Sustainability Commons^™

How Government Organizations Can Sustain Remote Work Post Covid-19, Chikwendu Pius Nweke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractGovernment organizations are unprepared to sustain remote work post-COVID-19. Even though COVID-19 seems to be under control, organizations are still struggling with the aftermath of the pandemic and the need to sustain remote work. Challenges include lack of necessary information technology tools, software, technological skills, strategies for remote work, leadership skills, real-time communication; activity planning and program implementation, scheduling meetings, organizing child care, managing caseloads, fostering team work, and effective supervision. A conceptual framework based on organizational adaptation theory was used to guide this qualitative case study. Since the study was to ascertain how government organizations can sustain remote work …

Moving Towards Sustainable Mining Communities: The Case Of The Community-Led Non-Cyanide Non-Mercury Cold Extraction Method (Clinn-Cem) In Compostela Valley, Philippines, Rowee Joy S. Decena

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The small-scale mining industry and communities are left behind in terms of development. They are confronted with economic, environmental, and social problems. Thus, to address these problems and move towards sustainable development, this social development research explores how CLINN-GEM, as a technological innovation, contributes to achieving sustainable mining communities. The researcher employs a single case study approach and adopts qualitative methods in data gathering and analysis. Data gathering methods include document reviews, guided tour, key informant interviews with seven informants, focus group discussions with the operations group and the members of the project staff, and a structured learning exercise with …

Eating Change: A Critical Autoethnography Of Community Gardening And Social Identity, Jessica Gerrior

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Community gardening efforts often carry a social purpose, such as building climate resilience, alleviating hunger, or promoting food justice. Meanwhile, the identities and motivations of community gardeners reflect both personal stories and broader social narratives. The involvement of universities in community gardening projects introduces an additional dimension of power and privilege that is underexplored in scholarly literature. This research uses critical autoethnography to explore the relationship of community gardening and social identity. Guided by Chang (2008) and Anderson and Glass-Coffin (2013), a systematic, reflexive process of meaning-making was used to compose three autoethnographic accounts. Each autoethnography draws on the author’s …

Forest Bathing Increases Adolescent Mental Well-Being And Connection To Nature: A Transformative Mixed Methods Study, Jennifer Keller

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Previous research has demonstrated that practicing forest bathing has significant positive effects on well-being. However, few studies have investigated whether forest bathing increases adolescent well-being despite the growing adolescent mental health crisis in the United States. Similarly, few studies have explored forest bathing’s impacts on connectedness to nature. Considering the ongoing environmental crisis, determining if forest bathing increases connectedness to nature is a critical expansion of forest bathing research, as connectedness to nature is linked to environmental care and concern. This study investigated the possibility that forest bathing, a nature-based mindfulness practice, could increase adolescent mental well-being and connectedness to …

Proposing Urban Agroforestry Designs For Lincoln, Nebraska: A Model From Berlin, Germany, Noah Johnson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Given the threat of a worsening climate crisis, there is a strong need for community and ecosystem resilience. Diverse urban agroforestry systems have the potential to accomplish both and meet many of the objectives outlined in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska’s climate action plan. Additionally, Berlin, Germany could provide an effective model for Lincoln in this regard given the city’s extensive history of established urban agroforestry systems. The objective of this study then is to develop a design for an urban agroforestry site modeled on Berlin’s allotment gardens and tailored to Lincoln’s needs. The methods for creating this design included …

Nitrates In Nebraska, Michelle Zenk

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

For my senior thesis project, I decided to study nitrate pollution to better understand and analyze how college students in Nebraska viewed and understood the complex issue of nitrate pollution. From my study only half of college students surveyed viewed nitrate pollution as a problem. Only 15 percent of college students test their water for nitrates, and most college students were knowledgeable on how nitrate pollution occurs. Due to the negative impacts of nitrate pollution within human health, soil health, and ecosystem function further work needs to be completed to raise awareness and knowledge on the impacts of nitrate pollution.

Off The Rails: Cinematic Trains As Technological Controls Of The Natural World, Trinity Thompson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Short train rail lines across the United States are seeing increased national funding to reduce toxic chemical spills caused by train derailments, the most notable of which happened in February 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio. A year prior, the film White Noise (2022) featured a similar toxic train derailment incident, taking place, too, in Eastern Ohio, and featuring actors from the town of East Palestine. In considering other films featuring trains, I identified a pattern of environmental conflict, leading me to question the relationship between trains and the natural environment as portrayed in popular cinema. To conduct my research, I …

Examining The Effects Of Seed Mix Diversity And Composition, Biochar Application, Seeding Rate, Species Identity, And Topography On Palouse Prairie Restoration, Thurman Johnson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

With over 99.9% of the Palouse prairie lost to land conversion, restoring native plant communities is crucial for ecological function, however, research on Palouse prairie restoration methods is sparse. Seed-based restoration uses a mix of seeded species to enhance competition against weeds, diversify vegetation, and adapt to environmental conditions. However, many factors can be varied, such as seed mix diversity and composition, the proportion of forbs to grasses, and seeding rate, and the most effective levels of each are not clear. Further, soil amendments, such as biochar, may benefit properties of tilled soils, but have not explored in Palouse Prairie …

Changes And Relationships Of Soil Aluminum, Organic Matter, And Hydrogen Ion Concentration With Rye Cover Crop, Arron Wilder

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Soil acidity is a common agricultural problem worldwide, as approximately 50% of all potentially arable soils are affected by pH limitations. At soil pH 3+) is considered to be the chemical form of aluminum in acid soil that hinders plant growth the most. Potentially, soil organic matter (SOM) can ameliorate the toxic effects of Al³⁺ on plants and microbes by binding with Al³⁺, thus preventing Al³⁺ (and other species of aluminum) from interacting in the rhizosphere. Increasing SOM also increases soil health indicators (i.e., microbial activity, soil water holding capacity, aggregate stability, porosity, etc.) while the …

Sustainability Hub Newsletter - January 2023, Jacqueline Jergensen, Neyda Gilman, Jennifer Embree

Library Sustainability Resources

The January 2023 Issue of the Sustainability Hub Newsletter shares sustainable New Year's Resolutions, additions to our documentary collection, a new environmental justice mapping tool, information on the Sustainability Hub Interest Group, and a student petition for EV Chargers on campus! Also read our announcements and upcoming events!

Offshore Wind Industry Leaders’ Operations And Maintenance Management Strategies, Heather Louise Shimp

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The difficulties offshore wind leaders have in managing operations and maintenance (O&M) costs threaten the ability to operate offshore wind farms profitably, diversify the energy supply, and reduce dependence on imported fuels. Grounded in the frameworks of Lean Six Sigma and McKinsey 7-S, the purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to explore offshore wind farm leaders’ strategies to manage O&M costs in Europe. The participants were six offshore wind leaders who implemented strategies to successfully manage O&M costs for offshore wind farms located in Europe. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, participant observation, and reviewing public and participant-supplied documents. …

Children Tell Landscape-Lore Among Perceptions Of Place: Relating Ecocultural Digital Stories In A Conscientizing/Decolonizing Exploration, Meredith Jean Bird Miller

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

We know that when children feel a sense-of-relation within local natural environments, they are more prone to feel concern for them, while nurturing well-being and resilience in themselves and in lands/waters they inhabit. Positive environmental behaviors often follow into adulthood. Our human capacities for creating sustainable solutions in response to growing repercussions of global warming and climate change may grow if more children feel a sense of belonging in the wild natural world. As educators, if we listen to and learn from students’ voices about how they engage in nature, we can create pedagogical experiences directly relevant to their lives. …

Developing Best Practices For The Propagation Of Spartina Alterniflora For Use In Salt Marsh Restortaion, Justin Hinson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Coastal salt marshes are valuable ecosystems under threat from climate change and sea level rise. Living shorelines offer a promising solution, often incorporating the foundational salt marsh species Spartina alterniflora due to its ability to tolerate natural stressors and maintain sediment stability. However, research suggests that seed-based propagation protocols should be developed on a local scale due to the genetic heterogeneity within and between S. alterniflora populations. Here, we attempt to contribute to the development of one such protocol for coastal Georgia S. alterniflora.

In Fall 2021, seeds were collected bi-monthly from four marshes of varying ocean proximity and …

Middle Savannah River: An A/R/Tographic Ecopedagogical Ethnography Experimenting With Rhizomatic Perspectives, Lisa Augustine-Chizmar

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This research is an experiment in perspective. Using the four commonplaces (Schwab, 1978), I practiced letting the Savannah River teach me what there is to know about the water, the land, the people, and the other entities that depend on ki through artistic, ethnographic, and ecopedagogical lenses. The ethnographic findings describe the social actors that depend on ki and give a voice to the River. The a/r/tographic findings display the River on a canvas map through two hundred years using paint, clay, photography, video, abstract acrylics, and fabric. Together, these methods contribute to a unique ecopedagogical journey. This word cloud …

Winter Dynamics Of Storm Water Management Ponds And Winter Tolerance In Three Aquatic Plant Species, Patrick Strzalkowski

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The vast majority of the research into the performance of stormwater management ponds (SWMPs) has been performed in warm regions or during the warmer seasons in temperate regions. It is presumed that SWMPs are inactive in the winter as any potential stormwater is trapped in snow and ice. The main goal of this thesis was to test this presumption and to study the dynamics and performance of three SWMPs during the winter. Remote water level loggers were installed into the three SWMPs and daily grab samples from the influents and effluents were taken and analyzed for total phosphorus (TP), chloride, …

Navigating Opportunities To Improve Youth Outcomes In A Least Developed Country: An Action Research Study, Naomi Docilait

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The ambitious United Nations-adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require the concentrated effort of governments, the business sector, and other key stakeholders, including women and youth, for its success. Effective leadership will be essential for different sectors to integrate these development goals into strategic plans and operational activities in the service of realizing this agenda by 2030. Unfortunately for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the COVID-19 pandemic caused the worst economic outcomes in 30 years. For this group of countries, the pandemic has negatively influenced efforts to eradicate poverty and improve social outcomes. This setback makes achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by …

Socio-Economic Comparative Analysis Of Front-Of-The-Meter And Behind-The-Meter Microgrids For Panamnik, Olivia C. Amann Mcshea

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In Northern California, the Karuk Tribe is feeling the effects of climate change on inadequate energy infrastructures leading to unreliable power supply. Improving energy reliability in a way that also increases energy sovereignty is necessary. Renewable energy microgrids have emerged as a pathway forward.

Modeling ownership structures and cash flows for different microgrid configurations can support the Tribe’s implementation of a microgrid in Orleans, CA that maximizes community benefits. This thesis considers a front-of-the-meter (FTM) and behind-the-meter (BTM) configuration, both approximately 2 MW solar PV and 3 MW/12 MWh battery energy storage. Cash flows including capital costs, operations and maintenance …

Botanical Updates From Psu, Gabriel Campbell

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank and Plant Conservation Program

These slides summarize the botanical work conducted at PSU in 2022.

Coconut Shell Waste Treatment Technology For A Sustainable Waste Utilization: A Case Study Of The Smes In Bohol Village, Indonesia, Wahyu Anggo Rizal, Ria Suryani, Roni Maryana, Dwi Joko Prasetyo, Diah Pratiwi, Yuli Ary Ratnawati, Dini Ariani, Andri Suwanto

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

This project focused on the introduction of liquid smoke and bio briquette manufacturing technology to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) located in Bohol Village, Gunungkidul, Indonesia through technology transfer, training, and mentoring. These SMEs are engaged in the food business with the main product jenang ketan, a traditional food from Gunungkidul, especially in Rongkop District, and very popular among communities around and outside Gunungkidul. The traditional preparation of jenang ketan produces several by-products in the form of waste, which is dominated by coconut shell biomass. The project’s technology transfer was carried out through the procurement of a series of pyrolysis …

Utilization Of Biopertalite For Fuel Efficiency And Reduction In Co And Co2 Gas Emissions In Four-Wheel Motor Vehicles, Ridwan Iskandar, Hadiyanto Hadiyanto, Suherman Suherman, Zainul Akmar Zakaria

Makara Journal of Technology

Emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) gases are the main problem that must be rectified as they are harmful and contribute to global warming through the greenhouse gas effect. In Indonesia, motor vehicles, especially four wheelers, are one of the biggest contributors with up to 71 million tons of CO2 emissions and energy consumption of 179 million barrel of oil equivalent. Bioethanol has octane rating >100, which is higher than that of gasoline; and emission contribution of only 0.02 kg/L, which is lower than that from gasoline (2.23 kg/L). Accordingly, a mixture of gasoline and bioethanol is …

Feasibility Studies For Use Of Copper Slag In Clinker Manufacture, Suresh Vanguri, Suresh Palla, Gonthi Prasad, Sanjeev Kumar Chaturvedi, Bibekananda Mohapatra

Makara Journal of Science

This study investigated the feasibility of using copper slag (CS-C) as a raw material in the production of Portland cement (PC). The effect of addition of 0%-3.5% CS-C on the clinkerization process, mineralogy, microstructure, and compressive strength development was studied. The Presence of CS-C in the raw mix resulted in the reduced temperature of clinkerization by about 50 °C. The quality of clinker prepared from the raw mix containing 3% CS-C and burned at 1400 °C was comparable to that of clinker prepared from the raw mix containing no CS-C and burned at 1450 °C. Gradual polymorphic modification of alite …

Influence Of Thick Sandstone On Development Of Overburden Mining Fissures In Northern Shaanxi Coal Mining Area Of Yellow River Basin And Suggestions On Water-Preserved Coal Mining, Wang Shuangming, Wei Jiangbo, Song Shijie, Wang Shengquan, Sun Tao

Coal Geology & Exploration

The change of geological conditions of coal seam roof overburden and the development of mining fissures caused by coal mining activities are the direct causes of damage to the key underground aquifers, and also the root causes of ecological environment degradation in the mining area. As a typical geological condition, the thick sandstone developed in the overburden structure of the coal seam roof has an important impact on the development law of mining fissures in the overburden. Therefore, the influence of the thickness and location of different thick sandstones on the development morphology and height of overburden mining fractures was …

Geological Soil Formation For Ecological Restoration Of Mining Areas And Its Case Study, Hu Zhenqi, Zhang Zixuan, Sun Huang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Soil is an important substrate of plant growth, as well as the key for successful ecological restoration of mine. In view of the status of insufficient soil for most of ecological restoration of mine and the reality of a very long process of geological soil formation, the concept and method of geological soil formation for ecological restoration of mine (Mine-GSF for short) were discussed on the basis of description on the principle of natural geological soil formation. Natural geologic soil formation is the process of turning “rock” into “soil” through a long period of macro-geological cycle and biological cycle, including …

Succession Process And Management Mode Of Land Reclamation In Open-Pit Coal Mine Areas Based On Vegetation Rehabilitation, Zhou Wei, Guan Yanjun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Rehabilitated vegetation plays an important role in energy exchange and ecological cycling, and its dynamic change can characterize the extensive details of the disturbance to and the restoration of ecosystem in coal mining areas. From the points of different disturbance states of vegetation in the coal mining area, such as the undisturbed state, the coal mining disturbance state, the restoration state and the post-restoration state, six succession scenarios of the rehabilitated vegetation in coal mining areas were analyzed, including the effective restoration to maturity, inefficient restoration to maturity, effective restoration followed by degradation, effective restoration to development, inefficient restoration to …

Evaluation On Potential Of Using Abandoned Mines For Pumped Storage In Nine Provinces Of Yellow River Basin, Bian Zhengfu, Zhu Chaobin, Zhou Yuejin, Xu Yunong

Coal Geology & Exploration

In view of the low utilization rate of closed mine resources and the increasing demand for power and energy storage in China, the pumped storage technology of abandoned mine is an effective means to realize the secondary development and utilization of resources and enhance the peak sheaving capacity of power grid. Based on the working principle and development status of pumped storage power plants using the abandoned mines, it was proposed to build the semi-underground and full-underground pumped storage power plants using the abandoned mines in the nine provinces of Yellow River Basin. By considering the influence factors of space, …

Preparation Of Coal-Series Solid-Waste-Based Green Filling Materials And Their Performance, Dong Meng, Li Jiangshan, Chen Xin, Jin Jiaxu, Lu Longzhao

Coal Geology & Exploration

The filling technology is an important part of green mining. The low-carbon environmental-friendly filling materials with low costs in research and development and reliable performance are critical for the development of filling technologies. The coal gangue (CG) and coal-series metakaolin (MK) were adopted as the raw materials to prepare coal-series solid-waste-base green filling materials, and the effect of the mixing proportion and alkali activator on the strength and fluidity of filling materials was discussed. In combination with the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and other characterization measures, …

Shear Characteristics And Modified Coulomb Model Of Alfalfa Root-Loess Composite, Duan Zhao, Yuan Lin, Bi Yinli, Wang Kai, Wu Yanbin, Zhang Qing

Coal Geology & Exploration

Plant roots can significantly improve the strength of soil. In order to explore the enhancement effect of alfalfa root on the shear strength of loess, study was conducted based on the root-soil composites of alfalfa with a growth period of 60 d herein. Specifically, the parameters on shear strength of the alfalfa root-soil composite and the tensile strength of alfalfa root were obtained through the direct shear tests and root tensile tests. By observing the structure and characteristics of alfalfa root with an electronic magnifier, a modified Coulomb model of root-soil composite was established with the empirical formula. Meanwhile, the …

Discussion On Identification Standard Of Coal-Measure Graphite, Cao Daiyong, Wang Lu, Zhu Wenqing, Wu Guoqiang, Wei Yingchun, Ning Shuzheng, Wang Guixiang, Xiao Jincheng, Xu Xiang, Liu Kang

Coal Geology & Exploration

The identification and classification of coal-measure graphite are the precondition and basic work of mineral geological exploration, as well as resource exploitation and utilization. The preparation of identification standards of coal-measure graphite should follow the principles of science, systematicness, applicability and operability. Coal graphitization and coalification is a continuous progression plus jump process, and the characteristics of coal-measure graphite, including the step evolution of macromolecular structure and the heterogeneity of material composition, leads to the complexity of ore identification. In order to establish the scientific and practical identification standards, and from the study of metallogenic mechanism and the demand of …

Experimental Research On Mechanical Properties Of “Jacked Pipe-Frozen Soil” Composite Structure In Freeze-Sealing Pipe Roof Tunnel, Duan Yin, Rong Chuanxin, Cai Haibing, Long Wei

Coal Geology & Exploration

As the key project of Zhuhai Connecting Line of Hong Kong‒Zhuhai‒Macao Bridge, the underground excavation section of Gongbei Tunnel has applied the freeze-sealing pipe roof method for the first time. Combining the advantages of the pipe roof method and the artificial ground freezing method, this method could form a “jacked pipe-frozen soil curtain” composite support system on the tunnel section, so as to effectively achieve the dual goals of “bearing” and “water-stopping between pipes”, thereby ensuring that stability and safety during tunnel excavation. To obtain the temperature, deformation and mechanical properties of the “jacked pipe-frozen soil” composite structure, a set …

Path Planning Of Coal Mine Rescue Robot Based On Improved A* Algorithm, Zhang Weimin, Zhang Yue, Zhang Hui

Coal Geology & Exploration

A coal mine rescue robot that performs a rescue task needs to obtain the environment model and plan a collision-free path from the current location to the target location with the built-in algorithm upon receiving a task instruction. In order to reduce the moving time of the rescue robot, the path is usually required to be time-optimal. However, the path planned by the conventional A* algorithm that is widely used at present under the grid map environment has many problems, such as many path redundancy points and large turning angle, which leads to the fact that the path is suboptimal …