Environmental Studies Commons^™

Energy Demand And Economic Growth: Public Opinion And Mutual Exclusivity, Nicholas L. Silvis

Student Publications

The world is currently undergoing an energy transition from primarily fossil fuels to cleaner energy. The developing world is becoming more advanced, spawning relentless economic growth and an increase in energy consumption. Energy demand and economic growth are inextricably linked which poses a paradoxical question about future economic growth during a period of energy transition. Unfortunately, the transition requires large upfront costs with no guaranteed net benefit. A multitude of studies depict the impact of education, party identification, and age on how individuals perceive alternative energy. This study shows that views on governmental spending and party membership have a paradoxical …

The Invisible Hurdle: Biases Investors Have Against Sustainable Investing, Kerry E. Ullman

Student Publications

A current trend of many corporations is making it a priority to focus on becoming more socially responsible and ethical in all aspects of their businesses. Investors, on the other hand, have not been as focused on incorporating these issues into their selection criteria, especially when it comes to the issue of sustainable investing (ESG). This research tries to understand what the hidden barriers are that stop individual investors from investing sustainably. This research examines the effect of proper information on sustainable investing and the most effective communication strategies to relay this information to investors. There was a control group …

Canopy Cover, Impermeability, And Green Space In Pennsylvania Redlined Neighborhoods, Alyssa A. Cassini

Student Publications

Previous studies have explored the relationship between redlining and canopy cover by using percent canopy cover. This data type can miss low-density trees that are common in urban areas, differences between parks and street trees, and differences in the size of the green space. With a distinction between parks and street trees, we are able to determine what types of green space redlined communities have access to, since different types of green space have different kinds of impacts on the community. This study aims to analyze the relationship between previously redlined Pennsylvania neighborhoods and their current canopy impermeability, using high …

Potentially Terminal Conditions: Economic Globalization And Ecological Footprint, Raymond A. Wiseley

Student Publications

This paper studies the relationship between economic globalization and environmental footprint. It hypothesizes that economic globalization will increase the negative environmental impact. The study covers theories for and against this argument, focusing especially on the validity of an environmental Kuznets curve, market-based solutions, and other suggested policies. It then gathers data and tests the relationship using a regression analysis. The results show a statistically significant positive relationship between economic globalization and ecological impact. The study concludes by discussing these results and proposing future steps.

Book Review: Blue Infrastructures: Natural History, Political Ecology And Urban Development In Kolkata, Dana E. Hellman, Melissa Haeffner

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

What role does a river play in shaping urban justice and resilience? Jenia Mukherjee tackles this provocative question with an equally provocative answer: rivers are critical infrastructures with biophysical and social histories, both of which inform their physical condition and socio-ecological assets. In Blue Infrastructures, Mukherjee masterfully illuminates the intersection of materiality and history in the urban environment, exploring its implications for a just and resilient future city. Tracing the uses and evolution of Kolkata's “blue infrastructures”—rivers, wetlands, seas, etc.—from the colonial period to the present, Mukherjee's analysis addresses a pressing question in this era of the Urbanocene: How …

Interests And Priorities In Sockeye Salmon Management: How Are Policies Enacted And Interpreted On Three Alaskan Rivers?, Jake P. Palazzi

University Honors Theses

The large export abundance of Alaskan salmon is well documented, and many studies have been performed to assess the economic and environmental viability of the industry and its management. Less research has been done to characterize how state intentions regarding fisheries allocation are conceived of by management or perceived by vulnerable groups in the user pool. This study seeks to qualitatively characterize the disconnect between state and Native Alaskan perceptions of management effectiveness, public interest, and Native Alaskan involvement using interviews. Results showed that Native Alaskan and state manager respondents had very different perceptions of management effectiveness and equity. When …

Assessing The Impact Of A New Inlet Created By 2012 Hurricane Sandy On The Intensity Of Algae Blooms In Bellport Bay Ny, Ryan A. Wagner

Student Publications

Harmful algae blooms (HABs) are a growing ecosystem health issue in environments worldwide, driven by excess nitrogen runoff (Eutrophication) alongside high summer temperatures. HABs strip oxygen from the environment and create toxic environments that impact other primary producers, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and any other organisms that enter an affected body of water. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of a new inlet, created by Hurricane Sandy in Long Island’s Bellport Bay, on the concentration of algae blooms during peak blooming periods (Jul-Aug) to inform ecosystem-based management. Google Earth Engine Code Editor and 2008-2017 Landsat 5-8 …

Trace Metals And The Environment: Studying The Behaviour Of Iceland’S Glacially Sourced Trace Metals, Owen Bailey

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Trace metal contamination in marine ecosystems is a problem for every trophic level, from zooplankton up to humans. The mobility and uptake availability of these metals depend on such environmental parameters as salinity, temperature, and pH, among others. To explore the effects of varying parameters on dissolved metal behaviour, I studied the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, into which the Breidamerkurjökull glacier deposits trace metals from volcanic ash through glacial melt. In this study I develop and follow a sampling procedure to analyze trace metal concentrations in the lagoon, while additionally discussing the behaviour and impact of trace metals, focusing on cadmium, …

Non-Conventional Vehicles As A Way Towards Carbon Neutrality In Iceland, Julia Sokolowska

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Paris Agreement’s chief objective is to protect the Earth and its inhabitants from a point of no return, when the effects of climate change will be so intense that they will shift the equilibrium of ecosystems. The distinctiveness of this international environmental treaty is that it does not impose climate change mitigation measures, but rather allows nation states to create their own set of measures, the NDCs, to reach the global warming of ‘well below 2oC’ by the end of the century. Thus, Iceland has submitted its own NDC, the Climate Action Plan 2018-2030, which has an ambitious goal of …

How The Covid-19 Pandemic Is Challenging Consumption, Marine Cambefort

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

COVID-19 has led consumers to question their consumption patterns. Although some management research has already highlighted consumption trends resulting from the virus outbreak, very few studies explore how the current pandemic challenges consumption. Three trends are identified: the downsizing of consumption, emergence of anti-globalization sentiments, and negative consumer reactions to the misconduct of brands/companies. First, the lockdown was an opportunity for people to test a simpler lifestyle by reducing their level of consumption, having realized that over-consumption does not make them happy and questioned its negative impact on the environment. Second, the pandemic may reinforce anti-globalization ideas, leading consumers to …

The Verge: Networks Of Intersubjective Responding For Just Sustainability Arts Educational Research, Marna Hauk, Amanda Rachel Kippen

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

Two sustainability arts scholars describe a method of data interpretation they developed for making sense of complex environmental and sustainability education research data. They “played” images and recorded a conversation in a form of arts-based intersubjective knowing. The card game process was named the Verge because of how the process promises to surface unheard voices and re-center nondominant insights and ways of knowing. It leverages Casey’s glance method with systems networks to complicate sense making in arts-based educational research. The arts scholars intermixed research data from two just sustainability education research case studies: collages from participants of a climate justice …

Waste Management In The Global South: An Inquiry On The Patterns Of Plastic And Waste Material Flows In Colombo, Sri Lanka, Katie Ann Conlon

Dissertations and Theses

Global plastic production continues to increase at an exponential pace, and global waste projections show waste generation rising by 70% by 2050. Plastic waste connects to all social processes, especially within the context of urbanization and development; urban planning and land management; GHG emissions; labor; social equity; public health; rural-to-urban migration; increasing population; increasing consumption; climate change; etc. The focus of this dissertation is an analysis of waste management practices in Sri Lanka using a grounded theory based methodology, with a goal to better understand the social and ecological impacts of plastic waste in Sri Lanka. This research fills a …

Vegan Parents And Children: Zero Parental Compromise, Carlo Alvaro

Publications and Research

Marcus William Hunt argues that, when co-parents disagree over whether to raise their child (or children) as a vegan, they should reach a compromise as a gift given by one parent to the other out of respect for his or her authority. Josh Millburn contends that Hunt’s proposal of parental compromise over veganism is unacceptable on the ground that it overlooks respect for animal rights, which bars compromising. However, he contemplates the possibility of parental compromise over “unusual eating,” of animal-based foods obtained without the violation of animal rights. I argue for zero parental compromise, rejecting a rights-oriented approach, and …

Technology Belmont Data, Christopher Monz, Vera Hausner, Jennifer Schmidt

Browse all Datasets

The data is based on semi-structured household interviews conducted in Noatak (n = 12), Noorvik (n = 11), and Brevig Mission (n = 12) in the March of 2017. Information gathered consists of individuals use of technology, perceptions about how technology has helped or hindered their ability to do subsistence and address the changing climate, and the role of technology in the community. Demographic information includes gender, race, education, household size, and employment status. Individuals who were particularly knowledgeable and amendable participated in a q-sort exercise to assess values and beliefs regarding technology in their community. Individual records are confidential …

Environmental Gentrification In Chicago: Perceptions, Dilemmas And Paths Forward, Colette Copic, Tania Schusler, Amy Krings

School of Environmental Sustainability: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This research sheds light on perceptions of environmental gentrification in Chicago. It also identifies policies and practices that hold potential to promote environmentally healthy neighborhoods and equitable development without displacement.

Executive Summary

Purpose

Access to greenspace, clean air, water, food, and safe, affordable, and stable housing are all important to good health. Yet, low income and communities of color endure disproportionate pollution burdens that negatively affect health. While cleaning up contamination or implementing “green” improvements like parks, playgrounds, bike trails, and other greenspaces can reduce health disparities, these environmental improvements sometimes contribute to rising rents and property values, which can …

Green Awareness, Practices And Sustainability: A Case Study Of The Royal Malaysian Navy, Muhamad Azwandi Azlan

Student Works (2020-2029)

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has taken an integrated green navy approach to conserve environment, and at the same time, to explore renewable energy by utilizing its own resources and capability. This is a noble manifestation of the RMN's commitment to the government's efforts in conserving the environment, in the interest of future generations. The focus of this study is to explore the perceptions of the naval staff towards green navy implementation. In this regard, this study aims to understand: (i) the awareness and understanding of green concepts by the naval personnel, (ii) the importance of green concepts for the …

Covid-19 And The Environment: Reflections On The Pandemic In Asia, Hao Huang

EnviroLab Asia

The idea of planetary health as a form of scholarly analysis and scientific investigation has particular relevance to the COVID-19 pandemic and to Asia, where the outbreak of the novel coronavirus was first reported. Over the past three decades, the continent’s rapid urbanization and industrialization have played a significant role in the region’s economic growth, increase in per capita income and the concentration of wealth, and the creation of some of the world’s fast-growing cities. These profound benefits have come with some serious consequences, however, and planetary-health experts have stressed that one of them has been the sharp uptick in …

The Quest For Greener Pastures: Evaluating The Livelihoods Impacts Of Providing Vegetation Condition Maps To Pastoralists In Eastern Africa, Elia Machado, Helene Purcell, Andrew M. Simons, Stephanie Swinehart

Publications and Research

The survival of millions of pastoral households in Eastern Africa has become increasingly at risk. Due to mounting socioeconomic and climatic stressors, pastoral households are faced with making migration decisions under increasing uncertainty about resource availability and limited coping strategies. We assess the potential of providing vegetation condition maps to support the migration decision of pastoralists in Ethiopia and Tanzania and the effect of map usage on their herd condition and size. The maps were generated from remotely sensed data using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a proxy for vegetation condition and overlain with pastoralists’ preferred grazing areas. …

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Paleontological Resources Management Plan (Public Version), Scott Kottkamp, Vincent L. Santucci, Justin S. Tweet, Jessica De Smet, Ellen Stark

United States National Park Service: Publications

Executive Summary

Since Agate Springs Ranch was founded by James H. Cook in 1887, exquisite examples of transitional Miocene mammalian fauna have been found along this stretch of the Niobrara River valley. Collectively these paleontological discoveries, along with the existing archeological and historical Native American collection, were the basis for establishing Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (AGFO) as a unit of the National Park System (NPS). The fossil remains from the Harrison and Anderson Ranch formations span a short, but important, time period within the Miocene Epoch. AGFO has provided science with an intimate look into North American mammalian evolution …

Views That Matter: Race And Opinions On Climate Change Of Boston Area Residents, Lorena M. Estrada-Martínez, Paul Watanabe, Katsyris Rivera-Kientz

Sustainable Solutions Lab

A growing body of research finds that climate change places a disproportionate burden on communities of color in the United States. In spite of this evidence, important discussions taking place about climate change- such as how it is experienced, which policy solutions are most critical, and how we can prepare for and adapt to its impacts- often leave out the voices of the very communities most affected. In Massachusetts, for instance, numerous statewide surveys have gathered information about residents ' attitudes and beliefs about climate change, but to date, no studies have been designed to include the views of a …

The Emergence Of Ecosystems-Based Fisheries Management From The Groundfish Crisis In New England: An Actor-Network Theory Analysis, Catherine King

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This research investigates the emergence of ecosystems-based fisheries management (EBFM) for New England's marine fisheries in the context of the "crisis" that is escalating in its groundfish fishery. Close observations of the practices of fisheries scientists in coordination with managers at the New England Fisheries Management Council, with focus on how knowledge is being produced and employed, allows for understanding EBFM as an emergent construction produced by networks of associations between actants, human and non-human, material and semiotic, and not strictly as a policy prescription informed by experts on biology, ecology, and socio-economics. This analysis identifies and elucidates the multiplicity …

Locke’S Rebellious Progeny: Phenomenology And Ethics Of Leopardi’S A-Dialectical Materialism, Paolo Pellecchia

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

With this study I reconstruct a genealogy of the a-dialectic materialism that defines the production of 19^th-century Italian author Giacomo Leopardi and with which he criticizes canonical metaphysical stances. In this regard, I consider John Locke as the first instance of a philosophical outlook that stands as an alternative to the anthropocentrism demanded by traditional metaphysics. By focusing on An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and its significant influence on Leopardi’s philosophical and aesthetic work, I emphasize how Locke’s system finds a synthetic formulation in the hypothesis, at the time highly contested yet groundbreaking, that matter might be endowed …

Characterization Of Pm2.5 - Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Chiang Mai, Thailand During Biomass Open Burning Period Of 2016, Duangduean Thepnuan, Somporn Chantara

Applied Environmental Research

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bounded to ambient fine particles (PM2.5) were determined for enabling health risk assessment and source identification of ambient aerosols. Daily PM2.5 samples (24 h) were collected on quartz fiber filters by using a low volume air sampler (16.7 L min-1) during smoke haze period (March - April 2016) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. An average concentration of PM2.5(n=54) was 65.3±17.6 μg m-3. The samples were extracted with dichloromethane using ultrasonication prior to PAHs analysis by GC-MS. Average concentrations of 16-PAHs, non-carcinogenic (nc) PAHs and carcinogenic (c) PAHs were 10.23±2.49, 5.48±1.70 and 4.75±1.43 ng m-3, respectively. Ratio values …

Effect Of Mixture Ratio Of Food Waste And Vetiver Grass On Biogas Production, Mayura Srikanlayanukul, Parinda Suksabye

Applied Environmental Research

The objectives of this research were to study the optimum percentage ratios of food waste and vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizaniodes(L.) Nash) for biogas production and process stability in anaerobic digestion system. The nine mixture ratios of food waste (FM) and vetiver grass (VG) were 100:0, 80:20, 75:25, 66.67:33.33, 50:50, 33.33:66.67, 25:75, 20:80 and 0:100. The biogas production was subjected to anaerobic batch with working volume of 1.8 L and had digestion time 60 d at 35 ± 2 °C. High specific methane yield of 0.30 L g-1 VS removed was obtained from the fermentation at ratio of FW:VG at 80:20 …

Potential Degradation And Kinetics Of Melanoidin By Using Laccase From White Rot Fungus, Wittawat Toomsan, Pinthita Mungkarndee, Sophon Boonlue, Nguyen Thanh Giao, Sumana Siripattanakul-Ratpukdi

Applied Environmental Research

This study was attempted to use laccase extracted from white rot fungus to removemelanoidin in the ethanol production wastewater. The isolated fungus producing the highest laccase was identified as Megaspororiasp. The highest degradation efficiencies of the purified and crude laccases were 48.00% and 44.60%, respectively. Both degradation kinetics well fit Michaelis-Menten model. The Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum rate of reaction (Vmax) were 0.82% melanoidin and 0.0045% melanoidin h-1 for the degradation by the purified laccase and 0.71% melanoidin and 0.0037% melanoidin h-1 for the degradation by the crude laccase. Turnover number (Kcat) of purified and crude laccases were 0.00023 …

Mpirically Derived Equation From Simple Heat Index For Calculating Wet Bulb Globe Temperature: A Case Study Of Thailand, Wutthichai Paengkaew, Atsamon Limsakul, Rittirong Junggoth, Somsak Pitaksanurat

Applied Environmental Research

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index is a standard for assessing environmental heat stress, but the requirement of expensive instrument with specialized maintenance is limited its use. This study aims to develop the empirical equation to estimate the WBGT from Heat Index (HI) calculated from portable temperature and humidity recorder (THR), based on the data collected at seven sites covering all regions of Thailand. Comparative analysis shows that the HI values calculated from THR (HITHR) are consistent well with those measured from the thermal environmental monitor (HIQT36) as evidenced by a highly positive correlation between them (r=0.97; p<0.01; n=4,303). These results suggest high reliability of the portable THR and its acceptance to be used instead of the standard QT36 device. Based on a simple linear regression developed to estimate WBGT from the HITHR, it was found that the model accounts for at least 90% of the variance of the observed WBGT (dependent variable). In addition, validation of the model with the statistical methods shows relatively small errors of the estimated WBGT values in comparisonto the observed values. With this evidence, the developed empirical regression equation can be used to estimate WBGT with high accuracy and confidence. Simple and easier to use for the practitioners who are involved in public health works at community level, a heat monitoring tool kit consisting of a THR, WBGT chart and recommended actions were further developed based on the results obtained. This tool kit is a low-cost and simple device which can be used by various community-level stakeholders to prevent and reduce heat injuries and deaths of risk groups, especially the elderly. This tool is necessary in light of anthropogenic-induced warming and Thailand's aging society.

Assessments Of Nipa Forest Using Landsat Imagery Enhanced With Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Photography, Tantus Piekkoontod, Bhumiphat Pachana, Karnjana Hrimpeng, Kitsanai Charoenjit

Applied Environmental Research

Nipa palms are exposed by the transformation of land use and land cover changes (LULCC) due to changes to aquaculture and orchards. Modern remote sensing for environmental monitoring of LULCC has been made easier by the use of high spatial resolution images, innovative image processing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The expense of high-resolution satellite imagery has resulted in investigators moving to open sources (e.g., Landsat), therefore, the interpretation of images at a medium resolution can be classified simply as LULCC classes and are constrained by the detection of small-scale disturbances. This research applied Landsat imagery with very high-resolution imagery …

Optimizing The Extraction Of Phenolic Compounds With High Antioxidant Activity From Mango Seed Kernel Wastes Using Response Surface Methodology, Francis D.C Siacor, Camila F.Y. Lobarbio, Evelyn B. Taboada

Applied Environmental Research

Mango seed kernels (MSK), which are waste streams in the mango processing industry, are good sources of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. These phenolic compounds are reported to have an increasing demand over the years in the quest for healthy ready-to-eat food and nutraceuticals. To recover these compounds from MSK, solid-liquid extraction (SLE) can simply be applied, although there is a knowledge gap in the systematic exploration of this process for mango-based phenolic compounds. In this work, phenolic compounds were extracted from MSK through SLE using ethanol-water solvent system. A statistical-based approach was used to evaluate …

Analysis And Modeling Of Physiologic Equivalent Temperature Of An Outdoor Environment, Adinife P. Azodo, Salami O. Ismaila, Femi T. Owoeye, Titus Y. Jibatswen

Applied Environmental Research

This study developed a model that depicts the relationship, strength, and direction of the causality between the predictor variables (microclimatic variables) and a response variable (ambient temperature) interpreted for the physiologic equivalent temperature of an environment. Data collected were microclimatic variables which include air circulation, relative humidity, mean radiant and ambient temperatures over land cover materials namely tarmac, grass, soil and concrete at the premises of Federal University Wukari, Taraba state of Nigeria at a guided height of 1.1 m. The data was collected using physical measurements with respect to time of the day; morning (8:00 - 9:00 am), afternoon …

Radar Quality Index For A Mosaic Of Radar Reflectivity Over Chao Phraya River Basin, Thailand, Nattapon Mahavik, Sarintip Tantanee

Applied Environmental Research

The weather radar is one of the tools that can provide spatio-temporal information for nowcast which is useful for hydro-meteorological disasters warning and mitigation system. The ground-based weather radar can provide spatial and temporal information to monitor severe storm over the risky area. However, the usage of multiple radars can provide more effective information over large study area where single radar beam may be blocked by surrounding terrain Even though, the investigation of the sever storm physical characteristics needs the information from multiple radars, the mosaicked radar product has not been available for Thai researcher yet. In this study, algorithm …