante El Cambio Climático, Zoe Klausner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

El cambio climático antropogénico está redefiniendo rápidamente las relaciones humano-ambientales, especialmente en la Amazonía peruana, donde más de 66 comunidades indígenas enfrentan mayores sequías y temperaturas, afectando profundamente sus medios de vida. Crucialmente, desde la visión ecofeminista central a esta investigación se subraya que las mujeres indígenas experimentan los impactos del cambio climático más severamente y son a menudo los líderes en el fomento de la resiliencia ambiental. Esta investigación explora cómo las agricultoras indígenas de la Amazonía peruana viven el cambio climático y sus estrategias de adaptación y resiliencia. El trabajo de campo se realizó en la comunidad Ese'Eja …

Hurricane Impacts On Water Resources: A Look At Nature-Based Solutions To Improve Long-Term Resilience, Fautemeh Sajadi Bami

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Severe storms are a common occurrence in the state of Florida. Hurricane events may cause hazards such as flooding, property damage, death, and many others. Such far-reaching impacts may potentially result in dangerous consequences where they occur. Of interest to this study were the impacts on water resources and water quality caused by storms. Hurricanes can bring about a deluge. An apparent excess of water may cause the notion of water scarcity to seem less significant. However, problems with potable water can be quite frequent due to storms.

This research sought to address the impacts of severe storms on water …

Forestry, A Valuable Crop For The Pastoral Farmer, N M. Shadbolt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The integration of forestry into a pastoral system (sheep & beef cattle) will be discussed with respect to the economic sustainability of the system. The cash flow implications for a case study farm of forest development, and methods used through forestry right agreements to facilitate these by reducing risk, will be developed.

Sustainability Forecasting For Deep Learning Packages, Junxiao Han, Yunkun Wang, Zhongxin Liu, Lingfeng Bao, Jiakun Liu, David Lo, Shuiguang Deng

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Deep Learning (DL) technologies have been widely adopted to tackle various tasks. In this process, through software dependencies, a multi-layer DL supply chain (SC) is formed, with DL frameworks acting as the root, DL packages acting as the bridge nodes, and downstream DL projects acting as the periphery. However, most Open Source Software (OSS) projects may fail. Considering the crucial position of DL packages in the DL SC, to foster the sustainable development of DL SCs and DL packages, we aim to forecast the long-term sustainability of DL packages. Here, sustained activity is adopted as the main proxy of sustainability, …

Environmental Analysis Of Codfish Production And Consumption In Portugal, Ayla Frost, Joana Almeida, Joana Dionisio, Radu Godina, Cátia Magro

Journal of Critical Global Issues

Codfish, a typical dish consumed frequently in Portugal, is fished in the cold Northern Atlantic waters far from the Portuguese coast. Thus, regional tensions and the environmental impacts of Portuguese codfish importation and production are significant current issues. The present study uses a life cycle assessment methodology to evaluate the array of environmental impacts of the production of 1 kg of codfish, following a cradle to gate approach. The life cycle inventory was grouped into catch and preprocessing, transit, and curing stages. The data collection of products and processes in each stage was based on scientific peer reviewed documents, technical …