Environmental Studies Commons^™

Feasibility Of Harbor-Wide Barrier Systems: Preliminary Analysis For Boston Harbor, Paul Kirshen

Sustainable Solutions Lab

This report presents a preliminary feasibility assessment of harbor-wide barrier systems designed to protect Boston Harbor from coastal flooding caused by sea level rise (SLR) and storm surges. Conducted by the Sustainable Solutions Lab at the University of Massachusetts Boston and supported by the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, the study evaluates two primary configurations: an Outer Harbor Barrier (OHB) and an Inner Harbor Barrier (IHB). Using hydrodynamic modeling, economic cost-benefit analysis, and social vulnerability assessments, the study finds that while both barrier systems may reduce risk from extreme storm events, they do not mitigate regular tidal flooding without frequent gate …

Full Circle: Building A Local Economy Through Pollinator Enterprises In The Food System, Catherine M. Demets

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

As the alternative food movement gains traction in mainstream American society, it is essential to document how enterprises in the movement are building robust local economies. As Eric Holt-Giménez (2010: 1) points out, the movement “has successfully shone the spotlight on hunger and food access in the US, created a drive for more local food, and gotten better policy from the federal to the local level,” yet no assurance exists that our society’s interest in food issues is not a passing fad. Rather, we should ask: “how do we turn initial reforms into lasting food system transformation?” (Holt-Giménez 2010: 1). …

Estimation Of Leachate Generated From Zimbabwe's Municipal Solid Wastes (Msw) Landfills Using A Simple Stochastic Water Balance Model, Andile B. Maqhuzu, Kunio Yoshikawa, Fumitake Takahashi

Applied Environmental Research

Landfilling remains the predominant component in the waste management hierarchy of most developing nations. The adoption of emerging waste management technologies and the use of recycling or composting is still in its infancy. Among several inadequacies of current waste management practices in Zimbabwe is the absence of sanitary disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) in landfills. As a result, the leachate generation rate and leachate characteristics are not routinely monitored. Such information is essential when assessing the impact of leachate on ground and surface water or a facility to which the leachate can be conveyed. Indiscriminate disposal of MSW at …

The Effect Of Steam And Glycerol Pretreatment On Chemical Contents Of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (Efb), Ornjira Choopakar, Chongchin Polprasert, Panagiotis Elefsiniotis, Supawadee Polprasert

Applied Environmental Research

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of the type of solvent, pH, substrate loading, and reaction time on the chemical components of palm empty fruit bunches (EFB). Steam pretreatment was set up at a temperature of 121 °C and pressure of 1.18 bar, using an autoclave with substrate loading of 5, 10, 15 and 20 % w/v at reaction times of 15 and 60 min. Distilled water, waste glycerol, alkaline glycerol and acidic glycerol were compared as solvents during steam pretreatment. The results showed that with distilled water, better pretreatment was achieved at 5 % and 10 % loading …

Understanding The Weathering Process Of Antimony Minerals: Case Study Sb-Mine Sulzburg, Black Forest, Germany, Sakonvan Chawchai, Raphael Bissen

Applied Environmental Research

Concerns about heavy metal and metalloid contamination from mine dumps is one of the most intensively discussed issues in society, politics, and academia, because of the levels of pollution, and its toxic properties. During the Middle Ages the Black Forest was one of the most successful mining areas in Southwestern Germany. Historical records show that Sulzburg was a mining town in the Black Forest since the 10th century, but was abandoned in the 19th century. Nowadays this town is considered as an important recreation area in the country. Therefore, soil and water quality and any contamination are of great concern. …

Cladophora Sp. Biosorption Of Metal-Contaminated Water, Rosamond R.M.S. Tshumah-Mutingwende, Fumitake Takahashi, Ewa Cukrowska, Julien Lusilao-Makiese

Applied Environmental Research

Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities employing the mercury amal-gamationtechnique have resulted in a significant drop in the quality of water from Ngwabalozi River, Zimbabwe. Mercury levels as high as 0.31 mg L-1have been reported in its waters and the low river pH (pH 3) favors proliferation of microorganisms responsible for methylmercury (a potent neurotoxin) formation. Thus, removal of mercury from contaminated systems is a priority. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a low-cost batch reactor for the removal of mercury from mercury contaminated acidic waters tomeet the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 0.006 mg …

Nutrient Removal Performance On Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants (Full Scale System) Between Tropical Humid And Cold Climates, Pongsak Noophan, Rawiwan Rodpho, Pimook Sonmee, Martha Hahn, Suthep Sirivitayaphakorn

Applied Environmental Research

Two full scale systems of oxidation ditches for domestic wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were used as study sites: Phuket Province, southern Thailand (representative of tropical humid climates) and Plum Creek, Castle Rock, Colorado, USA (representative of cold climates). The treatment systems at both sites were designed for biological nutrient removal (BNR) fromextended activated sludge. Nitrogen is removed by nitrification-denitrification processes. The solid retention time (SRT) for both treatment plants was = 10 das recommended by theory for complete nitrification in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants. Influents and effluents from these sites were compared in respect to flow rate, biochemical oxygen …

Effect Of Acid-Alkaline And Thermal Pre-Treatment To Cassava Pulp Feed For Batch Reactors In Optimization Of Bio-Methane Yield, Htay A. Pyae, Nittaya Boontian, Usa Yingchon, Chatlada Piasai

Applied Environmental Research

Cassava starch mills in Nakhon Ratchasimaprovince operate biogas plants to generate renewable energy from surplus cassava pulp using anaerobic digestion (AD) technologies. However, the biogas yields fluctuate and digestion failure occurs due to suboptimal digester configuration and lack of understanding of the specific properties of cassava pulp substrate. This study used acid-alkaline and thermal pre-treatment to modify the cassava pulp substrate to enhance biogas yields. Concentrated 36N sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and 20M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was chosen as an acid-alkaline pre-treatment to adjust to the required pH for the substrates, and 45 minat 200 °C for the thermal pre-treatment. Extreme …

Risk Management Of Lead And Arsenic Poisoning In Children Through Public Participation In Communities Near Abandoned Tin Mine, Southern Thailand, Anchalee Pongkaset, Banchong Witthayawirasak

Applied Environmental Research

Tamtalu Subdistrict, Bannangsta District in Yala Province, southern Thailand was the site of an abandoned tin mine, and was contaminated by lead and arsenic from the mine tailings. As children are a high risk group from these highly toxic contaminants, this study aimed to identify approaches to reduce children's exposure in the area. The study was conducted through participatory action research (PAR) to empower the community strengthen sustainable risk management. The participants were local public health officials, public health volunteers, parents of local children and local community leaders. The participants were engaged in activities relating to risk communication, training on …

Quantification Of Environmental Flow Requirement Of The Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam Using Hydrological-Hydraulic-Habitat Simulation Methods, Penpicha Nakvachara, Areeya Rittima, Yutthana Talaluxmana

Applied Environmental Research

With increased water demand, reservoir operation has become more complex with the need to quantify the exact amount of water needed for each demand sector. The environmental flow requirement, also known as instream flow is regarded as the first-prioritized objective of the multipurpose water resources projects in Thailand. The capability of reservoirs in Thailand to allocate water for environmental needs depends on available supply, strategies and operating policy. Therefore, this study aims to assess the environmental flow requirements of Khun Dan PrakanChon Dam using three methods; 1) the hydrological method (Tennant, Tessmann, 7Q10, FDC, and VMF), 2) hydraulic method (R2CROSS …

U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Summer Fellowship: Gis Study Of Threatened And Endangered Species In Colorado, Jeanie Lai

Sustainability and Social Justice

This report provides a detailed account of my fellowship experience with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 6 Office in Lakewood, CO during the summer of 2017 made possible by the Student Conservation Association (SCA) sponsored by Directorate Fellows Program. The internship was completed in the Region 6’s Branch of Decision Support in Ecological Services under the direction of Spatial Ecologist John Guinotte. I was a GIS Technician tasked with work responsibilities involving listed threatened and endangered species relevant to the region. Those work responsibilities included refining spatial Area of Influence (AOI) ranges, updating databases, and creating a …

Examining The Effects Of National Monument Establishment On Surrounding Communities, Sarah Maloney

Sustainability and Social Justice

The Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, located in northern Maine just outside the town of Millinocket and created by President Obama in August 2016, has elicited vocal support and opposition. It has been heralded on one hand as a massive victory for conservation in Maine, and on the other hand, as an overreach by the federal government. This controversy was so widespread that it resulted in the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument being included in a Department of the Interior review of twenty-seven National Monuments during the summer of 2017, which was conducted by Secretary of the Interior …

Speech Excerpts: Protecting Our Ancient Forests

Saffy Collection - All Textual Materials

Excerpt from speeches by Governor Bill Clinton regarding the protection of the ancient forests of the Pacific North West and lumber industry jobs. . Printed on Bill Clinton for President Committee letterhead. No date given.

Disequilibrium Of Fire-Prone Forests Sets The Stage For A Rapid Decline In Conifer Dominance During The 21st Century, Josep M. Serra-Diaz, Charles Maxwell, Melissa S. Lucash, Robert M. Scheller, Danelle M. Laflower, Adam D. Miller, Alan J. Tepley, Howard E. Epstein, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Jonathan R. Thompson

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

As trees are long-lived organisms, the impacts of climate change on forest communities may not be apparent on the time scale of years to decades. While lagged responses to environmental change are common in forested systems, potential for abrupt transitions under climate change may occur in environments where alternative vegetation states are influenced by disturbances, such as fire. The Klamath mountains (northern California and southwest Oregon, USA) are currently dominated by carbon rich and hyper-diverse temperate conifer forests, but climate change could disrupt the mechanisms promoting forest stability– regeneration and fire tolerance— via shifts in the fire regime in conjunction …

Emerging Discourses Of Gender And Women In The National Park Service: An Ecofeminist Analysis Of Ranger Newsletter From 1979 To 1999, Emily Sapp

Honors Projects

The key focus of this research is based in ecofeminism, the worldview that the oppression of women is connected to the oppression of nature. This research studies the National Park Service, through the Association of National Park Ranger’s newsletter/magazine Ranger. The study attempts to answer the questions how do issues about gender equality emerge throughout the history of the National Park Service, as looking through the newsletter Ranger? How do ideas of femininity and masculinity emerge and are represented in Ranger throughout time? The study is significant in that it is representative of the NPS, and by revealing …

Devonian Stromatoporoid Interactions At The Falls Of The Ohio State Park, Clarksville, Indiana, Morgan Sierra Hall

Undergraduate Theses

Stromatoporoids are calcitic sponges that occurred in the fossil record from the Early Ordovician to Late Devonian period. These sponges interacted with other organisms, especially rugose and tabulate corals. Some corals appear to benefit from the rigidity of stromatoporoids in response to turbulent waters. Stromatoporoids and many corals went extinct during the Frasnian-Famennian crisis when paleoenvironmental parameters were shifting. Studying the relationships between these taxa may provide insight to their vulnerability during the extinction.

This research was performed at the Falls of the Ohio in Clarksville, Indiana. Organisms in the Coral Zone were studied using transect sampling. Each fossil along …

Olympic Success: Built, Born, Or Bought?, Jacob Ney

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

During the Olympic Games, a ranked medal count often compares performance by country, but this system may be an unfair and inaccurate representation of Olympic success. To fairly balance how this success is measured, factors such as a country’s participation, population, and GDP must be considered. These choropleth, Robinson-projected world maps display normalizations of these factors using medal count and participant information from every summer Olympics since 1896, as well as data on each country’s current population and GDP.

Future Mining In Minnesota: Effects On Communities And Environment, Jayson Valek

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Future Mining in Minnesota: Effects on Communities and Environment Abstract This study explores and describes the potential risks of the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. The goals of the research were: 1) identify vulnerable communities and environmental features, 2) determine the mine’s potential damage, and 3) create maps to illustrate the vicinity of the mine to vulnerable areas. The interest of this project is to determine whether the mine’s economic benefit outweighs the environmental risks. This research is an observational study that involves analysis of maps compiled with environmental, population, and vulnerability data as well as non-spatial …

An Assessment Of Atmospheric And Meteorological Factors Regulating Red Sea Phytoplankton Growth, Wenzhao Li, Hesham El-Askary, Mohamed A. Qurban, Emmanouil Proestakis, Michael J. Garay, Olga V. Kalishnikova, Vassilis Amiridis, Antonis Gkikas, Eleni Marinou, Thomas Piechota, K. P. Manikandan

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study considers the various factors that regulate nutrients supply in the Red Sea. Multi-sensor observation and reanalysis datasets are used to examine the relationships among dust deposition, sea surface temperature (SST), and wind speed, as they may contribute to anomalous phytoplankton blooms, through time-series and correlation analyses. A positive correlation was found at 0–3 months lag between chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) anomalies and dust anomalies over the Red Sea regions. Dust deposition process was further examined with dust aerosols’ vertical distribution using satellite lidar data. Conversely, a negative correlation was found at 0–3 months lag between SST anomalies …

Helping Farmers And Reducing Car Crashes: The Surprising Benefits Of Predators, Christopher O'Bryan, Eve Mcdonald-Madden, James Watson, Neil Carter

Human-Environment Systems Research Center Faculty Publications and Presentations

Humans may be Earth’s apex predator, but the fleeting shadow of a vulture or the glimpse of a big cat can cause instinctive fear and disdain. But new evidence suggests that predators and scavengers are much more beneficial to humans than commonly believed, and that their loss may have greater consequences than we have imagined.

A Proposal For A Minor In Sustainability, Quinn Egner

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

It is nearly undeniable that humans are altering the earth and rapidly depleting natural resources, compromising the future of generations to come. Thus, the importance of sustainability and sustainable practices is becoming increasingly important and relevant. While the world is working to innovate and prioritize sustainability, it is important that the University of Richmond must do the same. This proposal is for the addition of a minor in sustainability added to the university’s available education opportunities. The minor will be a total of six classes; three core sustainability classes and three additional classes to effectively cover the three pillars of …

Pagebrook Property Solar Power Initiative, Mary Kate Jaromin

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

The University of Richmond has established an ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by the year 2050 (Office for Sustainability 2015). The University’s current emissions reductions are at 18 percent from 2009 baseline levels; in order the achieve the last 82 percent of the reductions by 2050, the University must take aggressive action (R. Andrejewski, personal communication, March 1, 2018). The University owns land off campus, including the Pagebrook Property, which is around a 15-minute drive from campus and has 47 acres of flat, clear cut land that is currently unused (Love & Owens, 2014). This land would be an ideal …

Campus Thrift Store: A Small Step Towards Big Change, Ashley James

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

Production and consumption associated with the textile industry exhausts water and fossil fuel resources, and significantly contributes to global waste burden. Studies have shown that U.S. college students produce millions of tons of solid waste every year, much of which could have been diverted. This project describes the benefits of second-hand markets as a tool to achieve waste diversion and sustainability, and proposes a campus thrift store at the University of Richmond (UR). Supporting literature, previous successful reuse initiatives at UR, and a review of best thrift store practices at other universities are provided as justification for the proposal. The …

A Campus Sustainability Service Program In The General Education Curriculum, Callie Rountree-Jablin

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

This poster describes a proposal for the addition of a sustainability-based community service requirement to the general education curriculum to encourage systemic involvement in on-campus sustainability projects. Current support for the University of Richmond’s (UR) goal to integrate sustainability across various University functions is limited and this poster outlines the Campus Sustainability Service (CSS) program as an option for addressing the issue to ensure the success of the UR Sustainability Strategic Plan. It presents a framework for the CSS program and a strategy for piloting the initiative that can support phasing in a complete version of the program over time. …

Proposal For The Expansion Of The University Of Richmond’S Campus Garden, Ganon Hingst

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

In today’s society the growing, buying and consuming of local foods is skyrocketing in demand. It provides for a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle that the University has stated its interest in promoting. This project to expand the current community garden on campus would not only promote the University’s strives in sustainable practices, but also draw the community and campus together. This garden could produce foods that could be sold to the current dining services, and to the local community generating some profit from this community garden while also reducing the University’s spending on food for the dining hall. Furthermore, …

Riverfront Ur: Proposal And Student Well-Being, Harleen Bal

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

In an effort to improve student well-being, connection to nature, and community engagement with nature and green spaces, the following paper details a proposal for Riverfront UR (RFUR), an initiative to acquire property along the James River for use by University of Richmond students. The proposal began in Dr. Salisbury’s fall Geography 345 class, and this analysis builds upon that proposal by delving into the connection between student health and quality of life with time spent outdoors and in natural spaces. Indeed, a riverfront off-campus property would be competitively advantageous for the University and would likely improve our STARS ratings, …

Improving Biodiversity Management At The University Of Richmond: An Ecological Approach To Sustainability, Maria Psarakis

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

This proposal outlines a plan for the monitoring, management, and conservation of vulnerable species and habitats on the University of Richmond’s main campus and its nearby properties. It develops a strategy for the coordinated planning and implementation of biodiversity management by conceptualizing centralized leadership, pathways for student involvement, and the creation of community partnerships with the Virginia state government and local wildlife groups. Additionally, it highlights key justifications for the execution of this project. These reasons include the successful examples of such schemes in competitor institutions, the standing of the University of Richmond in national sustainability rankings, formal University commitments …

Green Dining Proposal, Caroline Jones

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

University of Richmond has slowly but steadily introduced efforts to reduce its campus-wide, local, and national environmental impact, most notably with its commitments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and to divert 75 percent of waste from landfills by 2025. Yet most eateries on campus offer their food and beverages to the hundreds of customers they serve every day only with single-use serve ware, an incredibly expensive practice in terms of cost, energy use, and environmental impacts. This proposal suggests introducing a “for-here” option–serving food and beverages with reusable serve ware–at all eateries on campus that currently do not offer …

Panther Initiative For Environmental Equity And Resilience, Pieer, Catherine Zeman, Zahra Al-Khidhr, Fatimah Al-Khidhr, Wynton Karanja, Tyler Dursky, Ali Al Qismah, Jassim Alkhudhar

Community Engagement Celebration Day

PIEER began in the Spring of 2014 as a partnership project in environmental resilience and equity, ERE issues with the Colleges of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences, CHAS RRTTC and the UNI Provost’s Office. It has continued since as a student internship and community engagement effort designed to offer PIEER interns the opportunity to explore the social/cultural, racial ethnic, technological, and equity aspects of environmental sustainability challenges. It’s goals are to expand knowledge and understand about and across ERE issues, to allow students to examine their understanding of differences and build bridges across difference, and to meaningfully engage the campus and …

Reframing Humans (Homo Sapiens) In International Biodiversity Law To Frame Protections For Climate Refugees, Jullee Kim

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

Currently, application of international environmental law assumes that humans are separate from nature. Yet, the terminology commonly adopted for persons displaced as a result of climate change, “climate refugees,” represents the ultimate expression of the nexus where impacts from both natural and human systems coalesce. “Climate” represents the physical conditions appearing as a result of climate change and altering a person’s home to render it no longer habitable. While suitability of the term “refugees” in the climate change context is debated, it represents the political and societal conditions forcing the person to flee from their home, potentially across national borders, …