Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Guest Editorial: Power In Engaged Scholarship: Dimensions And Dynamics Of Knowledge Co-Creation, Margaret Post, Morgan Ruelle

Sustainability and Social Justice

Collaboratively engaged research is shaped by dynamic power relationships among individuals, institutions and communities. Where some disciplines have explored the theoretical and methodological implications of power relations, the engagement movement writ large has suffered from a lack of explicit conceptual models and in-depth analyses of the role of power in the process of knowledge co-creation. Over the last 30 years, considerable attention has been paid to how resources and expertise within academic institutions can be brought to bear on the intractable social and economic problems of local communities. A necessary, yet under-theorised aspect of these dynamics is the extent to …

Caricom Caribbean’S Hrd 2030 Strategy: Inscribing The Neoliberal Imaginary Through Social Planning?, Nigel O.M. Brissett

Sustainability and Social Justice

The globalisation’s ‘knowledge economy’ has created a new set of human capital requirements. The guiding policy and planning document, The CARICOM Human Resource Development 2030 Strategy: Unlocking Caribbean Human Potential document, ‘serves as a roadmap for the CARICOM Caribbean’s responses to these human capital demands. I conduct a critical analysis of this document’s policy discourses to ascertain their core values and strategies, as well as their implications for the education and development of the CARICOM Caribbean. I find that the emergent discourses and ideas–neoliberal education reform and state-led social planning–provide a cautionary tale of the potential impact of educational change …

Modeling The Spatial Distribution Of The Current And Future Ecosystem Services Of Urban Tree Planting In Chicopee And Fall River, Massachusetts, R. Moody, N. Geron, M. Healy, J. Rogan, Deborah Martin

Geography

Mature urban tree canopy cover disrupts the local effects of urban heat islands and provides important ecosystem services such as energy savings through evaporation and shading, pollution removal, storm runoff control, and carbon sequestration. Sustainable urban tree canopy relies on the planting of juvenile trees. Typically, tree planting programs are only evaluated by the number of trees planted and there is a lack of analysis of juvenile trees post-planting. This study examines the value and distribution of energy savings provided by juvenile trees and how that value changes considering predicted tree growth and mortality by 2050. Using i-Tree Eco software, …

Customary Law, Norms, Practices And Other Factors That Enable And Constrain Women’S Access To Housing, Land And Property (Hlp) In South Sudan: A Desk Review, Cynthia Caron

Sustainability and Social Justice

Published by the International Organization for Migration

This report presents a review of the existing literature on customary law and practices, attitudes and beliefs (social norms) and other factors that create barriers to women’s access to and control over land and property in South Sudan. It also presents existing efforts to improve women’s property rights. The findings emphasize not only access, but also security of that access and its limitations, the ability to use land as desired and the ability to control income derived from land.

Interview With Espoir Habimana, Espoir Habimana, Dan Raleigh

Interviews

Transcript of interview and audio recording conducted with Espoir Habimana. Per the "Methodology" section, the transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. The interview begins at 00:15:16 in the audio recording.

This interview was recorded over Zoom and manually transcribed.

Ecosystem Carbon Balance In The Hawaiian Islands Under Different Scenarios Of Future Climate And Land Use Change, Paul C. Selmants, Benjamin M. Sleeter, Jinxun Liu, Tamara S. Wilson, Clay Trauernicht, Abby G. Frazier, Gregory P. Asner

Geography

The State of Hawai'i passed legislation to be carbon neutral by 2045, a goal that will partly depend on carbon sequestration by terrestrial ecosystems. However, there is considerable uncertainty surrounding the future direction and magnitude of the land carbon sink in the Hawaiian Islands. We used the Land Use and Carbon Scenario Simulator (LUCAS), a spatially explicit stochastic simulation model that integrates landscape change and carbon gain-loss, to assess how projected future changes in climate and land use will influence ecosystem carbon balance in the Hawaiian Islands under all combinations of two radiative forcing scenarios (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5) and …

Engaging Transformation: Using Seasonal Rounds To Anticipate Climate Change, Karim Aly Kassam, Morgan Ruelle, Isabell Haag, Umed Bulbulshoev, Daler Kaziev, Leo Louis, Anna Ullmann, Iriel Edwards, Aziz Ali Khan, Antonio Trabucco, Cyrus Samimi

Sustainability and Social Justice

Seasonal rounds are deliberative articulations of a community’s sociocultural relations with their ecological system. The process of visualizing seasonal rounds informs transdisciplinary research. We present a methodological approach for communities of enquiry to engage communities of practice through context-specific sociocultural and ecological relations driven by seasonal change. We first discuss historical précis of the concept of seasonal rounds that we apply to assess the spatial and temporal communal migrations and then describe current international research among Indigenous and rural communities in North America and Central Asia by the creation of a common vocabulary through mutual respect for multiple ways of …

Forum: Militarization 2.0: Communication And The Normalization Of Political Violence In The Digital Age, Susan Jackson, Rhys Crilley, Ilan Manor, Catherine Baker, Modupe Oshikoya, Jutta Joachim, Nick Robinson, Andrea Schneiker, Nicole Sunday Grove, Cynthia Enloe

Sustainability and Social Justice

Scholars of international relations frequently explore how states normalize the use of military force through processes of militarization, yet few have analyzed how new information and communication technologies impact on these processes. The essays in this forum address this gap, and consider the political significance of new technologies, new actors, and new practices that shape "Militarization 2.0" and normalize political violence in the digital age. The authors in this forum rely, to varying degrees, on common militarized tropes and dichotomies (such as authenticity, belonging, and (de)humanizing framings) that are key to militarization, including those devices that rest on gender, race/ethnicity, …

Femininity And The Paradox Of Trust Building In Patriarchies During Covid-19, Cynthia Enloe

Sustainability and Social Justice

Sustainable trust building is a crucial yet underanalyzed process, both in its successes and its more common failures. Because the politics of masculinization and feminization play salient roles in so many sustained and unsustained trust-building efforts, it is valuable during any public health crisis anywhere to pay close attention to women as trust builders and to nurses as feminized actors.

Participatory Community Wealth Ranking In Banana-Producing Regions Of Uganda And Tanzania, Pricilla Marimo, Clare Shelton, Cynthia Caron, Noel Madalla, Innocent Mpiriirwe, Rhiannon Crichton, Lilian Ndagire, Victor Manyong, Daud Batson Mbongo, Asher Wilson Okurut

Sustainability and Social Justice

Published by the Alliance of Bioversity International & the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). The former is a research-for-development organization that provides scientific evidence of the role that on-farm and wild agricultural and forest biodiversity can play in a more nutritious, resilient, productive and adaptable food and agricultural system. The latter works in collaboration with hundreds of partners to help developing countries make farming more competitive, profitable, and resilient through smarter, more sustainable natural resource management.

Organizations Affiliated to the Authors:

Bioversity International; University of East Anglia; Clark University; National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda; International …

Gender-Disaggregated Seasonal And Daily Calendars Of Farmers In Uganda And Tanzania, Pricilla Marimo, Clare Shelton, Cynthia Caron, Rhiannon Crichton, Noel Madalla, Mpoki Shimwela, Rony Swennen, Inge Van Den Bergh, Charity Kibooga

Sustainability and Social Justice

This report discusses the agricultural activities (seasonal, weekly, and daily) that take place in a typical year to provide insight into men’s and women’s perceptions of the seasons, agricultural activities, crops grown, and sex-disaggregated division of labor related to those crops and activities performed during specific times in a day or week in selected regions of Uganda and Tanzania. Qualitative data were collected from 38 sex-disaggregated focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with a total of 341 participants. Sixteen FGDs consisted of men only and 22 consisted of women only.

Contested Landscapes, Disputed Realities: An Investigation Of Socio-Environmental Conflict From Mining In Northern Ecuador: An Honors Thesis, Ian F. Hirons

Student Works

For decades, Ecuador has been one of the preeminent petrostates in South America. However, in response to recent drops in global demand and pricing for oil products, the country has made serious commitments to further develop its mineral resources. By opening a new natural resource sector, Ecuador has firmly cemented itself as a primarily extractivist nation. In the process, the national government has frequently come into conflict with activist and community groups who protest the encroachment of extractive industry. This thesis explores the various dimensions of socio-environmental conflict created by large-scale mining projects in northern Ecuador with specific attention to …

Impacts Of Chronic Diseases On Gender, Race, And Ethnicity., Mansi Gandi, Naga Sai Sandeep Chowdary Guntupalli, Srinithya Varma Kakarlapudi

School of Professional Studies

Impacts of Chronic diseases on gender, race, and ethnicity.

The Effects Of Artificial Intelligence On Competitive Sports, Qiyu Pu

School of Professional Studies

This Research thesis is to explore the application and impact of artificial intelligence in the field of competitive sports, discover the risks and problems in it, and discuss solutions. Nowadays, artificial intelligence has been applied to all walks of life, and the field of competitive sports is no exception, such as VR video technology, artificial intelligence for competition and player data analysis, artificial intelligence equipment to help players train, artificial intelligence to develop tactics, etc. But artificial intelligence has also brought about problems such as disrupting game viewing, making intellectual competitive sports meaningless, and threatening the status of industry practitioners. …

How Social Media And Embedded Recommender Algorithm Fostered Political Issues, Yan Shi

School of Professional Studies

Social media plays a significant role in social communication and interaction, connecting people from different continents and facilitating information flaws worldwide. Meanwhile, along with the evolution of embedded recommender algorithms that clustering people with similar demographic features, social media has become the most important means of communication for modern society. However, the prosper of interconnecting platforms also have potential flows alongside. One of the major issues is the unexpected political consequence. This paper delivers the first comprehensive analysis of the political impacts posed by social media and embedded recommending algorithms. The article identifies three major political concerns through literature review, …

An Analysis Of The Impacts Of Climate Change On Food Security In The Albertine Rift Of East Africa, Malcolm Jacob

International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE)

As one of the most densely populated regions on the continent of Africa, the Albertine Rift (consisting of parts of Rwanda, Uganda, and the eastern DRC) faces ongoing problems providing enough food for its people through crop production, livestock husbandry, and other forms of food production. Even more troubling for the future is that anthropogenic climate change is expected to significantly exacerbate food insecurity. This paper addresses one central question: how will climate change impact food security in the Albertine Rift? Based on an analysis of available data, this paper finds that policymakers should listen closely to local farmers and …

Evaluating Global Environmental Changes From 1979 To 2019, To Identify Priority Conservation Areas For Birds, Qihui Wang

International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE)

Nowadays, global warming is unignorable. In response, climate changes have caused impacts on natural and human systems on all continents and across the oceans, which means that global species' distributions, populations, and other activities are highly affected by climate change (AR5 Synthesis Report, n.d.). Therefore, studying environmental changes to identify priority protected areas is of significance to species protection. In this study, 19 global bioclimatic variables from 1979 to 2019 were developed and used to evaluate temporal trends. The variables include annual averages, seasonality, and climatic extremes. As these variables are known to limit species physiological performance, changes in these …

Characteristics Of Temporal And Spatial Variation Of Ndvi In Beijing And The Relationship With Urban Heat Island Effect, Wenye Liang

International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE)

Vegetation is an important part of ecosystems, and the use of vegetation coverage as an indicator to study the spatio-temporal dynamics of regional vegetation is necessary for ecosystem health evaluation. The urban heat island effect can change the structure and functions of urban ecosystems, and affect the climate, hydrology, atmospheric environment, and energy metabolism of cities, as well as the health of residents. Using Beijing as a case study, this research generates vegetation coverage maps using remote sensing imagery from 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018. This study indirectly analyzes the urban heat island effect through spatio-temporal changes in vegetation …

Evaluation Of Existing Climate-Change Adaptation Plans For Municipalities In Mexico: Proposition Of A “Sustainable Mac-Water Framework” That Considers Vulnerability To Impacts On Water Resources, Tsanta Rakotoarisoa

International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE)

This paper presents a sustainable adaptive capacity framework for water management for municipalities, named Sustainable MAC-Water framework, after assessing the strengths and weaknesses of adaptive capacity in Mexico and its municipalities. It provides municipalities with an instrument to help them create sustainable adaptive capacity plans (Sustainable MAC plans) to prevent adverse impacts on water resources and related sectors. It is based on a study of policy instruments crafted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Government of Mexico, and literature on adaptive capacity, assessment, and planning. The Sustainable MAC-Water framework recommends the establishment of a Reactive Barriers …

Development Of A Human Health-Centered Climate Resilience/Vulnerability Framework For The Mexico City Region, Alex Stever

International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE)

With climate change impacting every corner of the globe, the health and well-being of all humans is threatened, especially in heavily populated areas such as the Mexico City Region (MCR). With this threat continuously growing it is important to not only be aware of the problem and its complications but have a framework and process that will allow for rapid and well-rounded analyses of how at risk the residents of certain areas are to the threats of climate change. However, with analyzing the impacts of climate change on any sector, including human health and well-being, three conundrums arise: the socio-ecological …

Foreword, Cynthia Enloe

Sustainability and Social Justice

Abstract for the full book:

This book explores how gender equality, a central part of the Nordic imaginary, is used in the political communication of Nordic states. The analyses presented move beyond conventional images and discourses of Nordic gender- and women-friendliness by critically investigating how and to what extent gender equality serves nation-branding in the Nordic region.

Nation-branding is an unescapable part of globalisation, which is a market-oriented process dominated by the West and predicated on the creation of winners and losers. Hence, efforts to strengthen the national brand or reputation of specific Nordic countries with the aid of gender …

A Gateway To Economic Success, Nathan R. Boudreau

School of Professional Studies

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a leader in the United States, a gleaming example of the American dream and the way life should be. We are always at the forefront of world-class innovation, house arts and culture that rival some of the best cities in the world, and have high-class educational institutes rivaled by almost no other region. Massachusetts leads the way when it comes to progressive ideals that provide for the less fortunate and ensure equality for all while keeping taxes reasonable, unemployment down, and living wage jobs readily available. With all that said, I began to ponder why …

Broadband In Rhode Island, Deborah Ruggiero

School of Professional Studies

Broadband is the 21st century fiber-optic highway in our technology and information economy. The need for high-speed fiber-optic connectivity is critical for economic development, education, business, e-learning, and telehealth

A Comparison Of Community Development Corporations (Cdcs) In Worcester, Massachusetts, Benjamin L. Gessel

School of Professional Studies

This paper examines the factors that influence the effectiveness of two community development corporations (CDCs) in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Main South CDC is more community-oriented and has a comprehensive approach to improving its neighborhood. Worcester Community Housing Resources (WCHR) has a narrower approach that is limited to developing and financing affordable homes. The paper investigates the success of these two organizations on factors widely considered important for CDCs, including their ability to provide affordable housing, the extent of services they offer, their level of community control, and their financial security

Group Living Environment Responses To Pandemic: A Case Study Of Advocates, And The Covid-19 Crises, Nicole K. Atchue

School of Professional Studies

The literature will take a deeper look in the personal lives of developmentally disabled members and their staff who experienced COVID-19 pandemic in a group living environments. The holistic approach of understanding will navigate the history of care and the level care needed as well as external factors that played a larger role in explanation for the support provided.

Internal Communications In The Time Of A Global Pandemic, Thais Gandica, Manvi Talwar, Sange Wangmu Thungon, Edgar Knyvet Diengdoh Pyrtuh, Emmanuel Kumah

School of Professional Studies

The business and organizational worlds have been in constant transformation for years. Still, 2020 changed drastically the way they function from their very inside. The COVID-19 pandemic hit all industries, and with that, all models of communication had to be reshaped so they could efficiently connect with their internal players in charge of crafting and delivering messages that would work towards a healthy and productive environment. Internal Communications played a critical role in the employee relations, brand image, and overall success of organizations, especially during the crisis. Through primary and secondary research conducted to three different organizations’ sizes, this research …

Bail Discrimination: Racial Disparities In The United States Bail Determination Process, Collin Porter

School of Professional Studies

Nationwide, there is a systemic problem with bail determination: the process that a citizen goes through after they are arrested and before they go to trial to determine guilt or innocence for the crime they have been accused of committing. The United States leads all other countries with approximately half a million individuals detained before trial each year, a number nearly double the next highest country (China) (Nejdl, 2017). The high rate of pre-trial detention in the United States is due to both widespread use of monetary bail and the limited financial resources of most defendants; specifically, African American men. …

Pernet Family Health Service, Inc.: Organizational Restructuring & Change Management Best Practices, Carly Massino

School of Professional Studies

Research exhibits that between 70-75% of change initiatives fail and a major contributor to this trend is employee resistance. Although change can bring exciting growth and innovation, it can cause employees heightened stress and worsened physical and mental health outcomes. These effects are often amplified when organizations enact multiple change initiatives at once. These worsened outcomes are often a result of feelings of distress, anxiety, powerlessness, and apprehension and unknowns such as how one’s position will be affected, how operations will change, or how one fits into the change. This topic is incredibly relevant for Pernet Family Health Service, Inc., …

The Global Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Women’S Careers, Allison Bach

School of Professional Studies

This paper explores the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women’s careers on a global scale in the past year. It begins by focusing on the many pre-existing barriers that existed in realizing gender equality in the workplace prior to the pandemic, such as inadequate access to proper childcare, uneven participation in household labor between the genders, and pay inequality. The paper then continues to examine the impact that the pandemic has had on women’s careers across a variety of industries, countries, and specific groups. It was hypothesized that the COVID-19 crisis had created worse effects for women’s …

The Effects Of Social Media On Young People Through The Lens Of Covid-19, Molly Gammon

School of Professional Studies

This study looks at the relationship between social media and its effect on young people’s wellbeing by examining the available literature and research on the topic. Because Millennials and Generation Z do not remember a time before the internet and social media, it has become an influential and crucial part of their lives. Many suggest that social media is harmful to young people, while others argue that the benefits of the internet and social media outweigh the costs and risks. By analyzing the current research, it seems like there is still a lack of consensus on this debate. The goal …