Societal Impacts最新文献

Different soil and water pollution sources around an undisclosed First Nation (The FN) in Northern Ontario (Canada) are linked by community health documents and oral histories to a cluster of blood cancer. The site's environmental hydrogeochemical records available are difficult to follow, whereas geophysical data reveals possible pathways of contaminants displayed as 3D maps of subsoil contrasting geoelectrical properties. Through an Indigenous Integrated Knowledge Translation (IIKT) strategy, we have co-constructed with The FN an interdisciplinary framework of non-hierarchical syncretic exchange between geoscience-based environmental engineering praxes and Indigenous Knowledge. The IIKT is articulated through Talking Circles of flexible multidirectional exchanges between The FN and the research team, to address community-identified needs and maintain qualitative and contextual value in the investigative agenda. The Talking Circles have guided our efforts to collect, handle, integrate, and understand hydrogeochemical and geophysical data. Thus, we build a culturally-appropriate knowledge base for self-sufficient environmental monitoring capacities with the community to ensure informed decisions about the land. The sustainability of the proposed framework relies on the non-invasiveness and low cost of the environmental/engineering tools used, the transparency of the community-driven results obtained, and its scalability to other Indigenous communities.

The article presents certain findings from a large European research and development project aiming to generate societal impact through multi-stakeholder collaboration based on circular economy principles in the built environment. In the project, eight apartment buildings were demolished, and recycled aggregate concrete was used to cast the foundation for a new city hall being constructed nearby. Additionally, excavated soil from the construction of the city hall was transported to the urban development site where apartment buildings had been demolished, and the excavated soil was used in the terrain for the new urban development in the area. The local reuse of excavated soil significantly reduced transport volumes as the soil would otherwise have been transported long distances out of the city. The primary impact of the project was the direct environmental effects associated with the local concrete and soil recycling. The secondary impacts were linked to improved coordination and management of circular construction projects in the municipality through knowledge and competences being developed during the project (single-loop learning). Finally, the project also created awareness in the municipal organisation about strategic and organisational changes needed to facilitate future circular construction projects (double-loop learning).

This study aims to impact the responsible management practices of factories in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh. Collaborative research with our main partner - the BGMEA University for Fashion and Technology (BUFT) - on responsible management has contributed to the embedding of ethical practices in the RMG sector. More specifically, in a first stage of this program, the collaborative knowledge development is ingrained in the degree and executive education programs of BUFT - impacting about a quarter of the professionals entering the RMG sector in Bangladesh - and has informed the practices and policies of professional bodies, such as BGMEA in Bangladesh, MODINT in the Netherlands and the International Apparel Federation (IAF). Furthermore, in a second stage of this program, research on sustainability hot spots in the RMG value chain has influenced decision-making of the European Committee in relation to their sustainability policies. It substantially advanced the understanding of how European non-development policies and regulations aimed at private and public market actors contribute to or undermine sustainable development policies. The project delivered practical tools and innovative regulatory reform proposals with substantial potential for greater policy-coherence for development, thereby contributing to an integral approach focusing on a shift towards responsibility.

Within academic research it is well-established that Supply Chain Collaboration (SCC) can lead to better, faster, lower cost products and services, and it is crucial for innovation and sustainability. However, despite such theoretical advantages, in practice the concepts of SCC are not widely applied. In this research this gap between theory and practice is further analysed. It is found that although SCC might look ‘simple’, it requires a totally different approach to management than most organizations are used to. To help organizations to make the transformation towards applying SCC, within his research a layered framework and a ‘triple A′ approach was used. In the layered framework, different target groups were distinguished to generate and disseminate knowledge. Within triple A, the development towards implementing SCC was focused on top-level executives and distinguished three phases: Awareness (explaining what SCC entails), Acceptance (explaining why SCC is needed), and Action (developing practical tools to help making the transformation). In the effort many managerial publications, blogs, and tools were shared with a wide variety of managers. Given the result on a bi-annual monitor, various testimonials and the wide readership of the publications, it can be concluded that the impact of the research has been substantial.

LGBTQIA+ is an acronym that stands for ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual and other diverse sexualities and genders’. In Australia, LGBTQIA+ people still experience extensive discrimination within the education system, a recent report highlighting that most Australian LGBT students felt unsafe in secondary school. LGBTQIA+ youth in Australia have significantly higher rates of anxiety, mental health conditions and suicide attempts when compared to the general population. At the same time, pre-service teacher training in Australia is not consistent in providing information and support to prospective educators in LGBTQIA+ inclusive practice and curricula development. This paper explores the initial results of a multi-phase, ongoing project designed to assist pre-service teachers in developing their awareness and understanding of LGBTQIA+ inclusive practice. Utilizing Participatory Action Research (PAR), co-creation and the Design Justice Principles (DJP), the research group sought stakeholder feedback from both pre-service teachers, LGBTQIA+ identified educators and LGBTQIA+ allies to design and deliver LGBTQIA+ inclusive training and resources. Data was collected from pre-service teacher’s survey responses to a professional learning workshop on LGBTQIA+ inclusive practice, revealing high value in understanding inclusive language and discussions of gender diversity and desire for earlier inclusion of these topics in teaching degrees. This was followed by a co-creation phase, resulting in the development of a queering curriculum resource site, followed by a focus group with lived experience stakeholders. This latter phase of the project drew upon insider perspectives to help refine the co-designed resources to make them more intersectional, inclusive, and relevant. The resulting analysis highlights the link between our research and the DJP, while emphasizing the importance of ‘listening to the voices from within’ by establishing meaningful, ongoing stakeholder engagement in the development and delivery of inclusive education resources and materials.

Nuclear fusion is receiving tremendous global interest due to its promise as a source of clean and abundant energy. Although scientific breakeven was recently demonstrated via inertial confinement fusion, economic breakeven has not yet been achieved in any form of fusion. A key barrier for economic viability is the high cost of fabricating the fuel containers (i.e., the targets). Here, we present a quantitative framework and apply it to generate a target manufacturing technology development roadmap to enable economically viable inertial fusion energy. We examine the impact of our recent work in nanoscale additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) and identify the next steps toward economically viable fusion energy. Our analysis has implications for manufacturing technology developers, fusion power plant designers, funding agencies, and policy makers. It demonstrates that economic target manufacturing cannot be achieved by merely increasing the industrial capacity; instead, novel affordable manufacturing technologies must be developed.

Most indigenous women in the sub-Himalayan region of Northern Bengal have been engaged in wage labor within tea gardens. The payment system within these gardens has often lacked transparency, resulting in these workers receiving compensation below the legal minimum wage. This persistent uncertainty has had a profound impact on social behavior and self-satisfaction among the workforce. Notably, no prior study has explored the quality of life experienced by these women workers through a comprehensive examination of their perceptions, determinants, and narratives. The study, conducted in a district of West Bengal, meticulously selected 10 Tea Gardens (TGs) for investigation. This research project employs a mixed type of ethnographic data collection, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative methods, and utilizes the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The findings of the study reveal a consistent pattern of deprivation and inequality experienced by tribal women at various stages of their lives. Furthermore, the research outcomes have provided valuable insights into the overarching societal impacts, encapsulated as follows: 1) the self-reported quality of life sense of the tribal women merely touched by other researchers signifies that these women rarely lived a decent life with utmost priority in every aspect, such as their physical strength, psychological health, and societal well-being; 2) Policymakers can address the factors contributing to the challenges faced by these women, fostering improvements in their overall quality of life.

This concise exposition illuminates the societal ramifications of urban homelessness by delving into the subjective experiences of homeless individuals as elucidated through an all-encompassing investigation carried out in Siliguri, India. Employing the qualitative approach based on Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT), we tried to capture the lived experiences of people experiencing homelessness. The findings divulge a multifaceted tapestry of socio-psychological factors situated at the core of the homelessness predicament, encompassing marginalization, maladaptive behaviors, vulnerability within specific demographics, and the unfulfilled entitlement to urban living. The study underscores the pressing necessity for social reappraisal, specialized support services, and policy interventions to address the extreme marginalization and isolation experienced by this vulnerable cohort. It accentuates the significance of economical housing alternatives, community-oriented shelters, accessible programs for addressing drug abuse and mental health disorders, measures promoting economic empowerment, and provision of identification cards enabling democratic rights and governmental program access. The study advocates for a comprehensive approach driven by communal collaboration to combat homelessness while ensuring inclusive and sustainable urban environments wherein every individual is entitled to their "right to the city."

The region of La Plata, Argentina, has some 300 family farms producing flowers. The strongly perishable nature of products constitutes one of the biggest challenges that farmers must face. In this sense, an effective scientific intervention in the peri-urban productive environment can generate a positive impact on the settlement of the rural population. Based on demands gathered from a group of producers and a previous exploration of technologies, the present work aimed to find alternatives to extend the shelf life of cut flowers, using LED lighting sources and gibberellic acid on stems of Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria sp.) and lily (Lilium sp.), two regionally grown species highly susceptible to postharvest deterioration, which implies loss of turgor in leaves and tepals, as well as premature leaf yellowing and falling of tepals. Light treatment was the best option for postharvest conservation. After the results were shown at the regional flower market, the technologies were successfully adopted by a group of producers. However, the implementation of these technologies is still incipient, and, the postharvest storage of flowers still imposes many limitations on the development of regional flower producers. Developing public policies focusing on family farming will also be important to achieve this goal.

Over multiple years, we developed and conducted a community-based participatory health study in the industrial zone of Marseille, France. We focused on documenting health issues among residents living in two towns in the industrial core and one town on the periphery that had a larger agricultural sector and an identical transportation/logistics sector. Our study, called EPSEAL (Etude Participative en Santé Environment Ancrée Localement; Locally-Anchored Participatory Study of Environmental Health, English trans.), was designed to answer residents’ questions about the health experiences of living in industrial zones. Our multidisciplinary Franco-American team conducted health surveys in these three towns and held focus groups with residents and other stakeholders to discuss the findings. The main social impacts we achieved included: 1) empowerment of local residents with evidence they could use for advocating for health interventions; 2) substantial media coverage that drew regional, national, and international attention to the scope of the issue; 3) policy and regulatory changes; and 4) interest from other French communities for conducting similar community-driven health studies. Our study demonstrates that there is substantial interest among residents in doing participatory studies that answer their questions about health. Additionally we show that collaboratively-produced, epidemiologically rigorous studies have substantial social and policy impacts.