Environmental Studies Commons^™

Gis-Based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis For Marine Energy Site Selection: A Case Study Comparison Between Puerto Rico And Hawaii, Sarah Hall

Environmental Studies Honors Papers

Geospatial information systems (GIS) enable easy visualization of geospatial data representing different criteria important for optimal siting of marine energy projects. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is a geospatial analysis method that facilitates the evaluation of multiple, usually overlapping, site criteria. While GIS-based MCDA has been used extensively for land-based renewable energy projects, limited research exists on its application to marine-based renewable energy projects. Similarly, most literature overlooks the integration of social or environmental justice data. This project applies GIS-based MCDA to conduct site selection analysis for two marine renewable energy (MRE) projects in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The results for …

Evaluating Corporate Marine Plastic Pollution Reduction Pledges: Achieving Plastic Reductions Or Contributing To Greenwashing, Ansar Z. Mohammed

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

This paper examines major corporations' commitments and performance in reducing virgin plastic production, aligning corporate initiatives with tangible outcomes. It draws on sustainability governance literature and analyzes plastic reduction strategies by industry leaders such as SC Johnson, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Borealis, Nestlé, and Unilever. By synthesizing corporate reports and scholarly literature, the research provides an understanding of corporate plastic reduction within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14), which focuses on marine conservation. The study evaluates the alignment of corporate commitments with SDG 14, identifying genuine environmental stewardship and potential greenwashing. It employs three methodologies: transparency, accountability, and science-based …

“Dome Of The Continent”: Mount Whitney, Continental Expansion, And The Democratization Of The Sierra Nevada, Joseph Esparza

Eastern Sierra History Journal

This article explores how Tumanguya, the Paiute name for what settler-colonists called Mount Whitney, became a landmark presence in the American environmental culture--and why.

Island Blue Spaces: A Deeper Exploration, Nicole Kras

Publications and Research

Preliminary research has shown that blue spaces provide many benefits to health and well-being. In response to the call for a deeper investigation into this area of inquiry, the current study seeks input from those (N=37) who live on islands in the Northeast region of the United States. Previous findings about the significance of having access to nature, identifying it as a favorite part and most influential reason for living on an island, were rearmed. Distinctions between island and mainland life were highlighted, emphasizing the importance of community. This study also brought to light participants’ grave concerns about issues such …

Pakistan: On The Front Line Of Climate Change, Rina Saeed Khan, Farahnaz Zahidi

CEJ Research and Publications

Dive into the intricate landscape of climate change in Pakistan with this comprehensive guidebook designed to illuminate the science, impacts, and actions surrounding this pressing global issue. From the recurrent floods to the melting glaciers, this insightful resource navigates through the complexities of climate change, offering practical tips for journalists, policymakers, and individuals alike. Explore the science, understand the urgency, and discover pathways for meaningful action within the unique context of Pakistan. Embark on a journey toward climate resilience today.

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Reilly Miller

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Habitat loss due to deforestation is a primary threat to global biodiversity. Clearing tropical rainforests for agriculture leads to forest fragmentation. Forest fragments contain fewer large trees and provide lower food availability for primates compared to continuous forests. Mantled howler monkeys inhabit the increasingly fragmented rainforests of Central and South America and may need to alter their activity and spatial cohesion to mitigate competition and preserve energy in fragments where there is lower quality food. We compared howler monkey activity and spatial cohesion across a small forest fragment (La Suerte Biological Research Station, LSBRS) and a large, continuous forest (La …

Addressing Microplastic Environmental Data Gaps Through Undergraduate Research, Michelle Kryl, Ashlee Lewandoski, Grace Diblasio, Ethan Howard, Lillian C. Jeznach

Engineering, Computing & Construction Management Faculty Publications

Plastic pollution from freshwater and atmospheric sources into coastal and marine environments is complex and the extent is largely unquantified. Such a gap in knowledge of marine microplastic sources, fate, and transport requires a spectrum of engineers and scientists, so that technical, social, and policy solutions can be developed. Citizen scientists are low cost and can collect an abundance of field data. Experienced scientists can complete costly but advanced analytical analyses on a smaller sample of plastics. This project engages engineering and science undergraduate students (moderate experience) in microplastic data collection and analysis to fill gaps in microplastic data for …

The Role Of Local Knowledge In Climate Change Research, Ryan E. Mccoy

Theses and Dissertations--Philosophy

This dissertation addresses the growing need within climate research for improvements in regional and local climate information. I argue that knowledge gaps in regional climate information constitute a form of climate injustice in which harm largely falls on regions most vulnerable to climate change. Moreover, I show that our current methods for garnering regional climate information fail to provide information on place-specific factors, such as local culture, socio-economic systems, and ecology, which mediate climate change impacts. In order to address these knowledge gaps, as well as provide information necessary for effective mitigation and adaptation, I argue for the inclusion of …

Woven Life Systems, Melanie Olde

Textile Society of America: Symposium Proceedings

What is it like to be at the intersection between the natural and technological? I see plants as living cloth – can we build cloth using human-evolved technology (weaving) and natural life systems? In this practice-as-research, I take growth models from plants such as algae, then process these codes on a loom to exploring the emergence and narrative that develop.

Looms are tools and technology evolved with humans to organise systems of strands, connecting in myriad ways to form something new. Plants are systems of organised cells, dividing and branching creating functional entities. The commonalities are individual elements and rules …

Perception And Prospects Of Art Of Clothing Maintenance As A Sustainable Fashion, Boiso Maria Owodiong-Idemeko, Adetona Sekinat Ajoke, Udom Owodiong

Textile Society of America: Symposium Proceedings

The study focused on the perception of the art of clothing maintenance and its prospects as a sustainable fashion for consumers in Lagos state. 250 respondents were involved. The study adopted descriptive survey design. Two hypotheses were formulated and a thirty-one (31) item questionnaire was the main instrument used to collect data for the study. The statistical tools used were, percentages, mean and Friedman’s test. The result revealed that, 200 (80%) perceived ripped clothes bring dismay to the wearer, 198 (79%), perceived ripped clothes needed to be reconstructed, 200 (80%) perceived consumers lack practical ability to repair clothes. 241 (96%) …

Environmental Metrics In Action: Exploring U.S. Superfund Sites Affiliated With The Fashion Industry, Nidia K. Trejo

Textile Society of America: Symposium Proceedings

Little is known of Superfund sites, long-term clean up sites, affiliated with the apparel and footwear supply chain in the United States. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) manages the clean up of contaminated sites that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment under the Superfund program. A site can become contaminated if hazardous waste from industrial operations are mismanaged or dumped into the environment, in an uncontrolled manner. In this study, a proposed Superfund site (Mohawk Tannery in Nashua, New Hampshire), an active Superfund site (Ciba-Geigy Corp. in Toms River, New Jersery), and a …

Suburbanization Of California's Deserts, Mike Kohout

Geography and Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Changes In Values And Perception Of Life: Natural Disaster Devastates A Mountain Community, Sharifullah Baig, Abida Begum

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

The mountain communities of Karakorum and the Himalayas in Pakistan are frequently experiencing climate change-induced natural disasters, which are inflicting irreparable losses to their generation's old value system and socio-economic life. Focusing on the value system, this small-scale study explored the change in values and perceptions of a disaster-affected mountain community about natural hazards and its implications for their future lives. Twenty participants from the affected community, including local political activists, religious leaders, teachers, and youth activists, were thoroughly interviewed. The study explored significant deviations from their traditional values of connectedness to each other and with their ancestors' land. The …

A Study Of Multimodal Accessibility Equity And Spatio-Temporal Relationships Between Transit, Job Density And Modal Split, Seyedsoheil Sharifiasl

Planning Dissertations - Archive

In North American cities, the land use and transportation systems are associated with low-density, suburban-type urban development, where the built environment contributes to a mobility pattern that is extremely reliant on automobiles. Several studies in the past decades have documented noticeable and concerning patterns of unjust and unsustainable transportation in this context. As a result, for those population groups with limited access to private transportation, this form of urban structure is equivalent to limited access to opportunities, leading to various environmental and social problems. These problems exacerbate inequities in access to transportation, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. From a sustainable development …

Roadblocks Ahead: High-Speed Rail Setbacks In The United States—Reflections And Ramifications, Sophie Dorn

Pitzer Senior Theses

This thesis analyzes the current state of High-Speed Rail (HSR) development within the United States and the reasoning behind its historical failure. Through frameworks such as funding and organizational structure of public or private entities (or both), this paper focuses on three case studies: The Northeast Corridor Improvement Project, Florida’s Brightline, and the California High-Speed Rail Project. With an additional scope of organizational studies, this thesis assesses the current state of HSR within the U.S. and considers approaches that could work best, given well-documented hindrances. Although originally hypothesized that a public-private partnership would be the most successful strategy for U.S. …

Outpatient Fall Prevention In Ambulatory Adults 65 Years Old And Over, Dorothy L. Osborne-White

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: In the United States (U.S.), falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and over, resulting in 36 million falls yearly (Moreland et al., 2020). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), one in four older adults experiences a fall each year. Falls are the world's second most prominent cause of accidental deaths (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults (Moreland et al., 2020).

Methods: A quality improvement project that included a fall bundle was implemented in a primary clinic. A …

The Relationship Between Offshore Wind Farms And Marine Wildlife In Rhode Island, Hanna Lloyd, Ashley Caputo, Brendan Foley, Catherine Chadwick, Savannah Szamborski

ENV 334 Environmental Justice

Despite political and environmental controversy, research has shown that not only do offshore wind farms have minimal impact on birds, whales, and benthic organisms, but they can actually be beneficial to marine ecosystems. However, many Rhode Island and Massachusetts citizens are concerned that the construction of the Revolution wind farm will decrease the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. Current research refutes these claims on the negative impacts of offshore wind farms, stating that their construction benefits benthic communities, has little to no impact on the health of whales, and only temporarily impacts migrating bird species. New and innovative technology has found …

Addressing Issues In Global Food Systems Contributing To Food Injustice And Waste On A Local Level In Missoula, Mt, Jocelyn Stansberry, Devin Jacaruso, Abbe Feilzer, Gabby Adams, Rianna Bowers, Livi Lackland-Henry

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Food waste and insecurity are two of the most pressing issues of our time. We, as a planet, produce more food than necessary-- enough to feed the entire global population and then some. Yet, millions of people still struggle to find reliable access to food due to inefficient distribution within our global systems. As people face the incredible struggle of starvation and malnourishment produced, in part, by these global systems, they often are forced to notice the lack of meaningful support from within their communities, separating those in need from those that could help. Food waste and community resilience are …

Metal Contamination In Household Dust And Their Health Risk Assessment: A Study In Two Malaysian Cities, Xin Yi Lim, Ting Fang Lye, Joo Hui Tay

Applied Environmental Research

Investigating the composition of household dust can provide crucial insights into potential environmental and health implications. This study aimed to determine the concentration of selected metals in 30 household floor dust samples collected from two cities in Peninsular Malaysia, namely Melaka and Butterworth. The samples were collected using nylon socks attached to a vacuum cleaner nozzle during January-February 2021. All samples were sieved through a 200-µm sieve, acid-digested with aqua regia, and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Mean metal concentrations decreased in the order of Fe>Al>Mg>Zn>Mn>Ba>Cu>Cr>Pb. Cd was not …

Adsorption Behavior And Mechanism Of Brilliant Green Dye Onto Acid-Modified Mesoporous Volcanic Pumice, Suchada Sawasdee, Prachart Watcharabundit

Applied Environmental Research

Water pollution is a major problem in the environment. The important one is the dying effluent from the textile industry. Dye effluent has affected human health and aquatic life. Recently, natural adsorbents have been most commonly used for dye treatment wastewater. This study explores the adsorption mechanism of brilliant green onto HCl-modified pumice. It involves a comparative analysis of the raw and HCl-modified pumice's characterization and adsorption properties. The adsorption experiments were carried out by considering several parameters, such as pH, contact time, initial dye concentrations, and temperatures. The research indicated that the raw and acid-treated pumice possess Si-OH and …