Environmental Education Commons^™

Student Pages - Maps, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Student Pages - Maps - Answer Key, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Lesson Plan - Powering Our City: Exploring Renewable Energy Sources, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

The goal of this lesson is for students to explore their greenhouse gas emissions and potential alternative energy sources. Using an online simulation, students explore the economic and environmental impacts of these different sources and recognize that no single alternative energy source will currently provide enough power for a city. However, by combining power from a number of sources, they can minimize the impact on the environment. Students will also discuss the strengths and limitations of this simulation. Finally students will discuss what alternative energy sources might be most viable in their own area.

Powerpoint - Impact Of Trees, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Reading - Renewable Energy, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Student Pages - Powering Our City: Exploring Sources Of Energy, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Lesson Plan - Climate Change And The Ecosystem Services Model, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

Students will learn about the process and importance of carbon sequestration by trees. In this process, excess carbon is removed from the carbon cycle by trees. Next, students engage in a series of review activities in which they recall the major concepts that were covered throughout the climate change module and connect them in groups to the lenses/aspects/parts of the Ecosystems Services Model as described in Lesson 6 of Module 1. Students will also participate in a round robin to discuss and explain the reasoning behind why they categorized these concepts the way they did to other groups.

Reading - Carbon Sequestration, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Host Q&A, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Student Pages - Climate Change And The Ecosystem Services Model, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Lesson Plan - Performing Personal Energy Audits And Creating A School Wide Action Plan, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

In this lesson, students will use their knowledge about major and alternative sources of energy to create a public service announcement (PSA) that makes a convincing argument for increasing their community’s use of alternative energy sources. In constructing the argument, students must refer to specific scientifically-based evidence and facts that support their claims about alternative sources. The main point of this lesson is to highlight how the understanding science and envisioning possibilities steps of the action plan process can be utilized to take action. After completing their PSA, students will present their work to the class

Rubric, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Student Pages - Public Service Announcement (Psa) Worksheet, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Powerpoint - Acting On Urban Ecology, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 01: Introduction to Urban Ecology

No abstract provided.

Student Handout - Action In Urban Ecology, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 01: Introduction to Urban Ecology

No abstract provided.

Ecosystem Structure And Function_Answer Key, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 01: Introduction to Urban Ecology

No abstract provided.

Action In Urban Ecology - Action Plan Process, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 01: Introduction to Urban Ecology

No abstract provided.

An Impact Model For Experiential Activities Of Farming And Food Education In Agricultural Sustainable Tourism, Feng-En Lo, Li-Shiue Gau, Yu-Yin Hsu, Rick Gage, Chien-Yun Hung

Natural Resources and Earth Sciences Faculty Research

This paper examines the development, implementation, and implications of farming and food experiential activities and the effects of these activities on agricultural sustainable tourism. A model is proposed that examines the major correlates and possible impacts related to these variables. A heuristic inquiry research design was adopted, employing a major multiple case study approach. In addition to secondary data, primary data were collected through 18 interviews with farmers, customers, government employees, community leaders and scholars, as well as 132 quantitative surveys from tourists and visitors involved in the activities on site.

The major cases of the Small Bee Project, Pitaya …

The Economic And Environmental Effects Of Recycling Plastic In South Carolina, Sophia Gouhin

Senior Theses

The state of South Carolina generated 4,809,041 tons of municipal solid waste during the fiscal year of 2019 (July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019). During this same period, the state maintained an average municipal solid waste recycling rate of 28.2% (Toomey, 2019b). This thesis gives an in-depth look in to the economic and environmental effects of recycling, specifically plastic, in South Carolina. I have researched and analyzed the process, capabilities, and impact of recycling plastic in South Carolina. This includes all seven types of plastic as classified by their chemical makeup. In addition, I surveyed South Carolina residents to …

Solutions Human Centered Approach To Conservation, Illustration Department, History, Philosophy, + The Social Sciences Department

Illustration Course Work & Materials

"These essays were were written and illustrated by students at the Rhode Island school of Design in February, 2021. Their perspectives are entirely personal and reflect their efforts within a 5.5-week fused studio/seminar course that was centered on the Sixth Mass Extinction and how biodiversity is changing because of humans. Discovering that science communication is more than delivering just the facts, students were invited to research a topic of personal interest that is relevant to human impacts on biodiversity. Through analysis of data and other scientific information, each sought to synthesize their research and opinions on their topic through a …

Diversification Of Angiosperms During The Cretaceous Period, Sakia Fields

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The topic of the Angiosperms relatively sudden appearance and diversification is a topic that has puzzled plenty of biologists and is even referred to as an “abominable mystery” by Charles Darwin. Up to date, many hypotheses have been proposed using various forms of data to form them. The available knowledge used to evaluate this topic has changed over the years, which has created some theme shifts. Some of the best supported of these hypotheses are more recent, but this does not make older articles unworthy of being evaluated, as they still often have relevant information. In the past, their appearance …

How Is Remote Sensing Being Used To Prevent Wildfires Today?, Luke Lauby

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Wildfires frequencies and severities are on the rise. To properly combat and contain them, artificial intelligence should be utilized. An in-depth literature review was conducted in order to evaluate the current state of artificial intelligence specifically relating to wildfire prevention and suppression efforts. The findings in this research sheds further light on the helpful implications that these technologies (both satellites and UAVs) do, and can have on wildfire suppression. If further adopted in wildfire suppression efforts, artificial intelligence can play a more effective role. Through this, fires can become better prevented, more controllable, and better understood using modern technology.

The Effect Of Agkistrodon Contortrix And Crotalus Horridus Venom Toxicity On Strike Locations With Live Prey, Chase Giese

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This paper aims to uncover if there is a significant difference in the strike location of snake species that have different values of LD50% venom. It is thought that most snakes strike their prey in the anterior (head) area in order for their venom to work quicker in killing them. Venom toxicity is measured by its LD50% value, which is the amount of venom, in mg/kg, to kill 50% of a test population. The Copperhead has an LD50% value of 10.9 mg/kg, and the Timber Rattlesnake has an LD50% value of 1.64 mg/kg. The hypothesis was that if venom toxicity …

Distribution Of Green Spaces In Omaha, Nebraska, Sofia Gavia

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The distribution of parks often depends on the races, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class of a community’s households. Parks and green spaces provides community residents recreational opportunities, economic benefits, and improves community public health. The unequal distribution of parks and green spaces in a city is a social issue found across the country. Limited research has been done on the relationship between green spaces and park access and social justice in Omaha, Nebraska. This study discusses whether there is a difference in how parks are distributed in Omaha, NE in terms of social justice and equitable distribution. Research is done using …

Temporal And Spatial Interactions Between Coyotes And Red Foxes Along The Urban–Rural Interface, Adam Mortensen

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Intraguild competition between predators may cause one predator to alter their temporal activity patterns or occupancy to reduce competition or avoid aggressive encounters. I conducted a temporal activity pattern and occupancy study of coyotes (Canis latrans) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in and around Lincoln, Nebraska using camera traps deployed from September of 2020 to May of 2021. I evaluated the activity patterns of coyotes, red foxes, and humans in urban and rural settings along with the activity patterns of red foxes when sympatric or allopatric with coyotes and determined the coefficient of overlap (Δ) between …

Relationship Of Land Use Categories And Water Quality For Low Order Streams, Jake Mcenaney

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The relationship of land use categories and water quality was explored in three different streams in the tri-state area of Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. These streams included: a fourth order stream, Salt Creek, near Waverly, NE, a third order stream, Maple Creek, near Nickerson, NE, and a sixth order stream, Nodaway River, near Graham, MO. Stream order was to be kept relatively low due to the impact tributary rivers have on a given stream's nitrate concentration. Nearby land use is expected to impact nutrient concentrations to a greater extent for smaller rivers than on larger rivers with more tributaries. First, …

The Effect Of Urban Forests On Air Quality And Human Health, Chance Wilken

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Following the industrial revolution, the impacts of climate change have been increasingly impactful on both rural and urban populations around the world. As population density and urbanization increase throughout the globe, the influences of climate change will continue to play a dangerous role in its influence on people's lives. Due to negative health impacts on humans and the economic costs in cities, climate change is one of the most important issues to understand in the 21st century. Air quality and human health are two components of climate change that are impacted most significantly. The bulk of this work is to …

The Effect Of Drought On The Bird Species Spiza Americana, Emily Nelson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Climate change is becoming an integral part of our environment. Recognizing its effects on ecosystems and species’ health is important for the future of the natural world. There is an influx of changes that are happening to species, specifically birds due to climate change, and these changes are largely negative. A variation that is happening from the changing climate is an increase in drought conditions, which may have effect on the avifauna community. Drought causes a significant difficulty for species survival in all parts of the globe that includes hardships finding food and unsuccessful nesting. The implications of this problem …

Investigating Predation Risk Experienced By Wintering Birds At A Supplied-Food Garden, Madison Smart

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Wintering birds are particularly susceptible to predation while foraging at feeders. The ‘starvation vs. predation’ survival trade-off is felt most acutely in winter because energy demands are higher compared to milder seasons. This study investigated sense of predation risk experienced by members of a wintering mixed-species flock. The objective was to determine which species take on increased predation risk in order to forage at feeders, and if there was bias for one species over another. A raptor (experimental) and non-raptor (control) model were presented to a mixed-flock at feeders within Pioneers Park Nature Center. The first species to return to …

Impact Of Ethnic Markets On Food Accessibility In Lincoln, Ne, Connor Mcfayden

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study used availability surveys and demographic mapping to analyze the impact of ethnic grocery stores on food accessibility in Lincoln, Nebraska. Access to fresh, healthy foods has been shown to be an important factor in public health, one in which low-income and minority populations are more likely to experience barriers such as long distances to the nearest grocery store. A growing body of research has described ethnic markets as important sources of fresh, healthy food for vulnerable populations, but on the whole the contributions of ethnic markets are overlooked in policy and research. In addition, ethnic markets may face …