Environmental Studies Commons^™

Microbial Dynamics And Biogas Production During Single And Co-Digestion Of Cow Dung And Rice Husk, Aderonke K. Akintokun, Wasiu A. Abibu, Moses O. Oyatogun

Applied Environmental Research

Anaerobic digestion is achieved by the combined effort of hydrolytic, acetogenic and methanogenic bacteria. Microbial dynamics and biogas production during anaerobic digestion of cow dung and rice husk were studied in this research. The experiment lasted for 30 days using a 10 L scale bio-digester. All proximate parameters reduced significantly after digestion for CD (cow dung), RH (rice husk), and CD:RH (cow dung and rice husk) except moisture content, which increased for all substrates. Ash content (1.08-1.67 mg) and crude fibre (1.27-1.96 mg) increased in CD only. The pH ranges for the substrates were CD (7.0-7.5), RH (6.1-7.6), and CD:RH …

Environmental Dna (Edna) Detects The Invasive Crayfishes Orconectes Rusticus And Pacifastacus Leniusculus In Large Lakes Of North America, Eric R. Larson, Mark A. Renshaw, Crysta Gantz, John Umek, Sudeep Chandra, David M. Lodge, Scott P. Egan

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

We report results of a study that made reciprocal comparisons of environmental DNA (eDNA) assays for two major invasive crayfishes between their disparate invasive ranges in North America. Specifically, we tested for range expansions of the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852) into the Laurentian Great Lakes region known to be invaded by the rusty crayfish Orconectes rusticus (Girard, 1852), as well as for the invasion of O. rusticus into large lakes of California and Nevada, US known to be invaded by P. leniusculus. We compared eDNA detections to historic localities for O. rusticus within the Great Lakes, and to …

Aquaponics: Redefining Education For Our Youth, Joshua Peal

Senior Theses

In America, we are seeing a lack of effectiveness with our K-12 schools. This costs the school districts and taxpayers money with very little return guaranteeing an ongoing investment into adulthood. Students finishing high school have very little if any applied learning and technical skills, and still need to accomplish at least four years of college or a trade school to be able to compete, even for a job not requiring a degree. Of those high school graduates, half and growing do not feel that they are prepared for college. Students also have little understanding of, or experience with, the …

A Retro Development In Education: Evaluating The Feasibility Of Integrating Place-Based Education Into Mississippi Curriculum Standards, Colby K. Mcclain

Honors Theses

This thesis evaluates the feasibility of integrating place-based environmental education activities from Think Green, Take Action: Books and Activities for Kids into the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE) Frameworks for Science and Social Studies for K-5. As children develop and experience the world, their ability to understand and interpret the surrounding environments expand; however, Mississippi schools are not focused on experiential environmental education, even though experiencing and understanding the surrounding environment is vital in fostering eagerness to learn. Due to a growing disconnect between humans and the natural world, this thesis examined 37 place- and environment-based activities for children, sixteen …

Governing The Urban Water Commons : Essays On Collaborative Policy Networks In A Polycentric Ecology Of Urban Water Policy Games., Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Governing social-ecological systems, such as the urban water commons, is a multi-scale and multi-sector (polycentric) human-environment process. This dissertation interrogates this process by situating itself within the Ecology of Games Framework by Norton Long (and updated by Mark Lubell) and the literature on polycentric governance by the Bloomington School of Political Economy. The dissertation’s three essays 1) offer both theoretical and methodological means to enact polycentric public economies within the ecology of games framework, and 2) explicate the conditions under which interoganizational collaboration is fostered within a polycentric ecology of policy games in governing the Middle Rio Grande urban watershed. …

The Cost Of Direct And Indirect Potable Water Reuse In A Medium Sized Inland Community, Jason Glenn Herman

Water Resources Professional Project Reports

In the face of increasing population, development pressures, and climate change, many regions around the world face freshwater shortages. Planned potable water reuse can improve sustainability and reliability of water supplies by providing drinking water from wastewater. Most potable reuse research has focused on large coastal communities with relatively high mean household incomes. However, the US Department of Interior predicts that “hot spots” of conflict over water in the arid West are “highly likely” in numerous small-to-medium-sized inland communities with low-to-moderate household income levels. Potable reuse options may be different for larger, wealthier coastal communities as compared to small-to-medium-sized inland …

Video Game Engagement, Gender, And Age: Examining Similarities And Differences In Motivation Between Those Who May Or May Not Play Video Games, Joseph Camarata

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to fill a research gap by examining video games to explore whether gender, age, or hours played per week would exert any influence on the information of those who may or may not play video games. Mood Management Theory and Uses and Gratification Theory were used as the theoretical foundation for this study. Four-hundred-three East Tennessee State University students who received the survey via email were asked to voluntarily participate in a survey about their motivations behind playing video games. Results from MANOVA showed that the motivations of male participants on video games were significantly higher than …

Trout Fishing In The Smokies And The Blue Ridge, 1880-Present: How-To, History, And Habitat, Nathaniel Cole Skaggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on trout fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains from 1880 to 2017. I begin with a collection of personal narratives of fly-fishing in Tennessee to portray the allure of southern Appalachia trout fishing. I then describe the transition from native Cherokee fishing practices to sport fishing in the Smokies and the Blue Ridge by 1880. I explore a brief history of the National Parks and the United States Forest Service during the early 1900s, and address European fly-fishing influences in the United States during the twentieth century. I examine the habitats of …

The Lebanese Trash Crisis, Araz Khajarian

ENV 334 Environmental Justice

Thinking about what it means to be a human being in the 21st century comes with many different aspects that one needs to take into consideration. Human Rights is becoming more complicated as life requires more in some areas and less in other as it proceeds. Clean air and water are one of those rights that every human being should have access to. When humans are denied access to those two, especially for political or class stratification reasons, a case of environmental injustice should be identified. Not everyone has equal access to all resources neither does everyone consume the same …

Micro Plastics And Their Implications For Human Health: An Environmental Justice Approach, Alexis Smith

ENV 334 Environmental Justice

Studies have shown microplastics are ubiquitous within global waterways. They have been found in waterways that supply drinking water to millions and they have also been found at various levels within the aquatic food chain. This implies that, not only are we eating microplastics, we are drinking them too. What does the reality that we are consuming plastic daily mean for humans as a species?

Potential Biosurfactant-Producing Bacteria From Pharmaceutical Wastewater Using Simple Screening Methods In South-West, Nigeria, Aderonke K. Akintokun, Seun O. Adebajo, Caroline A. Akinremi

Applied Environmental Research

merging multiple opportunities for industrial production and environmental applications have focused increasing research attention on biosurfactants in recent years. Hydrocarbon-polluted soils have proved a major source of biosurfactant-producing bacteria. In this study an alternative method of producing biosurfactants was established, based on pharmaceutical effluents. Pharmaceutical effluents are a rich source of complex organic compounds with potential as a substrate for micro-bial biosurfactant production. A successful biosurfactant screening assay is achieved when a com-bination of different methods are employed. Biosurfactant producing bacteria were isolated from pharmaceutical effluent and identified by biochemical methods. The best biosurfactant producer was identified by a molecular …

Dominant Root Associated Fungi (Raf) From Drynaria Quercifolia L. Either Induce Or Retard Growth Of Psb Rc10 Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) In Gibberellic Acid-Inhibited Medium, Jomar L. Aban, Racquel C. Barcelo, Evelyn E. Oda, Gaudelia A. Reyes, Teodora D. Balangcod, Rosemary M. Gutierrez, Roland M. Hipol

Applied Environmental Research

The testing and use of microorganisms for in vitro growth promotion of agriculturally significant crops such as rice has increased but remains underexploited. The current study aims to explore growth-enhancing mechanisms of dominant root-associated fungi (RAF) isolates from Drynaria quercifolia and test their effects on rice. The most abundant RAF on five tree-collection sites were cultured in vitro. Genomic DNA of the RAF were extracted and the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region of the 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were sequenced and molecularly identified. Two RAF isolates significantly increased the plant shoot/total length (Meyerozyma guilliermondii: 10.29±4.18/13.46±4.18 cm; Trichoderma simmonsii: 10.33±1.38/13.23+1.58 cm), …

Mineralogical And Chemical Characteristics Of Gossan Waste Rocks From A Gold Mine In Northeastern Thailand, Thitiphan Assawincharoenkij, Christoph Hauzenberger, Chakkaphan Sutthirat

Applied Environmental Research

The mineralogical and chemical compositions of various ocher gossans from a gold mine in northeastern Thailand were investigated, including some heavy metals and other toxic elements. Mineralogical characteristics were carried out using X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) whereas chemical compositions were analyzed using Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer (EPMA). These ocher gossans can be classified, initially based on Munsell color, into five types: type-I (pale-yellow color), type-II (brownish-yellow color), type-III (yellowish-brown color), type-IV (dusky-red color) and type-V (red color). The primary silicate minerals (i.e., quartz, garnet epidote and amphibole) are found in type -I, -II, -III and -IV. They …

Solid Waste Generation, Composition And Management In Paro Hotel Industry, Choni Zangmo, Alice Sharp

Applied Environmental Research

Management of solid waste has become an increasingly important global issue as a result of population growth, as well as increasing individual needs, changes in lifestyle and growth in tourism. This waste management problem has become severe in the Paro region of Bhutan, driven by growth in tourism, changes in consumption patterns and growth in GDP. This research aimed to study the amount of waste sent to landfill, and the current status of solid waste management systems and waste composition in Paro District hotels. The current composition of solid waste from hotels comprises organic waste (53 %), glass (14 %), …

Bioaccumulation Of Heavy Metals Using Selected Organisms Isolated From Electronic Waste Dumpsite Of Two South-Western States In Nigeria, Akintokun K. Aderonke, Onatunde O. Oladimeji, Olufunke B. Shittu, Itunu C. Okeyode, Michael O. Taiwo

Applied Environmental Research

Heavy metals from electronic wastes can accumulate to alarming concentrations in soils, causing significant detrimental impacts on human life and the environment. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals by bacteria and fungi has been a major focus of most bioremediation studies owing to the excellent metal-binding properties. The current study was conducted to isolate the most promising Zn, Cu and Pb tolerant microorganisms from contaminated soils, and to assess their metal accumulating abilities. Bacillus licheniformis, B. polymyxa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus roseus, Aspergillus niger and A. flavus were selected for the bioaccumulation study, based on their known tolerance to heavy metals. Bacillus licheniformis …

Kaolin Modified Nano Zero Valent Iron Synthesis Via Box-Behnken Design Optimization, Pummarin Khamdahsag, Wannakan Thongkao, Apichart Saowapakpongchai, Visanu Tanboonchuy

Applied Environmental Research

Nano zero valent iron (NZVI) has been extensively studied for its application to treat pollutants, particularly in contaminated water. This research studies enhancement of the reducing power of NZVI using kaolin as a supporter and ethanol as a medium. Kaolin modified nano zero valent iron (K-NZVI) was synthesized under three different parameters including ethanol content (0-100 v%), ratio of kaolin to NZVI (0-1.5), and dropping rate of NaBH4 (4-10 mL/min). The Box-Behnken Design was used to design the experimental conditions, and Reactive Red 120 was used as an organic pollutant probe to quantify the reducing power of the synthesized K-NZVI. …

A Gis Model For Pm10 Exposure From Biomass Burning In The North Of Thailand, Borworn Mitmark, Wanida Jinsart

Applied Environmental Research

Human exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 10 µm (PM10) is found to be associated with biomass burning in Thailand. Recent investigations confirm that primary sources of PM10 are natural forest fires and agricultural waste burning. Incidence of atmospheric haze increases significantly during the dry season from January to April. PM10 exposure in eight provinces in Northern Thailand were determined using GIS through spatial interpolation. Daily average ambient PM10 concentrations from 10 monitoring stations were used as the input data for the GIS model. Three interpolation techniques: Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), Kriging and Spline, were compared. The …

Public Opinion On Renewable Energy: The Nexus Of Climate, Politics, And Economy, Shawn K. Olson-Hazboun

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This dissertation research examines the factors underlying public opinion toward renewable energy in the United States. U.S. citizens in general support the continued development of renewable energy, yet opposition has been widely observed toward a variety of renewable energy facilities at the local level. Previous research on public responses to renewable energy has focused on one or a small number of communities experiencing renewable energy development. In this research I examine public views more broadly, in communities with and without renewable energy development, and also using nationally representative opinion data. I ask the following questions:

What local experiences influence how …

Mitigating An Energy Utility Death Spiral In The United States: Applying Lessons From Germany, Eric W. Hopf, Will O'Brien, Timothy Downs, Alistair Pim

Sustainability and Social Justice

The purpose of this paper is to present evidence that the United States is entering a "Utility Death Spiral" - a dramatic shift away from the utility based model of electricity supply to consumers. It also explores how U.S utilities can reposition themselves to best mitigate the economic losses associated with a Death Spiral. A Utility Death Spiral is currently taking place in Germany called the "Energiewende" and it is having immediate impacts on its energy landscape. The case study of the Energiewende is presented, its impacts, and the response taken by the country’s “big four” utility companies. After analyzing …

Addressing Conundrums For Urban Environmental Planning Under Climate Change In Mexico City, Mexico And Rosario, Argentina, Eric Pasay

Sustainability and Social Justice

Urban centers in Latin America are experiencing rapid growth and a host of intertwined environment and development problems related to climate change. In response, cities have started implementing sustainability initiatives and climate action plans. These plans generally target key sectors, ranging from transportation to water and sanitation, and focus on infrastructure improvements. Often, the objectives of sustainability plans are not met and tend to be mitigation-centric, despite explicit calls to address urban poverty. This paper analyses two case studies in Mexico City, Mexico and Rosario, Argentina to illustrate three risk conundrums that limit the success of sustainability initiatives in cities. …

Capturing The Resilience Dividend: Post Hurricane Sandy Insights From Brooklyn's Sea Gate Community, Alexander M. Rezk

Sustainability and Social Justice

This research project presents a resilience, governance, and vulnerability analysis of populations traditionally considered as non-vulnerable to natural disasters and climate related events. The paper examines how homeowners in Sea Gate, a neighborhood located on Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York, experienced systemic disruption following Hurricane Sandy. This research sets out to answer the following questions: How does the lived experience of homeowners in a coastal community reflect the creation of newly vulnerable populations in regard to natural disasters in New York City? How is the current municipal resilience strategy being perceived as managing these shifts? And finally, what avenues …

Seeing Community Through The Trees: Characterizing Resident Response To Urban-Tree Planting Initiatives, Eli Goldman

Sustainability and Social Justice

Urban tree planting initiatives have become common across cities in the United States. In order to advocate for sustainable urban forests, managers of urban planting initiatives must adopt a strong community framework, which includes community values in reforestation efforts. Clark University researchers conducted interviews and surveys with residents in six central Massachusetts cities and towns to assess why residents value urban trees and to characterize public response to reforestation efforts. Results indicate residents had positive experiences with tree planting programs, are most likely to value urban trees for aesthetic reasons, and commonly associate change in neighborhood character with Asian Longhorned …

Sweden’S Floating Refugee Camp: A New Form Of Spatial Segregation?, Miranda L. Weinstein

Sustainability and Social Justice

This paper looks at the structure of discrimination and marginalization of refugees and asylum-seekers. The paper investigates a new form of housing –– floatels –– which was seen in Sweden in 2016. This paper explores the relevant literature on identity, biopower, and spatial segregation, to make the case that floatels are contemporary forms of encampment. Floatels are clear examples of the State’s use of biopower to spatially segregate certain undesirable populations. By providing a case study of the situation in Sweden, the overall goal of the paper is to highlight the issues and complexity involved in refugee housing. In particular, …

Gis Specialist 2016 Internship With Cdm Smith In Boston, Massachusetts, Suzanne L. Meek

Sustainability and Social Justice

This report provides a detailed experience of my internship with CDM Smith during the summer of 2016. This was a formal 12-week internship that was extended an additional two weeks due to my success in the first few weeks. My title was listed as a GIS Specialist Intern. My responsibilities included applying GIS technologies to construction, water, and energy projects, digitizing various locations for cities and private clients, FEMA projects, and street light audits in two different towns in New England.

Searching For Ourselves: African Cultural Representation In Children’S Books In The United States, And Implications For Educational Achievement, Lulama Moyo

Sustainability and Social Justice

Using documentary and discourse analysis of children’s literature I explore the extent to which there is a multicultural gap in children’s literature to reveal the prevailing challenges of the colonized and Eurocentric values embedded in the contemporary education system that supports the monocultural socialization of young children in their early formative years. I translate my research through examining four thematic ways on how the multicultural gap is manifested which are subject matter, the lack of African writers, degree of complexity of diasporic experiences, and confronting whiteness. By focusing more specifically on the gap in African diasporic children literature, I review …

Evaluating Variables Of Patient Experience And The Correlation With Design, Dyutima Jha, Amy Keller Frye, Jennifer Schlimgen

Patient Experience Journal

The objective of this paper was to understand the variables of patient experience by analyzing recent and relevant evidence and to identify design solutions within the hospital environment that positively impact those variables. A systematic review of literature published from 2008-present was conducted to identify variables that contribute to patient experience benefits. Identified variables were documented and categorized into a design, organizational, and outcome variable matrix. Interviews were conducted with professionals from healthcare institutions, architecture firms and organizations committed to improving the patient experience. Data from healthcare facilities, with high patient experience scores, was also examined to derive effective design …

Lacuna: Transcendence Of The Human Body Through The Space Between, Anica Bottom

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

Examination of humans as dancers interaction with our surrounding environment. Performance and experimental movement improvisation clips shown.

The Trayless Dining Movement And The University's Future Transition, Jacquelyn Pearlmutter, J. R. Mastro

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

Across the globe, and in the United States, food waste causes negative financial, environmental, and social impacts (Plano, 2016). At the United States retail and consumer level, 90 billion pounds of food are wasted each year, which is equivalent to $161.6 billion annually (Plano, 2016). More than 50% of waste is diverted to landfills where the organic matter contaminates soil and groundwater, decomposes, and produces methane (Lopez et al., 2016). Methane, a greenhouse gas, is more potent than CO2 as it traps 25 times more radiation than CO2 (Lopez et al., 2017).

Poster prepared for the Environmental Studies Senior Seminar/Geography …

An Analysis Of Science Instruction And Environmental Education In Virginia And Oklahoma, Megan Wing

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

Through this project, I hoped to understand how scientists, politicians, and educational experts view climate change education for elementary students, organize current learning standards that relate to climate change education in Virginia and Oklahoma, highlight specific ways to incorporate climate change education in the classroom, and provide resources for teachers to use in the future.

Poster prepared for the Environmental Studies Senior Seminar.

A Proposal For Geothermal Heating & Cooling At The University Of Richmond, Zachary Snelling, Coleman Harris, Chelsea Wilson

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

This poster explores the viability of installing a geothermal heat pump at the University of Richmond. By analyzing geothermal reports, interviews with key informants, and installation requirements, we conclude whether the instillation of a geothermal heat pump is feasible at the University of Richmond. In addition, we explain the environmental and economic benefits of installing a geothermal heat pump.

Poster session for the Environmental Studies Senior Seminar/Geography Capstone.