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As an Electrical Engineer Controls and Automation, your primary objectives are to improve and streamline our manufacturing processes through the design, programming, modification, configuration, and installation of mission critical process control and automation systems, including PLCs and SCADA systems. In order to become successful, you'll have to quickly develop a strong understanding of our operation, equipment and systems. A successful Electrical Engineer will add to the expertise and knowledge in a facility that is a market leader producing a wide range of specialty metal alloys, including titanium, nickel, and steel forgings to end use markets such as aerospace, energy, oil & gas, and general industrial markets. Additional Responsibilities: * Perform programming of PLCs and SCADA systems * Prepare design layouts utilizing the principles of electrical engineering as applied to substations, power distribution, lighting, induction heating, individual machine power and control circuitry, communications systems, or any other electrical installation. * Analyze and troubleshoot challenges and perform routine problems on all electrical / automation considerations and appropriately provide solutions and continuous improvement strategies. * Apply advanced engineering principles and strategies to improve operating efficiency of equipment and to design and implement automation systems * Partner with engineers, designers, draftsmen and other cross-functional teams on matters involving requirements or performance of tools, machinery, equipment, buildings or facilities to ensure strong outputs, reliability and efficiencies * Provide technical expertise and leadership or participation on project teams in support of capital projects, process evaluation, project modifications and problem-solving activities * Prepare and maintain process documentation, reports, correspondence and job-working records while ensuring accuracy, mathematical computations, and functional correctness of designs. * Review assigned projects and investigates routine problems concerning the electrical considerations of machinery, tools, equipment, building or facilities * Work from layouts, instructions, specifications or any other requirements.Requirements Basic Qualifications * Bachelor's Degree in Engineering * At least 2 years of electrical engineering experience in process control / automationPreferred Qualifications (in addition to Basic Qualifications) * Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering * At least 5 years of electrical engineering experience in process control / automationSkills * Effective oral and written communication skills with the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with technical and non-technical cross-functional teams * Strong ability to lead, participate in, or act independently to identify and implement process optimization and continuous improvement initiatives * Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyze, troubleshoot and solve difficult problems effectively and implement long-term solution * Skilled and experienced with PLC systems with a strong knowledge of process automation network infrastructure * Progress Database interface familiarity * Excellent organizational skill with the ability to multi-task
Manpower
USA
Manpower
USA
Posted: November 29, 2021
Engineering
FOX_BBBH61307
Cudahy
Permanent
Full-Time
Up to USD0.00 per year
1
Milwaukee Engineering - (USA)
100 Manpower Place
WI Milwaukee , WI 53212
414-231-1150
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The following statement is important and should be read carefully.
This statement summarises how Nous Group, uses and manages personal information when carrying out recruitment activities. It also outlines the existence of various pre-employment checks that Nous Group conducts to ensure that information provided by applicants is true, accurate and complete.
Nous Group collects personal information from you in relation to current or future employment opportunities with our organisation. Your personal information can be collected at any stage of our recruitment process.
Nous Group will use the personal information you provide to assess your suitability for current or future employment opportunities with us.
If you choose to have your personal information retained by Nous for future employment opportunities, your details will be stored in our database of candidates where they may be accessed in the future if your qualifications, skills or experience match a potential vacancy.
Your personal details may be disclosed to people within Nous Group, to referees nominated by you, to your former employers and to any organisations that Nous Group engages to assist us with our recruitment process.
We provide all applicants with the ability to create an individual profile (My Profile) based on areas such as Experience, Education and Qualifications, Licences and References. This profile only needs to be set-up once. Please ensure that your Profile is completely entered and up-to-date so that it accurately reflects your attributes and experience.
If you do not provide all of the personal information that we request then we may be unable to communicate with you, process your application or offer you employment.
You can access your account on the Nous Group recruitment web site at any time to update your personal information and your resume, to ensure that the information we hold is complete, accurate and up-to-date.
We take significant measures to protect the database from access by unauthorised people. It is your responsibility to ensure that you keep your login details secure to prevent unauthorised access to your account.
Unless instructed otherwise we generally will keep the data provided for twelve months from the time the data was first provided. If you explicitly consent to your information being retained on our candidate database, we will retain your details for three years from the last time that you provided consent.
However, you may remove your personal information from our database at any time by closing your account, or by instructing us to remove it by emailing [email protected].
If you are successful in your application and accept an offer of employment with Nous, your data will be retained by Nous and added to your employee record.
The integrity of Nous Group brand is of fundamental importance to our clients, our people and the communities in which we operate. To protect our integrity Nous Group carries out a number of pre-employment checks as part of our recruitment process. These checks may include some or all of the following:
The information produced by these checks may lead us to discontinue your application for a current or future employment vacancy.
If you have any questions about this policy or would like to make a complaint about the handling of your personal information, please email [email protected]. | https://nousgroup.com/recruitment-privacy-policy/ |
All our Professional and Fellow members are welcome to join our Dispute Resolver Directory, the largest directory of dispute resolvers in Australia and New Zealand.
Search by your name here to check if your profile is showing in the directory. If your profile is there click here to update it. If your profile doesn't come up in search results check below to see if you have an inactive profile.
Do you have an inactive profile?
Click here and see if there is a record 'Dispute Resolver Directory profile' in the table.
If you see a record, with a suspended status, you probably need to renew your Professional or Fellow membership.
If you see a record, with an active status, click on the pencil next to it and select 'Update Details' tab below it. In the 'agreement to be listed', select 'yes' and hit 'submit' at the bottom of the page.
If you do NOT see a record create a new profile.
Don't have a profile? Set up a dispute resolver directory profile to advertise your services.
Keeping your profile details updated builds credibility and increases referrals.
Why can’t I create or update my profile?
Did you press the submit button (at the bottom right of the form) to save your changes?
Have you got a current professional or fellow membership?
How do I turn off my profile if I no longer want to be in the dispute resolver directory?
Why can I select some methods of dispute resolution but not others, such as arbitration, adjudication, mediation, etc.?
Dispute resolution accreditation: includes areas of DR which are certified by accreditations/qualifications recognised by RI, and so only members who currently hold accreditations/qualifications will appear in search results for these areas of DR.
Additional dispute resolution skills: includes areas of DR which are not certified by accreditations/qualifications recognised by RI. Members will have the opportunity to update the options in this section themselves.
Do I have to fill in all parts of the dispute resolver directory?
No, you can choose to provide information only for those sections which you want to fill in. The only section that is mandatory to fill in is ‘I agree to be listed in the Resolution Institute website search directory for dispute resolvers who provide services in New Zealand/Australia’.
The section of the form called ‘Find a dispute resolver’ is also important. It contains information that searchers will enter to get a list of dispute resolvers so it is advantageous to provide as much information as is relevant to your services.
How much information you provide for on your personal webpage is up to you. People are more likely to make contact with a dispute resolver with good information on their profile page.
If my name starts with ’Z’ will I always be bottom of the list?
No, the results of a search will always appear in a list in random order, ensuring that all members have equal opportunity to appear at the top of the results list.
Why are there separate New Zealand and Australian dispute resolver directories? I regularly practice across both Australia and New Zealand. Could I have my profile appear in both directories?
We’ve had feedback from people using the search directory to find help that it is frustrating to do a search and come up with lots of dispute resolvers from another country, which they then need to sort through.
Having a combined directory has also meant that region searches are unduly complicated for searcher – for example New Zealanders having to scroll through all the Australian regions to find the New Zealand regions to search for a dispute resolver by location, and vice versa.
We’ve separated the two directories to improve these things. If you actively work across both Australia and New Zealand you are very welcome to list in both directories. A fee applies. Contact us to find out more.
It would be really good if..... Why can’t other changes be made to the directory?
We’ve had lots of great suggestions about the directory and are keeping records of all of these for future directory development. At the moment we are somewhat limited in our ability to make changes because our directory is built in our CRM system (called Associations Online). This system is used by a lot of other organisations and has standard search directory functionality in it that our directory is built on. We are able to customise it to our needs to some degree (for instance dispute resolver criteria for searching) but are limited in our ability to customise and make changes. | https://www.resolution.institute/resources/build-your-DR-business/set-up-my-dispute-resolver-directory-profile |
,
“Company”
,
“we”
or
“us”
) is a licensed electronic money institution (electronic money institution license No. 17, Issuing and Supervisory Authority – Bank of Lithuania), which directly or through the intermediaries provides services which are allowed under our electronic money institution license and which are described on the website www.pervesk.lt (the
"Services"
). Services may be available through our or our intermediaries’ internet banking systems (ib.pervesk.lt, ib.bankera.com or other), mobile apps or application programming interfaces (all of them or any of them hereinafter may be referred to as the
“Platform”
). The Services that Pervesk provides are subject to the relevant terms and conditions, which are presented in the respective Platform.
In order to provide Services, we may process personal data of our customers, their clients or representative, other related persons, such as beneficial owners, transaction senders, etc. (all together referred to as
"Customer"
or
"you"
). Any personal data we gather, use or share about you is processed in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (
"GDPR"
) and other applicable laws.
“Policy”
) applies to your use of the Platform and any of Services, available through it. The Policy explains how we process your personal data through any relationship we have, whether it would be use of the Services on the Platform, online support services or any other possible mean. In case you provide information about other natural persons to the Company, you undertake to make this Policy known to them before the disclosure of such information to the Company.
By contacting us, using this Platform and / or our Services you confirm you have read, understood and agreed with this Policy.
2. PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL DATA PROCESSING FOLLOWED BY THE COMPANY
The Company undertakes to ensure your personal data is:
processed lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner in relation to you;
collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes (f. e. prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, performance of Services, etc.), and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes;
adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed;
accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date;
kept in a form which permits your identification for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed;
processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of your personal data.
The Company follows the above indicated principles strictly during the processing of your personal data and request the same from the data processors which it may use to process personal data on behalf of the Company.
3. LAWFULNESS OF PERSONAL DATA PROCESSING
Your personal data will be processed if:
you have given consent to the processing of your personal data for one or more specific purposes; and/or
processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are party or in order to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract; and/or
processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which we are subject; and/or
processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by us or the third party.
If Services are allowed by us and available for the child under the age of 16, their personal data will be processed only with the consent of the holders of parental responsibility, and only to the extent that such consent or permit is given.
The Company may subject its Customers to decisions based solely on automated processing, including profiling, only if it is necessary for conclusion of a contract between you and the Company or due to provision of the Services under such contract, it is authorised by the law or you have expressed an explicit consent to such processing.
4. PURPOSES FOR THE COLLECTION AND USE OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA
Your personal data is being processed for the purposes of:
provision of the Services (account opening, transfers of funds, payment collection and other payment services);
prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing (implementation of the principle "Know Your Customer");
implementation of international sanctions;
Services support;
quality assurance;
use of the Company’s social networks accounts;
proper and secure use of the Platform and of Customer’s online account
The processing of your personal data is necessary for the implementation of the above indicated purpose(s), therefore, if you fail to provide the requested data the Company may not be able to provide your requested Services.
5. METHODS OF PERSONLA DATA COLLECTION USED BY THE COMPANY
The Company collects your personal data directly from you or from the third parties when:
you use or view the Platform;
you register to the Platform;
you request or use our Services;
you request Services support;
we execute Customer’s due diligence or ongoing due diligence;
we monitor your transactions;
we check whether you are not related to fraudulent activities;
we receive requests, orders, decisions or etc. from the third parties regarding you.
The Company may from time to time renew personal data related to Customer’s profile based on the up-to-date information received from the respectable third parties.
6. CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL DATA THE COMPNAY MAY PROCESS ABOUT YOU
The scope of the Customer‘s personal data indicated below which could be requested by the Company and further processed in order to provide the Services for the purposes indicated in article 3 of this Policy may vary depending on the type of Services chosen particularly by the Customer and Company‘s applied verification procedures to execute it, as well as, legal requirements applied for such provision of the Services in order to prevent possible risks and various crimes.
In order to provide the Services, we may process your personal data categories, such as (including but not limited):
General data:
name, surname, personal code, date of birth, citizenship(s), place of birth (city, country), country of residence for tax purpose, taxpayer identification number (TIN), address, city/town, postal code, phone number, e-mail, selfie with the identity document, video, data about Customer which may be provided in double-checking systems;
Other Customer‘s profile information:
profile type, unique character sequence assigned to the Customer for identification, executed Customer’s assessment (evaluation) results, chosen means of identification, 2FA information, Customer’s number, user ID, referral code, referral ID, session ID, login status, email confirmed status, phone confirmed status, compliance officer comments;
Social network data:
social network profile photo, name, surname, your comments, emotions and other actions expressed via our social network account, other your social network profile information provided by you;
Identity document data:
ID Type (Passport / Identity Card / Residence permit), its copy, MRZ, document number, date of issue, date of expiry;
Data obtained and/or created while performing legal obligation:
inquiries, requests, notifications, orders, courts decisions or other data related to the specific Customer(s) which may be received by or provided to the police, courts, investigative bodies, notaries, tax administrator, courts, bailiffs and other institutions;
Information about Customer‘s occupation and income sources:
Specific occupation: paid employee (position) / owner of legal entity (company name) / registered self-employee / unemployed / other;
Main sectors of customer’s occupation, individual or business activity;
Information regarding countries in which customer is employed, carries out individual activity or business: countries, whereas activity or business is conducted or registered in preferential tax zone, percentage of turnover in cash for such activity or business;
Payment account opening information:
Purpose for account opening;
Source of Customer’s income and wealth;
Services which the Customer plans to use
Monthly planned account turnover in EUR;
Number of transactions and countries from which the funds will be received or transferred;
Account number;
Information about Politically Exposed Person ("PEP"):
Information whether the Customer is PEP itself or has an immediate relationship with PEP;
General information regarding PEP: relation, name, surname, country, institution, PEP‘s position;
Information about Beneficial Owner ("UBO"):
Information whether the Customer is the UBO of the account and the funds in the account;
General UBO‘s identification data: name, surname, ID copy, date of birth, personal code, citizenship, country of residence for tax purposes, tax identification number (TIN), place of birth (city, country), registered residential address, share of benefit;
Financial data:
related payment card (i.e. currency, card number, validity date, card owner’s name and surname, CVV/CVV2);
Customer’s account information (e.g., services, transactions type, sender, recipient, amount, purpose, extracts, etc.)
information about accounts in other financial institutions (i.e. name of institution, country, account number);
Customer’s creditworthiness information (i.e. creditors, type of debt and its amount, due dates, debtor’s identification number, etc.).
Communication data:
date, time, correspondence, video and voice calls, chats, etc.
Information related to electronic devices:
IP address(es); time zone; log-in and log-out register; browser information; electronic device‘s operational system information; location data (country (code), city), internet service provider (ISP); selected language; information regarding Customer‘s actions within Platform;
History data:
Customer‘s experience using the Platform, the register of all Customer‘s actions performed on the Platform (i.e. operations, such as funds transactions, linking cards, log-in and log-out register, register of reset password),;
Other data which may be requested or gathered by the Company or provided by the Customer herself/himself or any third party.
7. DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL DATA TO OTHER PARTIES
Your personal data indicated in article 6 of this Policy may be provided by the Company itself or upon respective request to the below indicated categories of personal data recipients:
credit, financial, payment and (or) electronic money institutions, agencies, bureaus;
payment services providers, as well as intermediary services providers;
authorities (i.e. supervising institutions, law enforcement institutions, courts, bailiffs);
auditors, legal and financial consultants;
IT providers;
fraud detection services providers;
data processors;
related business partners;
other service providers which services may include, or which are engaged in personal data processing executed by the Company.
Personal data may also be provided to other recipients if:
the Company has to comply with a legal obligation to which it is a subject; or
such requested personal data is necessary for the concrete data recipient to carry out a particular inquiry in the general interest, in accordance with the European Union or Member State law; or
the data requesting party has a legitimate interest to request for such information.
The Company maintains strong cooperation with local and international authorities and institutions, therefore, upon request of such party substantiated under article 7.2. of this Policy, your personal data may be provided to the requested party without permission to notify you.
In general, the Company process your personal data within the European Union (
"EU"
) or the European Economic Area (
"EEA"
), however, there might be some cases when the Company cooperates with the recipients outside EU or EEA. In such cases the Company makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that at least one of the following GDPR requirements is complied:
the recipient is located in the territory which is acknowledged by the European Commission as ensuring the adequate level of personal data protection;
the Company and the recipient have concluded the agreement with the standard terms and conditions regarding personal data security which were approved by the European Commission;
the Codes of Conduct or other security measures under GDPR has been complied.
8. PERSONAL DATA RETENTION PERIOD
The Company processes personal data so that it could achieve the purposes indicated in article 4 of this Policy.
In order to set the below indicated data retention periods the Company has referred to the legal acts and public recommendations applicable in the European Union and locally such as compliance with legit limitation periods, as well as current business practice.
Depending of the category of personal data and the purpose it is being processed your data retention period applied within the Company as it is required by the law or business practice to ensure smooth delivery of the Services is:
for the purposes indicated in articles 4.1.1 – 4.1.3 of this Policy we process your personal data throughout the term of our contractual relationship and store it after this relationship ends for as many years as it is required by law (for example, it may be required to store your personal data for 8 years, whilst the concluded service contract itself with the personal data therein may be necessary to store for 10 years after the contractual relationship ends). The personal data processing for such period is based on necessity to execute Customer’s due diligence, conduct ongoing monitoring, collect supporting evidence and records of transactions. In case the contractual relationship has not been established based on reasons not related with prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing (e.g., you decided not to finish application or verification procedure due to your own personal reasons) your personal data will be stored for 2 years since the last contact with you or action from your side;
for the purposes indicated in article 4.1.4 – 4.1.5 we process your personal data collected via correspondence with you throughout the term of our contractual relationship and store it after this relationship ends for as many years as it is required by law (for example, it may be required to store such data for additional 5 years). In case you have not established or has already terminated contractual relationship with Pervesk, your personal data will be processed for these purposes for a period of 2 years since our last actual contact with each other (e.g., our last e-mail to you answering your request);
for the purposes indicated in article 3.1.6 we process your personal data until your social network account or Company’s social network account is deleted – whichever comes first;
for the purposes indicated in article 3.1.7 we process your personal data throughout the term we support the Platform.
Upon the end of retention period, indicated above, your personal data is erased or anonymised (irreversibly).
9. INFORMATION SECURITY
The Company takes various security ensuring technologies and procedures in order to protect your personal data against unauthorised or unlawful processing, accidental loss, misuse, unauthorized access, illegal usage, destruction, disclosure, damage and etc. This includes legal, organisational, technical, and physical security measures, such as latest security systems, two-factor authentication and passwords, ability to detect cyber security attacks and other threats to the integrity of the Platform, working only with trustworthy service providers, etc. However, no transmission of information via e-mail or other telecommunication channels or your access to the Platform or the Services through the internet could be fully secured. Therefore, you should take due care when you are accessing the Platform or using the Services via internet or sharing confidential information via e-mail or other telecommunication channels.
10. COOKIES
Cookies are small information files found in the Platform you visit and stored in your computer or mobile device. In order to get to know more about cookies, please read
on the Platform.
11. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA
You have certain legal rights in relation to the processing of your personal data, including:
the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning you are being processed, and, where that is the case, access to the personal data and the information regarding its processing;
the right to obtain from us without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning you and, taking into account the purpose of the processing, the right to have incomplete personal information completed;
the right to obtain from us the erasure of personal data concerning you without undue delay if one of the grounds set out in article 17 of the GDPR applies;
the right to obtain from us restriction of processing where one of the grounds set out in article 18 of the GDPR applies;
the right to data portability in accordance with article 20 of the GDPR;
the right to object at any time to processing of your personal data in accordance with article 21 of the GDPR;
the right not to be subject to an automated individual decision-making, including profiling in accordance with article 22 of the GDPR.
The Customer should be aware that the above indicated rights may not be absolute – it depends on the particular Customer’s request and the purpose and / or basis for his / her personal data processing. Also this Policy does not deprive you of any other legal rights you may enforce under the applicable law.
The Customer may exercise his / her rights only after the Company has successfully identified him / her. If the Company is not sure about the identity of the person sending data request, the Company may not provide the requested information to him / her, unless the Customer‘s identity is confirmed. Therefore, if you like to address a request towards the company regarding execution of your rights, we suggest you to do once you are logged in to your personal account on the Platform (so that we could identify you). In case you decide to use other communication channels, such as sending a request via email, kindly ask you to indicate in the e-mail your name, surname, your date of birth and the last four digitals of your identity document number which you used when entering into contractual relationship with the us. In addition, the Company keeps the right to decide if the other or additional legitimate mean of identification proof should be requested, such as a selfie with your ID document, certified copy of your ID document, video or voice call, or any other additional document or method which could let to determine your identity.
The Customer is provided with information related to the exercise of his / her rights free of charge. However, the Customer's request for the exercise of rights may be waived or may be subject to an appropriate fee if the request is manifestly unfounded or excessive, in particular because of their repetitive character.
The Company shall provide the Customer with information on the actions taken upon receipt of the Customer's request for the exercise of his rights or the reasons for the inaction no later than within 1 month from the receipt of the request. The period for submitting the requested information may be extended, if necessary, for 2 more months, depending on the complexity and number of requests. When the Customer submits the request by electronic means, the information shall also be provided by electronic means.
If the Customer considers that his / her personal data is being processed in violation of his / her rights and legitimate interests in accordance with applicable law, the Customer shall have the right to file a complaint against the processing of personal data to the State Data Protection Inspectorate of the Republic of Lithuania.
12. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
You confirm that you have provided correct data about yourself in every required form and that afterwards, when changing or adding any data at the Platform, you will enter only correct data. The Company will not tolerate invalid, false or otherwise incorrect data and will pursue actions in accordance with its legal obligations. You shall bear any losses that occur with regard to the submission of invalid, false or otherwise incorrect data.
You are responsible for maintaining adequate security and control of every identification number, password, and / or any other code that you use to access the Platform. If you have not complied with this obligation and / or could, but have not prevented it and / or performed it on purpose or due to own negligence, you assume the losses and undertake to reimburse the losses of other persons incurred as a result of your (in)action.
In the event of loss of any password by yourself or if the password(s) are disclosed not due to your or Company‘s fault, or in case of a real threat that has occurred or may occur to your account, you undertake to change the password(s) immediately or, if you do not have a possibility to do that, not later than within 1 calendar day notify the Company. The Company shall not be liable for consequences that have originated due to the notification failure or unauthorised access to your account not due to the fault of the Company.
After the Company receives the notification from you as indicated above, the Company shall immediately suspend access to your account and provision of the Company’s Services until a new password is provided / created for you.
The Company draws your attention to the fact that your user ID, email address or any other contact information you have chosen to link to your account are used for your identification and communication. You undertake responsibility to protect these instruments and logins to them. You are responsible for password disclosure and for all operations performed after you use the password for a relevant account. We recommend to memorize your passwords and not to write them down or enter anywhere where they may be seen by other persons.
13. CONTACT DETAILS
If you have any questions regarding this Policy or your personal data protection or if you want to withdraw your consent, or execute your rights you may contact our Data Protection Officer who monitors that your data processing executed by the Company complies with the applicable data protection laws. You can reach our Data Protection Officer via e-mail:
[email protected]
or mail via postal address: UAB “Pervesk”, address Rinktinės str. 5, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania, with a notice "Data Protection Officer".
14. FINAL PROVISIONS
This Policy shall be viewed and applied in accordance with the GDPR and other applicable laws.
The Company reserves the right to make changes to this Policy from time to time. An up-to-date version of the Policy is posted on the Platform, therefore, please do review it regularly. Your continued use of the Platform and Services following any such revisions to the Policy will constitute your acceptance of such changes. If you do not agree to any such of such changes, do not continue to use our Services.
The Company is not responsible for ensuring clients’ privacy in third parties’ websites, even in cases where the client has accessed third-party websites by using links provided on the Platform. The Company recommends that you familiarize yourself with the privacy policies of third-party websites” beforehand.
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Personal Payment Accounts
Business Payment Accounts
Payment Cards
Terms & Pricing
Account Agreement
General Service Agreement
Periodic Payment Agreement
Information Security Policy
Claim (complaint) submission and examination procedure
Pricing
API Services
KYC Services
White Label Solutions
Company
About Us
Contact Us
FAQ
© 2017 - 2021 Pervesk, UAB
Please note that the services described in this website are not offered in the United States and also in any other jurisdiction where such services could be considered restricted. If you choose to access this website, you do so at your own initiative and risk and are responsible for compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations that may apply to you. | https://pervesk.lt/en/privacy-policy/ |
This privacy statement sets out the privacy practices for the EDGE Local Portfolio Management System application (“EDGE LMPS”) provided by the Clinical Informatics Research Unit at the University of Southampton (“the University”).
EDGE LPMS registered users (“subscribers”) register their personal information with the University and it is vital for us to share how we protect that data. Personal data refers to the personal information that we hold about you from which you can be identified (either alone, or in combination with other data available to the University).
The University is the data controller, which means that we are responsible for deciding how we hold and use personal data about you. This statement makes you aware of how and why your personal data will be used, namely for the purposes of providing you with our services, and how long it will usually be retained for. It provides you with information under the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679) (GDPR).
We keep this Privacy statement under regular review and it may be amended from time to time.
Data Protection Principles
We will comply with data protection law and principles, which means that your data will be:
Used lawfully, fairly and in a transparent way
Collected only for valid purposes that we have clearly explained to you and not used in any way that is incompatible with those purposes
Relevant to the purposes we have told you about and limited only to those purposes.
Accurate and kept up to date
Kept only as long as necessary for the purposes we have told you about
Kept securely
A list of the types of data we collect is set out below. Processing means doing anything with your data, such as collecting, recording, or holding the data, as well as disclosing, destroying, or using the data in any way.
In order to provide access to the EDGE LMPS application the following personal information is required within a subscriber account profile (“EDGE Profile”) to enable service delivery:
First Name
Surname
Email Address
In addition to name and email address, subscribers can also voluntarily provide the following personal data identifiers within the EDGE Profile:
Title
Gender
Date of Birth
Personal URL
Professional Registration Number
ORCID ID
Telephone contact data
Subscribers can also voluntarily upload personal data characteristics within the EDGE Profile too, these include:
CV’s
Record of Qualifications
Record of Training Courses and Certificates
What if you do not provide your personal data?
Certain data, such as your contact details, have to be provided to enable us to enter a contract with you. If you do not provide this data we will not be able to provide our services to you.
How will your personal data be collected?
We will only collect your data from you or your nominated EDGE lead “local administrator” from your organisation and not from any third party organisations.
Data you provide to us
Information regarding our subscribers derived from their access and use of the EDGE LPMS is shared with the University to enable the delivery of services to subscribers. The University shall not sell, share or rent this information to any third party.
Lawfulness of Processing:
Processing of this data is necessary for the performance of the Master Service Agreement Contract with your organisation or Local Clinical Research Network.
We will only process your data for the specific purpose or purposes that we tell you about or if specifically permitted under any privacy legislation and will only process your data to the extent necessary for that specific purpose or purposes.
Information Processing:
Information Use:
Application Access:
In order to access the application subscribers must have registered a contact name and email address.
Audit Reports:
All actions within the EDGE LPMS application are audited to conform with 21 CFR Part 11. This requires the logging of user identifiers (First Name & Surname) with a date and time stamp against application actions.
Surveys:
From time-to-time, the Clinical Informatics Research Unit may request voluntary participation in a survey relating to the application or delivery of service. Information requested may include contact information and demographic information. Survey Information will be used to monitor and improve the services provided by the Clinical Informatics Research Unit.
EDGE Developments and Updates:
The EDGE Communications Team send our subscribers updates and announcements about the EDGE service including the release of the monthly EDGE LPMS application upgrades. Subscribers are able to unsubscribe from these announcements by clicking the ‘Unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of the email communication. Communications with users will be by e-mail, telephone or standard mail service.
Data Storage:
Data provided to the Clinical Informatics Research Unit regarding any subscriber is stored within secure managed hosting services platform provided by PIksel Ltd (Carelink division). Piksel Ltd have managed NHS hosting since 1998.
Holding and retaining your data
We create and hold your personal data electronically. We will only hold your Data for the duration that your organisation is contracting with EDGE for the purpose or purposes that we have collected it.
Who has access to your personal data?
Your data will be shared internally with staff within CIRU. We may have to disclose your Data if required to do so by law in order to comply with a legal obligation, to protect our rights, interests or property and those of others, act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of our staff, students and the public or to protect us against any legal liability.
Security
This Clinical Informatics Research Unit takes every precaution to protect our subscribers’ information. Only staff members who need a subscriber’s (personal) information to perform a specific job are granted access to the Information. The University’s staff operate within the University’s policies and procedures for Information Security. Staff are also bound by the confidentiality provisions in their employment contract and are kept up-to-date on National, Local and departmental security and privacy practices. They are regularly notified and audited to safeguard customer privacy.
Accurate data
We will keep the Data we store about you accurate and up to date. Data that is inaccurate or out of date will be destroyed. If your data is not accurate then please update your User Profile through the EDGE LPMS application, contact your Local Administrator for EDGE or email us at: [email protected]
Your rights
You have a number of rights. You can:
access and obtain a copy of your data on request;
require us to change incorrect or incomplete data;
require us to delete or stop processing your data, for example where the data is no longer necessary for the purposes of processing;
object to the processing of your data where we are relying on our legitimate interests as the legal ground for processing; and
ask us to stop processing data for a period if data is inaccurate or there is a dispute about whether or not your interests override the organisation's legitimate grounds for processing data.
If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: [email protected]
If you believe that the organisation has not complied with your data protection rights, you can complain to the Information Commissioner.
How do you access your data?
If you would like to exercise any of your rights please make a request using our online form or in writing to:
The Data Protection Officer
Legal Services
University of Southampton, Highfield
Southampton, SO171BJ
Email: [email protected]
In certain circumstances you can request your Data for reuse for your own purposes across different services by emailing us at: [email protected]
Our registration number with the Information Commissioner’s Office is Z6801020
ICO Registration
If you would like to find out more about how we use your personal data please contact: [email protected]. We also have additional policies and guidelines concerning particular activities. If you would like further information please see our Publication Scheme.
If you are unhappy with the way that we have handled your data you can contact us at: [email protected] or contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. | http://edgeclinical.com/privacy |
Provide assistance and advice on costing and pricing external contracts within specified guidelines, taking account of specific sponsor requirements to ensure that the income to the University is maximised. This might include, for example:
Providing staff costings for particular grades of staff over a defined period of time. These costings may or may not include assumptions for pay awards and other incremental progression. This will be achieved by using the University Notional Forecasting system. More complex, day rate costings will be produced with assistance from Senior members of the Team.
Ensuring Academic staff consider all costs that can be reclaimable under sponsor conditions, such as Technician Support and Indirect Costs.
Ensure that proposals sent to sponsors are numerically accurate and that any VAT issues have been taken account of.
Proposals that are not in sterling ensure the correct exchange rate has been used as per the Universities internal agreed rates
Oversee the management of research accounts across a full range of sponsors and provision of advice to academic and related staff.
Resolve contractual issues, ensuring that contracts do not unduly disadvantage the university's cashflow position or represent undue risk. This involves discussion and agreement of payment terms with funders in conjunction with the Contract Officer. For this post, this involves tasks of varying complexity and predictability and is complicated by the wide range of funding bodies involved. The Postholder will also be responsible for ensuring that all requirements for clinical trials work have been met, including insurance cover, indemnities etc.
For EC grants the payment terms will need to be agreed with the partners of the consortium. The EC guidelines will need to be adhered to at all times
Setting up awarded grants and contracts within the University Research Systems and ensuring all data is accurate and in accordance with the specific terms and conditions.
Ensuring that invoices to sponsors or partners are sent in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract in a timely manner and resolving any related queries.
Monitoring and updating information as regards those projects that are still live but whose end dates have expired. This will involve liaison with both academic and School staff in order to resolve outstanding issues.
Updating awards on the Research Accounting System for claims or payments that have been made in other currencies for example Euros due to the conversion rate differing from the account set up rate.
Dealing with internal and external correspondence, answering standard and some complex queries independently and proposing solutions, some of which would need further consideration by the Research Team Leader.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Ideally some formal relevant training (such as AAT, other Finance/Accountancy/Business qualifications)
Some previous experience within accountancy/financial environment or administrative environment is preferable.
Must be numerate, excellent general computer skills, particularly spreadsheets Experience of Excel, Coda and Business Objects would be an advantage.
Ability to organise varied workload and work to strict deadlines.
Good communication skills both written and verbal.
If you are interested in this role please apply. | https://www.pertemps.co.uk/job/041226410/Research-Finance-Administrator-job-in-Birmingham |
7 Personal Branding Tips For Today’s Scientists
STEM professionals are in high demand around the globe. So why do so many highly qualified scientists struggle to get invited for a job interview?
The answer is simple: no matter how brilliant and experienced you are, your résumé and your LinkedIn® profile have to contain the right elements in order for you to get noticed.
Keywords are at the top but aren’t the only elements of an effective résumé or LinkedIn profile. There are a number of other factors to keep in mind—here are seven tips:
1. Keep your résumé short: between one
and two pages.
Anything shorter gives the immediate impression you’re not qualified, and anything longer makes it difficult for the reader to note the most salient information.
2. Highlight your skills.
Use keywords and key phrases that are relevant to your field, the job posting, and both your technical and soft skills. We often suggest that candidates add a skills section, preferably in column format, at the top of their résumé. Having an easy to identify skills section goes hand-in-hand with making sure you have the right content and keywords in your résumé.
3. List your experience correctly.Use the following format to list your job experience: the type of job site (for example a commercial lab or academic lab), location(s), your most important job responsibilities, how your work benefited your employer, and what additional skills you used or developed during the job.
4. List dynamic experience when
possible.
For positions where you used very specific expertise to help develop a product, list your precise expertise, the product you worked on, and the scale of the project.
5. Don’t forget internships and
research experience.
Many scientists transitioning from academia to industry forget to list their internships as work experience. Internships are highly relevant, so make sure to include them.
6. Keep your list of publications
concise.
One mistake many academics make is to include a full list of publications to which they’ve contributed. Highlight between one and three of the most relevant or significant publications only when they directly illustrate your qualifications for the job.
7. Maintain a personal website.
If you want to provide potential employers with more information, get your own website. You can include a bio, a full list of publications, and more information about past and current research and related projects. Plus, you can set up your blog to showcase your expertise. Wix and Weebly both offer easy to use, free templates for building impressive portfolio sites.
Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll soon be able to write a résumé and LinkedIn profile that not only pass the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), but may also get you invited to the interview you want. | https://www.kellyservices.us/us/careers/career-resource-center/employment-trends/7-personal-branding-tips-for-todays-scientists/ |
How to Fire and Manage Stress Afterwords
Firing an employee can be a difficult and uncomfortable task, but it is sometimes necessary for the betterment of the company. The following are some tips for effectively firing an employee:
Be clear and direct. When informing the employee that they will be terminated, be clear and direct in your communication. Avoid vague or ambiguous language, and let the employee know the specific reasons why they are being let go.
Be prepared. Before meeting with the employee, make sure that you have all the necessary information and documentation to support your decision to terminate their employment. This includes any performance evaluations, disciplinary reports, or other relevant documentation.
Choose the right time and place. Schedule the meeting in a private location and at a time that is convenient for both you and the employee. Avoid firing an employee in front of their colleagues or in a public setting.
Be respectful and professional. Treat the employee with respect and professionalism throughout the process. Avoid personal attacks or insults, and remain calm and composed, even if the employee becomes emotional or upset.
Provide support and resources. Let the employee know that they will be provided with support and resources, such as outplacement services or unemployment benefits, to help them transition to their next job.
Follow up with the team. After the employee has been let go, follow up with the remaining team members to address any concerns or questions they may have.
Firing an employee can be a difficult task, but by following these tips, you can ensure that the process is handled in a professional, respectful, and effective manner. Remember that the goal of the termination process is to resolve an issue for the company and not to punish the employee.
Dealing with your own emotions after firing someone can be challenging, as it is a stressful and emotional situation for both the employee and the employer. Here are some tips to help you manage your emotions after firing someone:
Reflect on the decision: Take some time to reflect on the decision to fire the employee and the reasons behind it. Remind yourself that the decision was made for the betterment of the company and that it was not a personal attack on the employee.
Acknowledge your feelings: It is normal to feel a range of emotions after firing someone, including sadness, guilt, and stress. Acknowledge these feelings and allow yourself to process them in a healthy way.
Talk to someone: Share your feelings with a trusted colleague or friend. Talking through the situation can help you gain a different perspective and provide a sense of emotional support.
Take care of yourself: Practice self-care after firing someone. This can include exercise, meditation, or other activities that help you relax and de-stress.
Focus on the future: After firing an employee, it's important to refocus on the goals and objectives of your company and the remaining team members. This will help you to move forward and avoid dwelling on the past.
Consider professional help: If you find it difficult to cope with the emotions, consider seeking professional help such as a counselor or therapist.
It is important to remember that firing an employee is a business decision and not a personal one. It is normal to feel a range of emotions after such an event, but it's important to process them in a healthy way. | https://brovidly.com/fire-someone |
Overall:
Upon the release of James Wan’s The Conjuring (2013), it seemed pretty clear to anyone with a pulse that its side-story about a demonically possessed doll named Annabelle would make a future appearance. New Line Cinema loves horror franchises, and as soon as the numbers for The Conjuring came in Annabelle (2014) became inevitable. Directed by John R. Leonetti, the second entry attempts to capitalize on previous success. The film released to largely negative reviews, but many of those reviews judged it in the shadow of its predecessor.
However, the film itself may not be so terrible when judged on its own merits.
The Story of Annabelle
John and Mia Form expect their first baby soon. Mia, collects porcelain dolls (a clear indicator that John should file for divorce). John bring home a rare doll that Mia had been coveting for some time. She names it Annabelle. Later that evening, just after going to bed, Mia hears a terrified scream from the next door neighbors. John runs over and finds the neighbors brutally stabbed to death. Unbeknownst to Mia, after killing their neighbors, the murderers hid in her home. The invaders stab Mia just before the male attacker is shot by the police. The other attacker, a woman, slits her own throat while holding the doll.
The Form’s eventually learn that the killers worshipped in a demonic cult. How foreboding?
Bumps in the Night
Immediately, the Forms begin experiencing supernatural events. John throws the doll out in hopes that it will help Mia settle down. Unable to overcome the trauma of the home invasions, the couple decide to move out of their house and into an apartment after the birth of their daughter. Inexplicably, John again finds the possessed doll in the moving boxes (yet another opportunity to get divorced and leave). This time Mia stops him from throwing it out again. Unsurprisingly, supernatural occurrences begin almost immediately in their new home. The situation escalates to the point that Mia fears for her and her daughter’s life.
Evelyn and Father Perez
In an interesting departure, this entry does not feature Ed and Lorraine Warren. In a future timeline, The Conjuring details how the Warren’s kept this very same doll locked in a glass case to protect visitors from its evil. Writer Gary Dauberman’s story closes the gap with this film by explaining how the Warren’s come into possession of the doll and suggests the Warren’s presence in the early frames, but they never appear in the film. The Warrens provide an important service to The Conjuring universe and without them, Annabelle lacks a simple plot device for explaining the unexplainable in terms that advance the supernatural goals of the movie. Without the Warrens, Annabelle required another approach to drive the narrative. Her name is Evelyn.
Evelyn lives in the same building as the Form’s. She also owns a bookstore. Together with Mia, they begin to uncover the truth behind the satanic cult that attacked them. The attackers worshipped in The Disciples of Ram and paid tribute to a demon named Malthus. Malthus must take a soul, and he uses any trickery necessary to make that happen. Father Perez presides over the Form’s Catholic church. He informs the Forms that sometimes demons attach themselves to inanimate object in order to provide a channel for achieving their evil goals.
Malthus must take a soul, and he uses any subterfuge necessary to make that happen.
Lacking, but Still Scary
Annabelle occasionally lands some pretty scary moments, but in the end it mostly leave the audience wanting for James Wan. While James Wan shows up in the producer list, his absence behind the camera shows. John R. Leonetti’s major triumph comes from a scene that places Mia in the dark basement of the apartment complex. Clearly something sinister hides in the darkness. She runs for the elevator, but the doors of the elevator keep opening to the basement.
She must face her fears and run into the darkness and up the dark stairs. During this pursuit, one of the most frightening scenes occurs when Mia looks down the stairs that she just traversed and sees Malthus, silent, shrouded in darkness and totally still. Malthus pursues her up the stairs until she narrowly escapes into her apartment.
Apart from that, many of the scares come in the form of simple jump scares. These scares often get the intended effect, but they lack the finesse and the impact that James Wan effortlessly achieves. From a critical perspective, the negative response seems to be born of a gap in expectations rather than a total lack of quality. Despite the poor critical reviews, Annabelle did $257M at the box office on a $6.5 budget. If anything, it scored a massive success for New Line Cinema and their fledgling franchise.
New Line Cinema thought enough of the films success to launch its own sub-franchise with two additional films: Annabelle Creation (2017) and Annabelle: Comes Home.
Still, a Decent Film
Unquestionably, Annabelle pales in comparison to its forbearer. Its plot stumbles over the clumsy cult trope. It somewhat implausibly stages much of the action in a multi-tenant apartment complex. I mean really, nobody else sees the lights flickering or hears all of the commotion? Finally, it relies on loosely stitching basic scare techniques together with little artistic connective tissue. Yet, Annabelle and her demon, Malthus, make for an unholy dynamic duo and some of jump scares payout, even if they lack the mastery of James Wan behind the camera.
I still feel that this film possesses merit, but it may be best viewed with a generous time spread between it and The Conjuring. Back to back viewing (like I did), made for a disappointing experience. Yet, with my cloak of objectivity, I tried to isolate my emotions from what I saw on screen. What was left still had enough punch to seem worthwhile. Rather than hunt it down for your collection, it might be better to catch it on one of its endless spins on streaming media. | https://malevolentdark.com/annabelle-conjuring-mediocrity/ |
Can lack of self-love hurt your self-esteem?
Do you condemn, blame, or neglect yourself?
In today’s society, high expectations at work, home, and in relationships leave no room for an individual to be with her/himself. It is almost like we are running around for everybody else but ourselves. It is important to take some time to reflect at the end of the day just by yourself. Self-love is the result of being with the Self. Through out the day there are so many things that do not go the way we want them to go. We can handle the situations well and cope with them. However, if we do not take the time to reflect about how the events unfolded during the day have affected our self-esteem and self-worth, we might be damaging our perception of ourselves. This damage and suppression of all the negative emotions that arise when things do not go the way you want them to go can lead to self-hatred. We then beat ourselves over with things that didn’t go well and start to criticize ourselves. This criticism then turns into “I am not good enough,” voice that then leads to negative self-image.
When you notice the self-criticizing negative voice, be mindful of the negative emotions and feelings in your body. Our bodies are the only barometers we have to know what is going on inside of us. You would want to know how you are reacting to the situation. If you do not have time to reflect on your feelings and emotions right in the situation, do it at a later time in the day. I would suggest that you do not put it off to tomorrow or to another day because at that time your feelings and emotions are already suppressed. Suppression is the worst enemy of self-love.
When you are reflecting back and thinking what could have, should have, and/or would have done or possible, bring nonjudgmental forgiveness towards yourself just like you would towards a child. This nonjudgmental and unconditional positive regard towards yourself would increase the love you have for yourself. Our true self-esteem and self-worth is the reflection of how well we know of that side of ourselves. Be kind, gentle, and genuine towards yourself just like you would towards anybody else. This really is the starting point. If you cannot be kind and genuine towards yourself, then you cannot be kind and genuine towards anybody else. If you do not love yourself, you cannot love anybody else. What is even worse is that you will not be able to acknowledge when others love you. People who are rude with others, they do not have much respect and love for themselves either. If somebody is rude towards you, send a silent blessing for that person because you would know that person is in need of love for him/herself. Plus you would not let the person ruin your serenity.
Keep loving yourself, and being kind and genuine towards you first and then others. | http://nationalholisticcounseling.com/can-lack-of-self-love-hurt-your-self-esteem/ |
Empathy is all about understanding a situation from someone else’s perspective.It is different from sympathy.When we sympathies we keep ourselves at a higher pedestal and feel sorry for the other person for the misfortune. We may not like to appreciate the positive aspect of the situation and support him or her acknowledging the abilities, when we sympathies. Sympathy is all about showing pity or feeling sorry for the misfortune of some one else. An Empathetic person understands the misfortune in the context and has a positive outlook towards the situation. He/She offers a solution to a difficult situation of some one else, in a dignified manner.
The life skills such as inter personal relationship and communication skills will be effective only with empathy. Active listening is a reflection of one’s consideration for the feelings of others. A person with positive self image can only empathize and hence self awareness is the starting point of empathetic behavior. A company innovates and gives the best performance by empathizing with the consumer. A teacher instantly connects with students, when there is empathy towards children. Managing our emotions will be easier, if we can empathize with the other person who has done some damage to us. This virtue helps us to lead a peaceful life as it promote forgiveness and wholeheartedness.
Life offers us opportunity to know others. It is upto us to take some time to reflect on our emotions towards others and lead a path of peace and harmony by embracing empathy. | https://www.thazhe.in/tag/education/ |
3 Ways to Help Your Child Deal with a Stressful Situation
How to help your kids bounce back after going through a nerve-wracking experience.
Your family is eating out at a restaurant when suddenly the young lady behind your table faints. Paramedics rush to the scene and the woman is wheeled out into an ambulance as your children look on in fear.
Now what do you do?
No one feels like eating so you decide to head home and your kids start asking tons of questions. What happened to the lady? Why did the ambulance come? Is she going to die?
You aren’t really prepared for such a situation and as much as you try to calm your kids down they can see that you are feeling somewhat anxious as well.
Fortunately, scenarios like this don't happen to us very often but when they do they can create stress and fear, especially for children. They might think or dream about the scenes they witnessed or get scared that they or their parents will get sick. Feeling helpless and scared can be very stressful on the child's emotional system, especially when his or her caretaker wasn’t physically or emotionally there for him at the time of the stressful experience. You cannot protect your child from seeing or hearing every scary thing.
Here are three things you can do to help your child to bounce back after a stressful situation:
1. Take care of yourself first
Like emergency measures in an airplane, you must ensure you can breathe first before helping others. So do whatever is necessary to calm down. Talk the experience through with someone you feel comfortable with, such as your spouse, family member or friend. Some people find sports, art therapy or relaxation exercises helpful to get back on track. Whatever helps you, make sure that you calmed yourself down from that experience.
2. Allow expression
Once you are calm, allow your children to express their thoughts and emotions about that particular experience. For example, you can bring it up and ask what they remember from that scenario and how they felt. If having all the kids discuss it simultaneously is too difficult then find time during the day to bring it up with each child and maybe another time bring it up as a shared experience. (This is important because a shared stressful experience has less of an impact than if it is re-experienced alone).
Just listen and validate whatever thoughts and emotions come up for the child without judging them. Just observe and reflect for the child what you hear him say. For example, you can say: “You are telling me that you were really scared when all the paramedics showed up and didn’t know whether we should stay there or leave. It was sort of confusing for you especially because it was so unexpected …”
There is no need to force your child to talk about it; just the fact that you brought it up and he knows that whenever he wants to he can talk to you about it is tremendously helpful to him.
Some children will have difficulty expressing their experience (or some of it) in words and for these children fantasy (pretend) play can be a safe way to help them process and express it. To do so you can offer to play a matching playmobile game, for example, ambulance or hospital or pretend that he is a paramedic and you the patient (without telling him necessarily why you do that).
3. Be nurturing and patient
Finally, realize that vulnerabilities are higher than usual and that you can balance out the difficult emotions and experiences with positive and safe ones. This is a time where you as a parent need to be more nurturing and patient with you child and yourself. Spent some more quality and connecting time and give yourself time to get back on track. | https://aish.com/3-ways-to-help-your-child-deal-with-a-stressful-situation/ |
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In Anne Bradstreet, in the “The Author of Her Book,” challenges her readers to examine their ideas about themselves in ways they may not have before. In the poem the speaker compares being an author to a book, to being a parent of a child. In this poem, The author writes of her experience of getting her first book published.
Even though Anne’s first book, published in 1650 without her consent, her emotions, her doubt of the book’s success, and her pride in her work are ways she explains her experience so her readers can interpret what she says and relate it to their own lives.The speaker is very emotional from the publishing of her book and she shows this through comparing her being an author of a book, to becoming a parent for the first time. She draws the comparison between being an author and being a parent in this way because there are a lot of the similar emotions in each scenario. She calls the book “the offspring of my feeble brain. ” (Line 1) This shows Anne is afraid that she will not succeed as a writer as many people feel when they become parents.
This challenges how readers learn to view themselves because many people feel this way when they have high hopes or when they undergo a change in their lives. There is a part in all of us that wonders if we are going to succeed in the things we do, which is what Anne is showing though her emotions about her book’s publishing. Thoughts readers can take out of this is that we still have to do the things that make us uneasy even though it its makes us nervous and emotional.
This makes the speaker come off as anxious, discouraged and uneasy but she uses this to connect to her readers so they can use this poem to reflect on themselves. The speaker is very uncertain about her book because she saw all its flaws and didn’t think her work was good enough to be published, or appreciated. She compares her book to a disobedient child because children are imperfect and and they do not always meet the expectations set for them.She shows us she is not fully content with her book in its entirety and calls it “unfit for light,” (Line 9) which means she doesn’t think its good enough to even be out in the world and be read by other people. This connects to our topic of how the reader may reflect on his poem to examine the ideas about themselves because when you think you’re not good enough at something so you don’t even want to try, like the speaker’s situation, getting a book published, the result may sometimes be surprisingly positive because we all underestimate ourselves in some point in our lives.The speaker did not think her book was good enough to be published but near the end of the poem she accepts that her work is out in the world, and shows us that even though she is not completely content with the appearance of her book she still cares about what people think of the book and hopes her work will be enjoyed and appreciated.Even though the book was published without the author’s permission, and she doubted it would ever be appreciated, she realizes she still cares and finds that she is proud of her work she wrote.
She uses the parent metaphor in this way of accepting and caring for her poem as one would accept and care for a child. “I washed thy face,” (Line 13). This shows she does care about the book’s presentation as if she was washing a child’s face.
The things reader make take from this is that you should be proud of your accomplishments and everything you worked hard for. This shows all the different ideas the author explains about her experience to get readers to reflect on themselves. Throughout Anne Bradstreet’s poem she explains her emotions, uncertainties, and pride toward the publishing of her book but at the same time she uses her experience as a writer to challenge the audience to reflect on who we are and how we should view ourselves.Anne uses the poem to not only explain how she feels as an author to ask us readers the common but highly pondering question; “Who do you think you are? ” which everyone in at least one point in their lives has asked themselves.
This shows Anne’s experience as a writer as well as her ability to connect to her readers and get them to reflect on the things she wrote and relate them to their own lives. | https://freebooksummary.com/the-challenge-set-by-anne-bradstreet-120523 |
What is emotional healing?
The process of emotional healing bestows in the awareness and acceptance of our emotions of any kind and their wise management in order to let go of the tensed emotional accumulations and to develop a balanced way of living and reacting to everything which life brings.
Certain life situations possibly could have been awakening in us feelings of anger, discontent, guilt, indignation, rebellion, helplessness, and so on. Some of us have chosen to express these emotions, others to suppress them.
There are healing methods to express these emotions, which help us to get rid even completely of these tensions. But if the exteriorization of emotions is only a defense mechanism, such as better I hit than somebody else hits me, this transforming in time in an aggressive or dominant behavior, in reality, the negative emotions stay in us and even can amplify. Neither the non-expressing of the emotions is a solution, because they will smolder and will create specific behavioral tendencies (a state of helplessness, the hypostasis of victim), and even health problems.
And regarding emotions, the wisest way is the middle way: namely their acceptance and the emotional purification.
Why it is important to heal the emotional traumas
Emotional traumas, even we are aware of them or not, reflect in our behavior. They are responsible for the states of anxiety, for fears, phobias, difficulties in relating with others (at the family, professional or at the couple level), compulsive reactions, dependencies, etc.
May be you have been at a certain moment in the situation that somebody, which even did not know you, raised his voice at you without no motive. Have you asked yourself in that moment what was troubling him, why did he do that? What was annoying him and why he was reacting like that? Or have you been in the situation to react exaggeratedly when a colleague made a remark and you did not know why this was happening to you. Emotional traumas make us react in certain situations in a completely illogical way.
When a certain life situation is from a certain point of view very much alike the situation which produced the emotional trauma, we have a defense reaction which appears most of the time involuntarily. Sometimes we ask ourselves after the critical moment has passed: “Why I behaved like that? Why have I take personally that situation? Why did I lose my temper? Why did I lose my control?”
Being aware of emotional traumas and healing them allow us to re-equilibrate ourselves at the emotional level, to improve the relationships with others, to get rid of fears, anguishes, shyness, and inferiority complexes, to find our peace and to improve our life. | http://venus.org.ro/index.php/en/woman/20-self-discovery/376-emotional-healing-a-necessity-in-order-to-improve-life-s-quality |
I received an ARC TPB edition from LibraryThing, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (borrowed from B&N): For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows — her twins, Mia and Zach, are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close-knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.
Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm’s way. It has always been easy — until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time Mia and Zach leave the house, she worries about them.
On a hot summer’s night her worst fears are realized. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget… or the courage to forgive.
My Thoughts and Opinion: Kristin Hannah grabs your heart, soul, thoughts and emotions from page one to the very last page. As a mother and daughter it was easy to relate to Jude Farraday, mother of twins, Mia and Zach but the author did more than that, she made you feel what Jude was feeling. Her raw emotions, her pride, her pain, her happiness, her anger. How lives can change and be destroyed in a second but can those lives be healed? And how and what does it take? How long? A heart wrenching, yet, thought provoking story that will stay with you long after you are done reading it. This was the type of book that I didn’t want to end, as I was so engrossed in this family’s life, I wanted to know what their future held. A touching and emotional must read! Mark your calendars for March 29th, it’s release date!
I think KristinH may become one of my favorite adult fiction authors. I loved this one. I agree she grabs you emotional.
Glad you liked this book. I have some of her books on my TBR shelf. Someday, someday….
I love Kristin Hannah. I read Firefly lane and felt captivated by the characters as you appeared to have felt in this new book. I can't wait to read it!! | http://cmashlovestoread.com/2011/03/18/review-night-road-by-kristin-hannah/ |
Today is the last day of First Grade for Reese. We’re having lots of big feelings, as a tumultuous school year comes to a close. We are so fortunate to have had wonderful teachers and a district that has managed an unprecedented-in-our-lifetimes event in an effective way.
Reese is excited for summer but very sad to say goodbye to school and her friends and teachers. It speaks volumes about an environment and its adults when a kid feels that way. Yes, she loves learning. But underneath that, I have to appreciate and look at the “why.” And it isn’t just our home environment; that love has come from a spectrum of adults who have genuinely leaned into making this situation work for kids.
The big feelings today of sadness about change, bittersweet feelings of good-bye to this chapter but excitement about the next, gratitude for the work the teachers have done, aren’t just being felt among the kiddos. I’m feeling them too, and I was caught off-guard by it.
A surprising effect of the pandemic and leaving a big company executive position to start Kind World is that it’s given me space to process emotions that I previously didn’t have bandwidth for. I have capacity to notice my feelings and to sit with them. To reflect on where they’re coming from and to put them in perspective. To slow down and cherish—yes, cherish—some sadness for a closing chapter, especially a good one.
I wonder how many of us are in similar situations? Finding space to feel things we didn’t or couldn’t previously process? Conversely, how many of us are in spaces now where that bandwidth is gone? Where there’s no room to process and so those big feelings keep piling up?
Social-emotional learning (SEL) has been a buzzword among education for some time now, and with good reason. But it’s also a real thing for us adults. We can’t help the kids in our lives with SEL if we’re not also doing some of that work. If you have the gift of time right now, are you using it to recognize some of your own big feelings? And if you know someone who could use that gift of time for some emotional breathing room, how might you create that space for them?
Happy, optimistic, sad, nervous, excited, wondering, curious, scared, relieved—experiencing these emotions means we’re alive. When we don’t have or take time to feel them, we’re missing an essential element of our existence. As I told Reese last night: being sad is a gift. It means we had a chance to experience something that’s worth missing.
Finding gratitude for change, after all, is a pretty big feeling. | https://kindworldpublishing.com/2021/06/08/big-feelings/ |
Are you trying to move on after a breakup?
After a break up it is a good idea to take some time before starting a new relationship. You can use this time to reflect on your past relationships and if possible get some feedback from your ex-partner. In doing so, you get a chance to learn what worked and what didn’t and identify the mistakes you made previously. So, you can avoid them in the future and build a heathy relationship from the beginning. It also helps to remind yourself of your life goals and ambitions to see how a new relationship can fit in with them.
In this article, we will look at different areas to think about after a breakup.
Reasons for a Breakup
Couples break up for various reasons. It’s usually not the one of cause that would break a relationship, but the accumulation of things that are not addressed at the right time.
Here are some of the main reasons why a relationship deteriorates and may cause a breakup:
- Poor communication
- Unresolved problems
- Lack of emotional connection
- Lack of physical intimacy
- Lack of trust
- Not having common relationship goals
Other reasons why couples decide to break up:
- Money issues
- Wanting to be with someone else
- Cheating
- Jealousy
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Different sex drives
- Being unsatisfied with other areas of life
- Feeling unfulfilled by this relationship
- Snoring
- Wanting to pursue one’s career development
- Uncertainty, doubts and no direction in the relationship
- Unrealistic expectations
- Inability to adapt to change after having a baby, a miscarriage, moving in together, living together
Can a Relationship Work After a Breakup?
It is possible for a relationship to work after a breakup, if you and your partner are prepared to make an effort to solve the issues that caused the breakup in the first place.
To give your relationship a second chance, you should:
- Be totally willing and committed to do everything you can to make it work
- Identify the problems in your relationship
- Be open to listen and learn from each other
- Be clear on the things you like and don’t like about the relationship and each other’s behaviour
- Learning to communicate effectively and in a loving way
- Have an idea of how you are going to implement changes in your relationship. So, you don’t end up going back to the same situation that caused the break up in the first place
- Consider getting professional help from a relationship coach if you are unsure on how to approach your situation
How to Fix a Relationship After a Breakup
You and your partner need to be aware the reasons for you to get back together. Sometimes, we struggle to let go of a relationship, even if it’s not good for us. So, if you want to get back together, it should be for the right reasons.
If you and your ex-partner really want to give another go to your relationship. There are some things you should do before getting back together.
To make it work this time around, you both need to be fully committed and willing to work on the issues that caused the breakup in the first place.
Depending on the reasons why you or your partner broke up:
- Reflect on your relationship individually
- Talk about it, allow time for each of you to express yourselves clearly and honesty, without blaming each other
- Identify the problems you had
- Find solutions solutions to your problems that work for both of you
- Be open to look for professional help if you and your partner alone don’t seem to be making progress
Having a relationship coach to help you through this process is one of the best options. You can try to do it by yourselves, but it can be quite challenging to use the right language. A language that your partner can perceive without feeling blamed or turning defensive.
So, working on your communication would be the most important thing to do. Before you even get to really discuss with your partner the possibility of getting back together.
Getting over a Breakup
A break up creates a void in your life. Many people rush into creating the next relationship to fail like last one. But having this void gives you space to think and process the things that worked and things that didn’t.
You can discover things about you that you wouldn’t have known before. Going through this process helps you grow as a person and recognise the things you like and the ones you don’t.
After you’ve taken some time to reflect on your past relationship relationship. You will be emotionally and intellectually prepared to create a more loving relationship with someone else.
If you don’t take the time needed for you to process all the emotions you feel, you are likely to end up with the same problems, just with a different person. If you don’t learn from your mistakes, you will keep repeating them.
Even though, it may seem counterintuitive and frustrating. That is the reason why people attract the same type of partners with the same kind of problems.
How to Get Over a Breakup in a Relationship?
Getting over a relationship breakup can be a challenging period for anyone. Regardless of whether it’s a mutual breakup or if it was a unilateral decision, it’s very likely you will still have a certain degree of sadness.
When you create a relationship, you invite another person to share your life with you, at least for some time. When this person is no longer part of your life, it’s natural to have such an emptiness for a short while.
If your relationship was exciting, you need to find another way to bring fun into your life after you break up. Even if your relationship was a struggle, you might feel that it will take some time to adapt to this change. However, on this occasion, you will also feel relief.
Here are some things to get you started on your getting over journey:
- Talk to a friend, family, or therapist to express how you feel
- Reflect on the reasons your past relationship didn’t work out
- Recognise your responsibility on the failure of that relationship
- Find ways to improve those behaviours that contribute to the break up of your relationship
- Focus on yourself. Re-discover yourself and the things you enjoy
- Surround yourself by friends and family for support
- Take enough time for yourself before engaging Into a new relationship
- Take care of yourself and make yourself a priority
When Should You Start a New Relationship After a Breakup
Having a new relationship after a breakup can be nerve racking. You will probably feel fearful, anxious and cautious about starting a new relationship.
Particularly, if you have gone through an emotional turmoil during your relationship and throughout the breakup. There are many feelings and emotions you should process before embarking into a new relationship.
After a breakup is important that you allow sometime for yourself. You can use this time to reflect on your previous relationship, to understand the reasons it didn’t work out. It’s not for you to regret or feel guilty. But, to learn what was your contribution to that relationship, both good and bad.
Only by learning how your behaviour affected your relationship and contributed to the breakup. Then you can work on that area and improve it. So, you don’t end up repeating the same patterns of behaviour which will lead to a new relationship to fail for the same reasons as your previous one.
There is not a set amount of time for you to start a new relationship after a breakup. So, once you feel ready, you can start opening up to a new relationship. You can recognise being ready as:
- You allowed yourself to feel all the emotions that came as a result of the breakup such as fear, anger, frustration, sadness, disappointment, etc.
- You recognise your role in the relationship and the things you did that didn’t contribute to having a healthy relationship.
- You allowed enough time to be with yourself, to be comfortable with being alone.
- You are looking after yourself and making yourself a priority.
- You are working on the behaviours that did not help having a healthy relationship.
- You are enjoying your life and the things you do.
- You have a good circle of friends and family for support.
Conclusion
Moving on after a breakup can be challenging, particularly, if you spent a significant amount of time together.
Apart from the obvious emotional roller coaster, there are a few practical things you need to consider. As you have spent a lot of time together, you may have shared your accommodation, had financial arrangements, made friends together, as well as participating in the same (each other’s) social circles.
Your breakup directly affects these aspects of your life. Ideally, you could separate in good terms so that you can make the practical arrangements and emotionally support each other in moving forward.
Keeping an open line of communication can also allow you to get the feedback from your partner when it’s time for you to reflect in your relationship.
Consider a relationship break up to help you process your breakup and create a plan going forward.
Help and Advice Dealing with a Breakup
Tips to Deal with a Breakup
- Understand the reasons for your breakup
- Recognise the role you played for your relationship not to work out
- Work on yourself and your communication
- Learn to enjoy your own company
- Go to new places and try new hobbies
- Take care of yourself
- Surround yourself with good friends and family for support
- Consider having a relationship coach to help you process your emotions and make this breakup recovery journey a lot easier.
If you don’t know how to deal with a relationship break up and need professional help and advice, we’ll be happy to help! Check out our coaching options here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to continue a relationship after a break?
After a breakup, you can still maintain a relationship by supporting each other in whichever way you feel comfortable. This is possible to do, provided you ended your relationship amicably with an understanding that it is the best thing for both of you.
Why relationship break up?
Amongst many reasons the common ones include:
Poor communication
Lack of understanding
Loosing trust
Loosing interest
Drifting apart emotionally
Do broken up couples get back together?
Some couples do get back together after a breakup. It all depends on the reasons why they broke up in the first place and if these reasons have been addressed.
How to move on in a relationship after a breakup?
After a breakup you no longer have a relationship. At least not in the sense of being romantically involved. So, this period of your life revolves around your personal reflections on what is important for you and what you want from life and a romantic relationship.
Is a relationship ever the same after a breakup?
After a breakup you can still remain friends, talk to each other and help each other out. This is possible when you still have a great degree of understanding and enjoy being together, just not romantically.
Is it bad to rush into a relationship after a breakup?
It is a good idea to take sometime after a breakup to reflect on your past relationship and your personal life. In doing so, you can reevaluate your priorities in life and make a plan to focus on your goals and ambitions.
Should you date someone who just broke up?
The same idea that you wouldn’t want to rush into a new relationship after a breakup. It is probably the best for the other person to have some time for themselves to process their breakup.
What should I do immediately after a breakup?
After a breakup you should focus on yourself, reflect on your past relationship and make a plan for the future.
Why you shouldn’t date right after a breakup?
Without giving yourself some time after a breakup and learning form your past relationship. You are risking in repeating the same mistakes and inviting the same problems into your new relationship.
What to do after a breakup of a long-term relationship?
When you break up after a long-term relationship, you have a lot more practical aspects to consider. They include finances, accommodation, pets, children, relationship with your friends and family. For this, it helps to separate on good terms and keep an open line of communication so that you can address all the practical aspects of your lives. In doing so, you can avoid a lot of suffering every time you’d need to get in touch with your ex for one reason or the other. | https://couplescoachingonline.com/relationship-after-a-breakup/ |
If your elderly parent does not have a comprehensive estate plan in place, you likely want to encourage him or her to begin the planning process. Alternatively, if your aging loved one has not reviewed an existing plan in some time, it may no longer reflect his or her most current wishes. Either way, the first few months of the year offer an excellent opportunity to think about estate planning.
Discussing estate planning can be difficult for a variety of reasons. For example, your parent may be uncomfortable thinking about the end of his or her life. Still, estate planning provides a chance to retain some level of control. Here are a few tips for talking to your aging parent about estate planning:
1. Be patient
Good estate plans rarely develop quickly. On the contrary, it often takes time to think through the process and weigh all available options. Therefore, it may be helpful to think of your mother’s or father’s estate plan as an ongoing endeavor. Put simply, you should try to be patient and work collaboratively over time.
2. Stay focused
Because estate planning may bring up some deep-seated emotions, it is often easy to lose focus. Accordingly, you should try to keep planning conversations on track. You may also want to involve as many interested parties as possible to help your aging relative draft a comprehensive and meaningful plan.
3. Take notes
Beginning the planning process is often an exercise in listening. That is, your parent may need to talk through his or her wishes. As such, you should keep good notes during your conversation. This not only allows you to document your loved one’s desires, but it also lets you revisit incomplete matters.
Whether your parent has an existing estate plan or none at all, now is a good time to discuss his or her wishes. While broaching the subject can be tough, knowing how to talk about your relative’s estate plan is essential. Fortunately, with a bit of empathy and some diligence, you can help your parent through the process. | https://www.salvolaw.com/blog/2020/01/3-tips-for-talking-to-an-aging-parent-about-estate-planning/ |
How to Grieve Well
Not everyone grieves in the same way. After all, there are different people with different physical appearances, perspectives, experiences, thoughts, emotions, backgrounds, and attitudes. So why when it comes to grief do some believe that there is one correct way to handle the loss of a loved one?
There are in fact a number of constructive ways to manage the feelings of grief and some destructive ways. Learning the difference between the two is far more important.
Denial. It is not uncommon for someone to struggle with believing that a loved one has passed away or to pretend that the person has not really passed. For a time being, the person may even imagine conversations with their loved one, knowing how they would most likely respond in a given situation. This usually does not last too long after passing and is more of the emotions catching up to reality. The seeds of dysfunction can begin however when the emotions fail to accept the reality and the person relies solely on how they feel instead of what they know.
Anger. This is a hard emotional reaction for some. Some people become angry with the person who passed away blaming them for not taking care of themselves, not paying attention, abandoning their family or not caring for those left behind. Others become angry with themselves for not saying good-bye, not being there, having a fight or argument just before or not meeting their needs. Oftentimes, the anger does not come out at themselves or the person who passed, rather the anger shows itself at the others who are left behind. Being aware of this strong emotion and not allowing it to overtake current relationships keeps the destructive far away.
Bargaining. “If only”, “I should have”, or “I wish” are all bargaining methods of trying to regain control of life after someone had passed. When a person engages in this type of thinking, they are really saying that they had control over the timing or the situation of the person passing away. This is a normal response and while it sounds a little bit dysfunctional, this thinking can actually be helpful. The feelings of denial and anger seem to consume our thoughts and life seems to be out of control. In contrast bargaining is a way to return life back to some level of control. The dysfunctional side of bargaining is a continual behavior of negotiating life in attempts to keep others alive.
Depression. It is perfectly normal to feel depressed after losing a loved one, to not feel this way at some point is to engage in dysfunctional behavior. Depression is a valley in life, a period of time when things seem to slow down, a time for being introspective, a time for self-evaluation, and a time to reflect on what is already gone. These moments can bring greater clarity and meaning to our lives which can later enhance the quality of life. Depending on how close the person was that passed, this period can last for months or years without becoming destructive.
Acceptance. Not that we don’t miss the person who is gone or that we don’t still wish the person was alive, but at some point there is a realization that life goes on and we can be happy again. While happiness seemed elusive before, it now becomes more frequent and the simple things seem to bring us joy again. It is almost as if we return to a better form of ourselves as a result of the experience from having lost a loved one. Better in that we appreciated life more, appreciate our loved ones more, appreciate the time we have with others more and appreciate the person who passed more. The only dysfunction is never feeling these feelings again, in getting stuck in one of the other emotions.
Grief is normal and healthy. It can take on many different forms depending on the person experiencing the grief and the person having passed. The entire process can last a few weeks, months, or years and should not be rushed as if another task to finish. This is a valuable time of insight, reflection and understanding that can improve the quality of your life going forward.
Posted under: Grief Writings from Christine
7 comment on How to Grieve Well
I greatly appreciate that you pointed out that all the feelings (denial, anger, bragaining, depression and acceptance) are okay – that one should not feel guilty or bad about feeling this way and should take as much time as needed to heal.
A very important article. Thanks!
[…] Functional and Dysfunctional Grief (growwithchristine.com) […]
Reblogged this on Sarah's Attic Of Treasures and Our Neck Of The Woods and commented:
Today would have been my mom’s 77TH birthday here on earth. It is her first Heavenly Birthday. Our family is still in that year of firsts.
Happy Birthday, Mom. We love you. | https://growwithchristine.com/functional-and-dysfunctional-grief/ |
Mia’s missed diagnosis
Shortly after her fourth birthday, Mia was very pale and suggested that her legs were aching. We took her to the GP twice, they blamed a virus and “growing pains”. On the Sunday at the end of that week, I took Mia swimming. As I was drying Mia’s hair, she said “ouch”, I assumed I’d pulled her hair but she mentioned a pain in her chest and then she had a small nosebleed.
This didn’t seem right so I took her to A & E at the local hospital. She had blood tests and we were admitted to the children’s ward to wait for the results. After a while, we were called into a side room and informed that Mia had leukaemia. It felt like a part of our world had just ended. My initial thoughts were that Mia was going to die. My wife and I were in pieces. We soon realised that we had to get on and be strong for Mia.
Strange sense of relief
Mia was admitted to hospital in Cambridge and I went to stay in hospital with her as we live about 40 miles away. She was given a blood transfusion and platelets initially due to poor blood counts. She was given IV fluids pretty much continuously in an effort to get her as well as possible. I remember that she was connected to a drip for the best part of 10 days.
On the very first afternoon in hospital, we met a specialist who suggested that it might be acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). It might sound stupid to say but we were actually slightly relieved. We’d read up about leukaemia and were aware that ALL was the most treatable type. The next day, this was confirmed. We actually started to feel slightly more positive as we knew that Mia’s diagnosis had the best long term outlook in terms of survival and hopefully a normal life.
We were then fortunate enough to meet Amanda, our clinical nurse specialist. We were given a treatment plan which is basically a plan of how they’ll get rid of Mia’s leukaemia. We found this really comforting, they knew how to treat her, this works 90% of the time so this should be no different for Mia.
Mia gets to go home
Within 10 days, we were told that Mia could go home! I was shocked, how can you just go home if you have leukaemia? The advances of medicine meant that given quite a few bottles of medicine, we could take Mia home and treat her there. We were so happy to be able to take her home. There were numerous hospital appointments and treatments which followed but given the severity of her illness, it was great to be able to be at home and have relative normality.
Mia was able to achieve nearly a full remission fairly quickly, however, the Minimum Residual Disease (MRD) tests still showed some abnormal cells so Mia had to proceed with a slightly more intensive treatment plan. We chose for Mia to have a port-a-cath fitted rather than a hickman line. We chose this so Mia could swim and bathe without the worry of keeping anything dry. Whilst the port has been amazing, we do have to go through the weekly pain of seeing Mia have a needle inserted into her chest. She does brilliantly but occasionally gets upset and angry, we don’t blame her for a second, it’s not fair so why shouldn’t she be annoyed?
Mia actually made it to her first day of school, less than one month after she was diagnosed. I was amazed that she could live a relatively normal life whilst still battling this horrific illness.
Serious side effects of Mia’s treatment
Within a couple of months, Mia started to lose her hair. It was slow at first but quickly got worse. It was devastating to see, it just made her look so ill even though she was doing quite well. Mia started to wear headscarves, baseball hats and even had to wear a cap at night time to keep her head warm.
As Mia got to the delayed intensification stage of her treatment, she did get quite unwell. She had three infections at the same time, she had rhinovirus, a fungal lung infection and a port infection. She had to be admitted to hospital for two full weeks to be able to treat all of her infections. Unfortunately, the fungal lung infection required a longer course of treatment. She had to have IV antibiotics at the local hospital every day until the lung infection cleared.
This meant 100 continuous days we had to go to hospital. This was hard, every day my wife had to take Mia and her younger sister Keira to the hospital while Mia had treatment. This was after school so was very disruptive to home and removed any notion of a normal life for everyone. I’d often take dinner to them on the way home from hospital just to make life a little easier. We spent small fortunes in petrol, parking and even getting them food/drink. Mia’s weight was also beginning to become a concern. We were told that if Mia’s weight went below 13.5 kilograms, then she’d have to have a feeding tube inserted.
Mia’s on the mend
The maintenance stage of treatment soon began. This was much less intensive and Mia has been a lot healthier and stronger over the past eight months. As of May 2019, Mia has put on around 50% of her bodyweight, her hair has grown back to nearly its original length and she looks well. In terms of lifestyle, Mia can attend school most days, she’s physically active and can do nearly all the things her friends can.
Many doctors and nurses have said how well Mia has done and commented positively on our abilities as parents. It’s actually a team effort, it wouldn’t work if we didn’t all try to make it work. Mia is super brave and has amazing control of her emotions, we’ve worked really hard to support this. It’s important to stay strong together, talk to each other and support each other at all times. No matter how hard it gets, it’s important to stay calm and treat Mia just like any other child. She still needs boundaries, support, guidance, role models, attention and love. No matter how much you want to give in and just let Mia have everything and do whatever she wants just to make her feel better, you can’t.
Looking forward to ringing the end of treatment bell
Mia’s treatment is due to finish in December 2019. Whilst we don’t want to get our hopes up to high, we have booked a holiday to a Center Parcs Winter Wonderland the weekend before her treatment is due to finish. It’s important to have things to look forward to and hopefully this will be an opportunity for the greatest celebration to signal the end of Mia’s treatment. Mia should ring the End of Treatment Bell the week before Christmas, this would be the greatest gift we could ever wish for.
are placed into hospitals for children and adults with cancer to ring after their gruelling treatment.
How you can help
If you’ve been touched by Mia’s journey, help us invest in the high quality research that really matters which would otherwise go unfunded.
This helps to support children with cancer so they can be with their families for longer.
Have you or a family member been affected by childhood cancer?
Many of our supporters have been affected by childhood cancer – either through family, friends or their own personal experience. These patient stories can help inspire others to get involved with us, or can support our media work.
If you have a story that you would like to tell,. | https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/stories/patient-story-mia/ |
I feel like each baby comes to teach us something, and those lessons come in many different forms. Let me tell you about my daughter June.
In anticipation of our third baby, I kept thinking, I wonder what it’s going to be like? As if it were left up to chance whether the kids adjusted well (they are only two and three after all); if she was going to be a mild-tempered baby; or if three would push me to my breaking point. This time around, our midwives helped us focus on what we can do to adjust. Because of this, I learned to trust the process of adjusting to a new family member; it’s slow, but the work is important and worthwhile.
My midwife suggested fifteen minutes of one-on-one time a day with our toddlers. “It’s not hard to do, but it’s easy to miss,” she said. I’ll never forget that simple statement, and the fun times that followed— field trips to the pet store, a Target run to pick out nail polish, and plenty of kiddie ice cream cones.
“Kids don’t respond to negative reinforcement,” my midwife also suggested. This is another process that can be difficult to trust because it was my instinct to spout out anything that resembled, “stop” or “don’t,” especially when it came to protecting June. Brooks experimented by greeting his baby sister with a smack in the face, and we quickly noticed that reacting strongly only encouraged it. We did our best to calmly show him what to do with his hands again and again. We practiced approaching her gently. This is where the slow part comes in; I’m fascinated by behavior and how it evolves as our kids are given the safe space to process and apply the things we are trying to teach them. Without forcing that lesson on Brooks, he discovered how happy June was to see his brilliant smile and hear his sweet voice. And now, witnessing their bond is something special.
June is what dreams are made of. And it’s not because she never cries or she puts herself to sleep. She was my bright sun after a storm, and I could feel her cheering me on. During my pregnancy I was led to one helpful resource after another. And when people brought up the topic of how I was going to survive with three under four, I slowly turned my response from I don’t know how I’ll do it into it’s going to be hard, and it’s also going to be great. By the time she was in my arms, I was ready to embrace and enjoy her in a way I never even knew was possible. I’m so inspired by Mia, the creator of Snuggle Me, and this story she shared about her daughter.
“High needs babies. Do you have one? My daughter Layla screamed for one hour after birth to the point I could barely hold her. My husband had to walk her up and down the halls, the midwives calmly telling me everything would be ok. This was the preset to her babyhood.
Regardless of her temperament, I bonded deeply with her and this was our key. As she grew to a temper tantrum throwing toddler, which was just as extreme as her baby fits, I learned to disconnect from the emotions of her fits.
I didn’t leave, I didn’t ignore, I just sat there. I envisioned her emotions rolling over me. And not into me. This helped me not get angry. I just held space, waiting for it to pass. And it always did.
When she was done throwing a fit, she would crawl in my arms and we would move on. This was daily. I learned a lot about patience, expectations and forgiveness.
In the back of my mind, I would think, I am letting her stay whole to who she is. If I can let her feel accepted and we get through this, she will not be broken, she will stay that wild spirited girl and be content in who she is. If I react and get angry, it may lead her to believe she is bad and she may never grow out of this. I want her self confidence whole on the other end.
And at 5 years old, she finally grew out of it. She is now one of the sweetest and most caring children. She is very organized, sharp, funny and full spirited. She is confident and whole.”
Mia’s story impacted me deeply. Instead of trying to take control of every situation, I’m allowing the hard times to roll over me like clouds. I feel so connected to my babies, yet I am still a separate being with the life experience to know that any given moment isn’t forever. I can practice being slow, calm, noticing their energy, taking the time to hold and love them and then teach them as they grow. All these things have to do with me, their mother. Before I know it, I will have three toddlers and then three teenagers. And I’m sure I’ll refer back to this lesson again and again.
I’m here to remind you, it’s never too late to see the forest through the trees. I will be forever grateful to my sweet June for showing me how.
-Molly
This is so inspiring! I wish I had read this when my second child was born. I have reacted strongly to her fierceness, but I’m evolving and that’s okay, too. Molly, so well-written. Thanks for sharing with us!
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Last week I was given a task to fill out a worksheet called “Reducing Judgments.” First you list your judgments, rephrase it as a description, and lastly tally up how many times a day the judgment pops up.
Seems simple enough. And I’m a good person right? There’s no way I am judgmental. Well, I was wrong.
There are thousands of thoughts that zoom through our brains daily. Decisions, ideas, rationalizing, emotions, and judgments. This is the first time I was hyper-aware of the judgements to myself and others. Being totally honest here, some I recognized were:
- To myself after work: “You should go to the gym today”
- On the subway: “That outfit is not cute on her”
- Starbucks line: “Why is the line moving so slow, more people should be working”
- Listening to a friend talk about a guy: “She should rethink getting into that relationship”
- At a party being introduced to a mutual friend: “Look at that Chanel bag she has. She must be wealthy and therefore happy”
- Watching a stranger’s food come to the table: “That isn’t a balanced meal”
My first thought was, DAMN, I’M RUDE. Then I realized, THAT’S A JUDGMENT TOO! I came to the conclusion that I’ll just acknowledge they were there.
Then, I wanted to find out where all of this unconscious judging was coming from. The answer I came up with was: I make quick judgments mainly out of frustration about a situation, insecurity, jealously, or comparing the person to society’s standards of beauty and success. Usually, it’s nothing that really has to do with the other person; rather myself, my values, or my preconceived thoughts.
Next time you catch yourself judging, take responsibility for it. You will improve your life, find it easier to stay focused on your own growth & hopefully find some inner peace.
Remember how I mentioned before the thousands of thoughts we have daily? Prior to an action or thought, there’s a millisecond where you can reflect on our own culture, values, and upbringing. A millisecond to take conscious control. A millisecond to become aware of the situation and perhaps even change.
Making this a habit and repeating the exercise over and over again will lead to appreciating the acceptance of differences. | https://embracemylight.com/2017/10/15/unconsciously-judgmental/ |
Do we need to rehabilitate the mind as well as the body?
Yes!
If you’ve ever suffered an injury, I’m sure you’ll relate to this question, and probably agree with me that it should actually be a statement.
Injuries clearly have a physical impact on the body, but they also have a psychological impact too. This may manifest in a series of emotions, thoughts and feeling, which may vary according to many things, including:
- Personality
- Length of injury
- Prior experience of injury
- Severity of injury
- Coping skills
- Self-perceptions
Let’s take an example and explore this for a moment.
An international basketball player injured her knee during a game. In the days following, the knee was very sore, swollen, felt unstable and she was unable to play sports. Fortunately, she had access to quality clinical care in the coming weeks and she received a diagnosis that she’d ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). She was told that she’d need surgery to reconstruct the ligament and a further 6-9 months of rehabilitation before she could consider playing basketball again.
Psychological Response
Okay, so this doesn’t sound very interesting so far. But consider the psychological impact of this information for a moment. Indeed, reflect back to an injury you’ve had in the past if you can. How did you feel? How do you think this would person feel?
The Grief Response
When you thought about your injury, or this example, did grief, or sense of loss come-up?
Without going into too much heavy detail, there are several models used in psychological research to evaluate the psychological responses to injury, however, a response, that is acknowledged by them all is grief. Using the current example of the basketball player and the most basic explanation, given how much the sport likely means to her, how often she plays, and the length of time required for treatment of the injury this player may start to feel a real sense of loss.
She may grieve for the activities that she can’t do, the associated social interactions that she misses out on, the sense of achievement from a good game, the competition … Depending on her personal situation and the situational factors, this may become harder to deal with over time.
Adaptations
A person’s psychological responses and perception of the situation can shape how stressful they perceive the situation to be. This then determines their behavioural responses. For example, in the initial phases of the injury, emotions such as anger and denial (“Why me? I can’t be injured; it’s not that bad”) may influence a person’s risk-taking behaviour and prompt them to try play sports, to ignore the advice of the clinicians. This will be often be to the detriment of the injury.
Over time, however, there will be a progression of psychological responses and hopefully a learning experience.
This will have to include the individual acknowledging the injury, dealing with its impact and then working to achieve the desired outcome. Joe Gomez, Liverpool FC defender who recently suffered an ACL injury illustrates this adaptation process nicely:
“Mentally I have learned so much over this period. Dealing with things not going your way and trying to stay positive.” [ITV Sport]
From a clinical perspective:
“Failure to acknowledge the psychological responses of an individual to injury threatens the opportunity for proper rehabilitation” [Serena Simmons, Consultant Psychologist]
We need to acknowledge and account for the potential behavioural effects of the psychological responses of injury; self-motivation is consistently linked to whether or not someone stick to a rehabilitation programme (*). But we also need to have a proactive approach and acknowledge that the rehabilitation process should seek to address the psychological components, for example, to restore confidence after what has been a traumatic event.
From a trainer perspective:
Knowledge of these processes and psychological responses can help you build a better rapport with a client. It can help you understand their mindset, shape your training programmes and thus potentially improve adherence. If a client sticks to your programme, they’ll experience the full benefits – and you’ll get another good testimonial!
Learn More!
If you want to learn more about the psychological response to injury and how to effectively work with the injured, from a physical and psychological perspective client click here.
*Walker et al. Psychological responses to injury in competitive sport: a critical review. JRSH 2007;127:174-180. | https://getbacktosport.com/uncategorized/the-psychological-impact-of-injury/ |
This case example was written by someone who is now a volunteer community activist with a community organisation that focuses on issues of injustice and poverty in an urban neighbourhood. She has recently been involved in several community-based action research projects as a community researcher and mentor for households in poverty. These projects have been undertaken by the community organisation with which she is involved, and also latterly by the community organisation in partnership with a local university. She started off as a participant in a research project, then became a community researcher/mentor and community activist involved in campaigning work. The research was action research and involved community researchers/mentors who would support householders in making changes to their lives, whilst also collecting details of finances, debt and well-being as data for research and campaigns. This example focuses on two related dilemmas that came about during the transition from 'research subject' to 'community researcher/mentor'. These relate to the issue of intruding into people’s personal lives for the purposes of research and the responsibilities felt by the community researcher/mentor for the emotions and feelings generated by asking questions about difficult or sensitive topics.
The case
I started off as a participant in a research project. I became involved after there was a knock on the door from two people from a local community organisation asking if I would like to take part in a research project. They were collecting details of household income, debts, employment, strengths, weaknesses and so on. As there was nothing on the television I asked them in. The visit lasted two and a half hours as there was a long questionnaire to fill in. At the end I was asked to fill in a ‘happiness line’ [Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale] to assess on a score of 1-8 the various different aspects of my life. I scored 8 as I was quite happy at the time.
Speaking to other people on the estate where I lived who were also research participants I found that they couldn’t handle the ‘happiness’ scoring because it made them look at their lives. The accounts of people’s lives as shown by the research - lives controlled by debt, drugs and family dynamics - were sometimes very different from their own views of their lives. One women broke down in tears when she was talking to me as she realised she was supporting her daughter but not helping her. Another said she wondered what use it was to place herself on the well-being scale as nobody listened, understood or cared.
Over time I became more involved with the community organisation and became a community researcher and mentor myself on another related project that was focussing on household finance linked with a local university. I reflected on the feedback from the happiness score and worried about the disruption to people’s lives that had been reported to me. This was very personal to me as during a meeting at the University when relating my experience, I realised my original score was wrong. Working with the community organisation and the University, using my brain to think about other things, had lifted my depression and I felt immensely different to when I filled that happiness score in. It should have read a 4 then, because now I was an 8. Apathy had ruled my life and I was co-dependant on the family to fulfil my needs and for my life to have a purpose. Now I had my own personal purpose in life, and not dependant on anyone, I had choice.
The happiness score was not used in later projects, but the idea of community mentors who would both collect research data and provide support to households over a period of time was introduced. It was during this time that a situation arose that made me think again about issues of intruding and disrupting people’s lives as part of the research process. In this instance, I and another mentor (who was male) visited a household where a woman lived alone in a flat. On the first visit she didn’t open up very much so on the second visit I went with a female mentor. On this occasion the participant opened up to us and revealed some very personal details and became very emotional and started to cry. She was very depressed and experiencing suicidal thoughts due to what had happened in her personal life. To console her, the other mentor who was with me revealed details from her own personal life. She did this as she had experienced very similar issues. The two women opened up to each other and both cried. I was there but mainly observing by now. The mentor offered friendship to the woman and other help. The woman was very pleased to meet someone who had similar experiences and did not just show empathy, but had a shared experience. What was exchanged between these two women was very personal and private - including feelings and emotions rising to surface that had been hidden by shame and fear. Both these women bared their souls to each other as only shared experiences can. I sat listening and watching unable to do anything - an outsider with no power to intervene as each sentence meant something to them. I thought to myself: 'Who am I to interfere? What damage will I do if I call a halt, and what damage will I do if I let things calm down and take their course?' When things settled we left on good terms with arrangements for financial information on benefits to be given to the woman we had visited.
When we went back to the community organisation office we explained to the project manager what had happened. He said we shouldn’t have done what we did, as we were out of our depth and not capable of looking after the woman. The project manager intervened and arranged for professional help. I was left feeling drained and emotional. To witness first hand people laying their lives bare about a situation I cannot really comprehend left me with many questions. We met to mentor this woman about her financial situation and signpost her to help. She had not received help in the past due to self-imposed isolation caused by her life experiences. How is anybody to know how life has treated the people we are mentoring until we start to talk? Many can hide these problems, but some cannot and they come rushing out when somebody takes the time to listen to them for whatever reason. To stop the interview in such a highly charged emotional atmosphere should have been my responsibility. Why I didn’t is still a question I have not answered. Was I inexperienced, caught up in the moment, or just listening to woman unburden herself as to why she lived as she did and apologising for herself? Everybody likes to be heard and are you out of your depth if you listen and then arrange for help?
This situation made me think about several ethical issues around whether it is ethical to intrude in people’s personal lives and in the process to disclose details of your own life? I became aware of the responsibilities of this and wondered whether this would this happen if you have not experienced similar life circumstances to the people being visited? When going into people’s homes as part of research there is an element of the unexpected – by this I mean you cannot always plan and prepare for what people will say. How they will respond? How they will feel? How will you as the community researcher/mentor feel?
Questions for discussion
1. When community researchers are undertaking research interviews with people in similar circumstances to themselves, what are the positive and negatives outcomes of researchers sharing personal information and feelings?
2. This was an action research project, with local community researchers involved in collecting data on household circumstances as well as offering mentoring. If you were offering training to community researchers/mentors, how would you cover the ‘boundary’ issues between being a fellow resident, a researcher and a mentor?
3. What system of support do you think should be in place for community researchers/mentors in projects like this?
Commentaries
Commentary 1 Sara Kindon
This is a thought-provoking description of events associated with the involvement of a community participant turned researcher in sensitive research into injustice and poverty within an urban neighbourhood. I was drawn to the concepts of ‘intrusion’ and ‘responsibility’ within the author’s key questions: a) is it appropriate to ‘intrude’ into people’s personal lives for the purposes of research? and b) how should a researcher best respond to the feelings or emotions generated in participants/respondents as the result of asking questions about difficult or sensitive topics?
From my experience, research is only likely to become intrusive when consent is not fully-informed consent. If participants/respondents are given adequate information, then research should not feel like an intrusion into their lives, but rather a welcome opportunity to reflect and learn in a supportive process. The types of information would be about the nature and orientation (perhaps even copies) of research questions, the likely length of time an interview may take and how the material they provide will be used and protected. They also need the opportunity to ask questions about the research, the time to think about how or when they can be involved. Having this kind of information is power and enables choice. Feelings of intrusion result when people do not feel they have choice, or realise that they have shared more than they were emotionally ready to at that point in their lives with little recourse to act on this 'new' knowledge. I therefore wonder how the initial information/consent procedures given to the community researchers were designed and carried out. Were they framed within an awareness of the wider issues they may raise for participants? How different might outcomes have been had support structures been put in place to scaffold people into support services through which they could act constructively on their 'new' knowledge?
Furthermore, it is important that responsibility is clearly accepted within any social research process in order to minimise harm, enhance reliability of information generated and hopefully, afford participants/recipients some benefits as a result of their participation. In this case, it was heartening to read that over time community researchers/mentors were appointed to 'collect research data and provide support to households'. However, the community researcher then found herself in a position where her decision to ‘listen and watch… with no power to intervene’ (letting the cathartic interaction between an interviewee and her co-researcher reach its calm and productive conclusion) does not appear to have been supported by her project manager. In this instance, she was the one left confused and emotionally drained by the research process, not just her participant/respondent. The ethical focus on 'doing no harm' and being responsible to research participants/respondents is sound, but what of the potential harm being done to community researchers through a research process, especially if they have little or no formal research training through which to make sense of their experiences and feelings?
From my own experience being involved in sensitive research with former refugees in Aotearoa New Zealand, the ethical imperative to 'stay present' and 'bear witness' as participants/respondents process painful aspects of their lives within a research interaction, rather than shutting them down, is essential if further trauma is not to result. Sometimes this may also involve the disclosure of personal information because it reduces feelings of isolation and can help a participant move towards engagement with appropriate services after the interview. I see parallels in these experiences with the community researcher’s involvement in sensitive research into money and poverty. In this kind of work then, when research is known to be sensitive, and where non-formally trained community researchers are at the front-line, it is also important to ask what ethical responsibility project managers and funding agencies have to provide post-interview professional supervision for them.
In conclusion, both questions raised by the community researcher have value and both speak to larger ethical concerns about the design of community-based research projects, and the extent of ethical responsibilities that community organisations and universities have to support non-formally trained frontline staff. I would welcome more discussion about these less well-represented aspects of our collective practice.
Sara Kindon is Senior Lecturer in Human Geography and Development Studies in the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Commentary 2 Ingrid Burkett
Introduction
This case example highlights many common issues facing community-based researchers. The researcher has been both a participant in community-based research and a researcher - a position that offers extraordinary insights into the complex nature of community research.
As a community-based researcher myself, the case example highlights for me the importance of ensuring that there is space for reflection in the research process, and opportunities for changes in direction when issues arise that warrant such changes. For me this is fundamental to the nature of action research - when issues arise that provide important insights into either the context or the content, the research process and the researchers immersed in the process need to be able to respond to the situation.
From my perspective the major ethical issues raised in the case study are three-fold:
1. The impact of particular methods on participants, and the space for following up on this impact.
2. The appropriateness of disclosure and the nature of boundaries in the context of community-based research.
3. The need for support and reflective space for researchers, particularly when they are or have been community participants.
Impact of methods
The very nature of community-based research means that, despite our best efforts, our research methods sometimes have unintended consequences in certain communities with which we work. Sometimes methods we think should be relatively benign, can evoke all sorts of reactions - especially if they ask participants to reflect on their own vulnerabilities or their experiences of living in challenging situations.
Sometimes piloting methods can pick up these issues, but other times the issues may only be raised in the course of the research itself. And sometimes, unfortunately, researchers do not even realise that the methods have had a detrimental impact. This can occur particularly if we do not build into the process ways to ‘check-in’ with participants after we have spent what is often very intense time with them, to see how they are travelling, or to ask about any reflections they have had since the last meeting (either on content or process).
In this case example it seems that there was a realisation of the impact one particular method had on participants, and that this led to a change in the process, ensuring that there was support and follow-up for participants. This highlights the importance of using the learnings from the research to change the process of the research where it is needed. In community-based research this is a critical part of the process, both from the perspective of ethics, but also in research terms, as reflection on the research is a key part of the research.
Disclosure and boundaries
The case highlights a particular example of where a member of the research team responded to the distress of a participant by disclosing her own difficult experiences. This is a very delicate and difficult situation. In theory I would always say that a researcher should be very mindful of highlighting to participants that the process may raise some responses and feelings that will require follow-up and that, if this happens, the researcher would organise for professional support for the participant. In practice, however, community-based researchers are often in a position where they experience the messy realities of people’s lives, and it is not always possible to strictly apply distance and implement the wonderful theories we have all learnt.
From my perspective it has always been important in research to respond to people at a human level - participation does not have neat boundaries, and if we want to engage in participatory research then we will, no doubt about it, be exposed to the messiness of our common humanity. It is absolutely essential to be able to draw boundaries between our roles as researchers and the people participating with us. But the boundaries are inevitably fuzzy and contextual rather than being strict, neat and always easily discernable. The important thing is for us to be able to develop insight into how we engage with people as part of the research, and to be open to receiving feedback about this - both from colleagues and from participants. It is only through this reflection and seeing ourselves in the process that we are able to work on what the boundaries in a particular context should be.
Support and reflection in the process
As I read this case study I recognised the insightful questions the researcher was asking her/himself, and I hoped that there were opportunities for this researcher for reflect on these difficult questions within the research process. The intensity of community-based research often necessitates formalised reflection processes where researchers cannot just reflect, but also debrief about their experiences in a supportive environment. This, from my perspective, is a critical part of a community-based research project - there needs to be ‘community’ built into the research process itself so we are not just studying ‘the community out there’.
Concluding remarks
Community-based research is not for the feint-hearted - it involves learning as much about ourselves as it does about ‘the other’, and this case example highlights some of the heartfelt struggles that are often involved in the process, particularly when the ‘content’ of the research is close to our own journeys. From my perspective it is very helpful to hear about and reflect on some of these struggles as we design our research processes, as this can help us to ensure that we have built in opportunities and structures for reflecting and supporting all those involved.
Ingrid Burkett is an independent researcher and designer, based in Brisbane, Australia. Her research centres particularly on community economic development. She is also President of the International Association for Community Development, and is a part-time research fellow with the Centre for Social Impact at the University of New South Wales. | https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/ethics-case-example-issues-disclosure-and-intrusion |
Many spoilers lie ahead for the Season 7 finale of Arrow, called "You Have Saved This City."
Arrow may continue into an eighth season next fall, but it will do so without leading lady Emily Bett Rickards. While news broke back in March that Rickards was leaving following Season 7, fans could only guess how the show would go about writing out one of the key characters of the series. There were fears that she would be killed off in the flash-forwards, among other unpleasant possibilities. Well, "You Have Saved The City" said goodbye to Felicity Smoak and Emily Bett Rickards, and here's how it happened.
Felicity In The Present
Felicity was busy through the first 45 minutes of the Season 7 finale with trying to take down Emiko and her allies. It was an all-hands-on-deck situation after the previous week's cliffhanger, with Team Arrow even bringing in reinforcements in the forms of Curtis (who left for DC earlier in Season 7), Laurel (who had returned to Earth-2), and even Bronze Tiger.
The good guys did manage to defeat Emiko, and Oliver formed a connection with his half-sister, but it was too little too late. As she was dying, she told Oliver that she'd put plans in place that would see his family chased by Ninth Circle agents. So, Oliver and Felicity realized they had to go into hiding. They said a tearful farewell to most of Team Arrow and the Arrow Bunker, then went with Diggle to the quaint cottage from the flash-forward episode.
As it turned out, the cottage was actually a safe house in a neighborhood used by ex-CIA, ex-DIA, and ex-ARGUS agents, and they were able to live happily-ever-after... for a time. This is Arrow we're talking about, after all. They were together for the duration of Felicity's pregnancy, and Oliver was by her side as she gave birth to baby Mia. They even had some happy times together after she was born, and they were the picture of domesticity.
Sadly, The Monitor showed up to ruin the domestic bliss and collect on Oliver's promise from the "Elseworlds" crossover. Back in that December Arrow-verse event, Oliver swore to The Monitor that he would do whatever it takes to save Barry and Kara, and it was dire enough that some began predicting the end of Arrow and/or death of Oliver Queen months before news broke that Arrow will indeed be done after a shortened Season 8.
In the Season 7 finale, The Monitor announced that Oliver would die in the upcoming "crisis," which obviously devastated Felicity (and Oliver, who thought he'd have more time). Felicity was heartbroken at the idea of facing her future without her husband, not to mention Mia growing up without her father. Still, the crossover has to go on, and the situation seemed downright hopeless for Felicity to truly get her happily-ever-after-forever with Oliver.
At least, not until the flash-forwards.
Felicity In The Flash-Forwards
In the flash-forwards, Felicity was not a fan of sending Mia and William into danger, but they were the only ones who could pull off the mad mission to destroy the Archer program. Although it was a very close call for Mia, they did survive the mission, and they even succeeded.
In order for Mia and William (along with Connor Hawke and Zoe) to stay behind and continue protecting Star City, however, the older generation of heroes had to take the fall and become fugitives. Finally convinced that Mia and William could take care of themselves well enough to not need her looking over their shoulders all the time, Felicity decided that it was finally time for her to go.
Before leaving, she took her kids to visit Oliver's grave, which seemed like the final piece of evidence that the Emerald Archer really, truly, 100% is going to die in "Crisis on Infinite Earths." She said goodbye to the kids and even told Mia that they couldn't keep in touch this time, although she didn't give her daughter any specifics.
The good news for fans is that the last scene of the flash-forwards delivered some answers. Felicity met up with The Monitor. He warned her that there would be no coming back from where he was taking her, but she was more than ready to get going, presumably to reunite with the husband she'd been separated from for over two decades.
If Oliver is indeed alive and simply stuck somewhere else without the option of returing, hopefully Emily Bett Rickards either filmed an Oliver/Felicity reunion to air during "Crisis on Infinite Earths" or she returns for a reunion in the fall. What better way to say goodbye to Arrow than to see the hero reunited with his wife after so long?
We'll have to wait and see. When Arrow returns for its eighth and final season in the fall, it will do so without Felicity Smoak. At this point, I'm wondering if it will largely be without Oliver Queen as well, considering "Crisis on Infinite Earths" isn't likely to span ten episodes. If Oliver was pulled back into the superhero life to help The Monitor prepare, would The Monitor really give him the time to fight street-level crime in Star City?
The flash-forwards are confirmed to continue into Season 8, and I would not be surprised if they took up a lot more time than they did in Season 7. If they're popular, then perhaps that rumored Mia Smoak-centric spinoff really could happen. The odds actually aren't terrible, and the Emiko Queen spinoff certainly isn't happening.
While I'm not convinced that a Star City 2040 spinoff would work, would it really be right for the Arrow-verse to continue without an Arrow show? It's possible there wouldn't be room for another Arrow-verse series next season, though, thanks to Batwoman finally happening. No matter what happens, there should be plenty of superhero action on The CW.
The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl all have yet to air their season finales, so perhaps there will be more developments on the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover before we head into another hiatus. If Felicity does return before the end of Arrow, "Crisis on Infinite Earths" is probably how it would happen. | https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2471717/how-arrow-said-goodbye-to-felicity-smoak-in-the-season-7-finale |
· Mitigation measures designed to alleviate the negative impacts of mining on social and environmental systems may not always be effective, particularly in the long-term and across systems, e.g. a mitigation designed to affect an environmental …
11 SUMMARY OF MITIGATION MEASURES 1 The evaluation of likely significant impacts of the proposed development as described throughout this Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) includes recommendations for specific measures to avoid, reduce and, if possible, offset the major adverse effects (i.e. mitigation measures).
This Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) analyzes the environmental impacts of the proposed Quarry Falls project. The project would require implementation of mitigation measures which would reduce direct impacts to below a level of significance for all significant impacts except Land Use (traffic circulation), Transportation/Traffic
10.2 Mitigation Measures Mitigation measures are means to prevent, reduce or control adverse environmental effects of a project, and include restitution for any damage to the environment caused by those effects through replacement, restoration, compensation or any other means. The proposed mitigation measures for the identified effects for the ...
Final Environmental Impact Report April 2013 TABLE ES-1 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Environmental Impact Level of Significance before Mitigation Mitigation Measures Level of Significance after Mitigation 3.1. Land Use and Agriculture 3.1.1: The project will not physically divide an
Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measures Party Responsible for Implementing Party Responsible for Verifying Compliance Timing of Compliance during mining. Impact: Project mining of the Boundary Expansion area would increase the volume of storm water runoff drained to the quarry floor and subsequently removed from the Liddell Spring recharge
Since the mining industry is still expanding, comprehensive information on the effects of mining activities on the environment is needed. This book provides information on biological and physico-chemical treatments of mining effluents, on factors affecting human health and on environmental effects that have to be taken into account by the mining industry when aiming for sustainable …
1.0 INTRODUCTION Environmental Impact Report August 2020 1‐7 Area Q Quarry Project Final EIR 1.1.2 Project Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures The Project was evaluated to identify potentially significant impacts that would result from the proposed
environmental impact (listed in GNR. 983 and 985, 2014) and a more rigorous two-tiered approach for activities with potentially greater environmental impact (listed in GNR. 984, 2014). This two-tiered approach includes both a Scoping and EIA process (Figure 1.1). The proposed quarry requires a Full Scoping and EIA due to the following trigger:
· Mitigation and prevention. Reducing the height from which the material discharges are made, washing the tires of vehicles, placing covers on conveyor belts or storage points, or reducing the speed of the vehicles are other examples of the different dust reduction measures that can be applied in a mining environment.
and social costs. The objective of the study was to examine the environmental and health impacts quarry mining on quarry workers and residents of Balal Gram Panchayath of Kasaragod district, coming up with mitigation measures and recommendations to tackle these issues.
A more detailed picture of the environmental impact of aggregate mining is outlined in a 2005 legal challenge to the expansion of an existing quarry in the Niagara Escarpment. The report focuses on the following potential environmental impacts: Potential impairment of water quality on the site, including harm to the aquifer
Environmental Impact. Mitigation Measures ; Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Measures . ... compliance with Mitigation Measures R4.1-1a and R4.1-1b. See also Mitigation Monitoring Measures R4.12-3, 4, 5, and 6. ... measure, the Quarry will be required to maintain and report to
1) new significant impacts from the project or new mitigation measures; 2) a substantial increase in the severity of a significant impact; 3) a feasible project alternative or mitigation measure that is considerably different than others previously analyzed which would clearly reduce significant impacts, but is not adopted; or 4) the draft EIR
· In addition to this, illegal mining contributes to rivers pollution, air pollution and deforestation. Therefore, mitigation measures for environmental protection should be implemented this include soil erosion control measures like radical terraces, reforestation and anti- erosion ditches.
resource areas. Further, the draft EIR includes mitigation measures and alternatives to reduce or avoid the environmental impacts disclosed in the document. The analysis in the draft EIR is based on the more than 20 technical studies and documents submitted with 3M''s project application and …
In this way, it will be possible to implement measures from the outset to minimise the environmental impact of mining operations, based on the knowledge of the mineralogical and chemical composition of the ore and the surrounding rock. The MiMi programme should also develop methods for the after-treatment of existing waste.
sections recommend mitigation measures to reduce significant impacts. Throughout Chapter 4, both impacts and the corresponding mitigation measures are identified by a bold letter-number designation (e.g., Impact 4.1-1 and Mitigation Measure 4.1-1).
Environmental impacts of mining can occur at local, regional, and global scales through direct and indirect mining practices. Impacts can result in erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, or the contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by the chemicals emitted from mining processes. These processes also have an impact on the atmosphere from the emissions of carbon which have ...
2.4 Positive environmental impacts of sand and gravel mining worldwide 21 2.5 Negative environmental impacts of sand and gravel mining worldwide 24 2.6 Solutions and mitigation measures to sand and gravel extraction worldwide 31 2.7 Summary 37 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction 38
Prior to data collection from the field, relevant literatures were analyzed from the field relevant to environment, impact on the environment and mitigation measures, EIA, stone and sand quarry, and study area related journals, books, reports, etc. Information was also collected from different public and private organizations. 2.1 Environment
7. Environmental Imppggact Mitigating measures The purpose of mitigation measures is to avoid, reduce or minimize unwanted impacts and enhance beneficial impacts Selection of alternatives is also a form of mitigation in terms of impact, cost and technology 2 ENVS402 EIA by …
Environmental impact assessment from marble exploitation ... This workwas produced as part of the study environmental impact of marble mining on water in the SAKALALINA-MADAGASCAR area. This zone is located in the mining perimeters of the company ... the identification of the impacts to be incurred; mitigation measures and the recommendations.
· Environmental Aspects and Impacts its Mitigation Measures of Corporate Coal Mining ... Environment impacts & aspects of strip mining x Strip mining destroys landscapes, forests and wildlife habitats at the site of the mine when trees, plants, and topsoil are cleared from the mining area. This in turn leads to soil erosion and destruction of ...
· Mitigating the impact of mining on the environment. Mines will continue to play a role in the future and by implementing long-term strategies for the environment they will contribute to development of South Africa. This is according to Interwaste director: business development and marketing Kate Stubbs.
One important measure against the potential adverse effects of mining on our environment is government regulation and restriction. Authorities have to make sure that mining is done in a responsible manner. This includes the protection of workers and also the protection of local wildlife and plants.
Syar Napa Quarry Surface Mining Permit #P08-00337 Page 1 of 11 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES IMPACT AND MITIGATION SUMMARY The following table identifies, by environmental topic as identified in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the significant project impacts, proposed mitigation measures, and post-mitigation significance.
impacts of quarry mining on development - environmental impact of the quarry activities on the Construction and Mining Impacts... on the environment of the island by this development were immense. ... environmental impacts and mitigation measures . Extracts from: Swaziland Greenstone Quarry Environmental Impact Impacts occur throughout the life ...
mining/quarry and large scale extraction of limestone from this mining block in 2009. The ... Conservation (MESC) to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment and formulate an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the mining of limestone. ... The mitigation measures to be taken and the EMP are addressed.
mining companies (and to a lesser extent, the government) pick 5665 Lad R. J. and Samant J. S. Environmental and social impacts of stone quarrying-a case study of Kolhapur District the biggest share of the benefits from quarrying; while local to know the local people perception about the impacts of communities suffer from the negative impacts ...
negative environmental factors in this type of quarry are the same. CONCLUSION: Open-pit mining extraction systems have a series of similar characteristics that allow a systematic approach to be established when analysing the impacts. With the use of flowcharts, it becomes easier to apply measures to reduce environmental impacts and in
· environment. This plan specifies the nature of the negative impact, the proposed mitigation measures, the indicators in the execution of these mitigation measures, the time period, the responsibilities and the follow-up needed from concerned and specified parties. An emergency plan in case of accident was also developed. | https://prestigebf.pl/06-2006-1162.html |
Over the past two decades, the rapid industrialization and urbanization processes placed heavy pressure on forest resources. Forest degradation, resource depletion, loss of biodiversity, and resilience in ecosystems become the major environmental issues. Forest resources are being depleted and degraded due to poor access controls, inequities in land-tenure and user rights. To conserve natural forests, management practices of forest can be focused on the prevention of destructive forests with the objective of retaining stored carbon and contributing to the mitigation of climate change impacts from the CO2 emissions which result from large forest fires.
Providing comprehensive coverage of interrelated topics in the field, this book includes management concepts, forest models, and ecological indicators. Geographic and Geospatial information systems (GISs) have especially benefited from increased development of their inherent capabilities and improved deployment. Decision Support Systems (DSSs) are fundamental in addressing the complexity of making coherent, integrated, and interdependent resource management decisions. This is due to their inherent nature of the ability to cohesively formulate those parameters or pertinent information that otherwise cannot be processed effectively by human heuristic processes. The book focuses on tools and techniques designed to aid foresters in implementing resource management plans or track threats to forest resources. Forest biodiversity refers to all forms of life found in forests, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, and their roles in nature. It may be the richest of all the terrestrial ecosystems. Tropical forests alone contain some 50 percent of all known vertebrates, 60 percent of plant species, and possibly 90 percent of the world’s total species. Currently, forest biodiversity is increasingly threatened due to the activities linked to human beings. It is essential that all countries in the world work together to reduce forest loss and protect biodiversity. Therefore, this book presents a review of forest resources and forest biodiversity evaluation system in china.
Forest ecosystems are our priceless natural resource and are a key component of the global carbon budget. Forest fires can be a hazard to the viability and sustainable management of forests with consequences for natural and cultural environments, economies, and the life quality of local and regional populations. Thus, the selection of strategies to manage forest fires, while considering both functional and economic efficiency, is of primary importance, which is highlighted in this monograph. However, the rapid pace of changes in climate, disturbance regimes, invasive species, human population growth, and land use expected in the 21st century is likely to create substantial challenges for watershed management that may require new approaches, models, and best management practices. These challenges are likely to be complex and large scale, involving a combination of direct and indirect biophysical watershed responses, as well as socio-economic impacts and feedbacks. We discuss the complex relationships between forests and water in a rapidly changing environment, examine the trade-offs and conflicts between water and other resources, and propose new management approaches for sustaining water resources in the Anthropocene. The concept of sustainable forest management (SFM) has gained global political attention as the key to balance preservation and utilization of forests. This book serves as the most comprehensive and up-to-date treatment in forestry resource management. | https://www.scitusacademics.com/product/forest-resource-management/ |
The terms defined by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) in the handbook on terminology (UNISDR2009) or in UNISDR’s proposed updates to terminology (UNISDR2015b).
Disasters
The UNISDR (2009) defines disaster as:
“A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.”
UNISDR considers disaster to be a result of the combination of many factors such as the exposure to hazards, the conditions of vulnerability that are present, and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences. Disaster impacts may include loss of life, injuries, disease and other negative effects on human physical, mental and social well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and economic disruption and environmental degradation.
The DM Act 2005 uses the following definition for disaster:
"Disaster" means a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or manmade causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area.”
Disaster Management
The UNISDR defines disaster risk management as the systematic process of using administrative decisions, organization, operational skills and capacities to implement policies, strategies and coping capacities of the society and communities to lessen the impacts of natural hazards and related environmental and technological disasters. This comprises of all forms of activities, including structural and non-structural measures to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) adverse effects of hazards. A definition for the term ‘Disaster Management’ is not included in the UNISDR’s handbook of terminology. However, the proposed, but not yet adopted, ‘Updated Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction’ of UNISDR3 has proposed the following definition for the term Disaster Management (UNISDR 2015b):
“The organization, planning and application of measures preparing for, responding to and, initial recovery from disasters.” As per this definition, ‘Disaster Management’ focuses on creating and implementing preparedness and others plans to decrease the impact of disasters and build back better. Failure to create/apply a plan could result in damage to life, assets and lost revenue. However, it may not completely avert or
eliminate the threats. The term Disaster Management as used in the NPDM 2009 and the DM Act 2005 document is comprehensive covering all aspects – disaster risk reduction, disaster risk management, disaster preparedness, disaster response, and post-disaster recovery. This document uses the term with the same meaning as defined in the DM Act 2005: “A continuous and integrated process of planning, organising, coordinating and implementing measures which are necessary or expedient" for the following: 1) Prevention of danger or threat of any disaster, 2) Mitigation or reduction of risk of any disaster or its severity or consequences, 3) Capacity-building, 4) Preparedness to deal with any disaster, 5) Prompt response to any threatening disaster situation or disaster, 6) Assessing the severity or magnitude of effects of any disaster 7) Evacuation, rescue and relief, and 8) Rehabilitation and reconstruction.”
Disaster Risk Reduction (Mitigation)
Disaster Risk Reduction, as per UNISDR, consists of a framework of elements that will help to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development. | https://www.environmentalsciences.in/2022/11/disasters-risk-reduction-and-management.html |
Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognising that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.
The Climate Home News website (http://www.climatechangenews.com/ ) has published the version sent by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to the governments of the 1.5°C executive group. This second draft of the report assesses the difference between the two goals, namely 2°C and 1.5°C, in terms of impacts on human life, economy and global environment. The report is due to be officially released in October after receiving some feedbacks from governments.
Here is list of the most significant assessed results:
The human-induced global warming reached approximately 1 ± 0.2°C above pre-industrial levels in 2017, and is currently increasing by 0.2 ± 0.1°C per decade.
Past emissions alone are unlikely to raise global average surface temperature (GMST) to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, but do commit to further changes, such as sea level rise and associated impacts. If emissions continue at the current rate, human-induced warming will exceed 1.5°C by around 2040.
Risks to natural and human systems are lower for global warming of 1,5°C compared to that of 2°C depending on geographical location, levels of development, vulnerability and adaptation strategies and mitigation options.
Sustainable development, poverty eradication and implications on human rights will be key considerations in mitigation efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C and in efforts to adapt to global warming by 1.5°C.
There is no simple answer as to whether it is feasible to limit heating to 1,5°C and to adapt to global warming consequences. This is because multiple dimensions need to be considered simultaneously and systematically.
Currently, there are substantial increases in extreme weather events both in a world heated at 1.5°C, and between 1.5°C and 2°C. Such extreme events include high-level temperature in all inhabited regions, extreme precipitation in most regions, and extreme droughts in some regions.
On land, the risks of climate-induced impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, including loss and extinction of species, are substantially less at 1,5°C than 2°C. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C will bring great benefits to terrestrial ecosystems, wetlands and the preservation of their services. Overheating, if much higher than 1.5°C (near 2°C), can have irreversible impacts on some species, ecosystems, their ecological functions and their services to humans, even if global warming stabilizes at 1.5°C until 2100.
Limiting warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C would substantially reduce the risks to marine biodiversity, ecosystems and their ecological functions, and to the services provided to humans in coastal and oceanic areas, especially in the Arctic ecosystems and hot-water coral reefs. By 2100, the sea level rise would be about 0.1 m lower with global warming limited to 1,5°C.
Impacts on health, livelihoods, food and water supply, human security, infrastructure will increase with 1.5°C of warming compared to today, and even more with a heating of 2°C compared to 1.5°C.
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication requires a portfolio of mitigation and adaptation actions in all sectors and scales. These actions can be implemented only with adjustments in finance, technology and behaviour.
Implementing policies to successfully limit warming to 1.5°C, and to adapt humankind to this warming, implies international cooperation and the strengthening the institutional capacity of national and subnational authorities, civil society, the private sector, cities, local communities and indigenous peoples. | http://youthpressagency.org/1-5c-is-better-than-2c/ |
The development of a new global framework for biodiversity post-2020 offers important opportunities for governments and businesses to rethink how they can work together, according to ICMM's Hafren Williams.
In May of this year, the UN Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) published findings that show, in no uncertain terms, biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history.
This rapid reduction of the world’s precious natural diversity is cause for great alarm, but as the report also states, it’s not too late for us to make a difference.
WWF reports that between 1970 and 2010, population sizes of wildlife have declined globally, by an average of 60 per cent. The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) also reports in its 2019 global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services, that approximately 75 per cent of the world’s terrestrial environment and 66 per cent of its marine environment are significantly impacted by human activity.
To stop this decline of the natural systems that support us and all other animals on the planet, we need to find ways of meeting the needs of a growing global population without damaging nature or exacerbating climate change. Everyone – governments, businesses and communities – have a part to play.
The role of business
The World Economic Forum (WEF) found that biodiversity risks have a higher likelihood and greater detrimental impact than failures of national governance, food crises and the spread of infectious disease.
Over several decades, much progress has been made by responsible mining companies in developing policies, systems and processes to better manage and maintain biodiversity affected by operations. Nonetheless, the private sector rightly still faces increasing pressure to manage its negative impacts on biodiversity and promote sustainable growth to help deliver societal and environmental benefits.
There are a number of steps responsible businesses should take to reverse the impacts of global biodiversity loss and contain the negative impact they may have on the Earth’s vital ecosystems.
Since 2003, members of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) have committed to not operating or exploring in World Heritage sites. At ICMM, we’ve recently enhanced our membership requirements to include commitments on implementing the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimise, restore, offset) in members’ land-use and biodiversity planning, to achieve an ambition of no net loss.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is currently developing its post-2020 framework, which represents an opportunity to strengthen governance led by governments, to ensure all companies manage their environmental and societal impact. But, if we limit ourselves to traditional thinking, where business is thought of solely as a black mark for biodiversity, then we risk missing out on valuable partnerships that will benefit both people and planet.
Next steps
In 2020, the CBD Biodiversity Conference is being held in China, where countries will be proposing a new set of global biodiversity targets for 2030 to replace those agreed in Aichi, Japan a decade ago.
A 2016 report by The Nature Conservancy, WWF, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and BirdLife International found that only five per cent of countries were on track to meet their biodiversity targets. Though roughly three-quarters of signatories were making some progress, it’s abundantly clear more needs to be done to hit these ambitious goals. Traditional models of biodiversity conservation are failing to stem the tide of biodiversity loss, so it is crucial to develop new ways of thinking and working for the benefit of our planet.
A collaborative, partnership approach
The development of a new global framework for biodiversity post-2020 offers important opportunities for governments and businesses alike to rethink how they can work together to tackle biodiversity challenges.
ICMM’s company members believe governments should enforce no-go zones in World Heritage sites, consistently apply regulation on other protected areas, and establish clear and consistent impact assessment requirements to ensure biodiversity and other impacts are adequately addressed. Enforcing minimum requirements that reflect best practice means that less progressive companies cannot exploit resources without consideration of biodiversity impacts, thus preventing a ‘race-to-the-bottom’.
As global organisations driven by innovation and professionalism – as landholders, investors and researchers monitoring species and habitats within a region – these companies can go so much further than addressing their own impacts.
Businesses recognise that governments can support them in their biodiversity management. They also recognise that they can contribute to local and national biodiversity management efforts.
Companies can share biodiversity data that they have gathered on the ground, they can enhance government understanding and skills by participating in business and biodiversity networks, and they can collaborate at a regional level and through public private partnerships to increase impact. They can also help the global community understand progress against global goals by tracking their own contributions to the post-2020 biodiversity targets.
Halting biodiversity loss requires a collaborative, partnership approach. And in the post-2020 framework we have an opportunity to change our attitude. We must not limit ourselves to traditional thinking, instead we must use this opportunity to find ways of maximising the unique contribution that business can offer as a partner. | https://www.icmm.com/en-gb/news/2019/protecting-biodiversity-by-mining-responsibly |
This decade must be the turning point, where we transform humanity’s relationship with nature and put the planet on a path to recovery, argues a global team of researchers in a paper published on Friday, January 22, 2021, outlining a new framework for implementing global commitments to restoring nature, The Mitigation and Conservation Hierarchy — or, more snappily, Four Steps for the Earth.
The United Nations is currently developing a new post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, for the world to ‘live in harmony with nature’ by 2050. This will be negotiated in Kunming, China, later this year.
The researchers, from 22 institutions, led by the University of Oxford’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science, argue there has never been a more important time for this bold vision, and everyone has a role to play in its delivery. The paper, published by One Earth, shows how to change our overall impact from negative to positive in four distinct steps, the ‘4Rs’:
- The refrain step involves avoiding negative impacts on nature as far as possible.
- The reduce step involves minimizing damage to nature where it cannot be completely avoided.
- The restore step involves remediating any immediate damage to nature.
- The renew step involves investing in revitalizing nature.
Lead author, Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland, says, ‘This paper represents a real team effort, with authors from academia, business and government. We’re excited to launch this idea and hope that it will be useful to many different groups as they work to realize the vision of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. It’s a huge challenge, with many different facets, and we hope that Four Steps for the Earth will provide an intuitive and flexible framework for tying all the threads together.’
“Conservation actions need to move beyond a niche interest of ‘conservationists’, to be incorporated in to the everyday actions and decisions of governments, businesses and individuals.”
What makes the Mitigation and Conservation Hierarchy unique is that it enables all types of negative and positive impacts on nature, carried out by different groups at different scales, to be accounted for within the same framework. It is focused on identifying actions that contribute towards an aspirational goal, such as leaving nature in a better state than we found it in.
However, the paper maintains, ambitious goals are only meaningful if they can be translated into concrete actions across all sectors of society. Most human activity involves natural resources. As such, conservation actions need to move beyond a niche interest of ‘conservationists’, to be incorporated in to the everyday actions and decisions of governments, businesses, and individuals.
Last year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s partner organizations voted to support this framework and to push for it to be widely used. The authors hope it will help countries to plan and monitor the actions that they need to commit to in order to ‘bend the curve of biodiversity loss’, as economies recover post-COVID-19.
Project coordinator at Oxford, Henry Grub, adds, ‘This framework will, hopefully, present a turning point in the way institutions such as Oxford think about their biodiversity impact. Our impacts cannot be overlooked because of the positive research we do – rather we hope the ‘4Rs’ will transform efforts to tackle the environmental impacts of the food we eat in canteens, the paper we put in printers, the land we build on, and much more.’
Reference: “Four steps for the Earth: mainstreaming the post-2020 global biodiversity framework” by E.J. Milner-Gulland, Prue Addison, William N.S. Arlidge, Julia Baker, Hollie Booth, Thomas Brooks, Joseph W. Bull, Michael J. Burgass, Jon Ekstrom, Sophus O.S.E. zu Ermgassen, L. Vincent Fleming, Henry M.J. Grub, Amrei von Hase, Michael Hoffmann, Jonathan Hutton, Diego Juffe-Bignoli, Kerry ten Kate, Joseph Kiesecker, Noëlle F. Kümpel, Martine Maron, Helen S. Newing, Katrina Ole-Moiyoi, Cheli Sinclair, Sam Sinclair, Malcolm Starkey, Simon N. Stuart, Cath Tayleur and James E.M. Watson, 22 January 2021, One Earth. | https://scitechdaily.com/four-steps-for-earth-a-holistic-approach-to-transform-humanitys-relationship-with-nature-and-save-the-planet/ |
This policy brief highlights how human health is directly linked to the state of biodiversity and climate change in the Asia-Pacific region. Improving human health and mitigating future health disasters requires addressing these causal factors simultaneously in an integrated manner.
The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) coronavirus is a zoonotic disease, transmitted from animals to humans. Zoonotic diseases are caused by many environmental factors that reinforce the interface between wild animals, domestic animals and humans. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the region’s environmental health was already under enormous pressure. The COVID-19 pandemic is therefore a call to urgently restore and reconnect a sustainable relationship between nature and human societies.
This raises the following questions:
- What are the environmental issues that threaten human health and how are the environment and human health related?
- What approaches can be used to understand these interactions?
- What are the concrete political actions that can be implemented to repair the broken relationship between human societies and the environment and to face, at the same time, the global crises of biodiversity, climate and health?
Generating knowledge is essential to bring about change that emphasizes moving away from current development trajectories characterized by biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, unsustainable production and consumption patterns, pollution and climate change. A framework to address the link between the health of the natural world and human health within the limits of what nature can provide, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is imperative.
A combination of institutional weaknesses, structural economic weaknesses and behavioral weaknesses in the way we manage our environment has led to the deterioration of environmental health in the region and is linked to environmental drivers of zoonoses:
- Institutional weaknesses reflect weak governance and institutional capacity. They include a lack of political commitment, despite available scientific evidence, to address critical environmental issues such as the biodiversity and climate crises, and siled approaches to environmental and human health management.
- Structural weaknesses resulting from the prevalence of an unsustainable economic paradigm include land use change, unsustainable urbanization, all types of pollution, and problems of environmental consideration by economic sectors, financial and commercial.
- Behavioral weaknesses are linked to unsustainable lifestyles and consumption patterns. They encompass illegal wildlife hunting, trade and increased international exports of live animals, unsustainable agri-food systems and the unsustainable impacts of population growth.
With a framework addressing these linkages, specific institutional, economic, structural and behavioral change solutions are offered to ensure environmental health and human health are protected, and offer insights into how to simultaneously address the factors responsible for zoonoses. in an integrated way, focusing on the link between biodiversity, ecosystems, human health and climate change.
Key institutional solutions include adopting a regional agenda that would bring together all relevant actors, strengthen environmental laws and regulations and their enforcement, and improve monitoring capacity, with a focus on addressing biodiversity crises. and climate. Structural economic solutions examine how to make land management and urbanization more sustainable, reduce and manage pollution appropriately, and how putting nature at the heart of the economic paradigm can improve human and environmental health. Finally, behavior change solutions focus on better management of wildlife and wildlife trade, promoting sustainable agri-food systems and overall sustainable consumption and production. | https://nature-inspirations.com/mending-the-broken-relationship-with-nature-tackling-the-nexus-between-biodiversity-ecosystems-health-and-climate-change-after-covid-19-world/ |
The creation of a National Communication offers countries the opportunity to contribute with technically sound studies and information that can be used for designing mitigation and adaptation measures, and project proposals that can and will help increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change. Activities generally include: V&A assessments, Greenhouse Gas Inventory preparation, Mitigation Analysis or Education, and awareness raising activities.The ultimate goal is the integration of climate change considerations into relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions.
Key vulnerabilities identified in Bhutan's Second National Communication (2011):
- Water Resources
- Agriculture
- Forests and Biodiversity
- Public Health
- Glaciers and GLOFs
Project Details
Potential adaptation measures identified in Bhutan's Second National Plan (2011):
Water Resources
- Conduct comprehensive water resources assessment to improve understanding of water resource availability, the effects of climate change to develop appropriate adaptation measures
- Increase resilience to the impacts of climate change on water resources
- Water Resources Management through adoption and implementation of IWRM and eco-efficiency by using river basin framework for planning
- Strengthening Climate observation and network for early warning and forecasting of extreme events understanding climate change
- Mainstream CC & WR into national plans and programmes.
Agriculture
- To identify and map highly vulnerable farming communities across the country
- To strengthen institutional capacity of research/extension of DoA and at district and geog levels
- To increase access to improved genetic resources resistant to a-biotic and biotic stresses
- To identify and promote potential crops for agriculture/farming diversification to reduce crop failures
- Increase access to improved irrigation systems
Forests and Biodiversity
- Establishing the baseline, understanding and monitoring the impacts of CC on the species and ecosystems in Bhutan
- Increase ecosystem resilience against climate change disruption through re-evaluation and strengthening of protected areas, and sustainable management of biodiversity use
- Address risk of species loss from climate change by strengthening species conservation and management program by taking into consideration climate change
- Measures to address increased threat from invasive species, pests and diseases under changing climate
- Develop and implement a comprehensive forest fire management program, taking into account drier and warmer winters
- Measures to ensure sustainable use and management of biodiversity by local communities by taking into account threats from changing climate
Public Health
- Ensure adequate drinking water during the dry period
- Control and reduce spread of vector borne diseases
- Build disaster response management preparedness
- To educate and enhance the level of awareness to cope with health risks of climate change
Glaciers and GLOFs
- Enhancing preparedness and understanding for GLOFs triggered by Climate Change
- Implementation of risk reduction measures in potentially dangerous glacial lakes.
Key Results and Outputs
- Sustainable development and the integration of climate change concerns into medium- and long-term planning
- Inventories of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases
- Measures contributing to addressing climate change
- Research and systematic observation
- Climate change impacts, adaptation measures and response strategies
- Education, training and public awareness
Reports and Publications
Assessments and Background Documents
Bhutan Second National Communication (2011)
Monitoring and Evaluation
In 1992, countries joined an international treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to cooperatively consider what they could do to limit average global temperature increases and the resulting climate change, and to cope with whatever impacts were, by then, inevitable.
Parties to the Convention must submit national reports on implementation of the Convention to the Conference of the Parties (COP). The required contents of national communications and the timetable for their submission are different for Annex I and non-Annex I Parties. This is in accordance with the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" enshrined in the Convention.
The core elements of the national communications for both Annex I and non-Annex I Parties are information on emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and details of the activities a Party has undertaken to implement the Convention. National communications usually contain information on national circumstances, vulnerability assessment, financial resources and transfer of technology, and education, training and public awareness. | https://www.globalsupportprogramme.org/projects/trust-bhutan-second-national-communication-2011 |
Smart infrastructure secures national strategies for development and environment
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and partners organised a brainstorming session on sustaining economic growth by reconciling infrastructure development with national climate and biodiversity priorities at the European Development Days (EDDs) on June 21st in Brussels. For more information about the EDDs, click here.
Economic development and improved livelihoods for people are clear priorities for countries globally. Infrastructure investment and expansion are projected to grow in the coming decades, bringing many people out of poverty. Global climate targets from COP26 in 2021 and the developing Global Biodiversity Framework around COP15 in 2022 inform national strategies. People and economies benefit from reduced climate risk and from the integrity of nature. Sustaining benefits from infrastructure development is more likely if climate and biodiversity outcomes are integrated into transport planning. During this brainstorming session, participants discussed questions based on the COMBOprogram.org and the China Academy of Transportation Sciences (CATS) experience supporting public and private sectors and civil society to reconcile economic development with climate and biodiversity priorities.
The speakers included:
Dr. Hugo Rainey opened the brainstorming session and presented the COMBO program, which aims to reconcile economic development and conservation objectives. Dr. Rainey stressed that national sustainability targets aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Glasgow Climate Pact are challenges for all sectors to achieve. Understanding what these mean for the transport sector requires integrating biodiversity and climate priorities into infrastructure planning and development. WCS, Biotope, BIOFUND, and other partners have supported national governments in defining new policies through the COMBO approach. The COMBO partners work with stakeholders from the public and private sectors to understand and apply a policy that helps progress toward national biodiversity and climate priorities. These include considering how roads may be best routed to avoid the most intact forests and the communities that rely on forest resources (see the PowerPoint presentation).
Dr. Wang started his presentation with the key question of “how to address biodiversity impact of transportation infrastructure?” and provided a brief review of the global status of transportation expansion and potential impacts on endangered species and ecosystem connectivity. The loss of biodiversity accelerates the “global infrastructure tsunami”. To respond to the key question and generate discussion among participants, Dr. Wang then introduced the increasing attention of the transportation sector on ecology and conservation in China, with a specific case about the ongoing effort to address the biodiversity impact through collaboration between transportation agencies and authorities of the Tiger and Leopard National Park in northeast China. By the end of the presentation, Dr. Wang highlighted the importance of considering biodiversity risks and impact in the full cycle of investment and projects, as well as of enhancing communication and collaboration between conservationists and transportation engineers. He also called for more cost-effective and innovative technology to address biodiversity impact and long-term monitoring needs (see the PowerPoint presentation).
Suzanne Cotillon addressed the question of “how can the use of data help reduce the risk of roads to achieving biodiversity and climate targets?” and provided an example of Biotope’s work to mitigate biodiversity and climate risks generated by the future Transgabonese road project in Gabon. To respond to the key question, she explained how species data collected by Biotope contributed to increasing knowledge on the great biodiversity existing in the Gabonese tropical forest, but also was a valuable decision-making tool to identify the less impacting route across the landscape for the Transgabonese road project. Suzanne highlighted the importance of collecting data at the beginning of an infrastructure development project to first try avoiding impacts on biodiversity, in order to reduce the project's ecological debt, before even considering reducing or offsetting biodiversity and climate impacts (see the PowerPoint presentation).
Denise Nicolau presented the case study of Mozambique implementing policies and strategies to reduce impacts on biodiversity. The case of recent leadership of the Government of Mozambique developing the regulatory framework for biodiversity offsets implementation brings new opportunities to promote the mitigation hierarchy as a practical solution to support sustainable development and prioritize biodiversity's most important values in the country. Denise highlighted that since 2016 the COMBO+ Program (WCS and BIOFUND) has been supporting the Government of Mozambique in developing policies and technical instruments as well as building multistakeholders capacity for an effective and successful implementation of the mitigation hierarchy (see the PowerPoint presentation).
Visual summary of the main outcomes of the session
For more information, please contact:
Hugo Rainey: [email protected]
Arnaud Goessens: [email protected]
COMBO Program
Impact Mitigation
Transport Ecology
For WCS's global news, please click here.
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Relevant Issues (10 of 26)
The SASB Standards vary by industry based on the different sustainability risks and opportunities within an industry. The issues in grey were not identified during the standard-setting process as the most likely to impact enterprise value, so they are not included in the Standard. Over time, as the SASB Standards Board continues to receive market feedback, some issues may be added or removed from the Standard. Each company makes their own determination about whether or not a sustainability issue may impact its ability to create enterprise value. The Standard is designed for the typical company in an industry, but individual companies may choose to report on different sustainability issues based on their unique business model. Why are some issues greyed out?
Environment
- GHG Emissions The category addresses direct (Scope 1) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that a company generates through its operations. This includes GHG emissions from stationary (e.g., factories, power plants) and mobile sources (e.g., trucks, delivery vehicles, planes), whether a result of combustion of fuel or non-combusted direct releases during activities such as natural resource extraction, power generation, land use, or biogenic processes. The category further includes management of regulatory risks, environmental compliance, and reputational risks and opportunities, as they related to direct GHG emissions. The seven GHGs covered under the Kyoto Protocol are included within the category—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
- Air Quality The category addresses management of air quality impacts resulting from stationary (e.g., factories, power plants) and mobile sources (e.g., trucks, delivery vehicles, planes) as well as industrial emissions. Relevant airborne pollutants include, but are not limited to, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulfur (SOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, particulate matter, and chlorofluorocarbons. The category does not include GHG emissions, which are addressed in a separate category.
- Energy Management
- Water & Wastewater Management The category addresses a company’s water use, water consumption, wastewater generation, and other impacts of operations on water resources, which may be influenced by regional differences in the availability and quality of and competition for water resources. More specifically, it addresses management strategies including, but not limited to, water efficiency, intensity, and recycling. Lastly, the category also addresses management of wastewater treatment and discharge, including groundwater and aquifer pollution.
- Waste & Hazardous Materials Management
- Ecological Impacts The category addresses management of the company’s impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity through activities including, but not limited to, land use for exploration, natural resource extraction, and cultivation, as well as project development, construction, and siting. The impacts include, but are not limited to, biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and deforestation at all stages – planning, land acquisition, permitting, development, operations, and site remediation. The category does not cover impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity.
Social Capital
- Human Rights & Community Relations The category addresses management of the relationship between businesses and the communities in which they operate, including, but not limited to, management of direct and indirect impacts on core human rights and the treatment of indigenous peoples. More specifically, such management may cover socio-economic community impacts, community engagement, environmental justice, cultivation of local workforces, impact on local businesses, license to operate, and environmental/social impact assessments. The category does not include environmental impacts such as air pollution or waste which, although they may impact the health and safety of members of local communities, are addressed in separate categories.
- Customer Privacy
- Data Security
- Access & Affordability
- Product Quality & Safety
- Customer Welfare
- Selling Practices & Product Labeling
Human Capital
- Labor Practices
- Employee Health & Safety The category addresses a company’s ability to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace environment that is free of injuries, fatalities, and illness (both chronic and acute). It is traditionally accomplished through implementing safety management plans, developing training requirements for employees and contractors, and conducting regular audits of their own practices as well as those of their subcontractors. The category further captures how companies ensure physical and mental health of workforce through technology, training, corporate culture, regulatory compliance, monitoring and testing, and personal protective equipment.
- Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion
Business Model & Innovation
- Product Design & Lifecycle Management
- Business Model Resilience The category addresses an industry’s capacity to manage risks and opportunities associated with incorporating social, environmental, and political transitions into long-term business model planning. This includes responsiveness to the transition to a low-carbon and climate-constrained economy, as well as growth and creation of new markets among unserved and underserved socio-economic populations. The category highlights industries in which evolving environmental and social realities may challenge companies to fundamentally adapt or may put their business models at risk.
- Supply Chain Management
- Materials Sourcing & Efficiency
- Physical Impacts of Climate Change
Leadership & Governance
- Business Ethics The category addresses the company’s approach to managing risks and opportunities surrounding ethical conduct of business, including fraud, corruption, bribery and facilitation payments, fiduciary responsibilities, and other behavior that may have an ethical component. This includes sensitivity to business norms and standards as they shift over time, jurisdiction, and culture. It addresses the company’s ability to provide services that satisfy the highest professional and ethical standards of the industry, which means to avoid conflicts of interest, misrepresentation, bias, and negligence through training employees adequately and implementing policies and procedures to ensure employees provide services free from bias and error.
- Competitive Behavior
- Management of the Legal & Regulatory Environment The category addresses a company’s approach to engaging with regulators in cases where conflicting corporate and public interests may have the potential for long-term adverse direct or indirect environmental and social impacts. The category addresses a company’s level of reliance upon regulatory policy or monetary incentives (such as subsidies and taxes), actions to influence industry policy (such as through lobbying), overall reliance on a favorable regulatory environment for business competitiveness, and ability to comply with relevant regulations. It may relate to the alignment of management and investor views of regulatory engagement and compliance at large.
- Critical Incident Risk Management The category addresses the company’s use of management systems and scenario planning to identify, understand, and prevent or minimize the occurrence of low-probability, high-impact accidents and emergencies with significant potential environmental and social externalities. It relates to the culture of safety at a company, its relevant safety management systems and technological controls, the potential human, environmental, and social implications of such events occurring, and the long-term effects to an organization, its workers, and society should these events occur.
- Systemic Risk Management
Disclosure Topics
The General Issue Category is an industry-agnostic version of the Disclosure Topics that appear in each SASB Standard. Disclosure topics represent the industry-specific impacts of General Issue Categories. The industry-specific Disclosure Topics ensure each SASB Standard is tailored to the industry, while the General Issue Categories enable comparability across industries. For example, Health & Nutrition is a disclosure topic in the Non-Alcoholic Beverages industry, representing an industry-specific measure of the general issue of Customer Welfare. The issue of Customer Welfare, however, manifests as the Counterfeit Drugs disclosure topic in the Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals industry. What is the relationship between General Issue Category and Disclosure Topics?
(Industry agnostic)
Disclosure Topics (Industry specific) for:
Oil & Gas – Exploration & Production
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GHG Emissions
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Exploration & Production (E&P) activities generate significant direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a variety of sources. Emissions can be combusted, including those arising from flaring or power generation equipment, as well as uncombusted, including those emissions arising from gas processing equipment, venting, flaring, and fugitive methane. Regulatory efforts to reduce GHG emissions in response to the risks posed by climate change may result in additional regulatory compliance costs and risks for E&P companies. With natural gas production from shale resources expanding, the management of the emission of methane, a highly potent GHG, from oil and gas E&P systems has emerged as a major operational, reputational, and regulatory risk for companies. Furthermore, the development of unconventional hydrocarbon resources may be more or less GHG-intensive than conventional oil and gas, with associated impacts to regulatory risk. Energy efficiency, use of less carbon-intensive fuels, or process improvements to reduce fugitive emissions, venting, and flaring, can provide benefits to E&P companies in the form of climate risk mitigation, lower costs, or increased revenues.
Air Quality
Air Quality
Air emissions from E&P operations other than greenhouse gas emissions include hazardous air pollutants, criteria air pollutants, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can have significant, localized human health and environmental impacts. Of particular concern are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and VOC emissions. The financial impacts on companies from air emissions will vary depending on the specific locations of operations and the prevailing air emissions regulations. As E&P operations expand close to population centers, the impacts on human health are likely to be exacerbated if air emissions limits are breached. Active management of the issue—through technological and process improvements—could allow companies to limit the impact of regulations in an environment of increasing regulatory and public concerns about air quality. Companies could benefit from operational efficiencies that may lead to a lower cost structure over time.
Water & Wastewater Management
Water Management
Depending on the extraction technique, exploration and production operations may consume significant quantities of water, which may expose companies to the risk of reduced water availability, regulations limiting usage, or related cost increases, particularly in water-stressed regions. Contamination of local water resources can result from incidents involving produced water, flowback water, hydraulic fracturing fluids, and other well fluids. Historically, there has been concern regarding the impacts of hydraulic fracturing operations on the contamination of groundwater supplies. In the U.S., concerns about chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluids have led to increased disclosure by companies through a voluntary industry registry, FracFocus. There have also been related state regulations, as well as legislative proposals to repeal federal exemptions for hydraulic fracturing operations. Reducing water use and contamination through recycling, other water management strategies, and use of non-toxic fracturing fluids could create operational efficiency for companies and lower their operating costs. Such strategies could also minimize the impacts that regulations, water supply shortages, and community-related disruptions have on operations.
Ecological Impacts
Biodiversity Impacts
The exploration and production (E&P) industry’s activities can have significant impacts on biodiversity. Examples include habitat loss and alteration through land use for exploration, production, disposing of drilling and associated wastes, and decommissioning of onshore and offshore wells. Oil spills and leaks are a threat to species and habitats impacted by hydrocarbon contamination. Biodiversity impacts of E&P operations can affect the valuation of oil and gas reserves and create operational risks. The environmental characteristics of the land where reserves are located could increase extraction costs as a result of increasing awareness and protection of ecosystems, making such reserves uneconomical to extract. Companies could also face regulatory or reputational barriers to accessing reserves in ecologically sensitive areas. This may include new protection statuses afforded to areas where reserves are located. Areas such as the Arctic and certain shorelines with mangroves and swamps are not only extremely ecologically sensitive, but also entail more complex and expensive cleanup operations if hydrocarbon spills or leaks occur there. Negative future impacts on the value of reserves could be mitigated by taking into consideration the location of reserves in or near protected areas when making investment or capital expenditure decisions. Companies with a good track record of minimizing biodiversity impacts could gain a competitive advantage in accessing new reserves in or near protected areas. Ongoing E&P operations could be at risk in the absence of effective environmental management plans for different stages of the project lifecycle, due to regulatory penalties, litigation, community protests, and associated costs.
Human Rights & Community Relations
Security, Human Rights & Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Exploration and production (E&P) companies face additional community-related risks when operating in conflict zones; in areas with weak or absent governance institutions, rule of law, and legislation to protect human rights; or in areas with vulnerable communities such as indigenous peoples. Companies using private or government security forces to protect their workers and assets may knowingly or unknowingly contribute to human rights violations, including use of excessive force. Indigenous people are often the most vulnerable sections of the population, with limited capacity to defend their unique rights and interests. Companies perceived as contributing to human rights violations or failing to account for indigenous peoples’ rights may be affected due to protests, riots, or suspension of permits. They could face substantial costs related to compensation or settlement payments and write-downs in the value of their reserves in such areas. In the absence of country laws to address such cases, several international instruments have emerged to provide guidelines for companies, including obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of indigenous peoples for decisions that affect them. With greater awareness, several countries are also beginning to implement specific laws protecting indigenous peoples’ rights, creating increasing regulatory risk for companies.
Community Relations
Exploration and production (E&P) activities take place over a number of years, and companies may be involved in multiple projects in a region that can have a wide range of community impacts. Community rights and interests may be affected by environmental and social impacts of E&P operations, such as competition for access to local energy or water resources, air and water emissions, and waste from operations. E&P companies frequently need support from local communities to be able to obtain permits and leases and conduct their activities without disruptions. Companies may experience adverse financial impacts if the community interferes, or lobbies its government to interfere, with the rights of an E&P company in relation to their ability to access, develop, and produce reserves. In addition to community concerns about the direct impacts of projects, the presence of E&P activities may result in associated socioeconomic impacts related to education, health, livelihoods, and food security for the community. E&P companies that are perceived as engaging in rent-seeking and exploiting a country or community’s resources without providing any socioeconomic benefits in return may be exposed to the risk of resource nationalism actions by host governments and communities. These could include imposition of ad hoc taxes and export restrictions. These risks may vary depending on the country, and could be higher in countries heavily reliant on oil and gas for their economic growth. Companies in the extractives industries can adopt various community engagement strategies in their global operations to manage risks and opportunities associated with community rights and interests, such as integrating community engagement into each phase of the project cycle. Companies are beginning to adopt a “shared value” approach to provide a key socioeconomic benefit to the community while allowing the company to profitably operate.
Employee Health & Safety
Workforce Health & Safety
Workers involved in exploration and production (E&P) activities face significant health and safety risks due to the harsh working environments and the hazards of handling oil and gas. In addition to acute impacts resulting from accidents, workers may develop chronic health conditions, including those caused by silica or dust inhalation, as well as mental health problems. A significant proportion of the workforce at oil and gas drilling sites consists of temporary workers and employees of Oil and Gas Services companies. Therefore, health impacts on, and the safety performance of, such workers also have impacts on E&P companies. Additional health and safety protocols may be needed to protect women and minorities, particularly when they operate in regions where they continue to face discrimination.
Business Model Resilience
Reserves Valuation & Capital Expenditures
Estimates suggest that exploration and production (E&P) companies may be unable to extract a significant proportion of their proved and probable oil and gas reserves if greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are to be controlled to limit global temperature increases to two degrees Celsius as per the Paris Agreement. Companies with more carbon-intensive reserves and production and higher capital costs are likely to face greater risks. Regulatory limits on GHG emissions, together with improved competitiveness of alternative energy technologies, could lower or reduce the growth in global demand, and therefore reduce prices for oil and gas products. Extraction costs could increase with regulations that put a price on GHG emissions. These factors could affect the economic viability to extract oil and gas reserves. Regulatory actions that are more abrupt than anticipated, or those focusing on industries with high emissions, could impair asset values over a short period of time. Stewardship of capital resources and production decisions that take into account near- and long-term trends related to climate change mitigation actions can help prevent current asset impairment and maintain profitability and creditworthiness.
Business Ethics
Business Ethics & Transparency
Managing business ethics and maintaining an appropriate level of transparency in payments to governments or individuals are significant issues for the exploration and production (E&P) companies. This is due to the importance of government relations to companies’ ability to conduct business in this industry and to gain access to oil and gas reserves. The emergence of several anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and payments-transparency laws and initiatives globally create regulatory mechanisms to reduce certain risks. Violations of these could lead to significant one-time costs or higher ongoing compliance costs, whereas successful compliance with such regulations could provide risk mitigation opportunities and avoid adverse outcomes. Enforcement of these laws could lead to significant one-time costs or higher ongoing compliance costs and even affect a company’s social license to operate. Companies with significant reserves or operations in corruption-prone countries could face heightened risks. Companies are under pressure to ensure that their governance structures and business practices can address corruption and willful or unintentional participation in illegal or unethical payments or gifts to government officials or private persons.
Management of the Legal & Regulatory Environment
Management of the Legal & Regulatory Environment
The Oil & Gas – Exploration & Production industry is subject to numerous sustainability-related regulations and an often rapidly changing regulatory environment. Changes to the legal and regulatory environment may result in material impacts on shareholder value. Companies in the industry regularly participate in the regulatory and legislative process on a wide variety of environmental and societal issues, and may do so directly or through representation by an industry association. Such engagement can result from companies seeking to ensure industry views are represented in the development of regulations impacting the industry as well as to represent shareholder interests. At the same time, such engagement to influence environmental laws and regulations may adversely affect companies’ reputations with stakeholders and ultimately impact the company’s social license to operate. Companies that are able to balance these viewpoints may be better positioned to respond to medium- to long-term regulatory developments.
Critical Incident Risk Management
Critical Incident Risk Management
The exploration and production (E&P) industry faces significant hazards associated with exploration, development, and production activities. Releases of hydrocarbons or other hazardous substances as a result of accidents can also have significant consequences for a company’s workforce, as well as external social and environmental consequences. In addition to effective process safety management practices, companies frequently prioritize developing a culture of safety to reduce the probability that accidents and other health and safety incidents will occur. If accidents and other emergencies do occur, companies with a strong safety culture are often able to more effectively detect and respond to such incidents. A culture that engages and empowers employees and contractors to work with management to safeguard their own health, safety, and well-being and prevent accidents is likely to help companies reduce production downtime, mitigate costs, ensure workforce productivity, and maintain their license to operate. | https://www.sasb.org/standards/materiality-finder/find/?industry%5B%5D=EM-EP&lang=en-us |
The Government of The Bahamas has prepared this national policy for adaptation to climate change. Specifically, it provides an assessment of the degree of vulnerability of The Bahamas to the projected impacts of climate change by sectors; of the capacity for adaptation to anthropogenic climate change; and proposes strategies for anticipating and ameliorating or avoiding the negative impacts. In addition, it examines some of the possible impacts on: coastal and marine resource and fisheries, terrestrial biodiversity resources, agriculture and forestry, human settlements and human health, water resources, the energy and transportation sector, as well as on tourism and the finance and insurance sectors. The policy provides a plan of action for addressing such impacts. | https://www.eldis.org/document/A59860 |
The effort to fight emerging infectious diseases must be holistic
As the coronavirus continues to spread, we bear witness to the unprecedented connectivity that defines our global community. Connections are not restricted to people; they also occur among species and across ecosystems. In this way, the emergence of the coronavirus is a powerful reminder of the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health and the need to view health — and disease — through a holistic, rather than human-centered, lens.
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), particularly those originating in animals, termed “zoonoses” or “zoonotic diseases,” are one of six growing issues of global concern highlighted in the United Nation Environment Programme’s Frontiers 2016 Report. The report estimated that roughly 60 percent of all human infectious diseases and 75 percent of EIDs are zoonotic. Examples include Zika virus, Lyme disease, hantavirus, West Nile virus and Ebola.
The emergence of novel pathogens is not unusual. One new infectious disease in humans is thought to emerge roughly every four months, though not all are serious or well-described. Rodents, primates and bats seem to be especially important hosts or reservoirs of pathogens.
Disease dynamics cannot be understood, nor addressed, by focusing on human health alone. A well-established body of research shows that the risk of EIDs is strongly correlated with environmental, ecological and socioeconomic factors. These factors, acting independently or in concert, can affect the diversity of pathogens in a region, the prevalence of those pathogens in animal populations, the frequency of contact among people, domestic animals and wildlife reservoirs and the spillover and spread of EIDs through human populations.
Human activities, such as wildlife trade, deforestation, urbanization and land conversion, are key drivers of environmental changes that promote and amplify EIDs. Some links are direct and obvious, such as the wildlife trade that moves hundreds of millions of animals around the world to be used as food, in traditional medicine, as pets, or other purposes. But other links are indirect. Logging and road construction in forested regions increase human exposure to wildlife and the infectious pathogens they may harbor. Such loss of biodiversity can reshape entire ecological communities, lead to higher densities of species that may be potent reservoirs of disease, and increase exposure risk because infection prevalence is no longer diluted among host species that vary in susceptibility.
Degraded environments influence social dynamics among people by causing or exacerbating resource scarcity, poverty and conflict. As a result of these shifting social dynamics, EIDs can worsen because of poor sanitary conditions, malnutrition, illness, human displacement, forced migration and the establishment of high-density settlements like refugee camps.
As we now see, the burden of zoonotic EIDs extends far beyond human health. In the last two decades, the direct costs of emerging diseases have been placed at $100 billion, with indirect costs to economies exceeding $200 billion. Projections show costs could have reached trillions of dollars had outbreaks become pandemics. Such economic consequences reverberate through private and public sectors to impact a wide variety of social and environmental programs and investments, as well as carry opportunity costs that are difficult to ascertain. Prevention and mitigation strategies addressing the drivers of EIDs are more cost-effective in the long term, often generating a 10-fold return on investment. Proactive measures must be enacted globally before problems become intractable or cost-prohibitive.
Fortunately we can draw upon insights from recent interdisciplinary initiatives. Many scientists, scholars and practitioners working in the field of One Health, which promotes a holistic approach to environmental, animal, food and human health, have advocated for a variety of policy and governance interventions. These strategies address trade and illegal harvest of wildlife, land use changes that promote the emergence of EIDs and the need for targeted global surveillance to identify novel pathogens. The Planetary Health Alliance is a consortium of universities, NGOs, research institutes and government entities around the world focused on understanding and addressing the health impacts of global environmental change. These and other groups have found strong evidence that disease regulation is an important ecosystem service that remains under appreciated by the public and decision-makers. This issue is likely to be a discussion point at upcoming international congresses like the Convention on Biological Diversity and the IUCN World Conservation Congress.
Coronavirus is neither the first nor last EID pandemic that the global community will face. Although the toll on people and economies will rightfully summon the most attention and action, let’s not overlook the environmental, ecological and social dimensions that underlie the emergence and spread of infectious disease. By looking through the broad lens of One Health, we can see the many, but still missed, opportunities to prevent and reduce the threat of emerging infectious diseases.
Amanda D. Rodewald is the Garvin professor and senior director of conservation science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, faculty in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University and faculty fellow at Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Views expressed in this column are hers alone and do not represent those of these institutions. | https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/486626-the-effort-to-fight-emerging-infectious-diseases-must-be-holistic/ |
Today is an auspicious day to commemorate World Health Day, as the number of cases and severity of Covid-19 have been reduced to manageable levels, thanks to global efforts, especially in vaccine rollouts. However, we are not in the clear yet and emerging variants and infectious diseases compel us to turn to longer-term strategies for building resilience.
The theme Our Planet, Our Health particularly resonates with the Asean. As a region endowed with abundant and unique biodiversity that is crucial to our socio-economic development, the Asean is at the same time vulnerable to new and emerging diseases.
Studies indicate that biodiversity loss appears to be associated with the increasing occurrence of zoonotic diseases. Historically, the region has suffered from outbreaks such as the Nipah virus in 1998, the SARs virus in 2003 and the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza in 1997.
Implicated in these outbreaks are bat species, wild birds, and pangolins known to be natural reservoirs of these viruses. The Southeast Asian region is known to be rich in this wildlife that, if protected and maintained in healthy populations, can keep zoonotic diseases in check.
The Covid-19 crisis surfaced the reliance of public health and well-being on healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity. In response to Covid-19, Asean leaders have underscored the significance of cross-sectoral cooperation in recovering and building resilience. The Asean Comprehensive Recovery Framework articulates broad strategies and identifies measures for recovery in line with sectoral and regional priorities. It enjoins communities and various sectors to collaborate in key areas including ecosystem-based approaches to increase resilience against future pandemics.
The pandemic likewise brought to the fore the need to integrate nature and biodiversity into health plans and programs and a holistic approach to achieving better outcomes for human, animal, and environmental health. Across the region, Asean member states have been implementing species-specific conservation actions, promoting urban biodiversity to build resilience and enhancing synergies—steps that contribute to achieving an integrated approach to address public health issues. Policies and mechanisms for implementing wildlife laws are also in place to help address the illegal and unsustainable use of wildlife at the local, national, and international levels.
Some of the Asean member states’ initiatives include the wildlife disease surveillance program of Malaysia that monitors wildlife diseases through their One Health framework. The links between the human, domestic animal, and wildlife health sectors are coordinated through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Control of Zoonotic Diseases. Similarly, the Philippine Interagency Committee on Zoonoses recognizes the importance of strong coordination between the animal-human-health and environment sectors to prevent and control zoonotic diseases at the national and local levels.
In Vietnam, the Vietnam One Health Partnership for Zoonoses (OHP) was established even before the Covid-19 pandemic, enhancing their capacity and preparedness against zoonotic diseases. Meanwhile, in Singapore, information dissemination is among the priority of the One Health Protocol to ensure that medical practitioners, stakeholders, and the public can make informed decisions and participate in prevention and control.
The One Health approach is now being welcomed as it opens more potential for the Asean—a biodiverse region—to exemplify leadership in underscoring nature’s central role in bouncing back better and building resilience to reduce risks of future pandemics.
As the regional center of excellence, the Asean Center for Biodiversity (ACB) stands to continually support the Asean member states in advocating for an integrated approach toward recovery. With the help of our dialogue and development partners, we contribute to the efforts of the countries in ensuring that biodiversity, including wildlife species and critical ecosystems, is effectively managed to achieve long-term benefits for the health of the people and the planet.
The road toward full recovery will be long and arduous. We draw strength and inspiration from this year’s Asean Summit theme ASEAN ACT: Addressing Challenges Together under the Chairship of Cambodia, which also reflects our symbiotic relationship with nature. We are only strong as we are together, thus we must continue to forge robust linkages to ensure the health of our people and our planet.
The author is the Executive Director of the Asean Centre for Biodiversity. | https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/04/08/protecting-our-one-planet-through-one-health/ |
Recently a number of public officials and commentators have called for a restructuring of the electoral system in Ukraine. Those advocating change contend that the current proportional representation system, closed list, with a single national constituency, grants too much power to party leaders, leaving politicians to answer to the political elite and not voters at large. Reformers advocate a political system with multiple geographic constituencies to address these problems and improve the quality of Ukrainian governance.
Are there advantages in delimiting constituencies?
Delimiting electoral districts does offer some advantages over maintaining a single nationwide constituency for parliamentary elections.
First, electoral districts improve the accountability of representatives to their voters. A major advantage of a districted system is that electoral districts link elected representatives to a smaller, geographically-defined, constituency. This allows voters to hold specific representatives accountable – voting them out of office if they do not act in accordance to voters’ wishes and returning them to office if they do.
Second, electoral districts can ensure broader geographic representation in parliament. Assuming candidates are required to reside in the districts they represent, electoral districts guarantee a level of geographic diversity in the legislative assembly that may not necessarily occur in other systems without such districts. This generally also means more attention will be accorded to regional issues and to constituency service.
Third, electoral districts would permit the use of an open party list – something that is quite difficult to manage administratively with a single national constituency. With constituencies in place the number of seats to fill within each district would be more limited than in the case of a single national constituency. The election ballot would be less cumbersome, and more importantly, the choices would presumably be more meaningful to voters.
But altering the electoral system to include the delimitation of electoral districts has disadvantages associated with it as well. The most compelling argument against delimitation is that a constituency-based system can produce less than proportional election results. For example, a party could have a considerable base of support nationwide, yet fail to win a single district contest. This party (and their supporters) would effectively be shut out of the parliament if there is no other method in place to allocate seats to these minority parties. This can, in fact, be a high cost to pay for a geographic link between constituents and their representatives, especially in an emerging or transitional democracy.
Another disadvantage associated with electoral districts is that these districts must be redrawn, or distribution of seats reallocated, periodically to reflect shifts in the population. These processes require sufficient planning and resources to carry out the task effectively.
Electoral systems that delimit constituencies.
Traditionally, electoral systems have been categorized into three groups: (1) plurality systems, (2) majority systems, and (3) proportional representation systems. The most important element that differentiates these electoral systems from one another is the means by which seats in the legislature are allocated: (1) to candidates receiving a plurality of the vote, (2) to candidates obtaining a majority of the vote, and (3) proportionally on the basis of votes cast for political parties or candidates. A recent addition to these three categories is the mixed electoral system, which combines elements of both proportional representation and plurality or majority voting systems.
Plurality and Majority Systems The delimitation of electoral districts is most commonly associated with plurality and majority electoral systems. Both systems tend to rely heavily, if not exclusively, on single-member electoral districts.
Because of their reliance on single-member districts, the number of seats that a political party receives in these systems depends not only on the proportion of votes it received, but also on where those votes were cast. Under plurality and majority systems, minority political parties whose supporters are not geographically concentrated usually obtain fewer seats than their proportion of the vote would suggest they are entitled. This constitutes the primary disadvantage of these systems: larger parties tend to be over-represented in parliament while smaller political parties and minority groups do not fare particularly well under these systems.
The major advantages associated with plurality and majority systems are that (1) they are usually quite simple to understand; (2) they offer voters a clearly identifiable representative (beholden to a specific geographic area) that can be held accountable and can be called on to provide information and services; and (3) they foster one-party government that can, in certain instances, enhance the opportunity for a stable and decisive government.
Proportional Representation Systems The List Proportional Representation (PR) system is the most common PR system. Under this system, if electoral districts are employed at all, they are relatively large multimember districts with boundaries that generally correspond to administrative divisions. To accommodate shifts in population, the number of seats allocated to individual constituencies is varied rather than redrawing the boundaries of the electoral districts.
List PR requires each party to present a list of candidates to the electorate. Electors vote for a party (or, in the case of an open list, for candidates within a certain party); parties receive seats in proportion to their overall share of the national vote. This is the system currently employed in Ukraine (closed list) and is widely used in continental Europe, as well as Latin America.
PR systems often lead to coalition governments, which can lead to legislative gridlock and the inability to carry out coherent policies.
PR systems offer a platform for small extremist parties (unless a high threshold is set for obtaining a seat in parliament).
Some PR systems are criticized for leaving too much power in the hands of senior party officials (for example, a candidate’s position on the party list, and therefore his or her likelihood of success, is often dependent on one or two party leaders). This is particularly true of a national closed-list PR system.
Mixed Electoral Systems Mixed electoral systems are becoming increasingly popular. They are called “mixed” because they employ both party list proportional representation and single-member (or small multimember) electoral districts, usually with plurality or majority vote requirements. The influence that district configurations have on the outcome of elections is dependent on whether the party list seats are used to correct any distortions in the relationship between votes cast to seats won produced by the single-member districts.
In countries such as Germany and New Zealand, seats allocated under the party list component of the system are used to compensate for any distortions in the seats-to-votes ratio produced at the electoral district level. For example, if a political party were to win 55% of the total vote cast in a parliamentary election but win only 45% of the constituency seats, compensatory seats would be allocated to the party such that the percentage of seats held by that party would total 55% of the assembly seats overall. Mixed systems that use party list seats in a compensatory manner are referred to as "Mixed Member Proportional" systems because the election results are proportional to the party votes cast.
Conclusion: Reforming the electoral system to include electoral districts.
There is no perfect electoral system – major design criteria often conflict with each other or are even mutually exclusive. For example, the choice to include electoral districts in the design can affect electoral outcomes dramatically, especially if political party support is not geographically concentrated. The trade-off between representative accountability and proportional representation must be considered carefully. Serious consideration must be given to prioritizing the criteria that are most important in a given political context.
Not only should any debate in Ukraine on incorporating districts not be taken lightly, it is a debate and decision that must take place well before the scheduled election if the delimitation process is to be carried out as efficiently, accurately, impartially and transparently as possible. | https://www.ifes.org/publications/electoral-systems-and-delimitation-constituencies |
The Pentel/Wallace for Governor and Lt. Governor mandates Proportional Representation for the Minnesota State House of Representatives to ensure fair and equitable representation of the electorate.
What is a Proportional Representation Voting System?
Proportional representation (PR) is a democracy based voting system that ensures the right of fair and equitable representation of voters in proportion to the percentage of votes received. So, if the Minnesota House of Representatives were a 150 member body with 10 seats assigned to one of 15 voting regions and your poticical party received 10% of the vote in your voting region your party would win 1 seat in the House. In essence, PR assures that political parties or candidates will have the percent of legislative seats that reflects their public support through a fair and equitable voice of the electorate. A party or candidate need not come in first to win seats as in a “Winner-Takes-All” voting system, which only allows for 1 seat per district.
In a Proportional Representation voting system, a voter selects a candidate to represent them without fear of “wasting” a vote as their vote regardless of whether or not their candidate comes in first; their electoral voice is fairly and equitably represented in the legislature by a representative number of seats in proportion to the votes received (PR Voting systems are discussed in more detail as found below). This democracy based electoral system is successfully implemented by a majority of the world’s successful democracies (i.e. Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Austria.).And in proportional representative systems there is generally a 75-95% voter turn-out.
What is a”Winner-Takes- All” voting system?
We currently vote in a “winner-takes-all” voting system where the candidate that receives a majority of the vote “wins” and those in the minority lose. For example, if the electorate votes 49.999% for candidate A and 50.001% for candidate B in a given district, candidate B wins. In other words, the voters representing 49.999% of the electorate receive no representation in the legislature as the representative acquiring 50.001% becomes your elected “voice” of majority. Because of this engineered voting system phenomenon, we are often forced to vote for the “best of the worse” (we vote for a candidate that we do not fully support) in fear that our vote may be “wasted” or, worse yet, we refuse to vote as we do not feel represented by the candidates. As a result, of all the worlds’ democracies, the United States has one of the lowest percentages of voters participating in elections and we do not have fair and equitable representation of the people in our legislature. The existing system of “winner-takes-all” is obsolete, Proportional Representation resolves this by ensuring fair and equitable representation of the electorate.
I know Proportional Representation ensures fair and equitable representation of the electorate, but how does it work?
Of the many PR voting systems, the following briefly discusses the most common and how they work:
List System - The most widely used form of PR, a voter selects one party and its slate of candidates to represent them. Party slates can be either “closed” or “open,” allowing voters to indicate a preference for individual candidates. If a party receives 25% of the vote, they receive 25% of the seats in the legislature, 9% of the vote receives 9% of the seats, and so on. A minimum share of the votes may be required to earn representation; typically a 5% threshold is used. This type of PR is ideal for large legislatures on state and national levels.
Mixed Member System (MM) - This PR hybriid elects half the legislature from single-seat, “winner-take-all” districts and the other half by the List System.
Preference Voting (PV) Or, is also known as Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)- A voter simply ranks candidates in an order of preference (1,2,3,4, etc…). Once a voter’s first choice is elected or eliminated, excess votes are “transferred” to subsequent preferences until all positions are filled. Voters can vote for their favorite candidate(s), knowing that if that candidate doesn’t receive enough votes their vote will “transfer” to their next preference. Preference voting is ideal for non-partisan elections (i.e. city councils.).
How might PR be of use to us?
PR is proven to assist in the breaking of political impasse on important yet difficult issues (i.e. Environmental health, health care, and social security.) through the inclusion of full electorate representation (small party representation) which allows new ideas and views to be heard. In essence, PR does not allow for ideological bias as small parties are allowed to be represented and, as a result, are capable of facilitating a greater and more informed discussion on policy issues and options thereby enhancing the ability to reach sound, equitable consensus; your electoral voice is heard and decisions are made “all for one and one for all”. For example, Germany’s PR voting system resulted in representation from the “German Greens”. The German Greens, never winning a single district election and receiving less than 10% of the electoral vote, raised numerous perspectives and positions that, initially in the minority, received national consensus.
So How Do We Change From “Winner-Take-All” to PR, fulfilling a democratic promise of “one person, one vote”?
PR is implemented through a simple vote of the legislature and/or through voter initiative in Charter or Home Rule Cities. For example, Minneapolis which is now electing local officials using Ranked Choice Voting, and St. Paul where the voters have approved the use of Ranked Choice Voting for future municipal elections. By building, supporting, and voting for Ecology Democracy Party representatives, such as Ken Pentel and Erin Wallace, political will is immediately mobilized to elect the Minnesota House of Representatives through a voting system of proportional representation; ensuring democracy through fair and equitable representation.
Where Can I Learn More About Proportional Representation?
Real Choices, New Voices. Douglas Amy; Columbia University Press, 1993.
Tyranny of the Majority. Lani Guinier, 1994.
Electoral Systems and Party Systems Professor Arend Lijphart; Oxford University Press, 1994.
United States Electoral Systems: Their Impact on Women and Minorities. editors Dr. Wilma Rule and Dr. Joseph Zimmerman; Praeger Publishers, 1992.
Voting and Democracy Report, 1995. CVD’s survey of electoral reforms.
Dubious Democracy: 1994 U.S. House Elections. CVD’s ground-breaking statistical analysis showing reasons for low voter turnout
“A Radical Plan to Change American Politics” by Michael Lind, Atlantic Monthly, August 1992.
Choosing an Electoral System, edited by Arend Lijphart and Bernard Grofman, Praeger Press, 1984.
The Power to Elect, Enid Lakeman, Heinemann Press, 1982.
Seats and Votes, Rein Taagepera and Matthew Shugart; Yale Univ Press, 1989.
PR: The Key to Democracy, George Hallett; National Municipal League, 1940. Considerations on Representative Government, John Stuart Mill; Park, Son and Bourn, 1861.
Women, Elections and Representation, by Robert Darcy, Susan Welch and Janet Clark; Longman Press, 1987. | http://kenpentel.org/proportionalRepresentation.php |
Mixed-member proportional representation, also termed mixed-member proportional voting and commonly abbreviated to MMP, is a voting system originally used to elect representatives to the German Bundestag, and nowadays adopted by numerous legislatures around the world. MMP is similar to other forms of proportional representation (PR) in that the overall total of party members in the elected body is intended to mirror the overall proportion of votes received; it differs by including a set of members elected by geographic constituency who are deducted from the party totals so as to maintain overall proportionality. It is similar to the additional member system used in the United Kingdom, but the AMS system has no overhang seats (see below).
MMP is known as personalized proportional representation in Germany, where it is used on the federal level and on most state levels, the Länder. In Quebec, where an MMP model was studied in 2007, it is called the compensatory mixed-member voting system (système mixte avec compensation or SMAC). New Zealand adopted MMP to elect its House of Representatives in 1993, and the use of the system is currently under review by a referendum on 26 November 2011.
Contents
Procedures
In most models the voter casts two votes: one for a constituency representative and one for a party. If a candidate is on the party list, but wins a constituency seat, they do not receive two seats; they are instead crossed off the party list and replaced with the next candidate down. In the original variant used at first in Germany, still used by two States of Germany until 2010, both votes were combined into one, so that voting for a representative automatically means also voting for the representative's party. Most of Germany changed to the two-vote variant to make local MPs more personally accountable; the state of NorthRhine-Westphalia finally made the change in 2010. Voters can vote for the local person they prefer for local MP without regard for party affiliation, since the partisan make-up of the legislature is determined only by the party vote. In the 2005 New Zealand election, 20% of local MPs were elected from electorates (constituencies) which gave a different party a plurality of votes.
In Bavaria the second vote is not simply for the party but for one of candidates on the party's regional list: Bavaria uses seven regions for this purpose. A regional open-list method was also recommended for the United Kingdom by the Jenkins Commission and for Canada by the Law Commission of Canada.
In Baden-Württemberg there are no lists; they use the "best near-winner" method in a four-region model, where the regional members are the local candidates of the under-represented party in that region who received the most votes in their local constituency without being elected in it.
In each constituency, the representative is chosen using a single winner method, typically first-past-the-post (that is, the candidate with the most votes, by plurality, wins).
Calculation methods
At the regional or national level (i.e. above the constituency level) several different calculation methods have been used, but the basic characteristic of the MMP is that the total number of seats in the assembly, including the single-member seats and not only the party-list ones, are allocated to parties proportionally to the number of votes the party received in the party portion of the ballot. This can be done by the largest remainder method or a highest averages method: either the D'Hondt method or the Sainte-Laguë method. Subtracted from each party's allocation is the number of constituency seats that party won, so that the additional seats are compensatory (top-up). If a party wins more FPTP seats than the proportional quota received by the party-list vote, these surplus seats become overhang seats to restore a full proportionality.
Overhang seatsSee also: Overhang seat
When a party wins more constituency seats than it would be entitled to from its proportion of (party list) votes, overhang seats can occur.
In Germany's Bundestag and the New Zealand House of Representatives, all these constituency members keep their seats. For example, in New Zealand's 2005 General Election the Māori Party won 2.1% of the Party Vote, which would entitle them to 3 seats in the House, but won 4 constituency seats, leaving an overhang of 1 seat, which resulted in a 121-member house. If the party vote for the Māori Party had been more in proportion with the constituency seats won, there would have been a normal 120-member house.
In most German states, the other parties receive extra seats ("balance seats") to create full proportionality. For example, the provincial parliament (Landtag) of North Rhine Westphalia has, instead of the usual 50% compensatory seats, only 29% unless more are needed to balance overhangs. If a party wins more local seats than its proportion of the total vote justifies, the size of the Landtag increases so that the total outcome is fully proportional to the votes, with other parties receiving additional list seats to achieve that.
ThresholdSee also: Election threshold
As in numerous proportional systems, in order to be eligible for list seats in many MMP models, a party must earn at least a certain percentage of the total party vote, or no candidates will be elected from the party list. Candidates having won a constituency will still have won their seat. In Germany and New Zealand the threshold is 5%, in Bolivia 3%. A party can also be eligible for list seats if it wins at least three constituency seats in Germany, or at least one in New Zealand. Having a member with a 'safe' constituency seat is therefore a tremendous asset to a minor party in New Zealand.
Use
Current use
MMP is currently in use in:
- Germany
- Bundestag, the federal parliament (see Electoral system of Germany)
- all state parliaments except Saarland, Bremen and Hamburg, but it is being introduced in Hamburg, see Hamburg Voting System.
- New Zealand
- House of Representatives, unicameral (see Electoral system of New Zealand)
- United Kingdom
- Scotland, Wales, and the London Assembly.
- Bolivia implemented MMP in elections for its lower house in 1994.
- Venezuela adopted MMP in 1990.
- Lesotho adopted MMP in 2002.
Proposals for use
In March 2004 the Law Commission of Canada proposed a system of MMP, with only 33% of MPs elected from regional open lists, for the Canadian House of Commons but Parliament’s consideration of the Report in 2004-5 was stopped after the 2006 election.
A proposal to adopt MMP with closed province-wide lists for elections to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island was defeated in a plebiscite there on November 28, 2005.
In 2007 the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform in Ontario, Canada, also recommended the use of MMP in future elections to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, with a ballot similar to New Zealand's, and with the closed province-wide lists used in New Zealand but with only 30% compensatory members. A binding referendum on the proposal, held in conjunction with the provincial election on 10 October 2007, saw it defeated.
For further details on the recent proposals in Ontario, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island, see Andre Barnes and James R. Robertson, Electoral Reform Initiatives in Canadian Provinces, Library of Parliament, revised 2009-08-18.
Potential for tactical voting
In systems with a threshold, tactical voting for a minor party that is predicted to poll close to or slightly below the threshold is relatively common. Some voters may be afraid the minor party will poll below the threshold, and that that would weaken the larger political camp that the minor party belongs to. For example the German moderate-right Free Democratic Party (FDP) has often received votes from voters who preferred the larger Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, because they feared that if the FDP received less than 5% of the votes, the CDU would have no parliamentary allies and would be unable to form a government on its own. The FDP and other smaller parties campaigned to lower the threshold to the 4% used in Sweden, Norway and Austria. This campaign might have succeeded but for the fear of resurgence of neo-Nazi parties. This tactical voting also ensures that votes are not wasted, but at the cost of giving the FDP more seats than CDU voters would ideally have preferred.
Similarly, in New Zealand, some voters who preferred a large party have voted for the minor party's local candidate to ensure it qualifies for seats (e.g. Epsom in 2008). In this case the tactic maintained proportionality by bypassing the 5% threshold.
In terms of tactical voting, the vote for the constituency representative is normally much less important than the party vote in determining the overall result of an election; but in some cases a party may be so certain of winning seats in the constituency elections that it expects no extra seats in the proportional top-up. Some voters may therefore seek to achieve double representation by voting tactically for another party in the regional vote, as a vote for their preferred party in the regional vote would be wasted. However this runs the risk of unintended consequences. Also, this tactic does not work in those German states which add "balance seats"; since those states maintain full proportionality even when a party wins too many constituency seats. This tactic is not prevalent in good MMP models with enough extra seats: in Germany and the German states, generally 50% of the seats are "list seats", in Scotland 43%, in New Zealand 42.5%. Where there is a ratio of less than 30%, the model may be considered "MMP-lite". In Albania where they were only 28.6% of the total, this was so low that the two main parties expected no extra seats, and both started voting for allied minor parties with their party votes. This became so severe that it totally distorted the working of the model. Rather than increase the number of "list seats" or allow additional "overhang" seats, Albania recently decided to change to a pure-list system.
See also
- Leveling seat
- List of democracy and elections-related topics
- Voting system
- Proportional representation
- Open list
- Closed list
References
- ^ "Reform of the voting system". Le Directeur général des élections du Québec. 2007-12-21. http://www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/english/provincial/media/reform-of-the-voting-system.php. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
- ^ Mayorga, René Antonio (2003), "Electoral Reform in Bolivia: Origins of the Mixed-Member Proportional System", in Shugart, Matthew Søberg; Wattenberg, Martin P., Mixed-member electoral systems : the best of both worlds?, Oxford Scholarship Online Monographs, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 194–209, ISBN 9780199257683, http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/oso/535999/2003/00000001/00000001/art00012
- ^ Law Commission of Canada (2004-03-31). "Voting Counts: Electoral Reform for Canada". ISBN 0-662-36426-0. http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/J31-61-2004E.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
- ^
Further reading
- Malone, R. 2008. Rebalancing the Constitution: The Challenge of Government Law-Making under MMP. Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington: Wellington, New Zealand.
- Mudambi, R. and Navarra, P. 2004. Electoral Strategies in Mixed Systems of Representation. European Journal of Political Economy, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 227–253.
- Shugart, S. Matthew and Martin P. Wattenberg, (2000a), "Mixed-Member Electoral Systems: A Definition and Typology", in Shugart, S. Matthew and Martin P. Wattenberg (2000). Mixed-Member Electoral Systems: The Best of Both Worlds?" Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 9-24.
- Massicotte Louis and Andre Blais, (1999), "Mixed Electoral Systems: A Conceptual and Empirical Survey", Electoral Studies, Vol. 18, 341-366.
External linksCategories:
- Party-list PR
- Mixed electoral systems
- Proportional representation electoral systems
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. | https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11569235 |
# 2010 Burgenland state election
The 2010 Burgenland state election was held on 30 May 2010 to elect the members of the 20th Landtag of Burgenland.
The governing Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) narrowly lost its majority, while the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and List Burgenland (LBL) made gains. Governor Hans Niessl was returned for a third term.
## Background
Prior to amendments made in 2014, the Burgenland constitution mandated that cabinet positions in the state government (state councillors, German: Landesräten) be allocated between parties proportionally in accordance with the share of votes won by each; this is known as Proporz. As such, the government was a perpetual coalition of all parties that qualified for at least one state councillor.
In the 2005 election, the SPÖ won an absolute majority with 52.2% of votes.
## Electoral system
The 36 seats of the Landtag of Burgenland are elected via open list proportional representation in a two-step process. The seats are distributed between seven multi-member constituencies, corresponding to the seven districts of Burgenland (the statutory cities of Eisenstadt and Rust are combined with Eisenstadt-Umgebung District). Apportionment of the seats is based on the results of the most recent census.
For parties to receive any representation in the Landtag, they must either win at least one seat in a constituency directly, or clear a 4 percent state-wide electoral threshold. Seats are distributed in constituencies according to the Hare quota, with any remaining seats allocated using the D'Hondt method at the state level, to ensure overall proportionality between a party's vote share and its share of seats.
In addition to voting for a political party, voters may cast preferential votes for specific candidates of that party, but are not required to do so. These additional votes do not affect the proportional allocation based on the vote for the party or list, but can change the rank order of candidates on a party's lists at the state and constituency level. Voters may cast one preferential vote at the state level, or three at the constituency level. A voter may not cross party-lines to cast a preference vote for a candidate of another party; such preference votes are invalid.
## Contesting parties
In addition to the parties already represented in the Landtag, one party collected enough signatures to be placed on the ballot.
List Burgenland (LBL) | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Burgenland_state_election |
The Parliament of Sri Lanka has 225 member seats. The 22 electoral districts elect 196 seats. Each party receives seats in proportion to the votes it received in that district. The remaining 29 seats are the “national list”. Each party receives national list seats, in proportion to the votes it receives islandwide.
At first glance, it might seem that our proportional representation system is indeed “proportional”. The reality is different. And that is what this article discusses.
District Level Disproportionalities
The Puttalam electoral district has 8 seats. In the 2015 general election, the UNP got 180,185 votes, the UPFA 153,130 votes, while other parties got 24,193 votes.
If we were to allocate the 8 seats exactly proportionally, the UNP, UPFA and Others would get 4.03, 3.43 and 0.54 seats respectively. Since we can’t allocate fractions of seats, we could round these numbers to get 4, 3 and 1. This might seem like a fair allocation.
In reality, the UNP got 5 seats, the UPFA 3 seats, and no seats were allocated to the other parties. There are three reasons for the “unfairness”.
The Bonus Seat
First, according to our constitution, the party with the highest votes of each electoral district gets a “bonus seat”. Hence, the UNP got 1 bonus seat. Thus, even if a party is “highest” by just one extra vote, it gets a bonus seat.
The 5% Limit
Second, parties receiving less than 5% of the vote, don’t qualify for seats. Hence, none of the “Other” parties (all of which got less than 5%) got seats. It also means that the parties that do end up getting more than 5% need fewer votes per seat.
The remaining seats after allocating the bonus (In Puttalam’s case, 7), are allocated proportionally to the parties that have more than 5% of the total vote, using the “Largest remainder method”.
The Largest Remainder Method works as follows:
- Step 1. Each party is allocated a rounded-down whole number of proportional votes
- Step 2. The remaining votes are allocated to the party or parties with the largest remainder
For example, excluding the “Others” and dividing proportionally, the UNP and UPFA should get 3.78 and 3.22 seats respectively. Hence, each is first assigned 3 seats each.
This leaves remainders of 0.78 and 0.22 for the UNP and UPFA, and one remaining seat. Since the UNP has the highest remainder, it is assigned the remaining 1 seat.
Rounding Luck
Hence, thirdly, because of rounding, a party could get a lucky round-up, or an unlucky round-down.
The final effect is that the UNP got a seat for every 36,037 votes, and the UPFA got one for every 51,043. The others, despite getting 24,193 votes, got no seats.
National Level Disproportionalities
The recently concluded 2019 presidential election had 15,992,096 registered voters. Hence, we could expect the 196 electoral district seats to be allocated for every 81,592 votes. However, if we compare “registered voters/seat” across districts, there are significant differences.
At one extreme, Gampaha district has 97,327 voters per seat. At the other, the Vanni district has 47,020 per seat, or less than half of Gampaha. Overall, we notice districts with small populations have fewer voters per seat.
What is the reason for this difference?
Not all the 196 seats are allocated to electoral districts in proportion to voter population. Only 160 are. The remaining 36 are equally allocated to each of the 9 provinces. Or 4 per province.
Hence, the Western province (with over 4M registered voters) and the Northern province (with 800K registered voters), gets the same 4 seats each.
Thus, it is easier (i.e. you need fewer voters) to win a seat in a smaller province.
An Alternative (but currently unconstitutional) Allocation
If we assigned the 196 in proportion to the district’s registered voters (using the same Largest Remainder Method), the allocation of seats would be as follows:
The smaller districts would have fewer seats. The larger would have more. And the ones in the middle would have no change. But the Voters/Seat is much fairer.
A Hypothetical Example
(Not a prediction for the next general election)
Suppose the next general election has the same results (party-wise) as the recently concluded presidential election. Also, suppose we are generous and assign all the “Other” votes to the JVP (very generous).
Then, by our current not-so proportional representation scheme, each party would receive the following numbers of seats.
By our alternative properly proportional scheme:
Concluding thoughts
I’m not sure what the thinking behind the “bonus” and the 36 seats for the provinces was. Either way, these asymmetries seem to cause some unfairnesses. Though, it is unclear (to me) how significant these are. | https://srilankabrief.org/not-so-proportional-representation-on-sri-lankan-parliamentary-election-nuwan-i-senaratna/ |
Last week, Hizbullah chief Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah announced his party’s support for an electoral law based on a single national district. In the past, the main champion of this idea has been Speaker Nabih Berri, but there has never been an occasion to take the possibility seriously since Lebanon’s electoral laws have generally not departed drastically from precedent.
This year is different. We’ve seen the biggest political parties get behind some outlandish (dare I say unorthodox) schemes. The Christians support a single-district formula that would forbid citizens from voting for anyone but a member of their own sect. The Sunni Future Movement has floated the idea of a bicameral legislature. And the largest Shiite party has now put forward a “compromise” solution in the form of a single district with no forced confessional voting.
It seems a safe bet that Hizbullah’s proposal is dead in the water. The Future Movement is unlikely to go for it because they’ll lose seats to Hizbullah under any large district proportional representation model, and the Christians won’t go for it because it maximizes the number of Christian MPs elected by non-Christian voters. What Nasrallah is proposing, in fact, is the exact opposite of what Aoun has proposed, which says something interesting about these two allies’ respective visions of the country.
But even though the proposal is unlikely to go anywhere, I thought I’d present some observations on what a single national district model might engender. I am indebted to the wisdom of a very savvy expert who would prefer to remain anonymous.
1. What kind of proportional representation are we talking about?
As several commentators have snarkily remarked, it’s a little ironic that Nasrallah’s ideal electoral law resembles the system that exists in Israel (but also recently in Jordan and also in Palestine in 2006). In those contexts, the system used is called “Closed List PR,” which means that parties are responsible for ranking their own candidates on a list. Voters basically just go to the polls and cast a single vote for one of the various national lists that are running. Seats are allocated to the various lists in proportion to the votes won. The specific candidates that are chosen from the winning lists are determined by the list’s own ranking of those candidates.
In Lebanon, however, all proposals so far have been for “Open List PR,” where voters choose their favored list but may also give a preferential vote to a specific candidate on that list. Seats are allocated to lists on a proportional basis, but seats are allocated to candidates in the order that they received preferential votes. This approach gives the voters, not the party, the power to determine who wins a seat on a list.
What’s the impact of this in practice? As my informant suggests:
There are some technical aspects (imagine the size of a ballot paper for Open List for just 2 lists with 128 candidates each). But the major impact is on how parties prepare lists and campaign. For a Closed List, how do you get someone to agree to be 128th, , or even 40th on a list when there is an absolute certainty of not winning? Who would Aoun choose to be a number 2? This system requires a very different approach to party politics (one that is disciplined and/or democratic) that Lebanon lacks but for one major exception [i.e. Hizbullah]. It also means campaigns are funded by parties/heads of lists/members/donors and not by candidates themselves. Open List creates a different dynamic, as it often means that there’s an internal contest within the list (‘Vote for List A but for me, and not for him’). There’s also the problem of popular leaders, who may win the vast majority of the preferential voters cast on a list, which means that some of that list’s candidates may win a seat despite only winning very few preferential votes.
The short answer is that Nasrallah probably supports Closed List PR but has not yet been distinct on the matter.
2. Confessional Quotas
In order to maintain a system of confessional quotas within a single national district, you need a special methodology. First, each list would have to contain every confession that has a seat in proportion to the number of seats for each confession (i.e. you could not have a list with more than one Armenian Catholic). Second, there would need to be a mechanism to allocate seats so that it is not just done in terms of the rank order or preferential order, but where there is a rule that a candidate would be skipped if that confession was previously filled.
In other words, it would be possible for a Greek Catholic candidate (for example) to be elected with fewer votes than a Maronite candidate on the same list if all the Maronite spots had already been filled by candidates who won even more votes than the guy who would be passed over by the Greek Catholic. I have a great diagram someplace that explains this…
The problem is that in Lebanon there is also the constitutional requirement that the Parliament represent the country both confessionally and geographically, which has traditionally meant that each confessional seat is tied to a specific district. In other words, it’s not just 34 Maronite seats to be included as a quota but 1 Maronite from Akkar, 3 from Zghorta etc.
Each PR proposal so far has maintained this connection which in effect creates a ‘double quota’, and that is incredibly hard to manage within PR lists for a single national district unless there are requirements for each list to have ‘A Maronite from Akkar’, ‘An Alawite from Akkar’, etc. It’s not clear if Nasrallah is envisaging that there would be such lists, or if he’d support scrapping the district connection altogether.
3. Thresholds
The results of a PR system can be significantly impacted by the election threshold adopted. The common wisdom is that a lower threshold makes it easier for non-mainstream candidates to get elected (which is often code for “liberals and radicals”). My informant clarifies:
You don’t need a threshold as PR always creates a natural threshold with the electoral quotient (e.g. in 2009, to win a seat: 1,734,029 voter turnout divided by 128 seats = 13,548 electoral quotient. It’s worth noting that Lady Geagea won a seat with just 13,066 in 2009.) But a threshold is useful to ensure that there are not too many small parties. Israel now has a 2% threshold above which a party qualifies for a seat. In 2009, that would have meant a list would need 34,680 to win a seat. That’s more than what Aoun got to win a seat in Kerswan.
4. Full Lists or Partial Lists?
One issue that always comes up in discussions of single national districts is whether one would have to field a full list in order to compete in the election. Obviously, putting together a list of 128 candidates is a very difficult thing to do for any organization that is not already a mainstream political party. This is why in many countries with single-district PR systems, you do not need to submit a full list. In Lebanon, however, the confessional quotas create complexities for allowing partial lists.
These are just some of the issues that should be discussed in any national conversation about a single national district. | https://qifanabki.com/2013/03/02/exploring-the-implications-of-a-single-national-district/ |
Electoral Reform is the reform to a new electoral system to more accurately represent or translate societies desires from the vote.
Single Member Plurality
Currently, Canada uses a single member plurality electoral system, also known as first-past-the-post. This system allows the person and party with the majority of the votes to gain a majority of the seats in government. In Canada, there are 338 seats up for election in the House of Commons.
Benefits
This system is designed to create majority governments and is a very stable form of government because a single party is able to advocate on behalf of Canadian citizens. There is a minimal amount of decisions of policy that require cooperation from two or more parties because the majority is able to pass policy and govern without the absolute support of the opposition parties.
Criticisms
Single member plurality or first-past-the-post permits artificial majorities from mere plurality and so those parties get to govern Canada as though they got the support of most voters. The seats afforded to the party that received the majority does not accurately reflect the Canadian vote which creates a vote to seat distortion. Single member plurality systems also favour larger, more commonly know parties (ie. Liberals and Conservatives) which underrepresent women and minorities. Some have gone so far as to say that single member plurality no longer fits with Canadas democratic values.
In the 2015 Canadian Federal election, the Liberal party of Trudeau received 39.5% or votes yet the Liberal party was awarded 54% (184 seats) of the total seats. The Federal Green party of Canada received 3% of the votes yet 0% of the seats. Single member plurality might create stable governments however, it does not accurately represent the multitude of diverse beliefs of Canada from the vote.
Proportional Representation
Proportional Representation allows parties to nominate a list of candidates rather than just one. Proportional representation systems do not often produce majority governments but instead, cooperative governments that must work across party lines to ensure the government functions properly. The vote to seat ratio is almost at parity which means if a party were to receive 30% of the vote, they would receive roughly 30% of the seats.
Benefits
Parties are able to nominate lists of candidates and not just single candidates which allows for more choice in diversity of candidates to vote for. The elected government more closely represents the way society voted; if a party receives 30% of the vote, they receive 30% of the seats
Criticisms
Under proportional representation electoral systems, it is seldom that a majority government be elected. It is argued that governments that do not have a majority are less stable and harder to manage because parties must work more closely together to collectively decide matters for their citizens.
What Does Electoral Reform to Proportional Representation Mean for Minority Groups?
Electoral reform to proportional representation would allow for more minority groups involvement and intersectional representation directly in government. In proportional representation systems, parties are allowed to nominate lists of candidates rather than just one. Parties are then able to create specific measures within their party on how to create their lists of nominees. These measures can involve clauses that designate that 30% of the list must be women or of a visible minority, for example. As these lists of nominees become more diverse, women and men have more opportunity to vote for other women and gain further female representation in the political sphere. These specific clauses allow for women and visible minorities to be elected in greater numbers than any other electoral system. Women gained more seats in parliamentary chambers using proportional representation (18.3% on average) compared to 13.8% for those using majority or plurality electoral systems, such as Canada. The large majority of top twenty countries with the highest number of female representation use proportional representation.
In governments and elections where there is more descriptive representation of race, ethnicity and gender, political involvement increases. Proportional representation systems allow for more descriptive representation of intersectional diversity and thus create more political involvement. On average, women are more likely to vote for women candidates in elections. However, the majority of these studies do not account for other intersections attributing to women's voting patterns. Other studies demonstrate that gender is not always the most significant identity trait for determining who a demographic is most likely to vote for. White women typically prioritize gender over race when voting for a candidate. On the other hand, African Americans, men and women alike, are more likely to vote for an African American candidate rather than a candidate with the same gender identity. Women on average are also more likely to support social policy and the welfare state however this study did not account for intersections in women's identities.
Conclusion
Electoral Reform to proportional representation in Canada would positively benefit Canadian Society. Proportional representation translates the votes to a proportional number of seats (unlike single member plurality). Proportional representation also allows parties to nominate lists of candidates rather than one single candidate. Nominating lists of candidates allows for more diversity and intersectional representation. Parties are also able to create clauses that make representation of women and minorities mediatory in their lists of nominees. With more descriptive representation of intersectional candidates, political participation increases. As political participation increases, so will the numbers of intersectional people, men and women, be elected into government. Electoral reform to proportional representation in Canada will benefit people of all intersections by increasing representation and diversifying governmental policy.
Also See
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Election Results". CBC News. October 2015.
- ↑ Couture, Liz (2014). "Proportional Representation: Redeeming the Democratic Deficit". The Innovation Journal. 19.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Furi, Megan (Summer 2004). "Voting Counts: Electoral Reform for Canada". Canadian Parliamentary Review. 27: 40–41.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Ballington, Julie (2008). "Equality in Politics: A Survey of Women and Men in Parliaments" (PDF). United Nations Report. Inter-Parliamentary Union.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Scola, Becki; Uhlander, Carole Jean (2015). "Collective Representation as a Mobilizer: Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Their Intersections at the State Level". State Politics & Policy Quarterly. 2: 227–263.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Goodyear-Grant, Elizabeth; Croskill, Julie (2011). "Gender Affinity Effects in Vote Choice in Westminster Systems: Assessing "Flexible" Voters in Canada". Politics & Gender. 7. | https://wiki.ubc.ca/GRSJ224/ElectoralReform |
Mr James Selfe presented his private Member’s Electoral Amendment Bill, which sought to change South Africa’s electoral system from one based on proportional representation (PR) and fixed lists, to a mixed system. He noted that this was similar to a system proposed by the Slabbert Commission in 2003 and to one mooted by the 2009 Independent Panel of Assessment of Parliament, which would attempt to capture the benefits of both the constituency-based and proportional representation electoral system. The advantages and disadvantages of the systems were outlined. The PR system had advantages of being easy to understand, perceived as widely fair and representative of the will of voters, and being largely immune to manipulation. However, it also had weaknesses, most notably the lack of accountability to voters, who often did not know who “their” MP was, and no sense of personal connection between voters and parliamentarians, which led to disengagement, cynicism, and low voter turn-out. Ward Councillors or those who were elected directly by voters had a greater status in constituencies. The Constituency system, on the other hand, established a direct link between one MP and his or her constituents. The disadvantages of this system were that it was possible to have a member elected with less than 50% of the vote, and it was not in compliance with section 46(1)(d) of the Constitution that specifically referred to “proportional representation”. For these reasons, a “mixed system” was therefore proposed, whereby 100 constituencies would be represented by three MPs elected by proportional representation, filling the first 300 seats in the National Assembly (NA). A “top-up” of 100 seats would be allocated so that the overall composition of the NA reflected the proportion of votes cast by the electorate for parties as closely as possible. This proposal would apply only to the national legislature. Absent and special voters (including inmates of correctional centres) would be guaranteed opportunities to vote.
Members The Members were primarily concerned that proportionality would be compromised under the proposed system. They asked if smaller parties would be excluded through this system, and expressed concern that supporters of the smaller parties may feel that there was no point in participating because their party did not stand a chance of winning. They wondered if proper proportionality could be better achieved if there were 200 top up seats rather than 100, although some made the point that the numbers made little difference and it was accountability and work done that were the main issues. Some Members felt that the electoral system itself could not ensure accountability; this could only be done by the political parties. Others thought that the proposed system was too complicated and potentially confusing for voters. They were worried that the constituencies would be very large, which would reduce the voter-to-MP contact, instead of promoting it. Members asked if the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) could comment on how practical this model was to achieve, particularly for South Africans living aboard, and on the implications of clause 3(c), which related to voting of inmates, as also whether there would be differences experienced between urban and rural voters. However, since the IEC was attending this meeting as an observer, it was decided that its opinion and comment be deferred to a subsequent meeting, to allow the IEC, and Members, to reflect further on the proposals. Members also pointed out that there was no costing, but the proposer said that he did not imagine that the cost would be substantially different from the running of municipal elections. They further asked for details on how exactly the MPs would campaign, whether there would be individual posters, and whether the voters would not be confused at the ballot box.
Mr James Selfe, MP, thanked the Committee for the opportunity to present his private member’s Bill, and congratulated the Committee Researcher on the excellent background research he had done, which was contained in a report circulated to members (but not made available during the meeting). The Researcher’s report had outlined some of the dilemnas surrounding the choice of electoral system, which were particularly valid for South Africa’s young democracy.
Mr Selfe’s Electoral Amendment Bill was introduced against a background of South Africa’s proportional representation (PR) and fixed-list system. The 400 members in the National Assembly (NA) were allocated according to the exact proportion of votes that parties obtained in the election. Each party had a ranked list, to determine which of its candidates were elected to the NA.
Mr Selfe noted that the PR system had undoubted advantages. It was easy to understand and widely perceived to be fair, it was said to almost exactly reflect the will of the voters, it was substantially inclusive of small parties, and it was substantially immune to manipulation. At the same time it did have undoubted weaknesses. The most significant of these was the lack of accountability to the voters. South Africans often did not know who "their" Member of Parliament (MP) was, which led to disengagement, cynicism, and low voter turn-out. There was no sense of personal connection between the voters and their MPs. MPs had no particular rights or entitlements to do work in their constituencies, other than being a member of the National Assembly. Ward Councillors or those who were elected directly by voters had a greater status in constituencies.
Any constituency system would have to conform to this prescription. A pure single-member constituency system was highly unlikely to result in proportional representation. Accordingly there would need to be a “mixed system” of constituencies and a list, in order to guarantee proportionality. There were various different ways in which this could be achieved.
The Slabbert Commission of 2003 suggested 69 multi-member constituencies, who would return between three and seven members each, electing 300 MPs in total. A further 100 representatives would be “allocated from national lists to restore overall proportionality”. Both constituency and national lists would be closed, so that the parties would determine the order of candidates to be elected. This Commission had suggested transitional arrangements for the 2004 elections, in which there would be 200 MPs from nine provincial “constituencies” and 200 MPs from national lists.
In 2009 the Independent Panel of Assessment of Parliament, chaired by Pregs Govender, which also included current Speaker, Max Sisulu, took the view that the current electoral system should be replaced by a mixed system which attempted to capture the benefits of both the constituency-based and proportional representation electoral system.
The system used for municipal elections was similar to that used in some countries, such as Germany, for national elections. The Municipal Structures Act (1998) provided for same number of ward and list councillors. It would be possible to use a similar 200/200 system for the National Assembly. However, there were a number of problems with this. Constituencies would consist of around 118 275 voters, which was too large a number of voters to service effectively. It would be very difficult to achieve overall proportionality, as required by the Constitution, and might lead to the exclusion of minority parties that enjoyed neither geographic concentration of support nor the required threshold of support to guarantee the election of list candidates.
The Electoral Amendment Bill sought to achieve what the Slabbert Commission had called “core values of fairness, inclusiveness and simplicity”. The Bill proposed 100 constituencies, each to be represented by three MPs elected by proportional representation, thereby filling the first 300 seats in the National Assembly. A “top-up” of 100 seats would be allocated so that the overall composition of the National Assembly reflected the proportion of votes cast by the electorate for parties as closely as possible.
Mr Selfe illustrated how this would work in practice, using the number of registered voters for the 2011 Local Government Election as an example.
He then described the election process. The Electoral Commission would demarcate constituencies, as it did voting districts at the time. Each constituency would have substantially the same number of voters and would not be allowed to straddle provincial boundaries. Every party contesting constituencies would submit a list of names of five candidates, in ranked order, for that constituency. These names and the logo of the party would appear on the ballot paper for that constituency, but voters would still vote for a party.
The MPs from a constituency would be elected using the same PR system that was used at the time to elect the regional list MPs. If a casual vacancy occurred in a constituency, it would be filled by the next person on that party’s list for the constituency. Once the 300 MPs from constituencies had been elected, the Electoral Commission would allocate 100 MPs from national lists submitted by parties so that the overall composition of the National Assembly reflected the proportions of votes cast for each party.
Mr Selfe’s Bill did not propose that this should apply to the provincial legislature, as it was felt that this was best regulated in provincial constitutions. Some provinces had minimum numbers of Members of Provincial Legislature (MPLs) (30) which made the applications of quotas complicated. This would mean that the constituencies for the Provincial Legislature would be different from the National Assembly, leading to confusion. Despite this, a discussion could be held at the level of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), to see if there was a way around these difficulties.
Mr Selfe dealt with the question of absent and special voters, noting that his proposals allowed eligible South Africans living abroad to register as voters at embassies and consulates, and for registered voters who knew that they would be absent from their voting districts to apply in advance for special votes for both the National Assembly and the Provincial Legislature. This applied to voters inside and outside South Africa. It obliged the Electoral Commission to establish temporary voting stations at locations overseas where more than 500 valid applications for special votes have been received.
Mr P Groenewald (FF+) said that the proposal created a proportional system within a proportional system. It was trying to ensure that there was greater accountability. However, accountability was only one aspect of electoral systems. He was of the opinion that the electoral system itself could not ensure accountability, and this could only be done by the political parties. The constituencies would consist of about 200 000 voters, with three members elected. This meant that 300 seats would be distributed amongst the three largest political parties, and only 100 representatives would be elected from the PR system. He wondered if the calculation was being made to ensure that smaller parties would be represented. He asked that the mathematics be explained.
Mr M De Freitas (DA) said that there was public debate on the issue, and the public felt that their representatives were not close enough to the ground. Change was needed. The 100 seats that would be allocated on the basis of proportional representation would ensure that the spirit of proportionality would be maintained. He felt that the competition between the three representatives for each constituency would encourage better relationships with voters.
The Acting Chairperson was concerned that this system would not maintain the multi-party system, but would instead encourage the dominance of two or three parties. Under the current system, if a party got only 1% of the vote it would have 1% of the 400 seats in the NA. Under the proposed system, it would only get 1% of 100 seats. It would be difficult, under the municipal system, to achieve proportionality as stipulated in the Constitution. He questioned whether proper proportionality could not be better achieved if there were 200 top up seats, rather than 100. He was concerned that this model might lead to the exclusion of minority parties.
The Acting Chairperson referred to Mr Groenewald’s comment that the proposed model was a “PR system within a PR system”, and said that if so, this could be very confusing for voters. In addition, the voter would only see a proportional list when at the voting station, as other than that the association would be with the party. He questioned if this would really solve the accountability problem.
The Acting Chairperson asked the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to comment on how practical to achieve this model would be, particularly for South Africans living abroad. He also wanted comment on the implications of Clause 3(c) of the Bill, which dealt with the voting of correctional centre inmates. Finally, he wondered what differences would be experienced for urban voters as opposed to rural voters?.
Mr Selfe responded that the mathematics would work in the same way as was currently applied to Municipal Councillors. If a party got a particular number of wards, the proportion was calculated, and if it got 'too many' representatives in the wards, it got fewer representatives from the list. This would reflect the will of the voters as closely as possible. It was possible that some parties would not make the cut. If a party got 1% of the vote under the current system, this would mean it would hold four seats in the NA. If the party did not get any constituencies then it would get four seats from the list.
There were many PR systems with thresholds, such as Germany. This Bill did not propose thresholds because it was intended to be as proportional as possible. There was a trade-off between accountability and proportionality, but the trade-off was made with the utmost possible respect to the spirit of the Constitution. It was attractive to use a bigger list, therefore making the system more proportional. This would however run the risk of large constituencies, which would weaken the accountability of the system. One solution to this could be to enlarge the NA, but this would require a Constitutional amendment.
Mr Selfe explained that it was assumed that under the proposed system candidates would actively campaign to ensure their own individual success, which would make voters more aware of the individual personalities who were running. At least in this system, even if voters only found out at the ballot box who was running, there would be some awareness. In addition, parties would choose candidates who were likely to maximise the number of votes received in that area. Those selected would therefore be more likely to be from the area, rooted, well-known and connected. Appointing three MPs rather than one was another trade-off made to achieve proportionality.
In regard to special votes, Mr Selfe said that it was important to avoid having a constituency dominated by those incarcerated. In order to avoid this, correctional centre inmates would register for the area where they had last lived before being imprisoned, and then cast a special vote. As far as the practicality of the provincial vote for South Africans abroad was concerned, he conceded that there was a difference of opinion between him and the IEC, but the IEC would give its views.
Mr Groenewald asked whether calculations had been made about the cost of the system. He argued that even if a party had five names listed on the ballot, voters would, in practice, still be voting for a political party. All they saw was the names of the candidates. He asked if it was being suggested that campaign posters be put up for every candidate. He suspected this would create confusion. There would be competition amongst candidates to get on the national list, as this would require less work than competing for a constituency. This would increase the power of party bosses and favouritism.
Mr Groenewald agreed that the electorate wanted to make contact with their representatives. With social media, internet, and technology, contact was very different now than it had been in the past, when voters only saw their representatives when they were in the constituency. Accountability happened when the electorate could have an input in law making. The committee system allowed that, and it was an accessible system. The other aspect of accountability was that people would know who their MP was, and go to that individual with specific problems. However, he pointed out that the constituencies were large, which would reduce the voter-to-MP contact, and wondered how Mr Selfe was proposing that this problem be breached. It was possible in the model that one party would get all three seats in one constituency. In this case there would be no competition amongst the MPs that would increase voter to MP contact, as Mr Selfe had suggested.
Mr Groenewald said that there were several points of criteria to consider in an electoral system and accountability of MPs was only one. Considering South Africa's past, the electoral system should be accessible and meaningful. People should feel that their vote made a difference. This was linked to the multi-party system. Under the proposed system, supporters of small parties may feel that there was no point in participating because their party did not stand a chance of winning.
Mr M Mnqasela (DA) also commended the Researcher's report. He said that the Committee should ask itself if the current system was the best system, in all honesty, when recent years had seen uprisings and protests, but some MPs would not even know about these protests in their own constituencies. Some did not even visit their constituencies. Voters were more important than MPs. A change to the electoral system would require education and public participation, so that people knew what was going to happen. He suggested that the Committee approach this proposal with a positive and open-minded attitude. He urged Members not to go into the debate thinking it was a “win or lose” situation, but to be mindful of the challenges and the opportunities. This should be seen as an opportunity to make democracy work better for the voters who had put them into office.
The Chairperson asked for specific questions rather than deliberations.
Ms G Bothman (ANC) asked that the IEC should not be put in the spotlight, as this entity had been invited as observers, and had perhaps not prepared itself to answer questions.
Ms Bothman said it was clear that the emphasis was put on accountability, but to her mind, accountability had nothing to do with the electoral system, but instead had to do with the system in Parliament making members accountable for the work that they did on the ground. If one MP was servicing 100 000 voters it would be impossible for her or him to get to each and every person. She did not see how changing the numbers of people in Parliament would make people accountable. If there were ten people there, and they were not working, then it would not be better than having three. She suggested that there was little point in deliberating the issues further now, but suggested that the meeting adjourn and meet again to hear from the IEC. She also added that the Bill had financial implications, and those particulars had not been presented.
The Acting Chairperson agreed to allow the IEC time to reflect on the questions and give its opinion at the next meeting. He also asked the IEC and Members to apply their minds to the broader implications of the proposed change. Members were still in the process of asking questions, so that would be completed before the meeting was adjourned.
The Acting Chairperson asked Mr Selfe if, given that he had acknowledged that there was a trade-off, he would agree that the proposed system would be less proportional than the current system. Again he emphasised that a party with only 1% of the vote would likely get less seats under the proposed system, and the question arose whether the 100 seats would be enough to ensure proportionality, or whether 200 seats would not ensure that much better. He reiterated that he felt that the model was more complex for the voter than the current system. A threshold was not being introduced outright, but there was a threshold introduced by stealth, because the 1% party would only get 1 seat rather than the 4 it would have enjoyed under the current system.
Mr Groenewald asked for further clarification on the mathematics of the proposal.
Mr Selfe responded that Mr Mnqasela had put his finger on the most important issue. South Africans were very proud of their electoral system, but the question was whether it was indeed the best model in the context of an evolving democracy. He felt that there was room for greater accountability. Voters did not know who their MPs were, which led to alienation from the system. He acknowledged that this was a trade-off, as the most accountable system would be a single member for a single constituency.
At the moment constituencies were huge, as there were nine, with each province effectively being a constituency. Under the proposed model, although the constituencies would still be big, they would at least be smaller than the provinces. He felt his proposals were not that confusing, that voters were not stupid, and should be given the credit for being able to understand the proposals. The proposed system would encourage candidates to go to the voters, making the sort of door-to-door contact that was the essence of a living democracy.
He was aware that there were systems in place from political parties to enhance accountability. Some worked well, but some did not. However, there were two sides to accountability. The first was making sure that an MP did his or her job, which could by done by a party whip or party boss. The other aspect was allowing the MP the access and ability to serve a constituency directly.
In answer to the questions whether the system was more or less proportional, the formula that would be applied would be the same as that applied to provincial constituencies at this time. The number of MPs elected from a regional constituency was determined by a formula, and exactly the same formula could be used nationally. Voters would cast only one vote. The IEC would determine what the proportions were for the political parties, and how many seats they should get according to that proportion. That would then be augmented from the list. The overall composition of the National Assembly should reflect, as closely as possible, the overall will of the voters.
Under the present system there was a threshold. The new threshold that he was proposing would be slightly higher, but this was just quibbling about what constituted an acceptable level of threshold. The system was not all that much more complex, and at least, at the ballot box, voters would know who they were voting for.
Mr Selfe said that any electoral system would be costly, but he did not believe that his proposals would be any more complex or costly than running a municipal election.
He conceded that there were many competing factors, but felt that the proposed system did strike the right balance between representatively and accountability, and had the additional advantage of encouraging greater participation. | https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/16044/ |
Proportional Representation (PR) is a measure of the outcome of an election where there are multiple parties and multiple members are elected. It is one of many types of representation in a representative government.
In practice, the implementation involves ensuring that political parties in parliament or legislative assemblies receive a number of seats (approximately) proportional to the percentage of vote they received by making use of a partisan system. One system which achieves high levels of proportional representation is party-list proportional representation. Another kind of electoral system that strives to achieve proportional representation but which does not rely on the existence of political parties is the single transferable vote (STV). Some electoral systems, such as the single non-transferable vote and Reweighted score voting are sometimes categorized as "semi-proportional". A "semi-proportional" system is made of several regional districts with each of which passing some measure of Proportional Representation.
Contents
- 1 Measures
- 2 Proportional Representation Criteria
- 3 Proportional Systems
- 4 Advocacy
- 5 Non-Partisan Definitions
- 6 See Also
- 7 Further reading
Measures[edit | edit source]
There are several metrics which are used to define Proportional Representation explicitly. A well-accepted form is the Gallagher index, which measures the difference between the percentage of votes each party gets and the percentage of seats each party gets in the resulting legislature, and aggregates across all parties to give a total measure in any one given election result. This measure attributes a specific level or Proportional Representation to a given election which can then be used in comparing various levels of proportionality among various elections from various Voting systems.
Michael Gallagher, who created the index, referred to it as a "least squares index", inspired by the residual sum of squares used in the method of least squares. The index is therefore commonly abbreviated as "LSq" even though the measured allocation is not necessarily a least squares fit. The Gallagher index is computed by taking the square root of half the sum of the squares of the difference between percent of votes () and percent of seats () for each of the political parties ().
The index weighs the deviations by their own value, creating a responsive index, ranging from 0 to 100. The larger the differences between the percentage of the votes and the percentage of seats summed over all parties, the larger the Gallagher index. The larger the index value the larger the disproportionality and vice versa. Michael Gallagher included "other" parties as a whole category, and Arend Lijphart modified it, excluding those parties. Unlike the well-known Loosemore–Hanby index, the Gallagher index is less sensitive to small discrepancies.
The while the Gallagher index is considered the standard measure for Proportional Representation, Gallagher himself considered the Sainte-Laguë method "probably the soundest of all the measures." This is closely related to the Pearson's chi-squared test which has better statistical underpinning.
The failing of all such measures is the assumption that each vote is cast for one political party. This means that the only system which can be used in Partisan systems. Under the assumption that a plurality vote for a candidate represents a vote for their party, these meausres can be applied to plurality voting systems like Single Member Plurality and Mixed Member Proportional. The consequence of this limitation is that Proportional Representation is not defined for systems without vote splitting.
Proportional Representation Criteria[edit | edit source]
Since the standard definitions of Proportional Representation do not apply to nearly all modern systems it has become common to define proportional representation in terms of passing some sort of criteria. There is no consensus on which criteria need to be passed for a parliament to be said to be proportional.
Proportional (Ideological) Representation Criterion[edit | edit source]
Whenever a group of voters gives max support their favoured candidates and min support to every other candidate, at least one seat less than the portion of seats in that district corresponding to the portion of seats that that group makes up is expected to be won by those candidates.
One of the effects of this property is that if all voters vote solely on party lines (max support to everyone in your party and min support to everyone outside of it), then the proportion of popular vote for candidates associated to parties is roughly equal to the proportion of members elected for each party. This is identical to “Partisan Proportionality” in the case that all groups large enough to expect a winning candidate have a party which they identify with and their candidate belongs to.
Partisan Proportionality Criterion[edit | edit source]
How similar are the proportion of the voters who support a party to the proportion of the parliament when voters deploy the strategy that maximizes the number of seats their preferred party gets (in most methods, this strategy is voting solely on party lines, i.e. max support to everyone in your party and min support to everyone outside of it). This is a calculation for a specific outcome of a specific election. There are multiple different methods to be used but the most common is the Gallagher index. Specific systems can be judged under such metrics by the average expected value. This metric is nearly an exact restatement of the concept of Proportional Representation and as such it cannot be defined in many cases.
Hare Quota Criterion[edit | edit source]
Whenever more than a Hare Quota of the voters gives max support to a single candidate and min support to every other candidate, that candidate is guaranteed to win regardless of how any of the other voters vote.
Any method that passes the Proportional Representation Criterion also passes the Hare Quota Criterion.
Winner Independent Proportionality Criterion[edit | edit source]
If at least n quotas of ballots approve the same set of candidates, but there is partial disagreement on m elected candidates outside of that set, then at least n-m candidates in the set must be elected. (If 2 quotas approve ABCD, 2 quotas approve ABCDE, and E is elected, the standard PR criterion would require 2 of ABCD to be elected, whereas this criterion would require 3 of ABCD to be elected.)
Combined Independent Proportionality Criterion[edit | edit source]
The winner set must be proportional even if some losing candidates were disqualified, scores for some losing candidates were reduced, and/or the scores for some winning candidates were increased. That is, if at least n quotas of ballots approve the same set of candidates, but there is partial disagreement on some candidates outside of that set, m of whom were elected, then at least n-m candidates in the set must be elected. (If 2 quotas approve ABCD, 2 quotas approve ABCDE, the standard PR criterion would require 2 of ABCD to be elected, whereas this criterion would require 4 of ABCDE to be elected.)
Proportional Systems[edit | edit source]
No system can be defined as giving exact proportional results unless a number of assumptions are made
- The metric for proportionality must be defined and the winner selection defined under those terms
- There is a clear relation between the vote and the endorsement for a single party
This means that only Partisan Systems can be exactly proportional. Conversely no system has no Proportional Representation since metrics like Gallagher index never reach they maximum values. The criteria above are often used to define proportionality for modern systems like Reweighted Range Voting or Sequential proportional approval voting. The most common being Hare Quota Criterion. These are normally implements as a number of multi-member districts which together form a parliament. Each district produces results guaranteed to pass the Hare Quota Criterion.
The district magnitude of a system (i.e. the number of seats in a constituency) plays a vital role in determining how proportional an electoral system can be. When using such systems, the greater the number of seats in a district or constituency, the more Proportional Representation it will achieve.
However, multiple-member districts do not need to use a system which passes any of these proportionality criteria. For example a bloc vote would not pass any of the criteria.
An interesting quirk for implementation is that many Partisan Systems are altered in order to remove representation from groups. For example, in a Party List system it is common to put a cap that a party needs some percent of votes to receive any seats. The effect of this is that the major parties receive relatively relatively equitable results but the fringe parties receive none.
Advocacy[edit | edit source]
Proportional representation is unfamiliar to many citizens of the United States. The dominant system in former British colonies was single member district plurality (SMDP), but mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) and single transferable vote (STV) replaced it in a number of such places.
Proportional representation does have some history in the United States. Many cities, including New York, once used it for their city councils as a way to break up the Democratic Party monopolies on elective office. In Cincinnati, Ohio, proportional representation was adopted in 1925 to get rid of a Republican party machine (the Republicans successfully overturned proportional representation in 1957).
Some electoral systems incorporate additional features to ensure more explicitly proportional representation, based on gender or minority status (like ethnicity). Note that features such as this are not strictly required for a system to be called "proportional representation". Many proportional representation advocates argue that, given their preferred system, voters will already be justly represented without demographic rules (and usually in a demographically proportional manner).
Non-Partisan Definitions[edit | edit source]
There are three main competing philosophies between what is and is not proportional, Phragmen, Monroe and Thiele. Under the most Phragmen interpretation, voting is a balancing problem where the weights of candidates must be balanced between the different voters and the outcomes composed of candidates that best balance these weights are the most proportional. Under the most Monroe interpretation, every candidate has a quota, and the more an outcome maximizes the scores voters in that candidate’s quota gives them, the more proportional the voting method is regardless of how anybody outside of that candidate’s quota rates them. Under the most Thiele interpretation, every voter has an honest utility of each candidate, and even if you completely resent a candidate, it is statistically impossible for your honest utility of any individual candidate to equal 0 exactly. Under this interpretation, the more an outcome maximizes the sum among all voters: ln( the sum of utilities that voter gave to each winner ), the more proportional it is. Since candidates can’t chose their honest utilities, they can chose the scores they give to candidates which means that it is much more likely that a candidate will give a set of candidates all zero scores which will blow up the natural log function (see footnote), so to counter-act this, the most Thiele voting methods instead use the partial sums of the harmonic function, which are closely related to the natural log (The natural log is the integral of 1/t from t=1 to t=x and the partial sums of the harmonic series are the summation of 1/n from n=1 to n=x).
The backstory[edit | edit source]
Thiele, a Danish statistician, and Phragmen, a mathematician have been debating these two philosophies in Sweden. Thiele originally proposed Sequential Proportional Approval Voting in 1900 and it was adopted in Sweden in 1909 before Sweden switched to Party List voting afterwards. Phragmen believed there was flaws in Thiele’s method, and came up with his own sequential method to correct these flaws, and that started a debate about what was the ideal metric of proportionality. Thiele also came up with the approval ballot version of harmonic voting, however during that time the harmonic method was too computationally exhaustive to be used in a governmental election. Both his sequential proportional approval voting and his approval ballot version of the harmonic method were lost to history until about a century later when they were independently rediscovered.
Comparison[edit | edit source]
Phragmen and Monroe share many desirable and undesirable properties. Most importantly a lack of convexity, the ability for votes that give every candidate the same score to effect the outcome. There are also election scenarios where both philosophies pick what is clearly the wrong winner. Further details can be found in the “Pereira’s Complaints about Monroe” section of Monroe’s method or the “Major defect pointed out by Toby Pereira” section of this Phragmen-Type method)
However neither not fail the universally liked candidate criterion which is a criterion that Thiele type methods fail.
Benefits of the Phragmen/Monroe measure of proportionality:
Passes the ULC criteria. For Thiele-type methods, because they fail ULC, every time a candidate that every voter gave a max rating to wins, the distribution of the remaining winners becomes more majoritarian/utilitarian.
Benefits of the Thiele measure of proportionality:
Adding ballots that give every candidate the same score can’t change which outcome is considered the best. Convexity. Warren's multi-winner participation criteria.
Criticisms of the Phragmen metric:
Taken to its limits, Phragmen-thinking would say, once the 50% Reds elected a red MP, and the 50% Blues elected a blue MP, there was no benefit whatever to replacing the red MP by somebody approved by the entire populace.
Criticisms of the Thiele metric:
Three people share a house and two prefer apples and one prefers oranges. One of the apple-preferrers does the shopping and buys three pieces of fruit. But instead of buying two apples and an orange, he buys three apples. Why? Because they all have tap water available to them already and he took this into account in the proportional calculations. And his reasoning was that the larger faction (of two) should have twice as much as the smaller faction (of one) when everything is taken into account, not just the variables. Taken to its logical conclusion, Thiele-thinking would always award the largest faction everything because there is so much that we all share – air, water, public areas, etc!
The trouble with this is, politicians are not like tap water and oranges. That reasoning would make sense if politicians were “wholy owned” by the Blues, just as Peter wholy-eats an apple. But even the most partisan politicians in Canada do a lot of work to help Joe Average constituent whose political leanings they do not even know. At least, so I am told.
Pick your poison: it seems that all proportional voting methods must fail one of two closely related properties:
If a group of voters gives all the candidates the same score, that cannot effect the election results (ex: if you gave every candidate a max score, your vote shouldn’t change who is and isn’t a winner any more so then you would change the results by just not voting)
If some of the winners are given the same score by all voters, that cannot effect the proportionality of the election results among the remaining winners (ex: if you removed a candidate that is given a max score by all voters, and ran the election again such that you were electing 1 less winner, the only difference between that election result and the original election result should be that it does not contain the universally liked candidate).
Phragmen/Monroe-type methods fail 1. and Thiele-type methods fail 2. and as of this point, it doesn’t seem possible to have them both without giving up PR.
Footnote:
In addition, maximizing the natural log favors small parties a little too much to pass proportional criteria and when a voter’s satisfaction is zero is just the most extreme example of that. The partial sums of the harmonic series equation does however pass the proportional criteria that a maximization of the natural log can’t. I personally think that the partial sums of the harmonic series are better for determining the winners of an election, but the natural log of summed utilities is a better tool for measuring proportionality in computer simulations even if those simulations are skewed to representing small parties too much (which may or may not be a bad thing). | https://electowiki.org/w/index.php?title=Proportional_representation&veaction=edit§ion=11 |
One of the agreements reached in negotiating the terms of a Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government in Britain as a result of the May election was to hold a referendum next year on a new electoral system. Liberal Democrats demanded this concession because they are at a serious disadvantage under the current voting method. The relevant passage from the written agreement is as follows:
The parties will bring forward a Referendum Bill on electoral reform, which includes provision for the introduction of the Alternative Vote in the event of a positive result of the referendum…. Both parties will whip their Parliamentary Parties in both Houses to support a simple majority referendum on the Alternative Vote, without prejudice to the positions parties will take during such a referendum.
This statement contains two major components. The first is the substance of the referendum – the Alternative Vote. The second is procedural; it includes the parliamentary process associated with authorizing the referendum and the actions of the two parties in the campaign on the referendum itself. This article describes the system used in the most recent election, explains the Alternative Vote, and offers another possibility. It then goes on to discuss the role of the parties in Parliament and in the subsequent campaign on the proposed electoral change. Before analyzing the two parts of this statement a comment on terminology is necessary.
Election mechanisms are complex and come with endless variations. Terminology is a particular problem in that the same process may be known by several different names and the acronyms can be confusing. Given that this article examines the situation in the United Kingdom, I will use the British terminology as reflected by the Elector Reform Society, a link to which can be found at the end of this discussion. I recommend that site for further details on the three systems to discussed here and for information on other election procedures.
Britain currently uses the First Past the Post (FPP) method for elections to the House of Commons. The country is divided in 650 constituencies (or districts) with one member to be elected from each. Voters cast one vote in their constituency and the candidate with a plurality, one vote more than any other single candidate, wins the seat. A major advantage of this process is its simplicity – something to be considered in advocating any alternative. Its weakness is that it works against smaller parties, the Liberal Democrats, and in favor of the larger groups, the Conservative and the Labor parties. It also has the effect of encouraging a two party system. The results of this year’s election dramatically illustrate these points; the results were as follows:
Conservatives: 36% of the popular vote; 47% of the seats
Labor: 29% of the popular vote; 40% of the seats
Liberal Democrats: 23% of the popular vote; 9% of the seats
The issue for the Liberal Democrats is immediately clear; the party claimed less than half the seats it would have won if the outcome had been based on the total national party vote. The problem that the smaller party faces is that its support is broad but shallow. Broad support means that a party receives a significant percentage of the vote nation-wide. Shallow indicates that its voters are not sufficiently concentrated geographically so as to win many seats at the constituency level. Thus the Liberal Democrats want a change.
The Liberal Democrats advocate replacing the FPP with the Alternative Vote (AV), the principle features of which are that the voter ranks the candidates in order of preference and the requirement that a majority, rather than a plurality, be achieved to win the seat. If a candidate wins a majority of first place votes, he or she is elected. In the event that no one receives a majority, the second preferences of the candidate who came in last are redistributed to the other candidates until one of them reaches the required majority. The system ensures that not one will enter the House of Commons with less than majority support in a constituency and its advocates maintain that smaller parties will be represented more in proportion to their popular support.
Not everyone agrees with the latter point; some experts argue that the Liberal Democrats would have increased their representation had the AV been in place in the last election – but not by very much. I see two additional problems with the Alternative Vote: its complexity and the fact that it does not take into account two issues of concern to many voters.
Its complexity has two dimensions. First, many voters may find it difficult to rank the candidates. Though ranking would not necessarily be required, the system is predicated on voters doing that. I have voted in more than 40 congressional and state legislative. My frequent problem was in finding one candidate to vote for; I would have had great difficulty in ranking all the candidates. The second complexity issue involves counting the votes – that is reassigning the votes of the last place candidate. I have a strong personal dislike of any system which relies too heavily on election officials and machinery, especially since the U.S. presidential election of 2000.
Most people approach an election with two questions in mind – which candidate does the voter want to see win and which party does that voter want to have control of parliament so as to form a government? The Alternative Vote does not adequately take into account either candidate orientation or party orientation. These two perspectives can be understood best in the context of the Additional Member System which I suggest is a better option than the Alternative Vote.
The Additional Member System (AMS) is employed in a number of countries and I believe it to be better for Britain. In this system the voter casts two votes – one for a candidate to represent a constituency and one for a party. Under this possibility the House of Commons would consist of 450 members elected through the existing first past the post process. Instead of 650 constituencies, there would be a smaller number, 450, of larger constituencies. These seats would continue to be filled by the candidate who won a plurality, one vote more than any other single candidate.
The second part of the proposal is to fill the remaining 200 seats through proportional representation (PR). Proportional representation comes in a bewildering variety of permutations. I suggest the simplest – the single national list system. In that format all parties nominate a list of up to 200 candidates and rank them from 1 to 200 in terms of the party’s desire to see them take seats in Parliament.
Voters make two decisions in the election and vote twice. First they vote for one candidate to represent the geographical area – constituency – in which the voter resides as they do now. Second, they vote for one of the several single national party lists. Every voter would make a choice among the same lists nationally. The 200 seats to be decided in this part of the election would be assigned to parties based on their proportion of this second vote. For example, if a small party were to receive 10% of the vote for its national list, then the top 30 (10%) on that list win seats.
A change along these lines has several advantages. Most importantly AMS allows voters to take into account their candidate and their party interests. Let me illustrate with an example. I am a British voter whose best friend is running for the House of Commons from my constituency. Although he is a well qualified candidate whom I think would do a good job, there is a problem: I do not like the party that he represents and I do not want that party to control the national legislature. I am, like so many voters, cross pressured or conflicted. If AMS were in operation I could address both of my interests by voting for my friend in the constituency part of the ballot and for my preferred party in the party list contest. This strategy may not be entirely consistent, but many voters have conflicting loyalties which are difficult to balance. | https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2010/06/10/election-reform-in-the-united-kingdom/ |
Open list describes any variant of party-list proportional representation where voters have at least some influence on the order in which a party's candidates are elected. This is as opposed to closed list, which allows only active members, party officials, or consultants to determine the order of its candidates and gives the general voter no influence at all on the position of the candidates placed on the party list.
Additionally, an open list system allows voters to select individuals rather than parties. Different systems give the voter different amounts of influence to change the default ranking. The voter's choice is usually called preference vote; the voters are usually allowed one or more preference votes to the open list candidates.
A "relatively closed" open list system is one where a candidate must get a full quota of votes on their own to be assured of winning a seat. (This quota, broadly speaking, is the total number of votes cast divided by the number of places to be filled. Usually, the precise number required is the Hare quota, but the Droop quota can also be used.)
The total number of seats won by the party minus the number of its candidates that achieved this quota gives the number of unfilled seats. These are then successively allocated to the party's not-yet-elected candidates who were ranked highest on the original list.
In both parliamentary and municipal elections, voters may alter the order of the party list or strike candidates from the list completely. How many votes need to be altered in this way to have an effect on the results varies by the number of seats won by the party in the constituency or municipality in question and the candidate's place on the list. In the parliamentary elections of 2007 and 2009, voters altered the party lists enough to change the ranking of candidates within party lists. This did however not affect which candidates ultimately got elected to parliament.
In parliamentary elections, 50% of the voters need to vote for a candidate in order to change the order of the party list, meaning that, in practice, it is almost impossible for voters to change the result and it is de facto a closed list system. In county elections there is a threshold of 8%.
In a "more open" list system, the quota for election could be lowered from the above amount. It is then (theoretically) possible that more of a party's candidates achieve this quota than the total seats won by the party. It should therefore be made clear in advance whether list ranking or absolute votes take precedence in that case. The quota for individuals is usually specified either as a percentage of the party list quota, or as a percentage of the total votes received by the party.
Example: The quota is 1000 votes and the open list threshold is specified as 25% of the quota, i.e. 250 votes. Therefore, a party which received 5000 votes wins five seats, which are awarded to its list candidates as follows:
|Candidate position
|
on the list
|Preference votes||25% of the quota||Elected|
|#1||3500||x (first)||x|
|#2||50||x|
|#3||150||x|
|#4||250||x (third)||x|
|#5||100|
|#6||100|
|#7||450||x (second)||x|
|#8||50|
|...||...|
Candidates #1, #7 and #4 have each achieved 25% of the quota (250 preference votes or more). They get the first three of the five seats the party has won. The other two seats will be taken by #2 and #3, the two highest remaining positions on the party list. This means that #5 is not elected even though being the fifth on the list and having more preference votes than #2.
In practice, with such a strict threshold, only very few candidates succeed to precede on their lists as the required number of votes is huge. Where the threshold is lower (e.g. in Czech parliamentary elections, 5% of the total party vote is the required minimum), results defying the original list order are much more common.
Parties usually allow candidates to ask for preference votes, but without campaigning negatively against other candidates on the list.
The members of the National Council are elected by open list proportional representation in nine multi-member constituencies based on the states (with varying in size from 7 to 36 seats) and 39 districts. Voters are able to cast a single party vote and one preference votes each on the federal, state and electoral district level for their preferred candidates within that party. The thresholds for a candidate to move up the list are 7% of the candidate's party result on the federal level, 10% on the state level and 14% on the electoral district level. Candidates for the district level are listed on the ballot while voters need to write-in their preferred candidate on state and federal level.
In Croatia, the voter can give their vote to a single candidate on the list, but only candidates who have received at least 10% of the party's votes take precedence over the other candidates on the list.
In Czech parliamentary elections, voters are given 4 preference votes. Only candidates who have received more than 5% of preferential votes at the regional level take precedence over the list. For elections to the European Parliament, the procedure is identical but each voter is only allowed 2 preference votes.
In Indonesia, any candidate who has obtained at least 30% of the quota is automatically elected.
In the Netherlands, the voter can give their vote to any candidate in a list (for example, in elections for the House of the Representatives); the vote for this candidate is called a "preference vote" (voorkeurstem in Dutch). Candidate with at least 25% of the quota takes priority over the party's other candidates who stand higher on the party list but received fewer preference votes. Most people vote for the top candidate, to indicate no special preference for any individual candidate, but support for the party in general. Sometimes, however, people want to express their support for a particular person. Many women, for example, vote for the first woman on the list. If a candidate gathers enough preference votes, then they get a seat in parliament, even if their position on the list would leave them without a seat. In the 2003 elections Hilbrand Nawijn, the former minister of migration and integration was elected into parliament for the Pim Fortuyn List by preference votes even though he was the last candidate on the list.
In Slovakia, each voter may, in addition to the party, select one to four candidates from the ordered party list. Candidates who are selected by more than 3% of the party's voters are elected (in order of total number of votes) first and only then is the party ordering used. For European elections, voters select two candidates and the candidates must have more than 10% of the total votes to override the party list. In the European election in 2009 three of Slovakia's thirteen MEPs were elected solely by virtue of preference votes (having party-list positions too low to have won otherwise) and only one (Katarína Neveďalová of SMER) was elected solely by virtue of her position on the party list (having fewer preference votes than a number of other candidates who themselves, nevertheless had preferences from fewer than 10 percent of their party's voters).
In Sweden, the "most open" list is used, but a person needs to receive 5% of the party's votes for the personal vote to overrule the ordering on the party list. Voting without expressing a preference between individuals is possible, although the parties urge their voters to support the party's prime candidate, to protect them from being beaten by someone ranked lower by the party. The share of voters using the open list option at 2022 Swedish general election was 22.49%.
The "most open" list system is the one where the absolute number of votes every candidate receives fully determines the "order of election" (the list ranking only possibly serving as a "tiebreaker").
When such a system is used, one could make the case that within every party an additional virtual non-transferable vote election (single or multiple based on the number of preference votes available to the voters) is taking place.
This system is used in all Finnish, Latvian and Brazilian multiple-seat elections. Since 2001, lists of this "most open" type have also been used in the elections to fill the 96 proportional seats in the 242-member upper house of Japan (the other 146 are elected through a majoritarian, SNTV/FPTP system).
Different countries have different methods of breaking ties between candidates. For example, in Finland ties may be resolved by a coin toss, while in Brazil the oldest candidate wins the tie.
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Main article: Panachage
A "free list", more usually called panachage, is similar in principle to the most open list, but instead of having just one vote for one candidate in one list, a voter has (usually) as many votes as there are seats to be filled, and may distribute these among different candidates in different lists. Voters may also give more votes to one candidate, in a manner similar to cumulative voting, and delete (German: Streichen or Reihen, French: latoisage) the names of some candidates. This gives the voter more control over which candidates are elected.
It is used in elections at all levels in Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, in congressional elections in Ecuador, El Salvador, and Honduras, as well as in local elections in a majority of German states, in French communes with under 1,000 inhabitants, and in Czech municipal elections.
The Australian STV allows both "Above the line" voting, which is closed list, and "Below the line" voting, which is open list. "Below the line" voting includes ranking candidates across all party-lists. About 95% of voters vote above the line.
Some ways to operate an open list system when using traditional paper-based voting are as follows:
Some of these states may use other systems in addition to an open list. For example, an open list may decide only upper house legislative elections while another electoral system is used for lower house elections. | https://db0nus869y26v.cloudfront.net/en/Open_list |
Following is the content of a letter sent to Nathalie Des Rosiers, President of the Law Commission of Canada, May 26, 2003
Dear Ms. Des Rosiers:
Citizens for Public Justice welcomes the opportunity to express its views on electoral reform as part of your consultation. CPJ is a national Christian public advocacy organization with a 40-year history of involvement in a wide range of issues which face our country.
CPJ’s interest in electoral reform grows out of our strong belief in the value of pluralism and respect for diversity. We believe that is not enough to simply allow Canadians the freedom to express a wide range of opinions and for our society to include people with a wide range of values. Those values and opinions also need to find expression in the institutions of our society, including our political institutions. Our legislatures and governments need to reflect the diversity of opinion found in the country.
In particular, we have argued for 40 years that people with different beliefs need to be given public room to order their lives differently, in keeping with their fundamental perspectives on life.
Our respect for diversity and pluralism forms the basis of CPJ’s longstanding belief that our current “first past the post” (FPTP) system of political representation is fundamentally flawed and should be replaced by a proportional representation (PR) model. Our current system does not, in our view, make room for the diversity of public philosophy and policy positions found within Canada. This is an issue of basic justice and of treating Canadian voters justly. It’s thus one with which we are deeply concerned. Justice and equity create a compelling argument for changing our current electoral system.
CPJ does not believe that all perspectives are equally valid. Some viewpoints, such as those which advocate racist policies, are abhorrent to us. Yet we their minds as to the type of diverse views they wish to see expressed in their political system.
Therefore since the 1960s, CPJ has proposed implementation of proportional representation (PR) on numerous occasions at both federal and provincial levels. For example, CPJ responded to federal government proposals in 1991 for constitutional change with a paper, Reforming the Canadian Electoral System, which supported some form of PR for the House of Commons. More recently, CPJ members John Hiemstra and Harold Jansen outlined a detailed case for PR in their chapter “Getting What You Vote For”, in the book Contemporary Political Issues, edited by Mark Charlton and Paul Barker, (Scarborough: Nelson, 2002).
The shortcomings of the current FPTP model, in which the candidate in a given riding who wins more votes than the other candidates wins a seat as MP, have become glaringly apparent in recent years. It amounts to a “winner take all” system, in which the dominant party grabs the electoral spoils at the expense of smaller parties.
The results of the 2000 federal election serve as a case in point. The Liberals won 57 percent of the seats in the House of Commons (172 of the 301 seats), with a minority of the popular vote (40.8 percent). Looking at the number of votes cast for each party and the number of MPs elected for that party shows that the notion that all parties are treated equitably under our current system is a myth. Each Liberal Member of Parliament needed an average of only 30,218 votes to get elected. Yet it took an average of 83,918 votes to elect each New Democratic MP and a whopping 130, 316 votes to elect each of the 12 Conservative MPs elected.
Some argue that PR would worsen regional divisions within Canada. Yet in fact, such divisions are deepened under the current system, which rewards parties with regionally concentrated support, while discriminating against parties with a more national appeal. For example, while the Canadian Alliance was rewarded with 64 seats for the 1.9 million votes it received across the four Western provinces, it received a mere two seats in Ontario, even though it received over one million votes in that province. Meanwhile the Liberals received about 950,000 votes in the four Western provinces – about half as many as the Alliance – but only received one-fifth as many seats as the Alliance. These distorted results reinforced common beliefs that the Alliance is a Western-based party with little support in Ontario, and that the Liberals have little support in the West. Many similar examples could be given involving other parties.
We reject the argument that proportional representation would lead to unstable, ineffective government. Versions of PR are used in more than 90 jurisdictions around the world. The vast majority of them have stable, effective governments.
The House of Commons and other legislatures should reflect the diversity of political opinion that exists within the country. Yet our current system discriminates against political parties which take distinctive stands on issues. In order to win under the “first past the post” system, a candidates usually needs about 40% of the vote in their constituency. The easiest way to win those votes is to adopt a middle-of-the-road stance. A party that runs a platform that only appeals to 15 or 20% of the voters runs the risk of winning few or no seats. Yet under PR, such a party would win some seats. The result would likely be more principled parties, thus improving the quality of representation. Voters would have a more clear idea of the mandate they are giving to MPs, and thus be better able to hold MPs accountable for their policies and political actions.
In effect, millions of Canadians wasted their votes in the last election by casting them for candidates with no chance of winning. Thus it’s not surprising that voter turnout in Canada has been declining. In the 1984 and 1988 federal elections, about 75% of eligible voters cast ballots. The number dropped to 69.6% in 1993, and in 1997 to 67%. Turnout sank further in 2000, to 62.8%.
This is an alarming trend. While we do not believe that a new voting system would in itself reverse this trend completely, we do believe that it is an essential ingredient for revitalizing Canadian democracy.
Given the shortcomings of our current FPTP system and declining citizen involvement in elections, it is no accident that support for electoral reform has been growing in Canada. Nor do we believe that it is an accident that a growing number of Canadians, from across the political spectrum, are calling for the adoption of some kind of proportional representation system in our country. It is the fairest and most effective way to involve Canadians in a representative democracy.
Your consultation is part of this growing movement for electoral reform. As well as endorsing PR, we believe that your consultation should support a process whereby the electoral reform movement will be affirmed and acknowledged. For example, a royal commission or a citizens assembly could be established on electoral reform, with a clear mandate and deadlines.
British Columbia provides an example of one model of how such a process might work. Reflecting a strong electoral reform movement, the government of B.C. recently announced that it plans to establish a citizens assembly to consider options for how MLAs are elected in that province. If the assembly recommends a different electoral system, voters will have an opportunity to express their views through a referendum on that new electoral option, to be held on the date of the next provincial election in 2005.
Without an independent, non-partisan process that gives Canadians a meaningful opportunity to express their views, it will be all too easy for the current reform movement to get sidetracked, because parties that win power under the current system are, understandably, reluctant to change it.
We look forward to the report and recommendations from your consultation. Thank you for this opportunity to express our views on this vital issue.
Sincerely, | https://www.cpj.ca/cpj-proportional-representation |
The Electoral system of Turkey varies for general, presidential and local elections that take place in Turkey every four years, five years and five years respectively. Turkey has been a multi-party democracy since 1950 (officially since 1945), with the first democratic election held on 14 May 1950 leading to the end of the single-party rule established in 1923. The current electoral system for electing Members of Parliament to the Grand National Assembly has a 10% election threshold, the highest of any country.
A brief summary of the electoral systems used for each type of election is as follows:
Turkey elects 550 Members of Parliament to the Grand National Assembly using the D'Hondt method, a party-list proportional representation system. In order to return MPs to parliament, a party needs to gain more than 10% of the vote nationwide, meaning that parties may win the most votes in certain areas but not win any MPs due to a low result overall. The parliamentary threshold of 10% has been subject to intense scrutiny by opposition members, since all votes cast for parties polling under 10% are spoilt and allow the parties overcoming the national threshold to win more seats than correspond to their share of votes. E.g. in the 2002 general election the AKP won 34.28% of the vote but won nearly two-thirds of the seats.
The parliamentary threshold does not apply to independents, meaning that Kurdish nationalist politicians who poll strongly in the south-east but are not able to win 10% of the overall vote stand as independents rather than as a party candidate. This was the case in the 2007 and 2011 general election, where the Kurdish Democratic Society Party and the Peace and Democracy Party fielded independent candidates respectively.
The main criticism of the current system is the high 10% threshold necessary to gain seats. In January 2015, the CHP renewed their parliamentary proposals to lower the threshold to 3% and proposed no changes to the proportional representation system, though the AKP are against lowering the threshold without wider electoral reform.
In July 2013, the AKP prepared new proposals, named the 'narrow district system' (daraltılmış bölge sistemi), to change the proportional representation system into either a first-past-the-post system or create smaller constituencies which elect a fewer number of MPs. Under these proposals, the threshold would fall from 10% to either 7 or 8% while Turkey would be split into 129 electoral districts rather than the existing 85. İstanbul itself would have been split into 17 or 20 districts. The system will benefit the largest party as well as parties that are the strongest in certain regions, meaning that the AKP and Kurdish nationalist Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) would make the biggest gains. The two main opposition parties CHP and MHP do not have a substantial number of electoral strongholds, meaning that they would be negatively impacted by a narrow-district system. Proposals by the AKP to create a full first-past-the-post system with 550 single-member constituencies were allegedly unveiled in December 2014, though any change in electoral law would have to be passed by parliament at least a year before the election. The AKP's proposals for reform have raised concerns about gerrymandering.
Turkey is split into 85 electoral districts, which elect a certain number of Members to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The Grand National Assembly has a total of 550 seats, which each electoral district allocated a certain number of MPs in proportion to their population. The Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey conducts population reviews of each district before the election and can increase or decrease a district's number of seats according to their electorate.
In all but three cases, electoral districts share the same name and borders of the 81 Provinces of Turkey. The exceptions are İzmir, İstanbul and Ankara. Provinces electing between 19 and 36 MPs are split into two electoral districts, while any province electing above 36 MPs are divided into three. As the country's three largest provinces, İzmir and Ankara are divided into two subdistricts while İstanbul is divided into three. The distribution of elected MPs per electoral district is shown below.
A total of eight electoral districts had their number of MPs adjusted since the 2011 general election by the electoral council, as listed below. The two electoral districts of Ankara also had their boundaries changed.
The number of voters in each province was announced on 17 May 2015. In total, there are 53,741,838 voters in the provinces, which corresponds to 97,712 voters for each MP. However, because of the electoral system, this was not distributed equally to the provinces. In İzmir, where voters per MP was the highest, 118,669 votes corresponded to an MP, whereas in Bayburt, 27,089 voters were represented by an MP.
Two factors caused this more than fourfold disparity. Namely, the electoral law favours provinces smaller in size, which caused İzmir, İstanbul and Ankara, Turkey's largest cities and provinces, to have the least representation per voter. Secondly, the distribution of MPs to provinces was based not on the number of eligible voters, but on total population, which made each vote more valuable in provinces with a young population. For example, the HDP stronghold Hakkari with 154,705 voters got 3 MPs, whereas Yalova with 166,060 voters got 2 MPs. Similarly, Van, another HDP stronghold with 596,809 voter got 8 MPs, whereas Muğla, a CHP stronghold with 665,608 voters got 6 MPs. In Şanlıurfa where AKP and HDP are strong, there were 12 MPs per 974,219 voters, whereas in Manisa, where CHP and MHP perform better than average, votes of 1,006,697 voters determined only 9 MPs. Yusuf Halaçoğlu's bill which would partly mitigate this disparity was rejected in the parliament.
In order to form a government, a party needs a simple majority in the Grand National Assembly in order to obtain a confidence vote to govern. In order to pursue constitutional changes, a party needs either a three-fifths majority or a two-thirds majority, which give the government different powers. These are documented in the table below.
Before the elections, the numbers of councillors and mayors were reduced during the 2013 Turkish local government reorganisation. During the reorganisation, 1,040 beldes were abolished, leaving the number of small town municipalities at 394 and contributing to the reduction in the number of mayors elected in 2014 in comparison to 2009.
The following table shows the numbers of metropolitan and district municipalities, as well as provincial and municipal councillors elected in 2009 and in 2014. In local elections, municipal mayors and councillors are the only partisan officials elected. | https://alchetron.com/Electoral-system-of-Turkey |
In party-list proportional representation systems, an election threshold is a clause that stipulates that a party must receive a minimum percentage of votes, either nationally or within a particular district, to get any seats in the parliament. The effect of the threshold is to deny small parties the right of representation, or force them into coalitions. Many people hold that this makes an election system more stable by keeping out radical factions. It is also argued that in the absence of a preferential ballot system supporters of minor parties are effectly disenfranchised and denied the right of representation by someone of their choosing.
In Poland 's Sejm and Germany 's Bundestag (elected through the Additional member system), this threshold is 5% (or 3 constituency seats in the Bundestag, but directly won constituencies are kept, regardless). New Zealand 's House of Representatives also has a 5% threshold, but if a party wins at least one electorate seat the threshold does not apply, see Electoral system of New Zealand. The threshold is 2% in Israel 's Knesset (it was 1% before 1992 and 1.5% from 1992-2003), and 10% in the Turkish parliament. In Poland, ethnic minority parties do not have to reach the threshold level to get into the parliament, and so there is always a small German minority representation in the Sejm.
There are also countries – such as Portugal , South Africa, Finland , the Netherlands , and the Republic of Macedonia – that have proportional representation systems without a threshold, although the Netherlands has a rule that the first seat can never be a remainder seat, which means that there is an effective threshold of 100% divided by the total number of seats. In the Slovenian parliamentary elections of 1992 and 1996 the threshold was set at 3 parliamentary seats. This meant that the parties needed to win about 3.2% of the votes in order to pass the threshold. In 2000 the threshold was raised to 4% of the votes.
In Norway the nationwide electoral threshold of 4% applies only to levelling seats. A party with sufficient local support may still win the regular district seats, even if the party fails to meet the threshold. Following the 2009 election, the Liberal Party won two seats in this manner.
In Australia, which uses a single transferable vote proportional representation system, they avoided the need for an electoral threshold by establishing smaller electorates with each multi-member electorate returning fewer members of a Parliament and as such requiring a higher quota percentage in order to be elected. As Australia also uses a preferential voting system supporters of minor parties are not disenfranchised as their votes are redistributed to other candidates according to the voter's nominated order of preference which can then form part of another candidates winning quota.
Countries can have more than one threshold. Germany, as mentioned earlier, has a "regular" threshold of 5%, but a party winning three constituency seats in the Bundestag can gain additional representation even if it has achieved under 5% of the total vote. Most multiple-threshold systems are still in the proposal stage. For example, in Canada , one proposal to reform the electoral system would see a 5% national threshold, 1% of the vote and 1 seat in the House of Commons, or 2% nationally and 15% of the vote in any one province.
Election thresholds are often implemented with the intention of bringing stability to the political system.
Election thresholds can sometimes seriously affect the relation between the percentage of the popular vote and seat distribution.
At the Russian parliamentary elections in 1995, with a threshold excluding parties under 5%, more than 45% of votes were unrepresented (in 1998, Russian Constitutional Court found the threshold legal, taking into account limits in its use).
A similar problem happened in Turkey , mainly due to the 10% threshold of the Turkish system, an extremely high value that is unique. Such a system was established with the justification of preventing multi-party coalitions and put a stop to the endless fragmentation of political parties seen in '60s and '70s. However, coalitions ruled between 1991 and 2002, mainstream parties continued to be fragmented and as a serious side effect, the 2002 elections caused 45% of votes (cast for below-threshold parties) to be unrepresented in the parliament..
In the Ukrainian elections of March 2006, for which there was a 3% threshold, 22% of voters were effectively disenfranchised, having voted for minor candidates – and the representation of parties exceeding the threshold was increased to a level 22% higher than that corresponding to their share of the voters' support. One party, People's Opposition Bloc of Natalia Vitrenko, received over 3% of the formal vote but failed to obtain 3% of the overall vote (which includes informal ballot papers, i.e. votes that are blank or incorrectly filled out). Likewise in 2007 the Socialist Party of Ukraine received only 2.86% of the national vote. Had they secured an additional 0.14% the overall results of the parliamentary election would have been more or less the same as the previous election. However as fewer voters supported minor parties the total percentage of disenfranchised voters in 2007 was less than the previous election in 2006.
For these reasons some people feel that the effects of election thresholds (including the effective disenfranchisement of anyone who supports a "fringe" party) are worse than the supposed problems they counter.
Election thresholds can produce a spoiler effect, similar to that in the First-past-the-post voting system, where minor parties unable to overcome thresholds take votes away from other parties with similar ideologies. Fledgling parties in these systems often find themselves in a vicious circle – if a party is perceived as having no chance of meeting the threshold, it often cannot gain popular support, and if the party cannot gain popular support, it will continue to have little or no chance of meeting the threshold.
By comparison, elections involving a Preferential voting system permit votes for candidates below the threshold to be redistributed according to the voter's indicated preference. This permits the continued participation in the election process of those whose votes would otherwise be "wasted" and minor vote candidates are able to indicate to their supporters before the vote how they would wish to see their votes transferred. Preferential voting is widely used in Australia and Ireland . | http://maps.thefullwiki.org/Election_threshold |
Electoral systems are the voting systems used to elect people to Parliament, local councils and other boards.
New Zealand’s first electoral systems
New Zealand’s government was based on the British model. Most electorates had only one member of Parliament (MP), but some had more than one. In those electorates voters had as many votes as there were vacancies. Multi-member districts were abolished in 1903.
First-past-the-post
Before 1996 the main voting system used in parliamentary elections was first-past-the-post. Under this system, the candidate who gets the most votes wins. It was usual for one party to win more than half of the seats in Parliament, so it could become the government. It was hard for minor parties to get into Parliament, because they had to win an electorate seat.
For a short time (1908–13) New Zealand had a two-round election system. If no one got at least half the votes in the first round, there was a run-off between the top two candidates.
Royal Commission on the Electoral System
Because of criticisms of first-past-the-post, including that it was biased against smaller parties, a royal commission was set up in 1985 to consider whether New Zealand should change its electoral system. The royal commission recommended that New Zealand should adopt a mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system and increase the number of MPs to 120.
Referendums
Two referendums were held for voters to say if they wanted to change the electoral system and, if so, what they wanted to change it to. The majority of people did want to change and chose MMP, which was introduced in 1996.
What is MMP?
Under MMP each voter has two votes – one for the electorate candidate they want to be their local MP, and the other for the political party they prefer (the party vote). The party gets seats in Parliament in proportion to its party votes. For example, if a party gets a third of the votes, it will get a third of the seats in Parliament.
Under MMP more small parties are represented. Until 2020 no party won half of all votes at an election. The large parties – National and Labour – had to go into coalition or make less formal agreements with one or more smaller parties to form a government. In 2020 Labour had the numbers to govern alone but chose to work with the Green Party, whose co-leaders became ministers.
2011 referendum
At the same time as the parliamentary election on 26 November 2011, a referendum was held to see if voters wanted to stay with MMP or change to a different electoral system. Nearly 58% voted to stay with MMP.
Local authority elections
In the 2000s four different electoral systems were used to elect mayors and councillors:
- first-past-the-post
- block voting, where voters have as many votes as there are vacancies
- preferential voting, where voters rank candidates in order of preference, and candidates need a majority to win
- single transferable voting, where voters rank candidates in order of preference, and candidates need a certain number of votes to win. | https://teara.govt.nz/en/electoral-systems |
The Single Transferable Vote is the worst option for the SNP
Although the SNP benefitted hugely from First Past The Post (FPTP) in May (gaining almost all the Scottish seats on 50% of the votes), I remain committed to proportional representation — I believe FPTP is poison for popular engagement, at least in a multi-party system, because so many people feel their vote doesn’t count.
Proportional representation comes in many varieties, however (and some are more proportional than others). We’re already using three different systems in Scotland: (1) The Additional Member System (AMS), which we use for electing the Scottish Parliament; (2) the Single Transferrable Vote (STV), which we use for electing the councils; and (3) d’Hondt, which we use in elections for the European Parliament.
The SNP opted for STV in their recent Westminster manifesto. I can understand why — STV is a decent system in many contexts, especially when the candidates aren’t organised into parties (for instance, it’s a great system for electing members for a committee in an political party). However, it has some shortcomings which makes it less than ideal for Westminster elections.
Firstly, STV benefits those parties who are good at predicting their support. For instance, if May’s election had been held using this system, Labour and the Liberal Democrats would probably not have predicted the scale of their losses, so they would have put forward too many candidates, which could have exaggerated their losses; in the same way, the SNP might not have been bold enough, which again would have harmed them. (This problem can be alleviated by forcing the voters to prioritise all the candidates and not just one or two, but we don’t tend to do that in Scotland.)
Secondly, STV doesn’t help parties with varying levels of support in different areas. In particular, whereas the SNP’s 50% support resulted in nearly 56 out of 59 seats under FPTP, it would probably only have resulted in around 30 seats in Scotland under STV; the fact that the SNP also had supporters in England wouldn’t have led to any additional seats.
The Danish electoral system would be much better for the SNP. Denmark uses a variant of d’Hondt (Sainte-Laguë to be precise) in multi-member constituencies, but crucially all the votes get added up nationally afterwards, and additional seats are allocated in order to ensure that every vote counts. In other words, if the SNP got 50% of the votes in Scotland and about 5% in the rest of the UK so that the UK-wide support was exactly 10%, the SNP would have received 10% of the seats, which would actually be even better than the current 56 seats.
Some years ago I made a simulation of the 2005 Westminster election using the Danish electoral system. I didn’t at that time assume the SNP would have received any votes outwith Scotland, but Nicola Sturgeon would definitely have appealed to many voters down south after her phenomenal performance in the TV debates.
My guess is the SNP chose STV for their manifesto in order to tempt the Lib Dems, and that’s of course a completely valid reason to opt for this, but the Danish system would be much better for the SNP. | https://www.arcofprosperity.org/the-single-transferable-vote-is-the-worst-option-for-the-snp/ |
The first time he was old enough to vote in an election, Sean Graham says he realized the system was flawed.
His hometown riding in northern Alberta was a secure seat for a party that he didn’t support, so voting for anyone else under the first-past-thepost system felt like a wasted ballot.
“That to me was a significant problem. Regardless of where someone lives, their vote should matter,” Graham said from Edmonton.
Only a few years later as an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, Graham crafted a pitch for a new electoral system. That model is now being considered by voters in British Columbia, where a provincewide referendum on electoral reform is underway.
“It is the first Canadian-developed proportional representation system to be put to a provincewide vote, so I’m very proud to have my work have that status. Certainly it has gained traction more than I thought, though I was hopeful because I do think it addresses the concerns quite well,” he said.
The first question on the ballot asks voters to choose between the existing firstpast-the-post voting system and proportional representation, a form of voting where the parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes that are cast for them.
The second question asks voters to rank three forms of proportional representation: Rural-urban proportional, mixed member proportional and Graham’s model, dual member proportional.
Elections B.C. is accepting ballots by mail or in person until Dec. 7.
Graham said he developed the model as a grant-funded independent research project that was supervised by a professor, while he was pursuing double majors in political science and physics.
“I thought it would be helpful to come up with a system that not only addressed the issue of rural inclusion better but also retained more of what people like about firstpast-the-post,” he said.
Graham said he submitted the model to the B.C. government through a similar process.
In dual member proportional, most electoral districts are combined with a neighbouring district and have two representatives in the legislature, although large rural districts continue to have one member. In two-member districts, a voter can vote for one candidate or a pair of candidates who may or may not be from the same party. The first seat in a district is won by the candidate with the most votes, while the second goes to the parties so that each party’s share of seats roughly matches its share of the popular vote. | https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-province/20181126/281513637207810 |
# Next Slovenian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections are to be held in Slovenia no later than 24 April 2026.
## Electoral system
The 90 members of the National Assembly are elected by two methods. 88 are elected by open list proportional representation in eight 11-seat constituencies and seats are allocated to the parties at the constituency level using the Droop quota. The elected Deputies are identified by ranking all of a party's candidates in a constituency by the percentage of votes they received in their district. The seats that remain unallocated are allocated to the parties at the national level using the D'Hondt method with an electoral threshold of 4%. Although the country is divided into 88 electoral districts, deputies are not elected from all 88 districts. More than one deputy is elected in some districts, which results in some districts not having an elected deputy (for instance, 21 of 88 electoral districts did not have an elected deputy in the 2014 elections). Parties must have at least 35% of their lists from each gender, except in cases where there are only three candidates. For these lists, there must be at least one candidate of each gender.
Two additional deputies are elected by the Italian and Hungarian minorities. Voters rank all of the candidates on the ballot paper using numbers (1 being highest priority). A candidate is awarded the most points (equal to the number of candidates on the ballot paper) when a voter ranks them first. The candidate with most points wins. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Slovenian_parliamentary_election |
Adequate information needs to be included to show to reviewers and NIH staff the top quality associated with PD/PI, the co-investigators, available research resources, and also the applicant organization as well as its help of this task.
Resources:
Candidates should obviously suggest that they will have the resources that are appropriate conduct the investigation, such as for instance sufficient gear and laboratory room. Whenever possible, consist of letters of dedication for those resources.
- Understand the degree of resources needed seriously to compete.
- Conduct an organizational assessment.
- Know what resources and help your business has and just exactly just what support that is additional’ll require.
- Think about whether or not the available gear and facilities are sufficient and whether or not the environment is conducive towards the research.
Independence and Institutional help:
This is really important for many detectives, but especially for brand new and very early phase detectives or those people who are at the beginning of their separate professions:
- Offer reviewers evidence which you have actually the experience that is appropriate training to guide and handle the investigation project.
- Letters of reference and commitment that is institutional crucial.
- Mention any start-up funds, help for the professional, etc. This might be a good indicator of institutional dedication to the peer reviewers.
Collaborators and specialists:
Determine the expertise necessary for your quest research team (people, collaborating businesses, resources, etc.). Many scientific work calls for ultius reviews collaboration among scientists, and NIH is focused on fostering such relationships.
- Include letters of commitment in your application that plainly spell out the functions associated with collaborators. The give application should contain a finalized letter from each collaborator into the applicant that lists the share she or he promises to make along with his or her dedication to the job. These letters tend to be the primary assurance the reviewers have that this work will in reality be performed.
- For specialists, letters should include rate/charge for consulting solutions.
- Then take the following into consideration: if you are planning to apply with multiple-principal investigators,
- The format, peer review and management of applications submitted with numerous PIs do possess some significant distinctions through the old-fashioned single-PI application. Consequently, it is vital to think about all aspects of this financing process before you apply, no matter what the sort of research proposition to be submitted.
- All candidates proposing group technology efforts are strongly motivated to contact their NIH system officials in the earliest feasible date to talk about the appropriateness publishing with multiple-PIs for the help of these research.
While not a necessity for assignment purposes, you may be allowed to request that the Division of Receipt and Referral into the Center for Scientific Review assign the application up to a specific review team for initial peer review also to an NIH institute or center for feasible money.
- Reviewers with expertise in your town shall best recognize the potential for the research to advance technology. Review the rosters regarding the review that is scientific to have the application assigned to a report area where some people have actually the correct expertise to examine assembling your shed.
- Specify your project request in a resume cover letter or into the assignment request type contained in your application. Proceed with the application guide guidelines in regards to what you may that can not request, and just just what information is going within the resume cover letter vs the assignment demand kind.
- Just NIH staff with a necessity to learn are given access to your project cover and request page. Reviewers not to usage of them.
This will be an chance to provide names of also any reviewers which will have conflict of great interest and really should never be thought to be reviewers of the application. It is vital to match your part of research aided by the certain areas evaluated by the research area.
- See whether you qualify being an investigator that is new in the NIH concept of brand new detective. NIH offers opportunities that are funding to brand brand new detectives, including the NIH Director’s brand brand brand New Innovator Award. More details on NIH programs created for new detectives is available from the brand brand New Investigators Program web site.
- NIH staff is in search of brand brand brand new and stage that is early. Always check your age Commons account and make sure your capital history as well as the date of one’s residency or terminal degree are accurate to make sure that you will be identified accordingly as a brand new or stage investigator that is early. The age system determines eligibility in line with the information linked to the applicant’s PD/PI profile and account.
- It really is in your favor to determine your self as a brand new detective because reviewers are instructed to provide unique consideration to brand brand new detectives. Reviewers can give greater consideration into the proposed approach, as opposed to the track record.
- First-time candidates could have less data that are preliminary fewer magazines than more seasoned detectives, and NIH reviewers understand why. Reviewers alternatively destination more focus on how a detective has demonstrated whether he or she has some of his or her own resources and institutional support, and whether he or she is able to independently lead the research that he or she is truly independent of any former mentors.
- Foreign PD/PIs and people from international organizations should guarantee their eligibility by checking the eligibility instructions supplied in just about every FOA.
- Foreign PD/PI’s and people from international organizations are highly motivated to get hold of a NIH system officer as quickly as possible when you look at the preparation and stages that are writing.
- International candidates can get the full story at our Information for Foreign Applicants and Grantees page.
This task will be certainly one of your most time intensive within the writing procedure.
- Understand what kind of spending plan shall have to submit together with your application (present in your FOA).
- Comprehend the different aspects of the spending plan, dealing with your institution’s central grants workplace and division administrator.
- Contact NIH system officials allowability that is regarding other budgetary concerns.
- To learn more, see Develop your allowance. | https://gkcancon.com/2019/12/11/analysis-resources-institutional-support-and-2/ |
Five years ago, I spoke often about the drawbacks and challenges of cloud databases. Back then, the price-to-performance ratio was poor relative to the physical hardware in most companies’ server closets, and the weaknesses of the cloud made application architectures inefficient. Yet, because of the potential for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and manageability — and because applications were already moving to the cloud — I also said databases eventually must move to the cloud.
Fast-forward to the present, and I’ve founded a company that’s running entirely in the cloud, including its databases. We’re able to run data-intensive applications (a large time-series back end with unique scaling requirements) at low cost and with high efficiency in Amazon’s EC2 servers.
So what has changed?
The benefits of using a cloud-computing database as a service now outweigh the drawbacks for many usage scenarios. Not only is the price-to-performance ratio of cloud software much better than a decade ago, but there’s also an incredible array of additional services and solutions now available via the cloud.
Why Move Your Database to the Cloud?
Here are a few advantages that have emerged recently for cloud databases:
1. Scalability
Compared to a few years ago, cloud-hosted databases can be scaled quickly, cheaply, and efficiently. Scaling along any dimension generally requires adding or subtracting nodes from a cluster to change the storage capacity, I/O operations per second (IOPS), or total compute available to bring to bear upon queries. That operation, of course, requires redistributing copies of the data and sending it between nodes.
Although this was once one of the hardest problems in building scalable, distributed databases, the new breed of cloud-native databases can take care of these issues efficiently.
2. Reduced Administrative Burden
A database with fewer features is less flexible — but it’s far more manageable. A cloud-hosted, mostly self-managed database doesn’t eliminate a database administrator, but it can eliminate unnecessary features that typically consume much of a DBA’s time and efforts. That allows a DBA to focus his or her time on more important issues. It can even allow a company to get started without a dedicated or full-time DBA, avoiding specialization that can cause team bottlenecks.
3. Improved Security
If you’re running your databases on in-house servers, it’s your job to think seriously about security. You’ll need to ensure your database has an updated kernel and other critical software, and you’ll need to keep up with the newest digital threats. This is perfectly possible to do, but the reality is that most companies either don’t do it or do it poorly. Leave databases to the cloud company, and you’ll buy yourself some peace of mind.
What Are the Drawbacks of the Cloud?
Although cloud computing has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, it does still have some snags you should be aware of:
1. Inflexibility
Many database scalability and performance issues can only be solved with a software patch, an upgrade, or a configuration setting. The locked-down nature of a cloud database, however, may bar you from using these solutions.
Solution: Unless you have truly unique database requirements — and most people who think they do really don’t — you probably have much more flexibility than you need. Get advice from others, whether it’s from your peers or an expert consultancy firm.
2. Cost
Cloud pricing can be expensive, especially at scale. It can mean sacrificing some OpEx efficiency at scale, which is, unfortunately, where it may matter most.
Solution: Forget about cost until you know you have a problem worth solving. Even if your cloud-computing bill seems high, it could still pale in comparison to many of your operational expenses.
3. Downtime
Although it’s not as concerning as it used to be, cloud computing has a reputation for occasional large-scale outages.
Solution: Build across multiple regions, availability zones, providers, and data centers to dilute your risk. The days of building on a single point of failure should be over — even for very young startups.
Five years ago, I would have been worried about advising companies — whether they were startups or much further along — to adopt cloud computing for their databases. But these days, even with the disadvantages that present themselves, I feel confident recommending it in many cases. Just know what you’re getting yourself into; with the right tools and knowledge, adopting cloud computing for your databases can pay real dividends. | https://tech.co/news/math-can-business-benefit-cloud-database-2015-08 |
It’s a new year still, right? With that comes a new opportunity to tell your story. My clients often stress about where they should tell their brand story – through a newsletter? On a website, Facebook, Twitter or all of the above? I usually tell them to consider two things before they start: their capacity and the type of story they want to tell. Firstly, if you are a small business then creating content is nearly always a challenge. Creating compelling content depends on your ability to commit to the time it takes to write a story and doing that consistently over time for all of your channels. The second challenge that often arises is in choosing the method or medium in which to tell your story. The choices are, as we all know, endless. As nebulous as this may sound, I always advise people to serve the story. Meaning, let the story tell you what it wants to be. It may be an event, an anniversary, a launch of a product, an internal staff story – whatever the milestone or subject matter, assess what medium would best suit the content by carefully considering your audience, the premise of your story, and what you want your readers/users to experience.
As an example, if you want to showcase an event or conference, using visual media to tell your story is a better choice then using textual layers. Capturing your story in real time allows your audience to feel like they are at the event; you give them a bird’s eye view through a visual narrative that conveys the faces and atmosphere at a glance.
While it may sound like more work, in the end, a visual story that is captured in the moment is going to resonate far more with your audience then a description after the fact in a blog post with no supporting media. Capturing your story as it happens is an expectation in our digital world – be sure to plan ahead so there is someone dedicated to capturing the story so you can create a great (and relevant) story for your readers.
Some stories, however, demand a deeper dive into a subject matter and you will want to use a textual layer as your core narrative treatment. An example where text could work very well is in an interview format. You could tell the story of an employee through a meaningful interview with them. Profiling this interview like a Proust questionnaire makes it entertaining and easy to share across social channels. If the subject matter is complex or sensitive in nature you may want to consider doing a long-form story supported by media that brings to life the characters that exist within the narrative.
In any case, always thinking in advance about what would best serve the story you are trying to tell will nearly always result in a more engaging piece of content for your audience. I think of storytelling like putting together a custom suit for someone. You wouldn’t just start cutting a pattern–you would measure, consider the person wearing the suit, consider texture, colours, weight and so on. Some stories are bespoke and expensive (think NFB’s Seven Digital Deadly Sins) while others can be a simple summer outfit of drawstring pants and a cotton tank (think blog post, Facebook album, a series on Instagram). This is where that capacity piece also comes in: all custom suits require more care and specific skills; simpler ones require less. Whether your stories are complex or you just need a brand boilerplate, we’re excited about 2015 and the potential for new ways to use storytelling to help our clients build and tell better stories.
If you could use help with your content, from copywriting to strategy, we’re offering a 10% discount for new customers. Just mention #Story2015 and we’re off to a fine start! | http://whatisyourstory.ca/serving-your-story/ |
The technique of turning images of typed, handwritten, or printed text into machine-encoded text is known as optical character recognition (OCR). OCR is frequently used to digitize printed documents, convert books and papers into electronic format, extract text from images, and make text searchable and machine-readable. photo to text converter technology is a great tool help to extract images into text.
In this article, we will talk about the downside of optical character recognition.
Let’s have a look
Optical Character Recognition Downsides
Author Bio:Nathan Sturgeon is an accomplished writer. As a writer, she is constantly keen on bringing up-to-date the latest technology and is always prepared to include any information that communicates her understanding of relevant topics. She succinctly describes his publishing success and wants to provide stunning Tech information that helps her viewers increase their knowledge about it!
1. Quality is not always high:
The calibre of the documents produced by OCRed is one of the main drawbacks of the technology.
The calibre of the input image that OCR is given determines how well it performs. This implies that OCR will struggle to extract text from an image if it contains any flaws. Sometimes using image into text automation can be harmful while converting your data into text.
Since the user frequently needs to remedy the OCR problems before reprocessing with OCR, OCR errors might be considerably more challenging to fix.
2. Lose Structure of Document:
The fact that the formatting of the output documents can occasionally be lost throughout the process is one of the key drawbacks of optical character recognition. As a result, the text may be challenging to read or comprehend.
Changes in typefaces and formatting may affect OCR. Use of photo to text converter technology helps to overcome this problem.
3. Error prone:
The potential for errors to be introduced by optical character recognition, which can devalue the document, is one of its key drawbacks.
OCR can make mistakes, such as mistaking a character for a word or a line break. A character recognition mistake occurs when an OCR engine wrongly identifies one character as another when converting text to text. For instance, the OCR might interpret "N" as "E", for example. Texts with non-English characters frequently use this.
But here you can use photo to text converter it will provide you error free data.
4. Unable to analyze languages:
If the text is written in a language for which OCR does not have an OCR Language Pack, OCR might not be able to recognise it correctly. You can upgrade your OCR installation by including OCR Language Packs as an optional component.
To improve the output's accuracy, you must ensure that the OCR engine you're using supports the language you're using.
5. Inaccurate and damaged texts:
When text is printed in a font that is different from the language's standard font, OCR might not be able to recognize it. Additionally, it might not be able to distinguish between text on a background with repeating patterns or one that is darker than the text. Here image to text technology proves helpful, and correct your data easily.
You can also like: Digital Education Tools
6. Improper Information:
Lack of information on some characters, such punctuation, is one of the issues with optical character recognition. OCR software has a difficult time reading many punctuation marks because they are too small, non-contiguous, or even upside-down and backwards.
The improper punctuation mark can also result in a punctuation error.
If you use photo to text converter technology it saves you from these errors while converting images into readable text.
7. Time Taken:
OCR might be slow, which is another drawback. This is so that each image may be converted into text using OCR technology, which can take some time. OCR, for instance, can require several seconds to transform a single text page. If you need to convert a huge document into text, use image to text extractor.
Conclusion:
Optic character recognition has some drawbacks, such as inconsistent quality, the potential for cost and time overruns the potential for inaccurate findings, the potential for human error, and the sporadic need for proofreading. Try to use image to text converter to stay away from these issues. | https://www.digitalstudycenter.com/2023/02/optical-character-recognition-downsides.html |
If you are planning to marry in the near future, you are likely not planning on what will happen if your marriage ends at some point. Thinking about death or divorce before you even walk down the aisle may not seem like a romantic prospect, but it can be helpful to think about how you can protect your interests. One way you can do this is by creating a carefully prepared prenuptial agreement.
A prenuptial agreement can allow you to make decisions before you are married about how property division will work in case of a divorce, how money and property will be managed during the marriage, and how assets will be divided when the marriage ends due to death. It can also provide various other benefits and provide you with peace of mind before you get married. However, it is prudent to understand the implications of any financial and legal choices you make, and it is helpful to weigh the benefits and potential drawbacks of drafting a prenuptial agreement.
What a prenup can and cannot do for you
A prenuptial agreement can accomplish many things for you. In addition to allowing you to decide how you want property division to work in case of a divorce, it can allow two spouses to outline financial responsibilities during marriage and more. For example, you may want to designate a “joint household account” from which your living expenses will be paid. You may also want to decide if and under what circumstances property will be owned jointly, and whether a surviving spouse will own the property outright in the event of the death of the other spouse.
However, there are limits to what a prenuptial agreement can do. Potential drawbacks and limitations to these types of agreements include the following:
- A prenuptial agreement may require that you relinquish your right to inherit from your spouse’s estate in the event of his or her death.
- A prenuptial agreement may eliminate the creation of any community property that would have been acquired during the marriage.
- A prenuptial agreement can limit your claim to family-owned business assets that increased over the course of the marriage.
- Before marriage, it can be difficult to know what will work in the future, leading to a prenuptial agreement that may have long lasting consequences.
It can be difficult to approach the subject of a prenuptial agreement before marriage. However, these a well-drafted prenuptial agreement can be helpful and provide peace of mind for both people who are preparing to join their lives together and comingle finances.
Consider the Collaborative Process for your Prenuptial Agreement
Too often, the lawyers who are preparing a prenuptial agreement treat the process as if they were negotiating a divorce. However, when done using the collaborative process, the preparation of a prenuptial agreement can provide an excellent way to help prepare both parties for a healthy and successful marriage. With the guidance of marital property attorneys who have handled divorces, we can help anticipate some of the common issues that arise in marriage, and assist in developing creative solutions that help make sure both parties have the security they need as they move into the future together.
Discuss your family law concerns today
It is always worth the effort to avoid potential legal problems in the future. Divorce is complex, and property division is difficult, but having a prenuptial agreement can help you reduce conflict and make the process simpler. If you are unsure of how a prenup can benefit you or what you can do to protect your future, it may help to discuss your concerns with an experienced Texas family law attorney who can explain your options. | https://hargravefamilylaw.com/are-there-any-drawbacks-to-signing-a-prenuptial-agreement/ |
TaleFlick Pick!
Logline
Being lost is a frightening experience. Being lost, alone and pregnant in a harsh, winter wilderness could be a death sentence for city girl Georgia Charles.
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Action, Crime, Family, Folktale, Romance, Suspense / Thriller
Short Summary
It’s been several months since GEORGIA CHARLES husband left her for his pregnant assistant. She travels to the Yukon to visit a friend, only to discover she herself is pregnant. Georgia is unexpectedly kidnapped by bank robbers. She escapes in north-western British Columbia into a vast wilderness.
Georgia Charles is found alive, a book and movie contract evolves, she begins a new life for herself and her newborn daughter.
Setting
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Northwest British Columbia Wilderness, British Columbia Canada
Based on a True Story
No
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth
Plot - Other Elements
Happy Ending, Meaningful Message, Philosophical Questions
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Main Character Details
Name: Georgia Charles
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous, Selfless, Sexy, Clumsy, Complex, Engaging, Modest, Perseverance, Romantic, Strong Moral Code, Aspiring, Beautiful, Desperate, Heroic,Complex,Desperate,Empathetic,Selfless,Faithful,Underdog
Additional Character Details
Name: Sean Dixon
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Role: Tempter
Key Traits: Aggressive, Charming, Empathetic, Sexy, Adventurous, Educated, Engaging, Masculine, Complex, Heartthrob, Honorable, Lone Wolf, Romantic, Confident, Heroic,Charming,Sexy,Skillful,Flexible,Gracious,Educated,Leader
Additional Character Details
Name: Colin Charles
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Educated, Insecure, Manipulative, Masculine, Unapologetic, Badass, Blunt, Narcissistic, Aggressive, Greedy,Narcisstic,Confident,Power Hungry,Unapologetic,Manipulative
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Development Pitch
Winter's Captive is a unique story that takes Georgia from one extreme to another with challenging obstacles. She's an ordinary person put into unimaginable circumstances. Her weaknesses are as apparent as her strengths. She could be any one of us and she takes us on a journey of non-stop action. The common thread from readers: "Once I started reading this story, I couldn't put it down". Audience: Readers of this book range from late teens to mid-nineties. Women of all ages relate to Georgia's story. Men love the wilderness, the wildlife, the survival aspect. This story can appeal to many genres: romance, fantasy, spirituality, mysteries, thrillers, adventure tales, empowerment, self-help. The world loves a hero and Georgia Charles is a heroine. This story can be likened to successful movies such as, “The Edge, Vertical Limit, The Last Trapper, and Lost in the Barren”. Like all of the above stories, the protagonist is lost, ill-equipped, and desperate. Placed in an experience that is out of their comfort zone, adding the unexpected in the form of Mother Nature and wildlife, mixing in fear, tension, and suspense, and with a twist -- childbirth alone, the audience is drawn into an adventure story that carries their attention to the very end. An adaptation to film could be done economically as most of the movie takes place in and around the cabin. The other locations could be adapted to a set.
Genre
ACTION, ROMANCE, DRAMA
Brief
After being left by her husband for a younger woman, and being kidnapped by two criminals, Georgia Charles sees herself alone, and pregnant, in the middle of a forest. What could be the finish line for her and her baby turns into a circumstance that empowers Georgia and changes her life for good.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: GOOD
Premise: FAIR
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
It does.
Draw of Story
The pace is good enough to make you feel attracted by Georgia's story. Things happen fast, and you can understand what's going on from the very beginning.
Possible Drawbacks
Not really, but I think the story could have more conflicts. Being pregnant, by yourself, in the middle of a forest seems to be hard enough, but the protagonist solves the problems so quickly that we are absolutely sure she will succeed. I'd like to see more struggles, especially regarding her ex-husband.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The empowerment of a woman who feels diminished by her ex-husband. The forest, from my point of view, works as a temple, a place for redemption and revival. Georgia is forced to survive by herself, and it makes her stronger.
Fanbase Potential
The book is part of a series, and the protagonist is somewhat remarkable, so I can see Georgia inspiring women around the world with her strength.
Awards Potential
If the story leans over women's empowerment and the rebirth of a woman who was left behind by a selfish man, I can see Awards potential, but it needs some refinement to get better chances.
Envisioned Budget
LOW BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
THE SEA OF TREES - TWO STRANGERS CASUALLY MEET IN A FOREST, AND THIS ENCOUNTER CHANGES THEIR LIVES. BIRD BOX - A WOMAN HAS TO FACE HER FEARS AND EMBARKS ON A DANGEROUS JOURNEY IN ORDER TO SAVE HER KIDS
What’s New About the Story
The fact that a pregnant woman is forced to survive and give birth by herself in the middle of the forest. It's an intense way to show her strength.
Lead Characters
Georgia starts the book as an ordinary woman (underestimated by her husband), and she ends up stronger and empowered. It's an obvious yet engaging arc.
Uniqueness of Story
Not a rare gem, but the author knows how to hold tension and create suspense efficiently.
Possible Formats
Film - Streaming, Film - Indie
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER
Justification
I'd consider the book because it has good chances of becoming a franchise. The main character, Georgia, is somewhat remarkable, her arc is visible, and she has the power to inspire women. I believe the movie could become even more "empowering," and I don't think that Georgia would need to find another lover after having a frustrating marriage, but the story moves in a good way to show the protagonist's strength. I like the way the author uses a hostile and intimidating place to push the protagonist to the limit. The forest represents Georgia's renewal as if she has entered a temple, and left it stronger and more prepared. It's, at least from my point of view, a ludic way of showing this protagonist's change. The author knows how to sustain the tension the story needs. She also uses pregnancy as an efficient way to show the protagonist's transformation and test Georgia's survival skills. She has thus to be strong not only for herself but for her daughter. The story has some "easy" solutions though, as when Georgia finds a cabin full of groceries in the middle of the forest, and when a charming man enters the cabin and rescues her. The story could be further developed to improve those situations in order to make them more credible, but I believe Winter's Captive could attract an audience (especially women). | https://taleflick.com/products/june-99b127 |
This article originally appeared in the September/October 2010 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership.
About two years ago, an assistant director of a museum on a college campus called to share a quandary: Her department had produced 30 percent more programs and served 30 percent more people than the prior year … but she didn’t feel so great. She was overwhelmed with concern about what would be expected of her department now that the museum had achieved its goal of producing more programs and attracting more people. Could the department increase its output by another 10 percent or 15 percent the following year? How could her small staff possibly sustain that level of programming growth?
She knew that a continual focus on number of programs and attendees is unsustainable, and she wanted to stop doing more for the sake of doing more. The value of doing more, personally or organizationally, was not obvious. While she was busy producing 30 percent more programs, they weren’t necessarily deeply meaningful. Her director was happy with the increase in output, but she did not share his enthusiasm. Yet doing less was antithetical to her and her museum’s practice.
Museums’ measurements of achievement are often tangled up in building larger buildings, counting visitors and increasing programming. But to maximize their impact on the communities they serve, the fastest and most efficient path may be embracing the very un-American idea of scaling back.Skip over related stories to continue reading article
Doing less feels scary, especially when other museums are still on the treadmill. All sorts of fears emerge when considering program reduction. Will the museum’s traditions be lost if programs are discontinued? What might fill the void? Will you receive a poor performance review? Sometimes such concerns prohibit organizations from taking a risk, pursuing a brilliant flicker of an idea or simply moving on when the time is right.
The less-is-more approach necessitates changing how museums plan, care for collections, select programs and exhibitions, and engage their communities. If numbers of digitized objects, visitors, programs or exhibitions are no longer accurate measures of success, then what is? Approaching work with different goals—for example, balancing quantity with quality, satisfaction with meaningfulness and national appeal with community relevance—may help all of us in the museum enterprise realize the true value of our institutions. Museum work isn’t only about how much or how many; it is also about providing the public with meaningful experiences that are personally relevant, significant and enduring.
There are several ways to explore the idea of doing less. For starters, only do work that is relevant to your museum’s community (and stop doing work that is not). A museum might need to re-examine its mission and community to determine which programs are not relevant and, likewise, which programs do not represent the intrinsic value and greatest strength of the museum. Do away with these in favor of programs that can make a difference now and in the long run. Exploring doing less through the lenses of relevance, public value and impact will shape more deliberate, intentional and purposeful decisions, thereby strengthening the museum as an organization.
Doing less may also require examining your target audience. In Baltimore, for example, the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards was having trouble attracting school groups because its focus doesn’t support the state’s curriculum. As staffers considered options moving forward, they decided to focus on the museum’s strength—its unique position as a place where men can gather and pay homage to their sports heroes. Such a bold decision does not mean the museum excludes women, children and teachers. In fact, a recent visitor study commissioned by the museum showed that women and children enjoy their experiences there. But the decision was important organizationally, with the museum redistributing resources to play to its strength. Everyone’s happy, and the museum doesn’t have to be something it’s not.
Similarly, when the Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, N.C., was in the midst of annual institutional planning, staff vowed to be more intentional about its historic house programming. In examining their beloved tradition of hosting a holiday party for older adults, staff realized the program ultimately didn’t serve to make a meaningful connection between visitors and the museum. The program, held in accessible areas of the building for the convenience of attendees but away from the core of the institution’s American art and historic house collections, focused more on socializing than serving the museum’s mission. The staff decided that older adults were better served by other existing programs that were on mission. By no longer having to plan the holiday party, staff could redirect time, energy and resources into developing an entirely new interpretive program of guided candlelight tours that focus on winter traditions. They reached a new audience while appealing to their most loyal members.
Another key part of doing less is rethinking markers for success. For years, high visitation has been the brass ring, and it continues to excite staff and funders. Clearly, defining success in terms of quantity is easier than defining it in terms of quality, but attendance figures only mean that people came. They offer no indication of whether people had a meaningful experience. To help conceptualize different markers of success, staff could begin to articulate the museum’s distinctive characteristics, which can serve as a platform for defining the museum’s unique brand of quality and potential impact. Such a definition might help a museum measure another kind of success—quality of the visitor experience. Surveys of museum experiences often measure satisfaction. However, that may be a superficial measure in the context of what some museums aspire to achieve.
Oddly, doing less is a huge undertaking because of organizational ramifications and the potential for interference with tradition and status quo. But doing less can mean prioritizing and focusing work according to what an organization would like to achieve in terms of the public good. It also supports organizations saying “no” to resources or projects that prevent them from focusing on intended results.
Nearly all museums face the pressing reality that it is no longer possible to build larger museums and pile more work on at-capacity staff. If some museums are searching for a reason for doing less, consider the imperative for museums to clarify the impact they would like to achieve in their communities and documenting results that focus on quality, relevance and meaningfulness.
Randi Korn is founding director, Randi Korn & Associates Inc., Alexandria, Va. | https://www.aam-us.org/2010/09/01/when-less-is-more/ |
Most parents want to spend as much time as possible with their children, but sometimes a parent's behavior will interfere with the best interests and health of the child. In these circumstances, no matter how much the potentially dangerous parent may wish to see his or her child, a court may choose to strip the parent of his or her parental, custody and visitation rights.
What are the negatives of a prenuptial agreement?
A prenuptial agreement can be helpful to spouses who later decide to get a divorce. While most people focus on the potential positives of such an agreement, however, spouses need to consider the potential disadvantages as well before they make the decision to draft and execute their prenups.
Was your divorce triggered by a communication breakdown?
Sitting at the dining room table across from your spouse shouldn't be a silent affair unless that's the kind of relationship both of you want. While some spouses may be content with silence, most relationships require meaningful and honest conversations to flourish. Through honest and heartfelt communication, spouses learn about one another's concerns and how they can best fulfill each other's needs in the relationship. When this kind of communication can't be achieved, it could lead to the end of the marriage.
Don’t confuse the different kinds of child custody
Many parents don't know that there are actually two kinds of child custody: (1) physical custody and (2) legal custody. As such, when an offer for "joint custody" is made, they won't understand what that offer entails until they determine the type of joint custody the offer includes.
You have to pay child support, but it should be reasonable
If you and your ex share children, one of the most difficult aspects of a separation and divorce is the process of figuring out the best way to handle custody and parental responsibilities. Financial contributions are one of the most important parental responsibilities in any family. After all, children require housing, health care and school supplies in addition to toys and other items that make life enjoyable. | https://www.familylawforyou.com/blog/2018/07/ |
How to Transition Your Career Into Digital Marketing: Tips From 3 Women Who Have Done It
Picture this: you’ve just been hired in your first professional role as a writer at your dream company. You’re determined to get your name in print, only to be told that you’re heading up a completely online publication. For Chelsey Wilkins, a panelist at the recent Tech Talk: Digital Marketing 101, that experience became the first stepping stone on her way to becoming the Senior Manager of Entertainment at Coca-Cola.
Hosted by 2U, Inc., the discussion provided attendees with an in-depth look at three different pathways into professional roles in digital marketing. Moderator Alison Abbington led panelists Tina Witt, Manager and Lead of Digital Marketing Technology at CarMax; Chelsey Wilkins, the Senior Manager of Entertainment at Coca-Cola; and Phim Her, Senior Product Marketing Manager at the Washington Post*.
If you’re curious how you can leverage your current skill set and enter the field of digital marketing, keep reading to find out the top tips from these three female professionals who have done it themselves.
*Statements made by the panelists do not reflect the official policy or position of their respective organizations.
Entering the field
Before she was brought on as a liaison between developers and key stakeholders for CarMax, Tina Witt started in ecommerce where she fell in love with the idea of selling products online. From there, she got into web design, enrolled in boot camps, and got even more enmeshed in strategic thinking. For her, it was all about how technology can help drive digital marketing and product management in more meaningful ways — but it wasn’t an obvious pathway from the outset.
As we noted above, Chelsey’s journey to a career in digital marketing started as a passion for writing. When she learned she wouldn’t be writing for a print publication, she embraced the challenge of writing exclusively for an online audience and soon realized, “This is where the consumer is going, and there’s a lot of opportunity here.” Rather than holding out for the exact opportunity she originally hoped for, she pivoted and discovered her love of digital media.
Phim Her’s path into digital marketing at the Washington Post looks a little different from the other panelists. A tech student with an affinity for creative advertising and political science, she started out working as a designer, leading a UX team on best practices at just 25 years old. She’s since leveraged her skills and professional experience to market to the Post’s readers and advertisers — a role that requires an understanding of multiple audiences as a key marker of success.
Skills used on the job
If you’re interested in digital marketing, you already know that the field requires a blend of both hard and soft skills in order to be successful. While Tina, Chelsey, and Phim hold different roles within their companies, they share many of the same skills and responsibilities in their day-to-day work. Let’s take a look:
Hard skills
Design thinking
“You have to be a systems thinker,” says Phim. What does that mean? As a digital marketer, you may be asked to focus on areas that you’re not completely familiar with. For Tina, it’s about being able to see patterns and connecting dots, thinking logically through a problem to its solution.
Having a solid understanding of the whole system you’re working with gives you an informed perspective that will make you a more valuable and effective marketer. One of the top tips we received? If you’re a design thinker or a developer, lean on your understanding of front and back end principles to solve problems in a digital marketing role.
Data analysis and research
It may come as a surprise, but digital marketing is still a relatively new field; so, while there may not be as many obvious roadmaps available, it also means there’s plenty of opportunity for innovation. That said, the first step to a successful marketing strategy is conducting research. “My goal is to understand customers and get consumers to interact with our brand,” Chelsey says.
Being able to draw insights from user data and conducting research to further understand those insights is a crucial skill for any aspiring digital marketer who wants to move the needle.
Compliance and privacy regulations
In her role, Tina is responsible for identifying problem areas, digging into those problems, and making recommendations that support CarMax’s marketing while also adhering to industry practices. To do this effectively, she stays on top of privacy regulations and consumer rights — for instance, she’s currently conducting research on the future “cookie-less” world, which will impact targeting as audiences change.
With so much flux in the digital world, having an understanding of transitions and how they’ll impact users and your organization’s bottom line will save plenty of time (and potential headaches) down the road. Preparation is key!
Soft skills
Communication and translation
As a digital marketer, you may find yourself in a liaison role between a technical team and more traditional marketers or content producers. “The thing that has the most impact is communication. It’s so important, especially in a role where you are that liaison trying to connect a tech-based group with a business-based group,” explains Tina.
Phim echoed Tina’s sentiment; because her role requires communication across a variety of consumers — including readers, advertisers, and influencers — understanding her audience and knowing how to communicate with them is crucial. In order to get into the right headspace, she asks herself, “How do I push [the audience] in a way that speaks their language?” Another tip? “Be a student of your audience.” Read the books they’re reading, listen to their podcasts, and learn to think like your users to help move the dial as a marketer.
Risk taking
Innovation rarely happens when people play by the rules, which is why so much of successful digital marketing comes as a result of taking risks. It’s a fine balance between trusting your intuition and going outside of your comfort zone to see what’s truly possible. If you’re just starting out on a team, don’t be afraid to throw out some ideas that may seem outlandish — you never know where inspiration can come from!
Confidence
At the end of the day, the most important soft skill you can bring to the table is confidence. As women in technical roles, Tina, Chelsey, and Phim know how hard it can be to have your voice heard in a male-dominated field. If you find yourself doubting your skills or expertise, think back on your journey from the outset — maybe you completed a challenging digital marketing boot camp, or perhaps you’ve had career accomplishments in previous roles — and be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and advocate for yourself to reach even greater professional heights.
Landing your first digital marketing job
All three of these women currently work in roles that challenge them as digital marketers — but you might be surprised to find out that they all had very different ideas of where their careers would take them when they first started.
Phim found an early passion for creative storytelling and oriented herself toward that path, but it quickly became evident that she had a knack for strategic thinking. Chelsey’s passion for print went out the window shortly after she started her first job and recognized the potential of social media and digital marketing. Tina originally wanted to become a teacher, wound up working for a marketing company, and made saying “yes” her superpower. Regardless of their goals and where they landed, each of these women was willing to overcome hurdles in the name of pursuing something they were genuinely interested in.
The path into digital marketing isn’t linear, and often requires a perspective shift to find potential in unexpected areas. Consider your career goals and determine how your current responsibilities can play into the bigger picture, make connections, and understand how you can pivot and apply your skills elsewhere. Remember, employers aren’t looking for candidates who simply check all the boxes; they want to know that you can think like a customer and work with different types of individuals.
Staying connected with your audience
One thing should be clear by now: a successful digital marketer is passionate about what they do — there’s no way around it. In order to truly connect with your audience, you need to understand who they are, their motivations, and why they interact with your brand. But how do you do it? Here’s a quick rundown of the top tips we learned from the discussion:
- Read up on what other companies are doing
- Stay on top of what’s trending and leverage your social media platforms
- Attend conferences (especially free virtual ones)
- Listen for buzzwords at work
- Find out what other marketers are saying by listening to podcasts or searching on Reddit
- Lean on the resources available to you and make connections
Final thoughts
Digital marketing blends the fields of technical expertise with traditional marketing, leveraging data insights to make strategic creative decisions. If you’re looking to enter the field, consider the skills you already possess from your current professional experience and determine the gaps you’ll need to fill. A digital marketing boot camp is an excellent way to hone your skills in a short time frame, while also giving you the opportunity to work on real-world projects, build a portfolio, and receive career planning support. Learn more about UC Davis Digital Marketing Boot Camp and speak with admissions today by visiting our website. | https://bootcamp.ucdavis.edu/blog/transition-your-career-into-digital-marketing/ |
By Sandra G. Stoneman and Matthew C. Mousley
If you are a university researcher interested in launching a startup based on an invention developed in your lab, below is a list of some key guidelines to keep in mind as you start your company:
1) Make Use of Tech Transfer Office Resources – Most universities have a technology transfer office (TTO), center for innovation and similar office that provides general business and legal advice, facilitates commercial relationships and makes lots of other resources available to help researchers commercialize technologies. The sooner you connect with TTO staff, the better.
2) Manage Actual and Potential Conflicts of Interest – When university personnel start companies, a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest may arise. For example, will your time commitment to the company divert too much attention from your work for the university? Is there intellectual property core to the company that you assigned to the university and for which the company requires a license? Will the company use university resources to continue research and development and, if yes, is there permission through a written agreement to do so? These actual and potential conflicts should be considered and addressed proactively and in accordance with university policies and your agreements with the company.
3) Understand Invention Assignment Policies . . . and Follow Them – Typical university invention assignment policies provide that the university owns all inventions that: (1) are created by university personnel in the course of their employment, (2) result from work at the university; or (3) are otherwise made through university time or with substantial use of the university’s resources. Therefore, you should avoid “commingling” your work for your company and your responsibilities for the university, and you also should not use university resources to do work for your company unless it is pursuant to a sponsored research agreement or some other agreement or arrangement with the university (this includes not only lab resources, but also resources like your university-provided laptop and email address). This is particularly important if the university receives any relevant federal funding, which could implicate the Bayh-Dole Act and further complicate the ownership and disposition of inventions. Finally, you should make sure that any written agreement you enter into with your company is compliant with applicable university policies.
4) Submit Your Invention Disclosures – Universities generally require that when their researchers create inventions or other work product potentially the subject of intellectual property, the researchers must submit invention disclosures. Not only are invention disclosures required by universities to track inventions from their researchers and assess commercial potential, but filing an invention disclosure is typically the first step to patenting and commercializing your invention. Each university has its own policy, and it is never too soon to read yours carefully to make sure that you understand the disclosure requirements.
5) Co-Inventors: Don’t be so generous! – A clear agreement on the ownership of intellectual property before it is created can avoid a number of potential disputes later. Applicable law like patent or copyright law will determine in the first instance who is an inventor of an invention or an author of a work. However, collaborators and other interested parties (e.g., the university and inventors) can—and should—agree up-front which original intellectual property owners are to assign rights to which intended intellectual property owners. These types of agreements may also be required by university policy. For example, while a research associate in the lab might actually be an inventor of an invention under patent law and receive a career benefit from being named on the patent, that research associate may not be a core stakeholder in the company or planning to stay with the university long-term. Accordingly, the university may want to require that the research associate assign his or her intellectual property rights in the invention to the university, which may in turn license all necessary rights to the company. This approach would efficiently consolidate intellectual property ownership while at the same time giving inventorship credit to the research associate.
In sum, it is important to understand all applicable university policies and what rights and obligations you have vis-à-vis the university, and the sooner you understand these policies, the better. | https://blogs.duanemorris.com/lifescienceslaw/2018/11/05/five-good-habits-of-university-researchers-launching-spinouts/ |
Rekha Rao, an Indian American professor of Art History, follows her dharma (duty) to find the killer of her mentor and father figure. In the process, tastes the prospect of an unexpected romance, and discovers her true calling.
Genre
Detective,Mystery,Crime,Family
Short Summary
In the opening scene, Rekha is at the police station, where, under Detective Al Newton's critical eye, she's examining an idol used as the murder weapon. She manages to stay grounded despite her PTSD resulting from her father's murder three years ago, and her growing attraction for Al.
Rekha is convinced who the murderer is but having no evidence, she calls him in to extract a confession. The killer reveals several details about the murder and tells her why he killed Faust. Al and his team arrive to arrest the killer who in a later interrogation, reveals all the details.
Setting
Pasadena, Eagle Rock, Culver city
Based on a True Story
No
Plot - Premise
Quest,Internal Journey/Rebirth
Plot - Other Elements
Twist,Meaningful Message
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Main Character Details
Name: Rekha Rao
Age: 30+
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Charming,Complex,Confident,Decisive,Empathetic,Engaging,Gracious,Educated,Insecure,Modest,Romantic
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Development Pitch
Rekha Rao, a thirty-something Indian American professor of art history, disillusioned by academia and haunted by the murder of her father, moves away from her nosy Indian family, and as luck would have it, gets entangled in a second murder, that of her mentor and father figure. Walking a thin line between her match-making family and the Homicide Detective she’s attracted to but distrusts, Rekha finds the killer, and in the process, discovers her calling and tastes the prospects of an unexpected romance.
Genre
SUSPENSE
Brief
An Indian professor of art history makes investigations of her own to find her mentor's killer. After a long and dangerous investigation process, she is able to find out who the assassin is and uncovers an unexpected fact about the victim.
Overall Rating
FAIR
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: FAIR
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: FAIR
Premise: FAIR
Structure: FAIR
Theme: FAIR
Accuracy of Book Profile
Yes, it is accurate, but the author didn't add the characteristic of any of the supporting character.
Draw of Story
The fact that it is a mystery story led by an Indian-American female character, something different from usual.
Possible Drawbacks
The plot in general, as well as some situations, feel somewhat predictable and derivative.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
A female Indian-American amateur investigator à la Indiana Jones conducts the narrative.
Fanbase Potential
Yes, if adapted by a talented crew and cast, it might have a fanbase centered on the main character, who is a courageous and determined woman.
Awards Potential
Not quite the kind of story that earns Awards, and it lacks complexity and character development.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK - IN THIS CLASSIC MOVIE, INDIANA JONES IS AT THE SAME TIME A HISTORY PROFESSOR AND AN ADVENTURER LOOKING FOR ARCHEOLOGICAL TREASURES. THE INDIAN DETECTIVE - A NETFLIX TV SHOW IN WHICH AN INDIAN DETECTIVE, TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED FROM THE POLICE, HELPS INVESTIGATE A MURDER CASE.
What’s New About the Story
The most original aspect of the story is its inclusivity, especially concerning the protagonist and also Faust, the main victim, who turns out to be homosexual. However, the story in general is too generic and predictable to be unique. It should have more personality in order to be memorable in an adaptation.
Lead Characters
Rekha Rao is a very determined, courageous and intelligent woman, who will stop at nothing to conclude her journey.
Uniqueness of Story
Not really. It lacks originality, and a bit of further narrative character development.
Possible Formats
Film - Streaming, Film - Indie
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
While the story has many positive points, it has room for improvement (see possible paths below). If you can't change the story at this point, my suggestion is using your notes as a guide to highlight the best aspects of it when taking the next steps, either putting a pitch page together, a treatment, or a presentation.
Tips for Improvement
There would need to be an extensive revision and rethinking of the whole plot. That's because every beat of the narrative feels borrowed from other stories we've already read or seen. Not that everything needs to be original and different, there is no problem with repeating proven formulas. However, the narrative of the book doesn't seem to have enough going for itself, and that might strain its chances with an audience in an adaptation. Besides, the protagonist being such a courageous and defying individual, maybe the love interest for the detective character could have been handled in a different manner or even completely suppressed. It doesn't look like this particular story calls for a romance side plot, even though the author takes care to make it clear that the main character refuses to accept cultural or familiar impositions in this matter, which is the great aspect of it. In general, the story and characters lack development and more complexity, something that would enrich the whole narrative immensely and make an adaptation more compelling to watch. | https://taleflick.com/products/vee-1 |
Communicating in public
The most effective method of communicating an important message depends on many factors – including how the communicator gets the message across. Some people are gifted at presenting a message verbally to a large audience (e.g. in a lecture or meeting). Others may find large audiences intimidating, but may be excellent communicators in small groups or one-to-one interviews.
Whatever the setting or means of communication you choose, there are some general principles to keep in mind. These apply both when the communication is with one (interpersonal communication) or with many people:
Target audience
Gather as much information as possible about your target audience to ensure you design messages they will hear.
- Reflect on the capabilities and concerns of your target audience – what do they need to understand to make informed decisions?
For example
Providing reassurance to concerned parents differs from communicating newly available evidence to experts at a conference.
- Consider the age range of your audience.
For example
Informing teenagers learning about papilloma virus and HPV vaccination at school differs from talking to elderly people learning about influenza and flu vaccination at a community centre.
- Take into account differing educational levels.
For example
Talking to preschool children differs from qualified nurses at an immunization clinic.
- Mind language problems.
For example
Speaking to someone with the same local language differs from speaking to someone who has difficulties understanding your language.
- Respect gender differences.
For example
Talking to female patients may differ from communicating to a male audience depending on your cultural context.
- Take differing religious contexts into account.
Communication objective
- What is your single overarching communications objective?
- Identify what key messages are necessary to achieve that objective and consider the best ways to communicate them (for example, verbally, in writing or in pictures).
Structured communication
- Communicate in a logical sequence.
- Sum up the key points at the end.
Interactive communication
- Encourage the audience to ask questions.
- Thank the target audience for their attention.
Question
Imagine that during an immunization campaign you have to communicate information in your country about vaccine safety and the benefits of immunization to either nervous parents and their child, or to teachers in a secondary school. Which of the following statements is correct?
Several answers possible.
|A. Conduct an interview with a nervous young mother with her first baby choosing a quiet room to enable an atmosphere of trust.|
|B. Be aware of your time schedule when interviewing concerned parents. You should not take more than a few minutes to look into their concerns.|
|C. When communicating to teachers at a large secondary school, group them to get your message across to them at the same time and allow time for discussion to resolve potential information gaps in your audience.|
|D. Provide information material (posters, videos, slides) to target audiences that supports your key messages and provides additional information.|
A, C and D are correct.
The best means of communicating with a nervous young mother may be a one-to-one interview in a room where you will not be disturbed and the conversation is private. Take time to listen to her concerns and reassure her that they are understandable. Use simplified messages in language that she can understand and do not overload her with too much technical detail. Leaflets that provide additional information to read later may serve well to reinforce your messages.
Communication with teachers at a large school can take place in a group meeting, so that your message can influence many of them at the same time. The room should be large enough to seat everyone comfortably, so they can all see you. Make sure, however, that the group is small enough that they can be heard by everyone if they ask questions. Use display materials (e.g. posters, video, slides) and provide hand-outs to read later to reinforce your messages. | http://vaccine-safety-training.org/communicating-in-public.html |
She explains that because the potential for making subtle but offensive errors is so high in international dealings, a language-sensitive native speaker from the target culture should always review the instructions before they are distributed to consumers.
The suggested "bottom-up" approach should have incorporated the target audience during the design process instead of as an afterthought. Abstainers, Pragmatic frequent sharers, At-risk sharers, and Emergency sharers.
In these two situations, the audience—the individuals who will watch and listen to the presentation—plays a role in the development of presentation. Because the task of completing an audience analysis can be overwhelming, using a multi-pronged approach to conduct the analysis is recommended by most professors, often yielding improved accuracy and efficiency.
Another audience could be the Aims senior management, in which case the benefits to enrollment and student retention become important points to address. During the writing process, it is helpful to position yourself as a reader. These indicate what readers will look for while reading your assignment.
They must refine the demographic variable of age, operationalize age to enrich current methods of audience analysis, investigate multidisciplinary sources of aging research, and participate in research on aging by offering our expertise in document design and communication strategies.
For other topics and assignments, these measurements may not influence your writing in the end. A summary of the report should present all the main points and supporting details in brief. Specific applications of audience analysis[ edit ] R.
Polishing your work using correct grammar will impress your readers and allow them to focus on what you have to say. Lippincott acknowledges that there is so much more research that must be done in this area, for "the body of literature on older adults and computer use is relatively small.
This study illustrates how an audience analysis should not only address what the users are able to do but also what they, as the users, would prefer. Which one would the author send to her parents.
Exercise 2 Consider the essay most recently assigned to you. I def do NOT want to miss the basketball tournament. The depth of the audience analysis also depends of the size of the intended audience.
Because the audience has shifted, your presentation and delivery will shift as well to create a new relationship with the new audience. This refers to what the audience already knows about your topic.
The study showed that an audience-driven design would do more to reassure the audience that personal information would not be collected without consent as well as provide clear policies of security, privacy, and data collection.
Key Terms and Concepts. and that an effective understanding of audience in composition processes requires a dynamic understanding of the relationship between the two concepts. as well as multimodal texts that combine these strategies) designed to achieve multiple and specific purposes for multiple and specific audiences.
Understanding the general and specific purpose of your speech will help you develop and focus your speech to meet the needs of your delivery and of your audience. In preparing a speech or composition, audience analysis is the process of determining the values, interests, and attitudes of listeners or readers.
Aug 22, · How to Conduct Audience Analysis In this Article: Sample Audience Analysis Planning your analysis Conducting your analysis Creating your document Community Q&A To make any type of writing as effective as possible, it is important that the writer understands his or her audience%(89).
The content of an essay that has a specific topic will vary depending on the intended audience. In other words, having a focused topic is important, but having a specific audience is equally important.
Public Speaking chapterdefinitions study guide by AKKimball includes 42 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. when a speaker delivers a message with a specific purpose to an audience of people who are present during the delivery of the speech 2. | https://hivawetajagimu.elonghornsales.com/an-analysis-of-the-specific-purpose-and-the-concept-of-keeping-the-attention-of-the-audience-52812nm.html |
Electronic Engineering Technician - Jo
Jo is an Electronic Engineering Technician who is having difficulty finding employment in her local area. She has already checked out the local job centre and local newspapers to determine if there are any current job vacancies for Electronic Engineering Technicians. Although Jo would like stay in the local area, she is willing to travel to find work.
Jo might want LMI to:
- Find out which employers have hired Electronic Engineering Technicians in the past in her local community. This way Jo can make sure she has exhausted the opportunities in the local area. If she decides that it is time to expand the area for her job search, she might want to put together a list of potential employers in the area that she is willing to re-locate to
- Determine current patterns of demand and current wage rates for Electronic Engineering Technicians in potential relocations areas.
- Think about whether her skills are sufficiently up-to-date, or whether she requires some 'top up' training?
What all this LMI means for her!
Even with all this LMI, Jo will probably want to talk to someone. She may still have questions and might still end up coming to you for further assistance. What topics and issues will you be prepared to discuss and what other resources might you use?
Should the focus of the support offered be:
- on providing relevant LMI;
- about marketing herself;
- on transferable skills required to move occupational areas;
- identify the hidden job market; or
- effective career decision making?
What frameworks for practice do you adopt in your work? | https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/glacier/lmi/underdevelopment/careers-scotland/case-studies/technician/ |
K8 Hardy’s Outfitumentary
New York based artist K8 Hardy, whose talents primarily rest in performance, photography, and sculpture art, has recently completed yet another piece; Outfitumentary, an experimental film that Hardy started working on in 2001, documents, ostensibly, what the artist wore for ten years.
Filming herself and what she wore in small snippets on a near daily basis, viewers not only get a look into Hardy’s wardrobe, but also get some insight into what the artist’s day-to-day life was like; the audience will hear small bits of phone conversations or talks with friends, how Hardy’s attitude and personality evolve as she gradually becomes more comfortable in front of the camera, her changes in hairstyle, and the switch in surroundings that take us from different rooms in her apartment to her studio where she does most of her work, and even the different radio broadcasts and music she would have on at the time. Hardy didn’t look at any of the footage until last year, and ended up with about six to seven hours of film, edited together into Outfitumentary.
In an artist discussion conducted by Dr. Rebecca Duclos, dean of Concordia university’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Hardy was asked if there was a particular target audience that she had in mind while putting Outfitumentary together. In response, Hardy stated that she viewed her audience as “multifaceted” and that “anybody who was interested in art, fashion culture or queer culture could watch this, even those that may not be be into experimental film at all.” Hardy felt there was a resistance for young artists to point a camera at themselves, that there was a lot of potential and that this was an important medium “that has to keep growing and changing with time”. Her main inspiration behind this film, she said, was the idea of capturing the moment of what she was wearing for posterity. | https://thelinknewspaper.ca/blogs/entry/k8-hardys-outfitumentary |
There are some benefits to working out twice a day, including fewer periods of inactivity and potential performance gains.
But there are also drawbacks to consider, such as the risk of injury and the risk of overtraining.
Here’s what you should know before upping your time in the gym.
If you log more activity by working out twice a day, you’re reducing your sedentary time.
According to a
If you’re training for a competition or event, consider seeking the guidance of a trainer or coach about adding more workouts to your routine.
This can help focus your efforts on your performance goals while ensuring that the potential drawbacks of overtraining and injury are appropriately monitored and managed.
It’s important to understand the recommended guidelines for physical activity before adding another workout to your daily routine.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week.
This comes out to about 30 minutes of activity, five times a week.
Many health experts agree that exercising for more than the suggested minimums can be effective for calorie burn and weight reduction.
If you’re working with a doctor or other healthcare provider to develop a weight management plan, they may recommend up to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.
If weight loss is your ultimate goal, talk to your healthcare provider about what this might look like for you. They can make specific nutrition and exercise recommendations to ensure that you’re working toward your goal with your overall health and well-being in mind.
For weightlifters, increasing the number of times you work out each day doesn’t appear to offer any additional benefits.
If you’re concerned about overtraining, consider breaking your typical workout into two equal sessions.
According to a
But there was an increase in isometric knee-extension strength (ISO) and neuromuscular activation (EMG) activity for the twice-daily group.
This result may support the idea that splitting your workout into two sessions can reduce the risk of overtraining. More research is needed to fully understand these findings and draw further conclusions.
To be effective, your exercise and conditioning routine must balance periods of intense training with periods of recovery.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, overreaching and overtraining in your routine is often characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:
- persistent muscle stiffness or soreness
- persistent fatigue
- irritability
- nagging injuries
- recognition that your fitness routine is no longer enjoyable
- difficulty sleeping
You can reduce your risk of overreaching and overtraining by:
- varying your training so you aren’t constantly repeating the same thing
- staying properly hydrated
- ensuring that you’re eating a nutritious diet
- following the 10 percent rule: never increase training intensity or volume by more than 10 percent at a time
- following intense periods of training with extended periods of recovery and rest (24 to 72 hours)
- maintaining a training log to identify potential areas of overreaching or overtraining
Working out twice a day offers both potential benefits and potential risks. Using your individual needs and motivations as a baseline, you must determine the best training and conditioning routine for your specific situation.
Talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider about an optimal number of workouts, as well as an ideal intensity level for your routine.
They may refer you to a sports medicine primary care physician whose focus is to help people: | https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/working-out-twice-a-day |
TaleFlick Pick!
Logline
Sarah's morning activities seemed quite ordinary, but on this day, the divine invaded the mundane. Today, the eternal transformed Sarah's very existence; resurrection morning fulfilled every hope that reverberated deep in her soul.
Genre
Religious,
Short Summary
The story focuses on a middle-aged mother, cooking for her husband, seeing him off to work. She then makes tea and carries it to a nearby park and does her Bible Study. After that, she experiences the rapture and meets the angel who cared for her all of her life.
The believers in Heaven accompany Jesus back to Earth and witness Jesus' overcoming power at the battle of Armageddon. They then accompany Jesus back to Jerusalem, into a time of peace.
Setting
Begins in a local neighborhood home and park. The story then moves on to the rapture, clouds, sky, space, and Heaven. At the very end, back to Earth, Jerusalem, the Valley of Megido.
Based on a True Story
Yes
Plot - Premise
Voyage and Return
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Main Character Details
Name: Sarah
Age: 60
Gender: Female
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Adventurous, Heroic, Visionary, Strong Moral Code, Educated, Engaging, Flexible, Gracious, Honorable, Aspiring, Empathetic, Faithful, Perseverance, Religious, Selfless
Additional Character Details
Name: Paul
Age: 60
Gender: Male
Role: Mentor
Key Traits: Visionary, Adventurous, Confident, Leader, Masculine, Selfless, Skillful, Strong Moral Code, Charming, Faithful, Honorable, Religious
Additional Character Details
Name: included in the story are Sarah's 3 children, 1 granddaughter, and several friends.
Age:
Gender:
Role:
Key Traits:
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Development Pitch
Genre
RELIGION
Brief
Sarah is going about her morning rituals including reading her devotional to spend time with God. This day she is visited by an angel and taken to Heaven with the rest of the Christians. She marvels at her new life in Heaven and being in the presence of God. Sarah meets family, learns about creation and the history of angels until Jesus returns to Earth to defeat the Devil at Armageddon.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: EXCELLENT
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: FAIR
Premise: GOOD
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
The Book Profile does accurately reflect the book but could be more detailed. The majority of the book takes place in Heaven but the profile focuses on the very first chapter.
Draw of Story
The story has an extremely positive tone. Sarah lives a wonderful life with her husband. She is a Christian and finds peace in her relationship with God. The topic of the rapture from the perspective of someone taken to Heaven has not been seen often. It was refreshing to see.
Possible Drawbacks
The book is overly happy. Sarah leads a happy life on Earth and then goes to Heaven where there is no pain or strife. It is Heaven and everything is amazing there. She basks in God's glory and gets answers to all her questions. Sarah is able to reconnect with her parents and friends. Even when Jesus takes humanity back to Earth to fight the Devil and the Antichrist, it is from Sarah's perspective. Sarah is in awe of the angels who easy destroy the Devils army. It all ends well. There is no conflict in this story. It is an imagining of an event where the ending is victorious.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES HEAVILY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The hook is that Sarah is taken to Heaven in the rapture. The audience sees as she begins her eternal life with God. It follows the events of Revelation, in the Bible, which hasn't been portrayed before. It does not have that "end of the world" movie feel. It is about new beginnings.
Fanbase Potential
This is a very niche film. There are a growing amount of faith-based films so this would have an audience. Unlike some of those films, it would reach across all sects of Christianity and Catholicism.
Awards Potential
This could have awards potential because the story has room for artistic expression. The idea of Heaven, visually, could be open for many interpretations. The story ,as is, does not conflict or character development.
Envisioned Budget
LARGE BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
LEFT BEHIND, HEAVEN IS REAL, THE MATRIX, BRAVE NEW WORLD
What’s New About the Story
The story is original because it follows Sarah going to Heaven during the Rapture. Previously, we see those who were left behind but not those who go first. Sarah explores Heaven, gains answers and lives pain free until all of humanity returns to Earth. The concept is similar to many sci-fi films about other dimensions but this is rooted in Christianity and builds on many people's upbringings.
Lead Characters
The lead character stands out in her optimism and joy. She starts off as a happy woman, in love with her husband and grateful for what God has given her. It is magnified as she finds herself flying through space, towards Heaven and her many experiences after.
Uniqueness of Story
This is a rare gem because of the religion it is pulling from. It can be difficult to tackle the subject matter because of the complexities of Christianity but it is done in a respectful way. It may not translate to the screen as well. | https://taleflick.com/products/freda-99b1296 |
Last week we learned that Lovely Warren has chosen not to debate Green Party Mayoral candidate Alex White. For voters seeking meaningful discussion of the issues and an exchange of ideas, her decision was highly disappointing. Given that education is the cornerstone of her campaign (and the topic of our blog), I felt especially shortchanged.
In his response, White also discusses potential impacts on the teaching profession. My comments are in italics.
WHITE: “Every year it seems the RCSD has fewer teachers, larger classes, and worse results. These conditions wear out teachers who struggle with disruptive students and inadequate assistance. Rather than getting better, the district seems every year to have to reduce staff and cut programs. While other districts would keep the programs and teachers they need, our district is forced to keep only those it can afford.
The center piece of Lovely Warren’s plan to solve this problem is creating a new system of schools called charters. These schools will siphon money away from the public schools, and attract many of the better students. Yet, in national studies charter schools get similar results as public schools. While 29% of charter schools do better. 31% do worse. Furthermore, they also pay their teachers less.
Of course one of the ways to improve schools is better teachers. As charters pay roughly 25% less, it is unlikely these will attract better teachers and frequently have trouble keeping any they do get. Further, funneling money out of the public schools will make it harder to educate the students in that system.
One of the key drawbacks of charter school is they are non-union (and in some cases profit-driven), inevitably leading to lessened compensation and working conditions. Invariably, better working conditions translate into better learning outcomes for students. Rochester, Monroe County and New York State have benefited from a robust and effective public union, one that is a strong advocate against crippling budget cuts. For all the RTA-bashing, consider the striking success of many (unionized, of course) suburban schools.
Now while education is very important to the success of the city, this is the role of the school board. The mayor can do little about this unless there is mayoral control. Even with mayoral control, such changes would provide great disruption in the lives of our students and waste precious resources on reorganization. The real solution is to stop playing politics with education and just provide the funding needed. For years the city payments to the district has remained fixed despite rising costs. Further, the city is constantly finding ways to charge the district for services which should be free. So with less money why would be expect our schools to improve?
My plan is to fund the education we need. Presently we are required to provide so much money for education. Nothing says we could not provide more. I would encourage the district to present programs which are good, and then the city will provide additional funds for these. This way we could have programs like a full day preschool option for 4 year olds, day care in schools, teen court, arts and music for all students, and much more. These programs will keep more children in school and help more succeed.
These issues are exacerbated when we consider Rochester has the seventh highest childhood poverty rate in the nation. “Wraparound services”—prenatal counseling for expectant mothers, programs for preschoolers, longer schools days, after-school and summer activities, and other support services–are urgently need in low-income neighborhoods.
If education is your priority, consider closely White’s analysis and proposals. And, at the same time, reflect on Warren’s reticence to engage her opposition in public forums. | http://talkerofthetown.com/2015/09/25/alex-white-on-charter-schools-and-school-funding/ |
WSE and JHSPH have created a new academic department devoted to tackling environmental issues and their impact on public health.More
Environmental engineering is a highly interdisciplinary, diverse, and growing field. Its aim is to identify, understand, describe, and solve environmental problems in order to improve the human condition—while protecting fragile ecosystems—through the development and promotion of sound, sustainable environmental practices. Understanding physical and political geography is crucial to understand and solving complex challenges facing our planet such as climate change, desertification, and resource distribution, among others.
Our environmental engineering undergraduate and graduate programs are consistently ranked among the top ten at U.S. universities. Our students work closely with faculty members who are world-renowned physical and social scientists with expertise in diverse areas, including hydrology, waste management, land use management, public health, economics, political science, and law. Johns Hopkins University has a long history of leadership in environmental engineering, particularly in the science of clean, safe and accessible water.
Employment for environmental engineers is projected to grow by more than 22 percent over the next decade, as state and local governments grapple with increasingly water, land and resource issues. Propelled by our rigorous academic curriculum, stellar advisors and well-rounded program, Johns Hopkins graduates in environmental health and engineering are in demand in academia, government, and industry, landing careers in areas such as water supply and sanitation, waste management, land use management, energy regulation, environmental protection, public health and more.
Working professionals may choose to pursue a non-thesis advanced degree or certificate in Environmental Engineering or Environmental Engineering and Science through our Engineering for Professionals part-time and online programs. | https://engineering.jhu.edu/fields-of-study/environmental-engineering/ |
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203 432-3009
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Journal of Industrial Ecology
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(3)
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
(6)
International Negotiations
(4)
Land Conservation
(7)
Natural Capital
(8)
Natural Resource Management & Policy
(12)
Parks and Protected Areas
(7)
Pesticides
(2)
Religion and the Environment
(5)
Remote Sensing & GIS
(2)
Soil Science
(3)
Statistics
(3)
Sustainable & Green Design
(4)
Sustainable Development
(15)
Sustainable Land Management
(1)
Sustainable Products and Technology
(4)
Toxic Waste and Superfund
(3)
Urban Ecology
(5)
Urbanization and Cities
(3)
Waste Management and Recycling
(2)
Water Quality
(5)
Water Resource Management and Policy
(5)
Water Scarcity
(2)
Water: Freshwater Systems
(2)
Water: Hydrology
(2)
Watershed Management and Coastal Systems
(5)
Wetlands
(3)
Wildlife
(5)
ADMISSIONS
Why Yale?
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Apply! | http://environment.yale.edu/profiles/expertise/business-and-the-environment |
Rapid urbanization and industrialization-led economic growth are the quintessential features of developing country landscapes, particularly in South Asia. Urbanization brings about dramatic changes in local environments, occupying land and water bodies, creating air pollution and heat island effects. It places demands on regional resources such as water and agriculture. Urban areas and industry dump their solid waste and effluents onto peri-urban areas, remote islands or deep beneath the oceans. The growth of industry, which promises and at times provides more jobs, legitimizes this demand for resources, the creation of new slums and gentrified spaces, different gender relationships, lifestyle changes and health impacts. Urban lifestyles also set the benchmark to which others aspire, and therefore the ecological footprint they will generate.
INSEE, an association of professionals interested in issues at the interface of ecology, economy, and society, invites submissions of original papers and panels of papers addressing these concerns at its 8th Biennial Conference, which focuses on “Urbanization and the Environment”.
Analyses of gaps in current challenges as well as of possible ways towards more sustainable and equitable urbanization are welcome. Contributions from different interdisciplinary perspectives (e.g., ecological and environmental economics, geography, political ecology, gender-environment studies, environmental governance, ecology, water and wastewater management, energy studies) are invited. Scholars include academics, students, environmental and social activists, policy-makers, entrepreneurs and bureaucrats: anyone engaged in rigorously exploring questions, conducting analysis and deriving lessons on these issues.
The Conference will be held at the Indian Institute of Science in the city of Bengaluru between 16th-18th December 2015. Bengaluru, once known as India’s garden city, is one of the world’s most rapidly expanding metropolises, and a microcosm of the socio-environmental challenges and responses that urbanization and industrialization engenders.
We invite papers and panel proposals on the following sub-themes:
-
Urbanisation, Industrialization and Climate change
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Culture, Consumption and Sustainability of Cities
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Urban Commons, Institutions and Movements
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Urban Environmental Governance and Technology
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Urban-Rural Environmental and Resource linkages
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Urban Water: from Source to Disposal
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Air Pollution, Solid Waste and Human health
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Urban Ecologies, Biodiversity
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Rural in the Urban: Agriculture in Cities
Kindly note the following dates:
Abstract submission (for papers and panel proposals) – 7th July 2015
Communication about selection of abstracts/proposals – 20st July 2015
Submission of final paper or full panel (as per INSEE format) – 2nd October 2015
Communication about selection of paper/panel – 1st November 2015
Abstracts or panel proposals should be less than 400 words, and should be sent to [email protected]. Please indicate the sub-theme for which the abstract/proposal is being submitted.
A limited number of travel grants will be available for some of the authors whose full papers are accepted for presentation in the Conference.
Registration dates, forms and other details will be announced soon on our website (www.ecoinsee.org). | https://www.isecoeco.org/call-for-papers-from-the-8th-biennial-conference-of-the-insee/?share=pinterest |
Dr Thang Nam Do is a research fellow at the Grand Challenge Program on Zero Carbon Energy for Asia Pacific, Australian National University.
Before joining the ANU, he worked with the Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as Deputy Director General of International Cooperation, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Operational Focal Point, Chair of Association of Southeast Nations Association (ASEAN) Working Group on Climate Change, and national focal point of: ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainably Cities, Water Environment Partnership for Asia and Clean Technology Fund.
He has led research projects on drivers and barriers to Vietnam's solar PV adoption, water environmental management for river basins, reviewing environmental economic instruments for revision of the Law on Environmental Protection, assessing environmental cobenefits of climate change mitigation policy, pollution damage and national park valuation. In addition, he has acted as a resource person for various regional and national environmental policy issues, including water environmental management and sustainable cities.
Thang Nam Do attains PhD and Master in Environment Management and Development from the Australian National University and Bachelor in Environmental Engineering from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Canada.
Research interests
- Solar and wind energy policy
- Carbon pricing
- Water-energy-environment nexus
- Sustainable cities
- Ecosystem based climate adaptation,
- The Greater Mekong Subregion and South East Asia.
Researcher's projects
- Chief investigator of studies into drivers and barriers to Vietnam's solar PV adoption https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421520303037, Vietnam offshore wind energy policy, ASEAN cross-border electricity trade, carbon pricing options for Vietnam, Mekong water-energy nexus, and renewable energy policies in South East Asia.
- Senior Advisor for World Bank project "Vietnam's Water Governance" https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/vietnam/publication/vietnam-toward-a-safe-clean-and-resilient-water-system, Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6th Assembly, GEF/ADB project “Mainstreaming Climate Resilience and Environmental Protection for Green Secondary Cities Development”, GCF/IUCN proposal on Building Climate Resilient Coastal Communities and Ecosystems in Asia, and IGES/ASEAN Sustainable Development Goal's Forerunning Cities Program.
- Co-founding signatory of the Geneva Actions on Global Human Water Security Fund, https://genevaactions.org; and the Food Energy Environment Water Network, www.fe2wnetwork.org
- Director of: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study on water environment management of river basins in Vietnam, ASEAN-Institute of Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) project on ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Model Cities, Strengthening Environmental Capacity for Vietnam Project; Developing Solid Waste Management visions for Vietnam; Vietnam-Korean project on soil and ground water remediation-VEA/MONRE.
- Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA-IDRC)’s project: Impacts of Dykes on Wetland Values in Vietnam's Mekong Delta: A Case Study in the Plain of Reeds, http://www.eepsea.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=59:the-dyke-dilemma-a-cost-benefit-analysis-from-vietnam&Itemid=341.
Qualifications
Expertise Areas
- Environmental Management
- Natural Resource Management
- Environment and Resource Economics
- Environment Policy
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Network (past 5 years)
Dive into details
Select a country/territory to view shared publications and projects
Projects
- 1 Finished
-
Scoping Study on Australian Engagement in Energy and Climate Change Sectors in Vietnam
Stocks, M., Blakers, A., Burke, P., Do, T. & Lu, B. | https://researchprofiles.anu.edu.au/en/persons/thang-do |
Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.
|Credit Points:||12.5|
|Level:||9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)|
|Dates & Locations:|| |
This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
|Time Commitment:||Contact Hours: 2.5 hours of lectures/seminars per week |
Total Time Commitment: Not available
|Prerequisites:||None|
|Corequisites:||None|
|Recommended Background Knowledge:|| |
Environmental Economics, Microeconomics, Managerial Economics
|Non Allowed Subjects:||None|
|Core Participation Requirements:||
|
The Graduate School of Science welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and School policy to take reasonable steps to make reasonable adjustments so as to enable the student’s participation in the School’s programs. MSLE contributes to the New Generation degrees and offers a broad range of programs across undergraduate and post-graduate levels many of which adopt a multi-disciplinary approach.
Students of the School’s courses must possess intellectual, ethical, and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the School. Candidates must have abilities and skills in observation; motor in relevant areas; communication; in conceptual, integrative, and quantitative dimensions; and in behavioural and social dimensions.
Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability, however students need to be able to participate in the program in an independent manner and with regard to their safety and the safety of others.
I. Observation: In some contexts, the student must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic and applied sciences. More broadly, observation requires reading text, diagrams, maps, drawings and numerical data. The candidate should be able to observe details at a number of scales and record useful observations in discipline dependant contexts.
II. Communication: A candidate should be able to communicate with fellow students, professional and academic staff, members of relevant professions and the public. A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing.
III. Motor: Candidates should have sufficient motor function necessary for participation in the inherent discipline-related activities. The practical work, design work, field work, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, require varying motor movement abilities. Off campus investigations may include visits to construction sites, urban, rural and/or remote environments.
IV. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of professionals in land and environment industries, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the candidate should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.
V. Behavioural and Social Attributes: A candidate must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.
Students who feel their disability will prevent them from meeting the above academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison.
CoordinatorDr Veronika Nemes
Contact
|Subject Overview:||
|
The course focuses on the economic theory and application of environmental policy instruments. The course covers both the conceptual and the practical understanding of regulatory as well as incentives-based approaches. Topics include pollution control, urban and rural water use, climate change, transportation, biodiversity loss, fisheries management and energy policy. Case studies from Australia, Europe, and the U.S. are used to analyse a range of policy instruments, including taxes, rebates, fees, permit trading, bans, informational policies, and legal instruments. The course will enable students to evaluate policy options using cost-effectiveness, economic efficiency, equity, fairness and other economic concepts as criteria.
|Learning Outcomes:||
|
Critically evaluate different regulatory approaches for dealing with environmental degradation;
Explain the difference between command-and-control and incentives-based policy instruments;
Explain the causes of market failure and their relationship to environmental problems;
Assess the reasons for and evaluate the effects of government intervention;
Understand the difference between taxes, tradable permits, subsidies, legal and information-based instruments, design standards and how they may be used to address environmental problems;
Apply the theories discussed in class to real-world environmental issues, including water use, energy use, climate change, pollution control, biodiversity, and fisheries management.
|Assessment:||
|
Assignment 1 (Approximately week 6) – 15% (approx. 750 words)
Assignment 2 (Approximately week 11) – 45% (approx. 2150 words)
End of Semester Exam (2 hours) - 40%
|Prescribed Texts:||
|
Tom Tietenberg, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Pearson International Edition (9th ed), 2012.
Additional readings, journal articles, and multimedia materials may also be assigned and provided.
|Recommended Texts:||
|
Thomas Sterner, Policy Instruments for Environmental and Natural Resource Management, Published by Resources for the Future and The World Bank, 2012 (selected chapters)
James R. Kahn, The Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources, Harcourt Brace Publisher, (3rd ed), 2004
|Breadth Options:|| |
This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
|Fees Information:||Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date|
|Generic Skills:||
|
|Links to further information:||http://www.environment.unimelb.edu.au/|
|Related Course(s):||
Master of Energy Systems |
Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration (Enhanced)
|Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:||
100 Point Master of Public Policy and Management |
150 Point Master of Public Policy and Management
200 Point Master of Public Policy and Management
Climate Change
Climate Change
Conservation and Restoration
Development
Development
Education
Education and Social Change
Energy Efficiency Modelling and Implementation
Energy Efficiency Modelling and Implementation
Environmental Science
Governance, Policy and Communication
Governance, Policy and Markets
Integrated Water Catchment Management
Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Regions
Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Regions
Tailored Specialisation
Tailored Specialisation
Waste Management
Waste Management
Download PDF version. | https://archive.handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2016/enst90017/ |
Geography and Environmental Studies
Geography and Environmental Studies at LdM focus on the active role we all play in global society and environmental change, and on our responsibility to create just and sustainable societies and environments. Students in this field learn more about themselves and the environments they live in while gaining the necessary critical thinking and analytical skills needed to excel in their future career path.
Geography and Environmental Studies courses cover a wide range of environmental issues that combine the physical and social sciences. Students explore important themes like climate change and biodiversity, pollution, global migration and urban development, natural resource management, with an emphasis on ecological, social and cultural sustainability.
Course Listing
Sustainable Forest Management
Mediterranean Sustainable Landscape Garden
Sustainable Food
Please note that this is a selection of LdM courses. Consult the current LdM Course Schedules for offerings by site and session, and the LdM Academic Catalog for a complete list of courses, descriptions, and prerequisites. | https://www.ldminstitute.com/en/main/campuses/tuscania/subjects-and-courses/art-and-sciences/geography-and-environmental-studies/ |
Page 2 of 2, search MSc Programs in Sustainability Studies 2019 in England in United Kingdom
Master programs provides the same title for the degree - the Master. Postgraduate studies such as Masters of Science are shortened MSc. The Master of Science in Management program or the Master of Science of Management education are postgraduate programs in common management. This means that students receive an academic education with depth of reflection and abstraction. Masters usually can be classified as Master of Science (MSc) or the popular Master of Arts (MA). The Master of Science (MSc) usually is given for successfully achieving postgraduate programs with a science or technical point of convergence.
Sustainability put into practice could take many different forms, effecting both the individual and the larger community. There are ecovillages and sustainable cities created just for the purpose of minimizing the use of important resources. There are also techniques, such as sustainable architecture, which help promote this ideal.
MSc 16-19 (out of 19). Request Information Master of Science Programs in Sustainability Studies in England in United Kingdom 2019
19 Results in Sustainability Studies, England Filter
MSc Sustainable Chemical Engineering
University of Bath
Our course is for engineers and scientists who want to play a leading role in innovating, designing and managing sustainable processes and systems. Improving resource efficiency is a major priority for process industries that rely on materials and energy. Our course focuses on addressing this challenge by giving you the tools to find sustainable ways to do more or better with less.
MSc Sustainability
University of Salford
This course allows you to explore the field in a variety of ways: choosing an environmental, geographical or mixed pathway and touching on contemporary themes from food security to urban planning and beyond.
MSc in Sustainability and Management
University of Bath School of Management
Gain a solid understanding of sustainability issues relating to corporate social responsibility. You’ll also develop your skills in the core business areas with this innovative MSc.
Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
Royal Agricultural University
This course combines the principles of sustainable development with an examination of the various systems of food production in the context of providing a secure supply to meet the ever-changing requirements of a growing world population. It provides an opportunity for graduates or professionals in other disciplines to direct their careers towards agriculture and food supply.
MSc Sustainable Building Design & Engineering
University of Greenwich
The programme considers passive (building fabric) and active measures (building services and renewable energy technologies) setting out what approach may be taken when considering new build or, as is becoming increasingly important the existing building stock. Alongside this students will gain the skills needed to assess these options on a whole life basis with an appreciation for how the financial and business case can be made for such approaches. The programme is closely linked with the schools Sustainable Built Environments Research Group (SBERG) and will be informed by the cutting edge research carried out by the group considering technical, behavioural and social issues associated with the delivery of sustainable built environments
MSc Agriculture for Sustainable Development
University of Greenwich
This programme is aimed at students who wish to pursue a career in agriculture and sustainable development in the private sector, research, NGO or government communities. It provides a firm grounding in research methods applicable to the study of sustainable agriculture and the intellectual tools for understanding sustainable agriculture systems. The courses combine theoretical approaches and empirically based learning from case studies of real projects and agricultural scenarios.
Multidisciplinary Design Innovation - MSc/MA
Northumbria University, Newcastle Business School
During this Multidisciplinary Design Innovation - MSc/MA program, you will take what you know and investigate the knowledge and approach of others to enhance and further develop the fields within your industry and the possibilities of others
MSc in Sustainable Development (Distance Learning)
SOAS University of London
This programme aims to provide students with a broad grounding in the main concepts associated with sustainable development, but also provides the opportunity to specialise in one area in greater depth.
MSc Global Energy and Climate Policy
SOAS University of London
The MSc Global Energy and Climate Policy (GECP) is the first Master's programme to jointly address the issues of climate and energy policy in an interdisciplinary fashion. It tackles policy and regulatory change, the historical and technological evolution of energy sources, energy markets and their participants, the global governance of climate change as well as the challenges associated with transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
MA in Housing and Society
London South Bank University
Masters-level course is aimed at senior professional staff and decision makers in the housing profession. Covering: high-level strategic and policy content rather than focus on housing practice.
MSc/PgDip in Education for Sustainability
London South Bank University
Masters (MSc) / PgDip Education for Sustainability course; understand sustainability and become an effective agent for change.
Sustainability and Environmental Management MSc
Middlesex University London
The need for environmental sustainability is increasingly acknowledged in policy areas throughout the developed and developing world. For this reason, our course is designed for those looking to gain a high-level qualification in the theory and practical application of sustainable environmental management. The next intake will be October 2016.
Master in Crisis and Disaster Management
University of Lincoln
The MSc Crisis and Disaster Management brings together the areas of crisis management, risk management and disaster management with the aim of providing students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of current approaches to crisis and disaster and the impact that such events may have on businesses, communities and nations.
MSc Advanced Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Extended Research
The University of Nottingham - Faculty of Engineering
This new two year MSc course is made up of two semesters of taught modules followed by a year-long project. Wherever possible, the project will be undertaken in collaboration with industry.
MSc in Sustainable Development
University of Bradford
This new programme is designed to develop leaders with a deep understanding of sustainable development ideas, institutions, policies and networks - and the necessary critical thinking skills to inform policy and create long term impact. It is designed and delivered by a team with cutting-edge research and policy advisory track record, who are passionate about sustainable development. | https://www.masterstudies.com/MSc/Sustainability-Studies/United-Kingdom/England-1/amp/?page=2 |
The ocean plays a key role in the functioning of earth system, provides food and medicine, and a major means for trade, transportation and communication. Realizing the importance of ocean in our everyday lives, the University of Chittagong has started marine science education and research by establishing the department of Marine Biology in 1971. To accommodate additional academic scope, later in 2006, the department renamed as the Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries (IMSF). The IMSF is currently offering BSc (Hon's) degrees in three subjects including Fisheries, Marine Science and Oceanography, and MSc degrees in six subjects including Fisheries, Oceanography, Aquaculture, Environmental Pollution and Management, Microbiology and Post-harvest Technology, and Fish and Shrimp Nutrition. It also offers research degrees (MPhil and PhD) and provides expert services in marine affairs to the government of Bangladesh, UN agencies, development partners, entrepreneurs, NGOs, and more. To date, over 750 theses and dissertations have been comleted at IMSF spanning a broad range of disciplines such as ecology, planktology, fisheries, aquaculture, oceanography, pollution, microbiology, climate science, geoinformatics, coastal zone and resource management, and biodiversity conservation of the northern Bay of Bengal and adjacent coastal/riverine ecosystems. This constitutes major portion of oceanographic, marine biological, fisheries and mariculture research findings in Bangladesh.
IMSF is aware of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2), on collaborative research from coastal environments to the deep sea over the period 2015-2020, that aim to reveal new information on the Indian Ocean. Certainly, availability and accessibility of oceanographic data from the Indian Ocean can truly enhance our understanding to predict climate change impacts, pollution status, marine biogeochemical cycles, fisheries habitat, and sustainable management of resources (e.g. fisheries, petroleum, eco-tourism, and green energy), and ecosystem functions to strengthen economic and scientific competiveness of the Indian Ocean rim countries. Therefore, we see IIOE-2's intent to involve scientists and research institutions in accordance with the overarching six scientific themes of the program with high hopes and delight. The potential collaborative works to achieve common science goals of IIOE-2 and Bangladesh would include:
In this connection, initiatives taken by the IIOE-2 and its core sponsors (IOGOOS, SCOR and UNESCO IOC) to assist academic and research institutions in oceanographic research is a meaningful one and highly encouraging. No doubt that the future of our oceans depends on knowledge. Therefore, IMSF, being the only-of-its-kind academic institution of Bangladesh, is very much keen to engage in IIOE-2 programs to work together in the ocean science, climatology, geology, as well as sustainability of ocean resources management for societal benefits. Indeed, an active involvement in the IIOE-2's program will assist Bangladesh to address the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty and hunger, and tackle climate change problems. | https://iioe-2.incois.gov.in/IIOE-2/Bangladesh.jsp |
USAID and Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Climate Change and Environmental Pollution
HANOI, January 28, 2022 – Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) formalized their partnership on addressing the complex challenges of climate change and environmental pollution through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). USAID’s Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock and MONRE Vice Minister Le Cong Thanh signed the MOU at a ceremony hosted today by MONRE at its headquarters.
“The recent COP26 meetings in Glasgow aimed to accelerate humanity’s cooperation on climate change and underscored the importance of collective action to preserve and protect our environment and planet,” USAID Mission Director Yastishock said at today’s ceremony. “USAID applauds the commitments made by Vietnam’s Prime Minister at COP26, and we are ready to support Vietnam to reach these important goals. This MOU will help facilitate the effective collaboration between USAID and MONRE on climate change and environmental pollution and take us one step closer to bringing greater environmental awareness and change for Vietnam’s citizens and economy.”
With its long and densely populated coast, Vietnam has been ranked by the World Bank as among the top five countries likely to be most affected by climate change. A high proportion of the country’s population and economic assets are located in coastal lowlands and deltas, which are subject to frequent typhoons, floods, droughts, and landslides. In addition, Vietnam faces a series of environmental pollution challenges largely spurred by agriculture, transportation, and industry.
USAID’s collaboration with MONRE will focus on air quality management; integrated water resource management and water security; conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; ocean plastic, solid waste management and recycling; and reduction of emissions responsible for climate change.
Over the past five years, USAID has been working closely with Vietnam to foster collective action by local actors—including the Government of Vietnam, private sector, social organizations and citizens—to raise awareness of the causes and effects of environmental pollution challenges, and to increase knowledge of effective strategies for reducing environmental pollution. USAID believes that solving complex environmental issues is a long-term process that requires strong collaboration and joint action from Government of Vietnam entities, citizens, the private sector, and local organizations—which all have common concerns and share mutual benefits of addressing specific environmental pollution issues. By empowering local actors to take the lead in identifying and addressing environmental challenges, USAID advances locally-led and -sustained development and contributes to Vietnam’s ownership of its prosperity, quality of life and sustainable, green economic growth. | https://urban-links.org/insight/usaid-and-vietnams-ministry-of-natural-resources-and-environment-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-on-climate-change-and-environmental-pollution/ |
Cities around the world are dealing with environmental issues: air pollution, urban heat islands, stormwater flooding, the growing accumulation of solid waste. What can be done to keep citizens safe from environmental hazards and natural disasters? What is needed to ensure a pleasant living environment? And how can residents, commuters and businesses be stimulated – or if necessary, forced with legislation or financial sanctions – to do their bit? With the problems increasing, rather than diminishing, there’s a growing demand for professionals with an expertise in the development of sustainable cities.
The Master’s specialisation in Local Environmental Change and Sustainable Cities focuses on the local level of sustainability transformations. You’ll be introduced to the latest scientific insights, which will be illustrated with numerous examples of how cities and regions all over the world tackle these problems.
A broad scope of environmental issues will be addressed, as well as existing measures and instruments. Stormwater management, forms of renewable energy and green roofs are just a small sample of what you can expect to encounter. You’ll also, for example, discover that waste management goes far beyond recycling schemes and how cradle-to-grave products are making way for cradle-to-cradle. In addition, we’ll be dealing with citizens’ initiatives in renewable energy as well as new focus areas, like the possible environmental advantages of community food systems.
This Master’s specialisation will teach you to become the bridge between science and society. What do the latest results in environmental research actually mean and how can that knowledge be converted into concrete plans and policies that will bring about the change needed? In this, it’s crucial that you understand how policymaking and legislation works as well as have some insight into human behaviour. For a plan to work, the people and businesses in the city need to collaborate. Environmental and behavioural psychology will therefore be addressed in various courses within this specialisation too. | https://www.prospects.ac.uk/universities/radboud-university-21208/nijmegen-school-of-management-22870/courses/local-environmental-change-and-sustainable-cities-specialisation-of-environment-and-society-studies-115554 |
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8/10/2019 Essay on Environmental Pollution and Global Warming
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ESSAY ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND GLOBAL WARMING
1. INTRODUCTION:
Significant strides have been made in Pakistan for forwarding the environmental agendafrom being a stand-alone topic to one identifying itself as an integral element of the nationalmainstream development with the recently launched Mid-Term Development Framework for
2005-2010. This also lends itself to address sustainable environmental development as avehicle for economic growth. Several policies, plans, programs and projects have beeninitiated for environmental protection and conservation in the sectoral areas of water and airpollution control, land use, forest management, energy efficiency, biodiversity conservation,and waste management, etc. In addition, Pakistans role in the international community vis--vis its responsibilities for sustainable development has also become known through theGovernments show of commitment for instance on biodiversity, drought and desertification,and climate change, etc.Economic Survey (2005-06) stated, Sustainable development remains the cornerstone ofgovernment policies, and the concern for environment, its protection, renewal andenrichment is recognized as an obligation towards the betterment of all citizens. Concerns ofenvironment sustainability are integrated in the countrys development agenda and as a
crosscutting subject, are being addressed in all sectors of economy. The poverty-environment nexus has been of particular interest in the recent years as poverty inPakistan, like in many other middle-income countries, plays an important role in increasingthe vulnerability of the poor to pollution and environmental degradation.
From formulating the National Conservation Strategy to becoming a signatory to manyinternational conventions/protocols/agreements, Pakistan has emerged as an active andresponsible player for environmental conservation. This responsiveness to global andnational environmental challenges has been supported through legislation, policy makingand creating institutional set up. National Environment Action Plan (NEAP) that was initiatedwith the approval of the Pakistan Environment Protection Council and the UNDP funded,NEAP Support Program (NEAP-SP) remains the flagship initiative of the Government ofPakistan in the environment area. NEAP-SP focuses on a healthy environment and a
sustainable livelihood by improving the quality of air, water and land with civil societycooperation. In this regard, the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and theEnvironment Impact Assessment (EIA) have already been made mandatory for public sectordevelopment projects.
2. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT POLICY:One of the major achievements of NEAP-SP during 2005-06 was the formulation of the
National Environmental Policy 2005 which has been approved by the Federal Cabinet. The
countrys first ever Environmental Policy compliments the objectives of NEAP-SP andaddresses the sectoral issues such as (a) water management and conservations, (b) energyefficiency and renewable, (c) agriculture and livestock, (d) forestry and plantation, (e)biodiversity and protected areas, (f) climate change, air quality and noise, and (g) pollutionand waste management.
The policy also addresses other cross-sectoral issues such as (a) Population andEnvironment, (b) Gender and Environment, (c) Health and Environment, (d) Trade andenvironment, (e) Poverty and Environment and (f) Environment and Local Government.NEAP-SP has also launched a number of Environment related projects in Wind Power,Energy Conservation, Micro Hydro, Juniper Forests, Chilghoza Forests, through its partnersnamely the Ministry of Water and Power, AEDB, Ministry of Science and technology and theMinistry of Education. In the water sector, Pakistan is faced with severe water shortagesand water quality issues. The orientation of the water management institutions and experts
8/10/2019 Essay on Environmental Pollution and Global Warming
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is largely toward harnessing the resource in the service of economic growth, and nottowards its conservation or quality. In addition, severe levels of water pollution andunchecked industrial pollutants being released in water bodies have added an immediatemeasure status to water management issues. Similarly, although making headway in
addressing ambient air quality in the country, Pakistan is struggling with ineffective airquality management systems. Adding to this burden is the fact that at present there is no
continuous monitoring station present in the country and most of the data reported isobtained from mobile monitoring units or spontaneous on-site sampling with laboratoriesbased results. A common issue for lack of compliance to water and air quality monitoringand maintenance has been limited resources and persistent information gap.Other environmental sectors such as wetlands and mangroves are also faced with a similarresource crunch and information and data inadequacies thereby negatively effecting thepolicy and program implementation. Over fishing and polluted waters are contributing to thereduction of productivity of the marine and inland fisheries. The precarious condition ofmangroves in coastal zone and the even more precarious status of certain aquatic wildlifeare but a few indicators of the rate of degradation.
3. COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY:
On the International front, Pakistan is a signatory to a number of Multilateral Environmental
Agreements (MEAs) and has acceded to other non-legally binding instruments such asAgenda-21 Rio Principles and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation aiming for sustainabledevelopment of natural resources. Among them are the United Nations Convention onBiological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wildflora and fauna (CITES), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD),United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention onMigratory Species (CMS), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Basel Convention on the Controlof Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, RotterdamConvention on the Prior Informed Consent for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticidesin International Trade, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs),and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
Although constrained by issues such as lack of awareness, technical expertise, institutionalset-up/capacity, coordination among various concerned departments /organizations, and aclear cut policy and plan of action for each MEA, yet Pakistan has taken several steps tomeet its obligations to the MEAs. Key actions include finalizing the National ImplementationPlan (NIP) to eliminate Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), meeting the targets set byMontreal Protocol for the elimination of Ozone Depleting Substances, implementing theBiodiversity Action Plan, finalizing the Action Plan for UNCCD; finalizing the guidelines andrules for hospital waste management, and regular reporting to UNFCCC through its Nationalcommunication.
4. CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANNISM (CDM):
Following the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in 2006, Pakistan has established theDesignated National Authority (DNA) for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in the
Ministry of Environment. National Operational Strategy for CDM has been approved by thePrime Minister of Pakistan, which offers all support for attracting investments andcapitalizing the carbon business under the CDM initiative. The CDM Cell is working withpublic and private sector partners for attracting investments in energy efficiency, renewableand alternate energy, industries, forestry and agriculture together with technology transferand capacity building. The government of Pakistan has enhanced budgetary allocations forthe environment sector for the period 2005-2010, which will significantly contribute towardsensuring the environmental sustainability.
8/10/2019 Essay on Environmental Pollution and Global Warming
3/6
5. IMPACT OF POLLUTION:
1) Air
One of the major environmental issues is degradation of ambient air quality particularly inurban areas. The key factors contributing to air pollution in Pakistan are: a) rapidly growingenergy demand; b) increasing industrial and domestic demand and c) a fast growingtransport sector. In the cities, widespread use of low-quality fuel, combined with a dramaticexpansion in the number of vehicles on roads, has led to significant air pollution problems.Air pollution levels in Pakistans most populated cities are among the highest in the worldand climbing, causing serious health issues. The levels of ambient particulates smokeparticles and dust, which cause respiratory disease are generally twice the world averageand more than five times as high as in industrial countries and Latin America. Varioussurveys show that air pollution levels in cities have either crossed safe limits or havereached the threshold values.
I. Suspended Particulate Matter:
The most serious issue of air quality in Pakistan is the presence of excessive SuspendedParticulate Matter (SPM) in the ambient air. The major sources of SPM are vehicles,industry, burning of solid waste, brick kilns and natural dust. The origin of SuspendedParticulate Matter (SPM) may be a natural phenomenon, such as unpaved roads and placesuncovered by green grass or trees. Fine particles size of soil may be raised in the form ofdust cloud by driven motor vehicles and by strong wind blow. Other origins may beconsidered coming from artificial emission of SPM such as emission gases including theparticulate matter from the motor vehicles and industrial activities.
II. Vehicular Pollution: | https://vdocuments.site/essay-on-environmental-pollution-and-global-warming.html |
Water supply in urban environments is determined by a combination of natural phenomena and technical infrastructure. The goals of urban water management are to ensure access to water and sanitation infrastructure and services; manage rainwater, wastewater, stormwater drainage, and runoff pollution; control waterborne diseases and epidemics; and reduce the risk of water-related hazards, including floods, droughts, and landslides.
Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) calls for the alignment of urban development and basin management to achieve sustainable economic, social, and environmental goals. It brings together water supply, sanitation, storm- and waste-water management and integrates these with land use planning and economic development.
RAPID URBANISATION, CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLLUTION IMPACTS AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE ARE AMONG THE CHALLENGES OF URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT
IUWM offers a set of principles that underpin better coordinated, responsive, and sustainable resource management practice. It is an approach that integrates water sources, water-use sectors, water services, and water management scales.
The core principles of IUWM include:
IUWM planning provides a framework for interventions over the entire water cycle and a reconsideration of the way water is used (and reused). National and local governments are gradually recognising the importance of adopting IUWM plans to address the challenges of cities. Integrated approaches in water management provide for coordination with basin management, coastal management, regional and national policies etc., not neglecting the fact that cities are interconnected to their hinterlands.
The IUWM framework is a key enabling factor in making sure cities create wealth and employment and support innovation and creativity, whilst providing opportunities to improve livelihoods and maintain ecological balance.
Cities that have effectively adopted IUWM plans can teach us many lessons. Some of these best practices are integrated to the “Water for the City” project and are indicated below:
For more information, you can refer to:
GWP IWRM ToolBox, component C4.05
Bahri A. (2012), Integrated Urban Water Management, | https://waterforthecity.net/en/urban |
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Editor-in-Chief
Professor F. Haghighat
Visit the journal homepage for submission instructions and more information about the publication
Read articles on ScienceDirect
Sustainable Cities and Society (SCS) is an international journal focusing on fundamental and applied research aimed at designing, understanding, and promoting environmentally sustainable and socially resilient cities. We encourage submission of cross-cutting, multi-disciplinary research in the areas of,
1. Smart cities and resilient environments;2. Alternative/clean energy sources, energy distribution, distributed energy generation, and energy demand reduction/management;3. Monitoring and improving air quality in built environment and cities (e.g., healthy built environment and air quality management);4. Energy efficient, low/zero carbon, and green buildings/communities; 5. Climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban environments; 6. Green infrastructure and BMPs;7. Environmental Footprint accounting and management;8. Urban agriculture and forestry;9. ICT, smart grid and intelligent infrastructure;10. Urban design/planning, regulations, legislation, certification, economics, and policy;11. Social aspects, impacts and resiliency of cities;12. Behavior monitoring, analysis and change within urban communities;13. Health monitoring and improvement;14. Nexus issues related to sustainable cities and societies;15. Smart city governance;16. Decision Support Systems for trade-off and uncertainty analysis for improved management of cities and society;17. Big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence applications and case studies;18. Critical infrastructure protection, including security, privacy, forensics, and reliability issues of cyber-physical systems.19. Water footprint reduction and urban water distribution, harvesting, treatment, reuse and management;20. Waste reduction and recycling;21. Wastewater collection, treatment and recycling;22. Smart, clean and healthy transportation systems and infrastructure;
We support a wide range of methodological and technical approaches including experimental, observational, monitoring and management studies and policy analysis. In addition to fundamental and applied papers, review articles on important developments will be considered.
Reducing pumping costs in buildings with water conservation.
In April 2008, a new world record height of 606 m for pumping concrete was set on the Burj Dubai Tower in Dubai. Bryan Orchard looks at the high pressure p
Extending the lifetime of pumps in abrasive applications. | https://www.worldpumps.com/construction/publications/sustainable-cities-and-society/ |
What will I study?
Overview
Course structure
The Master of Environmental Science is a 200-point program, made up of:
- Core subjects (62.5 points), including an industry project
- Environmental science discipline subjects (75–100 points), including the option to undertake a research project
- Broadening environmental studies subjects (up to 25 points)
- Professional skills subjects (25–37.5 points).
In your first-year, you’ll start with the core subjects EVSC90017 Global Environmental Change and EVSC90014 Environmental Risk Assessment and choose elective subjects from the Discipline, Broadening and Professional subject groupings.
In your second year, you’ll complete your elective subjects while undertaking the Industry Project in Environmental Science, and EVSC90019 Graduate Seminar: Environmental Science , where you will participate in, and sometimes lead, discussions of hot topics in environmental science.
In the year-long industry project, you'll work on an industry-relevant environmental science question. You’ll spend time at the workplace of your assigned industry client, getting a full understanding of the problem and why it is important to the business or mission of the organisation.
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this degree.
First year
Complete both the following subjects:
- Global Environmental Change 12.5 pts
This subject equips participants with an understanding of the role and limitations of science in environmental debates and decision-making. Global changes to the atmosphere, hydrological cycle, land-uses, urbanisation, climate, pollution, biodiversity, pests, and diseases are having profound impacts on the planet, its people and other species. You will gain an appreciation of strengths and limitations in the diversity of scientific approaches used to understand and manage environmental changes. These approaches include empirical observation, mathematical and statistical modelling, and expert opinion. The subject highlights the breadth of environmental changes, and the range of scientific methods that can be used to address these issues. Collectively, these elements provide a sound foundation for science-based advocacy and management that recognises the scientific and social contexts of environmental debates.
- Environmental Risk Assessment 12.5 pts
Environmental Risk Assessment aims to provide you with the skills to undertake and critically evaluate environmental risk assessments. We outline the history and social context of risk and explore the psychology of risk perception. You will be introduced to quantitative and qualitative tools with the objective of giving you the ability to select, apply and assess technical and socially based risk assessment. The subject is structured to develop your skills in writing reports and participating in group exercises.
While the contact period is six intensive days, the learning period is longer. Reading materials are distributed in May and a small assessment task is set to encourage you to be fully prepared. You will be required to complete a take-home examination and a substantial practical report in the weeks following the course.
The subject is made up of lectures in the mornings and practical exercises in the afternoons. It assumes no formal background in quantitative methods. An understanding of basic statistical concepts (means, medians, standard deviations, confidence intervals, basic linear regression) is an advantage. If you have not been involved in an undergraduate statistics class before, contact the subject coordinator to discuss your options.
Second year
Complete the following subject:
- Graduate Seminar: Environmental Science 12.5 pts
This subject will examine current topics in the discipline of environmental science. The choice of topics will be driven by the students in the subject under the direction of the subject coordinators. Students will organise, lead and participate in discussions of relevant material such as journal articles, media stories and environmental impact assessments. Students will also deliver an oral presentation to communicate their research into a current topic in environmental science.
Industry Project in Environmental Science
Complete parts 1 and 2 (in the second year of study). If you begin the course in the mid-year intake, you will take the research project over your second and third semesters.
- Industry Project in EnvironmentalSci Pt1 12.5 pts
This subject will provide practical insights into the role of science and scientific thinking within a genuine workplace context. Students will be assigned to syndicate groups and, using a variety of techniques, they will work as a team to solve an industry-relevant problem that has been identified by their assigned Industry client. In addressing this task students will draw upon on their Environmental Science knowledge and other skills developed in the professional tools subjects they have undertaken. On commencement of the project, students will be required to spend a specific time in the business setting and to then maintain regular contact with the business, as well as the project supervisor, across the duration of the subject.
- Industry Project in EnvironmentalSci Pt2 12.5 pts
This subject will provide practical insights into the role of science and scientific thinking within a genuine workplace context. Students will be assigned to syndicate groups and, using a variety of techniques, they will work as a team to solve an industry-relevant problem that has been identified by their assigned Industry client. In addressing this task students will draw upon on their Environmental Science knowledge and other skills developed in the professional tools subjects they have undertaken. On commencement of the project, students will be required to spend a specific time in the business setting and to then maintain regular contact with the business, as well as the project supervisor, across the duration of the subject.
Environmental Science Research Project
Students with outstanding results may replace the Industry Project in Environmental Science with the Environmental Science Research Project. Complete parts 1 and 2 (in the second year of study).
- Environmental Sci. Research Project Pt 1 12.5 pts
In this research project, students undertake a substantial research project in the area of Environmental Science. The research will be conducted under the supervision of a member of academic staff. A list of research expertise and interests in the Environmental Sciences is outlined on the Faculty of Science website. The results of the project will be reported in the form of a thesis and an oral presentation.
- Environmental Sci. Research Project Pt 2 12.5 pts
In this research project, students undertake a substantial research project in the area of Environmental Science. The research will be conducted under the supervision of a member of academic staff. A list of research expertise and interests in the Environmental Sciences is outlined on the Faculty of Science website. The results of the project will be reported in the form of a thesis and an oral presentation.
- 12.5 pts
This subject gives an overview of the interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere on a wide range of time and space scales. Topics include the planetary boundary layers in the ocean and the atmosphere, momentum and heat exchanges, fundamental causes of ocean circulation, ocean wave theory including wind-waves, Kelvin and Rossby waves, ENSO theory, tidal theory, and the effects of air-sea interaction on the dynamics of tropical cyclones.
- 12.5 pts
This subject addresses the fundamental processes that govern atmospheric and oceanic motion, and how these processes interact to control the weather and climate of the Earth. Topics include the fluid dynamics of the atmosphere and ocean, the scaling of the equations of motion, the shallow-water system, vorticity and divergence, buoyancy driven flows, and numerical modelling of atmospheric and oceanic flows. On completion of this subject, students should have an appreciation of the fundamental processes that govern atmospheric and oceanic motion and interactions on a range of time and spatial scales. A qualitative as well as quantitative understanding of the atmosphere is to be gained, with the substantial mathematical analyses covered during the subject. Students will also receive experience in constructing simplified models of the atmosphere and ocean.
- 12.5 pts
This subject presents a comprehensive view of the processes that are responsible for the structure, composition and properties of the atmosphere. It will focus on local and regional scales, covering aerosol and cloud processes such as formation, precipitation and lightning. It will address how these atmospheric processes interact with the climate system - discussing major weather systems, land use, air quality and greenhouse gas fluxes. This subject will involve a field trip to the Creswick campus to observe the atmospheric boundary layer state and chemical composition using state of the art monitoring equipment.
This subject will involve a field trip (or virtual field trip) to the Creswick campus.
- 12.5 pts
This course aims to introduce the student to processes of atmosphere-ocean interaction, their importance in the climate system and its variability, with a particular emphasis on tropical meteorology. Specific topics will include: wind and buoyancy driven ocean circulation, atmospheric convection, atmospheric and oceanic wave phenomena, SST and atmospheric circulation, El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), decadal to centennial scale variability and large scale modelling.
- 12.5 pts
The course introduces students to the philosophy and techniques of the quantitative analysis of weather and climate data, and modelling the large-scale atmospheric system. Among the topics to be covered are the maintenance of the general circulation of the atmosphere, a discussion of the global energy balance and momentum balance, and the role of baroclinic eddies and the meridional circulation. The subject will also cover the growth of error in numerical models and its implications for predictability and climate simulation, as well as an introduction to the structure of General Circulation Models (GCMs) and an appraisal of their simulations of climate. Other parts will include an examination of the philosophy of the design and implementation of climate sensitivity experiments with GCMs. Also covered will be an introduction to the statistical foundations for the analysis of observed and simulated data (including spectral methods, Principal Component Analysis, Monte-Carlo testing, non-parametric tests, trend analysis, the t-test). Other topics to be covered will include the climatology of ozone and the ozone hole, and the mechanics and variability of the ‘semi-annual oscillation’ and the ‘southern annular mode’ and the relevance of these to climate change.
- 12.5 pts
The subject will discuss some basic statistical methods for analysing climate dynamics with the aim of understanding the physical mechanisms driving the observed structures (statistics). The subject will emphasise how these methods can be applied and will explore the potential pitfalls in interpreting statistical results. The subject will start with a discussion on the basics of probability theory, time series analysis, stochastic models and multivariate data (pattern) analysis. It will then focus on the principles of decision making in statistical analysis (significance tests), which is followed by a discussion of the pitfalls and general strategies in statistical analysis.
- 12.5 pts
The aim of this subject is to explore processes governing convection in the atmosphere, with a particular emphasis on severe convective storms and tropical cyclones. Specific topics covered include buoyancy, local convection, cellular convection, stability, severe storms - including supercell storms and squall lines, tornadoes, and tropical cyclones. Forecasting techniques for severe convective storms may also be explored if time permits.
- 12.5 pts
The aim of this unit is to describe the design of global atmospheric models as they are used in Numerical Weather Prediction, seasonal prediction and climate simulation. The unit aims to provide a basic understanding of all aspects of global atmospheric modelling. It will describe modelling techniques required to apply the fundamental equations that govern atmospheric flow in the settings of a modern General Circulation Model.
- 12.5 pts
Knowledge of genome structures from various organisms and the rapid development of technologies that exploit such information are having a big impact in biology, medicine and biotechnology. This subject describes the structure and expression of genomes in higher organisms and provides an understanding of the technologies used to analyse and manipulate genes. Students will learn how the modification of genes in cells and whole organisms can be used to discover gene function or to modify phenotype. The structure of eukaryotic chromosomes is presented to demonstrate how genetic material is replicated and how transcription of RNA is controlled. We illustrate how pathways that regulate RNA and protein are integrated to control cell metabolism and cell fate. The content will cover the bioinformatic techniques used to interpret and extend genomic information. The approaches of functional genomics to the study of specific human diseases will be discussed to illustrate the application of molecular biology to the study of human biology and health.
- 12.5 pts
This subject describes how technologies enabling the sequencing of complete genomes have transformed biological research in the past decades. Bioinformatics provides the tools to analyse these massive data connecting nucleic acids to the structures and functions of life. The advanced topics will review current knowledge on genomics and transcriptomics and describe the databases used to gather this information.The course will provide to non-specialised life-scientists the core concepts in genomics and bioinformatics. It will describe how to utilise public databases to retrieve biological information and develop a critical understanding of the methods used to generate them. This subject will explore how genomes are sequenced and annotated, and how connections are drawn between the different levels of molecular organisation to build a systems understanding of complex biological processes.
- 12.5 pts
The lecture component of this subject covers the main sources and types of environmental contaminants with a focus on water contaminants and their effect on water quality. Frequently used analytical techniques in environmental and industrial monitoring and analysis, not covered in the prerequisite or other second year level chemistry subjects, will be outlined in the context of achieving desirable environmental outcomes. These include: volumetric analysis; gravimetric analysis; optical techniques (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry); electroanalytical techniques such as potentiometry (ion-selective electrodes, potentiometric stripping analysis) and voltammetry (polarography, anodic stripping voltammetry); analytical separation techniques (ion chromatography, extraction); and automatic analytical techniques (flow injection analysis).
The practical component of this subject involves the application of chromatographic (ion chromatography, gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography), electroanalytical (potentiometry, polarography and anodic stripping volatmmetry) and optical (atomic absorption spectrometry) analytical techniques to environmental samples.
- 12.5 pts
The subject covers important aspects of the structure and chemistry of the hydrosphere, atmosphere and lithosphere (soil) sources, chemistry and impact of environmental pollution. Subject topics also include the principles and application of quantitative chemical analysis and environmental monitoring (calibration methods; experimental errors; volumetric analysis, spectrophotometry, gas and liquid chromatography, and atomic absorption spectrometry).
A key aspect of this subject will be the comprehensive investigation of a current environmental chemistry issue, which will be covered in a small-group, scenario-based learning mode.
The practical component of this subject will involve the application of titrimetric, optical (spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectrometry) and chromatographic (gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography) analytical techniques to the determination of compounds of environmental interest.
- 6.25 pts
This subject will outline advanced methods in the automation of chemical analysis based on the use of batch, robotic and flow analysers. There will be a particular emphasis on flow injection and sequential injection analysis, focussing on clinical, industrial and environmental applications.
- 6.25 pts
This subject explores the chemical transformations in the Earth's atmosphere, which is influenced by both natural processes and human activities. The subject will provide an introduction into the chemistry of the stratosphere and the troposphere to explore some important problems, such as acid rain, ozone depletion, photochemical smog, greenhouse gases and global warming.
- 6.25 pts
This subject will discuss general principles of laser action, the properties of laser beams, some specific types of lasers, laser-based spectroscopic methods, laser photochemistry, ultrafast lasers, and lasers in mass spectrometry.
- 6.25 pts
This subject explores the fundamentals of structure determination as applied to organic and biological molecules, with a focus on mass spectrometry based ion chemistry and instrumentation. The combination of background theory and range of examples will enhance students’ ability to acquire and analyse experimental data.
- 6.25 pts
Catalytic processes are ubiquitous in natural and synthetic systems. A firm base of knowledge on catalysis is an essential tool not only for students interested in synthesis but also those who seek a deeper understanding of biological and industrial processes. This subject provides an overview of catalysis. A range of catalytic processes will be discussed with emphasis on transition metal catalysis, organocatalysis and photocatalysis. Case studies involving biological and industrial processes will form part of the lecture series.
- 6.25 pts
This subject deals with how ultrasound interacts with bubbles in a liquid to generate sonochemical reactions. The production of functional nano- and micro materials using ultrasound, and how surface-active solutes affect sonochemical reactions will be discussed. The use of sonochemistry to decompose organic pollutants, for synthesising biofunctional materials and in other specific applications will also be discussed.
- 12.5 pts
Applied Ecology is the science of understanding and managing ecosystems. The subject describes and evaluates the applications of ecological concepts for the conservation and management of natural and human-altered ecosystems. In particular, it identifies the implications of global and local changes for ecosystems, communities and individual species, especially within the Australian environment. It examines approaches to management and conservation of terrestrial resources and ecosystems, the control of pest species, and restoration of modified habitats.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
In this subject students will learn about the fundamentals of the solid waste stream in modern society. Emphasis will be placed on the life cycle aspects of waste and the prospect of minimizing waste and maximizing the economic value of waste streams. Interaction between solid wastes and liquid and gaseous waste streams will also be considered. The subject builds on knowledge from subjects such as CVEN90043 Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering where general principles of sustainability are discussed. Student knowledge of systems and material cycles, learnt in subjects such as ENEN90031 Quantitative Environmental Modelling and CVEN30010 Systems Modelling and Design or their equivalent in other subjects forms the basic grounding for the subject. The subject is of particular relevance to students wishing to establish a career in waste management, but is also relevant to a range of engineering design disciplines where design for the total life cycle of the product or infrastructure should be considered.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Regulatory aspects of waste management, sustainability programs in government and private sector, life cycle assessment, organic waste treatment and management, inorganic waste treatment and management, landfill hydrology and design, cleaner production strategies, hazardous waste management, collection and transport logistics.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This subject explores the scope and methods for improving energy efficiency across a range of sectors. Improving energy efficiency is one of the key responses to increasingly scarce natural resources and problems caused by pollutants arising from energy production and use. A range of energy supply and usage scenarios will be considered including transport, manufacturing, commercial and domestic sectors. Collection of information by auditing and then using this information for planning, demand management and impact assessment will be investigated.
Knowledge gained in this subject will allow graduates to practice in the area of energy efficiency. This subject draws on students’ fundamental understanding of engineering efficiency, as well as their ability to use mathematics and statistics to analyse data to inform innovative solutions. The subject complements other subjects offered in the energy theme of the Department such as Energy for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Areas of study include: potential for improvements in energy efficiency in petrol and diesel vehicles; energy efficiency technologies for the manufacturing, commercial and domestic sectors; demand side management; integrated resource planning; energy auditing; and economic and environmental impacts.
These are applied to the following thematic areas;
- Introduction: fundamentals, energy conversion, supply, distribution and utilisation of energy, Indices, indicators and measurements
- Advanced energy systems
- Energy audits
- Manufacturing sector
- Commercial sector (office & retail)
- Residential sector
- Transport sector
- Life cycle energy analysis
- Developing countries & remote areas
- Energy policy and planning
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This subject provides understanding of the principles of development and sustainability in the context of renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Social, environmental and financial implications of technologies to de-carbonise emissions and technologies that can offer a future non-carbon energy supply are discussed.
This subject uses project based learning where students work in teams to investigate the appropriateness of a selected energy source or a selected technology for a particular country, region or a location. Students learn to apply the principles of sustainability and development.
Knowledge gained in this subject will allow graduates to practice in the area of energy policy and planning. The subject complements other subjects offered in the energy theme of the Department such as Solar Energy, Energy Efficiency Technology and Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
- Introduction: What does 'sustainable' mean? What is development? A model for sustainable development
- Consumption (needs versus wants), Global perspectives (inequality and resource distribution)
- Role of energy in development
- Requirements for an sustainable energy supply
- Carbon versus non-carbon energy supply - overview (resources, usage)
- Problems with past patterns of energy use
- Energy efficiency (potential and limits)
- Energy Policy
- Transport futures and peak oil (resources)
- Carbon capture and storage
- Nuclear fission and fusion
- Renewable energy technologies - large and small
- Discussion Forum: Reality of Sustainability.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
In this subject students will learn about the fundamentals of water quality and the associated standards for use as potable water, recycled water or discharge into the environment in a sustainable manner. The subject will include the identification of risks and measures to control those risks and various treatment processes including physical, chemical and microbiological treatment of water and wastewater. The concept of integrated water management will be introduced and reinforced in the group based project work throughout the semester. Students will learn about the systems for water reclamation and reuse. This subject builds on a range of student’s general knowledge of water systems engineering that is developed in subjects like Systems Modelling and Design and builds on general knowledge of chemistry and biology. It is also assumed that students have developed skills on identifying and sourcing information, and can effectively work as a team to solve larger problems.
Graduates from this subject may apply the skills developed in the water supply, waste water treatment, or water sensitive urban design areas.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
This subject covers theoretical and practical management aspects of sustainable water supply and treatment, wastewater treatment and reuse. Specific topics include:
- Integrated water management
- Risk identification and management for water services
- Water quality guidelines, regulations and performance criteria for treatment plant design
- Water treatment processes and waste disposal
- Wastewater treatment - physical, chemical and biological treatment technologies
- Systems for water reclamation and reuse.
The students will produce a conceptual design of a water and wastewater treatment system for a small town.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This subject covers theoretical and practical aspects of groundwater flow, and groundwater contaminant transport. The subject includes the field methods to characterise aquifers, the modelling of groundwater flow, and transport of, pollutants through porous media and reactions. The subject takes students fundamental knowledge of advanced differential calculus and flow processes and applies them to movement of pollutants in groundwater systems. Techniques learnt in this course may be applied in capstone design and research projects.
Concepts and techniques learnt in the subject are directly applicable to contemporary industry issues such contaminant movement through soils from poor historical industrial practice, the design and performance prediction of containment structures such as sanitary landfills or carbon dioxide geo-sequestration projects. The growth of manipulation of geological strata for coal seam gas extraction is another burgeoning area of industrial application of the learning of this subject.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Specific topics include:
- Groundwater flow in saturated aquifer systems
- Characterisation of acquifer systems using various hydraulic tests
- Numerical solution of groundwater flow
- Groundwater flow in the vadose zone
- Characterisation of unconfined aquifer systems
- Mass transport in saturated media
- Transformation, retardation and attenuation of solutes
- Organic/inorganic compounds in groundwater
- Nonaqueous-phase liquids in groundwater
- Introduction to site remediation.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This subject provides the application of principles of solar energy engineering. A number of solar technologies and applications methods are investigated.
This subject uses a project based learning where students work in teams to design a solar system for a particular application considering environmental, social and financial constraints. Students learn to apply the principles of solar energy and design.
Knowledge gained in this subject will allow graduates to practice in the area of renewable energy industry. The subject complements other subjects offered in the energy theme of the Department such as Energy for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
- Introduction to Solar Energy in the energy economy; Fundamental heat & mass transfer; Radiation properties of materials; and selective surfaces
- Solar Geometry and solar angles; atmospheric effects and radiation prediction; and Solar radiation measurement
- Flat plate collectors design and performance characteristic
- Concentrating collectors design and performance characteristic; Evacuated tube collectors
- Solar System design methods
- Fundamentals of photovoltaic systems
- Solar process heating
- Solar drying, Solar cookers, Green houses and Solar stills
- Solar water pumping; Solar refrigeration
- Built environment applications passive and active systems
- Solar hot water and solar heat pump systems.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
In this subject students will learn to analyse hydrologic data, to build computer models of catchments, and apply these to hydrologic analysis and real-world design problems. Quantitative analyses of physical hydrology are introduced and emphasis will be placed on the application of fundamental principles of mathematics and physics to the conceptualisation and analysis of the complex interactions that are the hallmark of earth systems. The subject builds on knowledge from ENEN20002 Earth Processes for Engineering where climate and water cycles are studied. It also complements knowledge of modelling and analysis from subjects such as ENEN90031 Quantitative Environmental Modelling and ENEN90028 Monitoring Environmental Impacts. The subject is of particular relevance to students wishing to establish a career in the catchment management or water resources fields, but is also relevant to a range of engineering disciplines where the water cycle should be considered.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics covered include a range of engineering hydrology techniques, precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff processes, flood hydrology, unsaturated zone, interaction between surface and subsurface water and hydrological modelling.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This subject examines in detail the main forms of non-renewable energy and their uses, including:
- The composition and origin of coal, oil, natural gas and uranium
- The performance of coal, gas, liquid fuel and nuclear power generation
- The performance of power plants featuring steam turbines, gas turbines and reciprocating engines.
- 12.5 pts
Terrestrial ecosystems provide a wide range of values—from biodiversity and carbon storage to clean water and recreational opportunities in interaction with social systems. Managing ecosystems to sustain these values requires understanding what values exist in a given ecosystem, their interactions with society and how they change over time and space. However, natural ecosystems and the social context within which they are embedded are inherently variable across scales—capturing the many ecosystem values presents a significant challenge. This unit will explore the principles of, and approaches to, ecosystem assessment and monitoring across both the biophysical and social domains. We will focus on developing practical skills in the design of social and biophysical assessments, data collection and the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data associated with natural resources and their management. Example assessment approaches include ecological monitoring, forest inventory, stakeholder analysis, participatory mapping and value-based conversations, among many others. We will draw on examples from a range of ecosystems around the world.
This subject will involve practicals and a three-day, pre-semester field trip.
- 12.5 pts
This subject describes the physics of the climate system, and how the system is represented in numerical models.
Key aspects include:
- Radiation balance and heat balance of the earth
- Carbon dioxide, water vapour and other Greenhouse Gas absorption spectra
- Other key climate drivers including solar variability, aerosols and clouds
- The global carbon cycle and the modelling of other greenhouse gases
- Impacts of climate change including sea level rise and extreme events
It covers aspects of uncertainty and chaos to understand why climate models are imperfect but invaluable tools. Students will build a simple climate model and run numerical experiments with different greenhouse gases. Existing knowledge in python programming is recommended but can be acquired throughout the course. The subject will also briefly discuss the processes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The 12 lectures cover the following themes: 1. Introduction; 2. Radiative forcing; 3. Climate feedbacks; 4. Carbon & gas cycles; 5. Oceans & sea level rise; 6. Aerosols & Clouds; 7. Variability and El Nino*; 8. Water Cycle and Extremes; 9. Ensemble & probabilistic projections, D&A; 10. Scenarios, carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management; 11. Climate Targets, carbon budgets and the Paris Agreement*; 12. Wrap Up
The lectures are accompanied with weekly exercises that provide students with hands-on conceptual learning, modelling and data analysis experience.
- 12.5 pts
Urban soils can present distinct and unique challenges to the land manager, landscape architect or horticulturist responsible for developing, maintaining or improving urban landscapes. Often compacted, contaminated, or otherwise unsuitable for plant growth, urban soils require assessment, solutions and practical methods to ensure successful outcomes. This applications-oriented subject covers several fundamental soil science issues with direct relevance to urban landscape impacts, uses and requirements. Topics covered include compaction, nutrition, contamination, water supply, drainage and structural soils.
- 6.25 pts
This course will cover a variety of aspects of environmental geochemistry, including equilibrium processes (thermodynamics, solubility, mineral precipitation, redox reactions), kinetics and rates of reactions, application of geochemical and isotopic tracers to understanding environmental processes, and environmental mineralogy. Applications will include hydrology and hydrogeology, contaminants, weathering and CO2 sequestration, and acid-mine drainage. The course will develop the geochemical tools required to understand processes in these environments.
- 6.25 pts
Course content includes: Physical Hydrogeology, Chemical Hydrogeology, Field Study/Methods and Management and Assessment.
- 12.5 pts
The subject includes methods of hypothesis development, experimental design and testing in environmental impact assessment, design and analysis of sampling and monitoring programs and their subsequent analysis, and evaluating proposed solutions for their technical feasibility and risk.
- 12.5 pts
Environmental Risk Assessment aims to provide you with the skills to undertake and critically evaluate environmental risk assessments. We outline the history and social context of risk and explore the psychology of risk perception. You will be introduced to quantitative and qualitative tools with the objective of giving you the ability to select, apply and assess technical and socially based risk assessment. The subject is structured to develop your skills in writing reports and participating in group exercises.
While the contact period is six intensive days, the learning period is longer. Reading materials are distributed in May and a small assessment task is set to encourage you to be fully prepared. You will be required to complete a take-home examination and a substantial practical report in the weeks following the course.
The subject is made up of lectures in the mornings and practical exercises in the afternoons. It assumes no formal background in quantitative methods. An understanding of basic statistical concepts (means, medians, standard deviations, confidence intervals, basic linear regression) is an advantage. If you have not been involved in an undergraduate statistics class before, contact the subject coordinator to discuss your options.
- 12.5 pts
This subject prepares students for environmental management roles by providing them with the principles of how human impacts on the environment might be detected and managed. The principles will be placed within the legal and social contexts of environmental impact assessment. At the completion of the subject, students should understand three aspects: prediction of the kind of changes that might occur with human activities; the design and implementation of proper monitoring programs that can detect changes; and assessment of those changes. Additionally, a strong emphasis is placed on the practical implementation of principles.
- 12.5 pts
Modelling is a fundamental component of Environmental Science, being used for prediction, monitoring, auditing, evaluation, and assessment. This subject introduces students to a wide range of models used by environmental scientists including models of climate change, population dynamics, pollution, hydrology, habitat and species distributions. Both deterministic and stochastic models are used as examples. The subject explains how to develop conceptual models that can then be quantified and analysed using mathematical and statistical methods. Topics covered include development of the basic model structure, estimation of parameters and calibration, methods of analysis, sensitivity analysis, model evaluation and model refinement. The subject teaches students how to simplify apparently complex problems.
- 12.5 pts
There is increasing recognition around the world of the threats facing urban environments and their water resources. In many cities water demand is approaching or exceeding limits of sustainability, leading to increasing interest in alternative water sources, such as stormwater harvesting, wastewater recycling and desalination. At the same time, receiving environments such as urban streams and bays are threatened by pollution and erosion from stormwater runoff, or eutrophication due to discharge of poorly-treated wastewater. There is also increasing recognition of the importance of water in the urban landscape, and of its role in the welfare and health of humans.
The concept of “water sensitive urban design” (WSUD), also known as Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) has developed in response to these changes. It aims to better integrate water into the urban landscape, improving the sustainability and liveability of cities (for example through the sustaining of health urban vegetation), while securing adequate resources for growing cities.
This subject reflects the integration inherent in WSUD. The course will teach you about the individual urban water cycle components (water supply, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater), but will primary focus on their interactions and integration, and particularly their interaction with the built and natural environment.
The subject includes a mix of lectures and project-based learning, including a major project (broken up into stages throughout the semester), a full-day excursion and workshops involving leading WSUD experts from public and private industry. The subject will cover:
- An introduction to WSUD (its principles, objectives, context within other urban planning and sustainability policy & practice) in developed and developing countries
- Water in the urban landscape, the urban water cycle and its component characteristics
- Social, environmental and economic impacts of urban water management
- Structural tools and techniques (conceptual design, operation, maintenance)
- Non-structural tools and techniques
- Choice of scales
- Analysis methods (water balance calculations, water end-use analysis)
- Lifecycle cost analysis and multi-criteria evaluation frameworks
- Design tools and software (e.g. MUSIC, Urban Developer, House Water Expert)
- Institutional and implementation issues
- Integration between water and other urban design elements
- 12.5 pts
This subject focuses on statistical models of the distribution of species and ecophysiological models of species niches. These two areas of environmental modelling have grown substantially in the last decade or two, and have become core parts of ecology. They are closely related, but they differ philosophically and practically. They are both used for understanding and predicting the distributions of species. The statistical models (also known as habitat suitability models, bioclimatic envelopes or ecological niche models) use observed geographical distributions to characterise relationships between a species and its environment and can be considered ‘top-down’ in approach. Ecophysiological (or mechanistic) models take a ‘bottom-up’ approach by characterising the physiological processes influencing a species’ distribution and integrate models of microclimates, energy balance, heat balance, and water balance.
You will learn about both approaches from lecturers who are world experts in these topics. The subject will help you to understand the merits and drawbacks of the two approaches to species modelling and equip you with important skills that are in high demand in ecology and conservation. The subject includes the following topics: compilation, processing and management of data, fitting models by statistical estimation and empirical measurement, spatial prediction of distributions (mapping), and model evaluation.
- 25 pts
In this subject, students undertake a substantial research project in the area of Environmental Science. The research will be conducted under the supervision of a member of academic staff. A list of research expertise and interests in the Environmental Sciences is outlined on the Faculty of Science website. The results of the project will be reported in the form of a thesis and an oral presentation.
- 12.5 pts
The air is an undervalued environmental resource - subject at times to catastrophic and chronic pollution events. 'What constitutes good air?' 'What environmental protections are in place?' and 'How do we know the air quality?' are all questions addressed in this subject. Major infrastructure projects require air quality assessments and emergency/health service providers need to assess air quality data to advise the public. Working with industry professionals working in the air quality space and exploring low-cost sensor technology interfaced with python code students will build their own air monitoring sensor and design an experiment to evaluate the air we breathe - synthesizing the findings into an air action plan.
- 12.5 pts
Currently, there is more than sufficient food produced on a global scale to feed the population. This has been an upward trend throughout agricultural history, whereby humans have altered their cultivation habits to produce more. However, the continued rise in productivity is unlikely to continue under current systems within which resources are finite. The full impacts of this on a global scale are yet to be experienced by much of the population, largely in developed areas, although viability has dropped in many food producing systems due to increases in input costs of fuel, water, fertilizers and pest and disease control. Meanwhile, at the regional scale, food production systems are already found to be unsustainable with dropping productivity in previously fertile and highly productive areas. The reasons for the production declines are varied and complex, ranging from climate impacts to unsustainable cultivation methods leading to land degradation, reduced fertility and biodiversity required for healthy ecosystems.
This subject will explore the biological issues contributing to the reduction of productivity we are currently observing in these fragile agricultural systems and explore the future issues that are likely to impact on systems thought to currently be more stable. We will thereby understand the components that contribute to sustainable food productivity and learn which of these are most unsustainable and will require future investment in systems change to maintain productivity.
- 12.5 pts
The interactions between spatial context and ecosystem composition and structure can have a significant influence on the management of our natural environment. Spatial and temporal patterning of ecosystems can influence ecosystem functioning which in turn can affect resource availability for flora and fauna, dynamics of plant communities, and lead to the alteration of disturbance regimes. Humans play a critical role in shaping the spatial context on ecosystems within landscapes, both creating and affecting these relationships. This subject will cover the principles of landscape ecology with a focus on understanding how spatial heterogeneity, spatial extent, agents of change (i.e. fire, climate) and the role of humans (i.e. forest management, urbanisation) influence ecosystem patterns and in turn ecological processes (i.e. plant migration, meta-population dynamics, provisioning of ecosystem services). Case studies will be drawn from international and domestic examples from urban, agricultural, and forested landscapes.
This subject will involve lectures, pracs and a 3 day field trip.
- 12.5 pts
The subject follows the fate of water as it moves into and through a broad range of land systems and the soil processes that influence the quality and quantity of water. These landscapes include upland forested catchments, extensively managed rural landscapes, intensive land use along floodplains and urban landscapes. The subject develops knowledge of the key water and soil processes that interact with natural and managed terrestrial systems, and students will gain a solid understanding of ecosystem functioning that will allow them to apply soil and water knowledge to address environmental, conservation and rehabilitation issues. Understanding the role of hydrology and soils across these ecosystems is critical for a range of professions including environmental and agricultural scientists, geographers, ecologists and plant scientists.
- 12.5 pts
The course covers the fundamentals of fire behaviour and the key drivers. Students will examine the importance of the key factors affecting fire behaviour including fuels, weather, topography and ignitions. Methodologies for measuring fuels, fuel moisture, and weather will be examined through theoretical and practical approaches. Using these skills, students will learn computer and manual approaches for predicting the extent and intensity of landscape fires in a range of ecosystems. Students will apply the knowledge of fire patterns to examine how prescribed burning might be used for land management and the fundamentals of wildfire suppression strategies and tactics. Finally, we will assess the potential changes to fire patterns under global climate change.
- 12.5 pts
This subject will investigate the role of forests in the carbon cycle and in a changing climate. Students will learn the scientific basis for climate change and the impact that a changing climate might have on tree physiology and forest ecology. We will discuss the role forests play in the global carbon cycle and the degree to which forests or plantations can be used as a carbon sequestration option. We will evaluate the requirements for forest carbon accounting and will apply carbon accounting tools in hands-on accounting sessions with industry partners. This scientific understanding will be extended to discuss policy instruments under consideration in Australia and in the international arena for the potential role of forests in carbon emissions trading. The subject will equip students with state-of-the-art knowledge on the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems and with practical experiences in forest carbon accounting.
- 12.5 pts
Ecological Restoration examines the principles and practices needed to restore terrestrial ecosystems in a range of modified landscapes from settled to agricultural to forested. The subject’s focus is ecological, although consideration is also given to socio-economic factors that influence restoration programs. Lectures and field trips explore ecological principles and projects from site to landscape scales, encompassing biodiversity values and ecosystem services. The subject is delivered via a compressed-semester model including a one-week intensive in the mid-semester break, which will aim to include field trips within the Melbourne region
- 12.5 pts
Native forests are globally important natural resources. Their conservation and management is critical to local and regional populations for the biodiversity that they harbour and the ecosystem services that they provide. This subject will explore the conservation and management of native forests around the world.
We will cover the principles of forest dynamics and sustainable forest management for a range of objectives, including wildlife habitat, water yield, carbon sequestration, and timber production. The subject will integrate ecological, environmental, economic, and social perspectives on the conservation and management of native forests through lectures, forest modeling exercises, and a week-long field trip to the Central Highlands of Victoria.
- 12.5 pts
The subject is designed to develop students’ understanding of the physical processes of coasts and rivers, and how these processes interact, over time, to shape catchments and landscapes. A focus is on processes of erosion and deposition that occur as we follow the movement of water and sediment from hillsides, down rivers, through estuaries, to meet wave and tidal processes at the coast. A theme of the subject is the impact of humans on these geomorphic systems, and how these impacts can be predicted and managed. The subject will address major questions and challenges that are facing the management and research communities alike. These challenges include the impact of past and present management activities on both the fluvial and coastal processes. Furthermore, the impact of a changing climate on the rates and types of processes occurring in these dynamic environments will be addressed both from a holistic catchment perspective and at the individual landform scale. Management of coasts and rivers is a growing area of employment.
Using practicals and field-trips, students will develop their empirical and analytical skills including the use of ArcGIS (spatial mapping and geomorphic analysis), stratigraphic logging and interpretation, and topographic surveying. This subject includes a 3-day field trip to the Otways Ranges in western Victoria, occurring over a weekend during semester, where students will collect and interpret field data from coasts and rivers.
- 12.5 pts
Rivers are amongst the hardest of natural resources to manage. They are long and thin, and so maximise the impact of catchment changes; they also focus environmental, social and production pressures. Rivers are the archetypal example of the conflict between private and public goods. In most western countries we have done an effective job of degrading these resources. The last 20 years has seen a transformation in the way rivers have been managed. We are now less concerned with protecting people from rivers (via flood mitigation), and more focused on environmental rehabilitation and protection. This subject equips students to manage rivers more effectively by integrating catchment management activities. In reality, there are not many things that we do to manage rivers: change landuse, change flow, change water quality, change riparian vegetation, or make structural changes to the river. In this course we concentrate on (a) how much do you have to alter each of these management levers in order to produce the most cost effective improvements in river condition and sustainability; (b) how do we integrate the management of many levers at different scales; and (c) how do we evaluate whether we have had any effect. The subject has a strong emphasis on how to develop strong and successful policy for managing natural systems. The principles for managing rivers apply to managing most natural resources, so students can be confident of learning general management and policy principles.
- 12.5 pts
This subject examines the nature and causes of past changes in Earth’s climate during the Quaternary Period (the last 2.7 million years), with a particular emphasis on the last glacial-interglacial cycle. It aims to place modern climate and the projections of future global warming into a longer-term perspective, and will allow students to understand why human interference in the climate system may be a legitimate cause for concern. Emphasis is placed on how Earth materials (ice, rocks, sediments, biological materials) record past climate changes, the techniques used to extract this ‘palaeoenvironmental information’, and the principles that govern how this information is interpreted.
A series of lectures covering the theoretical elements of the subject will immediately precede 10 days of field study (in either Tasmania, mainland SE Australia or New Zealand). The field component focuses on how particular environments (e.g. coastal, lake, fluvial, cave, and glacial) preserve evidence of past climate change. Additional lectures and practicals following completion of the field work will focus on the types of analytical methods employed in this field, the nature of the data that are produced and how these are processed and interpreted. By the end of the subject, students will not only appreciate the dynamics of Earth’s past climate and the mechanisms that have forced it, but also the way in which we practice this important and growing field of study.
- 12.5 pts
Fire is one of the most important controls over the distribution of vegetation on Earth. This subject examines the role of fire in natural systems, with a particular emphasis on the importance of fire in determining global vegetation patterns and dynamics over long periods of time. The aim is to understand how terrestrial systems have evolved to cope with and exploit fire, and to place the extreme flammability of Australia's vegetation within a global context. The subject will examine concepts such as resilience, positive feedback loops, hysteresis and alternative stable states. The use of fire by humans to manipulate environments will be examined, with a particular emphasis on the variety of approaches employed by people across a diversity of environments over long periods of time, allowing an exploration of the social and cultural dynamics of fire and environmental management. A March field excursion in Tasmania will visit a number of sites which will exemplify the subject themes. The practical exercises leading up to the field trip will focus on how to gather fire-related ecological data. The practical exercises following the field trip will be devoted to processing, analysing, interpreting and reporting on the field data. At the end of the subject, students will have gained an understanding of the way in which fire has shaped natural systems, as well as acquiring the skills necessary to formulate and test hypotheses.
More information about the subject and field trip can be seen at: http://michaelsresearch.wordpress.com/GEOG30025/
The estimated additional cost of the 7 day field trip to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, is in the vicinity of $750.
- 12.5 pts
This subject examines principles in the two disciplines of hydrology and ecology, emphasising the application of both to understand how to solve environmental management problems in river ecosystems. The subject focuses primarily on processes occurring within the channel, while the surrounding catchment type is considered as background context. The subject examines water in terms of quantity and quality; and the physical channel and floodplain systems in which it is conveyed and stored, along with transported materials such as sediments and organic matter. The subject also examines population, community and ecosystem dynamics of riverine organisms and their geographical distributions and diversities. Through practicals and fieldwork, students should develop skills in acquiring, analysing and presenting hydrological and ecological data, and in the identification and proper field sampling of stream biota. Students should become aware of the multidisciplinary nature of environmental management and the need for critical examination of ideas in the literature.
- 12.5 pts
Topics covered include facies analysis and petrology of carbonate, terrigenous and chemical sediments; techniques used in stratigraphic analysis and sequence stratigraphy; sedimentary geochemistry and its applications; principles and applications of palaeontology with respect to stratigraphy; post-depositional processes, including diagenesis and weathering, that alter rocks after their formation; chemical interactions between minerals and groundwater in weathered rocks and weathering products; the processes involved in hydrocarbon generation and organic maturation; and application of sedimentary geology to understanding sediment-hosted ore deposits.
- 12.5 pts
Geobiology involves the study of interactions between Earth’s geosphere and biosphere, and how these interactions impact or reflect environmental conditions. This subject includes the fields of geobiology, biomineralization, fossilization and palaeontology. This subject will survey the fundamental principles used in geobiology and palaeobiology, explain how biological processes influenced palaeoenvironmental conditions and controlled the evolution and preservation of geologically ancient lifeforms as fossils. This subject will demonstrate how fundamental knowledge of macroscopic fossils (dinosaurs and mammalian megafauna) and microscopic fossils (using their biogeochemistry, mineral and organic biomarkers) can be used to interpret past environments, faunal evolution, paleoclimates and paleoceanography, while also informing a wide range of problems in the energy, minerals and environmental industry sectors.
- 12.5 pts
This subject will investigate, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the fundamental physical and chemical processes governing groundwater flow and composition, including aquifer properties, regional geology and hydrology, water-rock interactions, and subsurface microbial activity. Field and laboratory methods used to characterize aquifer properties and groundwater chemistry, including well pumping tests, chemical tracers, and major ion and isotope analyses will also be covered. A two-day field excursion will draw together many of these concepts and topics.
- 6.25 pts
The assessment and development of deep subsurface CO2 l storage sites requires a diverse range of technical skills as well as a good understanding of regulatory and environmental protection requirements and objectives, and socio-political advocacy. This course comprises five days of lectures and practical exercises covering the workflow of technical / scientific assessments, discussing common problems and industry best-practice to achieve safe and secure geological storage of CO2. Following an introductory ‘back-story’ to carbon capture and carbon utilisation, the work flow will commence with basin and play scale analyses and rapidly focus onto portfolio management for storage site screening, storage site selection and site analysis for future appraisal and development operations.
- 6.25 pts
This module outlines the fundamental theory and techniques of field work in environmental geology. It aims to give students the essential tools for the assessement of environmental hazards associated with mining operations and how to measure their effects.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This subject will introduce students to the use of imagery in the mapping of both human and natural environments. Imagery is often the cheapest way to gain spatial information about the environment, especially for large areas, but analysis and interpretation of the data requires sophisticated techniques. Usually the light or other electromagnetic radiation being emitted or reflected from the surface being imaged needs to be interpreted into another variable of interest, such as the type of vegetation on the surface. Once interpreted, the information must be communicated to others; usually in the form of maps or reports.
This subject builds on a student’s knowledge of the physical and built environment relevant to their discipline and allows them to interpret and communicate that knowledge. On completion of the subject students should have the skills to perform routine image analysis tasks in the workplace using industry standard software. This subject partners with others to the Spatial Systems majors of the undergraduate science and environments degrees to allow the student to progress to the Master of Engineering (Spatial) or to enter the workforce in a paraprofessional role.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
- Image interpretation basics
- Image acquisition and formation
- Fundamentals of image processing and measurement
- Both aerial photography and satellite imagery will be used to illustrate the techniques of measurement and interpretation by which both spatial position and semantic content can be extracted from image data.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
To introduce students to the techniques and technology of remote sensing: the extraction of information from satellite and airborne image data. This subject assumes prior knowledge of image processing techniques such as that acquired in subjects such as GEOM30009 Imaging the Environment. Students passing this subject will have the skills to work under supervision in a spatial information or remote sensing agency of consultancy providing services, for example, to natural resource managers.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Use of image processing systems. High level digital image processing, correction and classification; applications of remote sensing in the geosciences, engineering, and resource assessment and inventory; image data in geographic information systems. Detailed application studies in emergency/disaster management, environmental assessment and geological mapping.
- 12.5 pts
In this subject you will learn about the history of urban agriculture in countries around the world and explore the various roles of urban agriculture in modern-day cities. Given the nature of the subject, a wide diversity of topics will be covered including but not limited to: plant growth requirements, agricultural inputs (such as water and nutrients), soil contamination, pests and diseases, urban-specific production methods, design and management of community gardens and edible landscapes, mainstream and alternative crops (fruit and vegetables), agro-ecology principles and practices ; and the economic value of residential food gardens. You will be required to implement and maintain an allocated crop plot in the Burnley Field Station throughout semester. Field visits will also form part of this subject.
- 12.5 pts
Invasions are natural ecological phenomena. Dispersing individuals encounter suitable habitat, establish, spread and evolve. In this way, species have radiated outwards from their origins, colonised distant offshore islands, and species have spread in response to changes in climate.
Human-induced invasions of plants, animals and diseases in modern times have dramatically altered the scales of time and distance over which invasions take place. Their impacts can be considerable, wiping out unique communities, endangering rare species, adding considerable costs to agriculture, horticulture and forestry, and having effects on the health, leisure and livelihoods of people. Tools such as pesticides and biological control can often be used to great effect, while for other invaders there are no obvious solutions. There may be unwanted side-effects of control methods on non-target species, they may adversely affect human health, and may cause considerable public concern. Integrated management strategies can be developed using ecological information about the species but these must be implemented in a real world that involves economics, politics, opinions and social interactions.
- 12.5 pts
In this subject, ideas and theories from the social sciences are applied to people’s involvement in social-ecological systems. Subject teaching includes lectures, group exercises and case studies, including at least one full day field trip. The subject covers the following areas:
- Philosophy and approaches in participation and community management in social-ecological systems in Australia and other countries;
- Participation by landowners, volunteer groups, indigenous people and others in planning or management of forests, waterways, fisheries, conservation areas, revegetation projects and other ecosystems;
- Communities and stakeholders, including their values, knowledge, networks and practices in relation to ecosystems;
- Interactions between community members and governments, businesses and non-government organisations, including issues such as level of engagement, power, knowledge, policy environments, institutions and social licence;
- Processes and techniques for relationship building, engagement planning, group facilitation, conflict management, evaluation and reflective practice;
- 12.5 pts
This subject is a core subject within the Master of Public Health, the Master of Epidemiology, the Master of Science (Epidemiology) and the Master of Biostatistics. Students should enrol in this subject early in their program of study.
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations and the application of this study to control health problems. It is a fundamental science of public health.
Three main tasks of epidemiology include description, causal inference and prediction. This subject focuses on the first two and emphasises the application of epidemiological evidence to informing public health practice and policy.
Description: the epidemiological measures of disease frequency and summary measures of population health are introduced and used to describe patterns and trends in disease occurrence within and between populations. The role of routinely collected data, particularly for surveillance of infectious diseases, is discussed.
Causal inference: is key to applying epidemiological evidence to controlling health problems if interventions are to be effective. In this subject, causal inference is considered within the modern counterfactual framework. Causal diagrams, which are an integral part of this approach to causal inference are introduced. The common experimental and observational study designs, and systematic reviews, and their relative strengths and weaknesses are discussed. The implications of common types of bias (selection bias, information bias, and confounding) are discussed, as are methods to minimise them. Methods to control for confounding, including standardisation, are discussed.
Differences in characteristics of the major sources of morbidity (infectious disease, non-communicable disease, and injury) are discussed in the context of prevention and early detection of disease. Transmission dynamics of infectious diseases are introduced in this context. The applicability of epidemiological evidence (external validity) to interventions in target populations is introduced. Measures of the validity and performance of tests for early detection are introduced.
- 12.5 pts
This subject examines the science, technology and policy instruments of a broad range of renewable energy technologies including solar, wind and water as well as other thermal renewables. Specifically, the subject covers:
- Solar: Overview of the fundamental physics of solar radiation; Technical details of photovoltaic cells and concentrating solar power systems
- Wind and water: Overview of the fundamental physics of motion involved in energy in wind & water; Technical details of wind turbines and hydro-power systems, including pumped Hydro-Energy Storage
- Other thermal renewables: Overview of the chemistry and technologies for biomass for heat and electricity and liquid biofuels
- Renewable integration and policy: Overview of renewable energy policy considerations; Understanding challenges of integration of renewables into power systems. This includes managing variability and the opportunities provided by storage and demand-side management.
- 12.5 pts
This subject will discuss how urban landscapes are managed. Students will study policy, planning and process issues; landscape and park typology and classification, community consultation; structures, systems, classifications and contractual relationships in urban landscapes; landscape documentation, project planning and implementation; management of urban vegetation; sustainability concepts and benchmarks and case-studies/examples of urban landscape management practice. Guest industry speakers will provide real world examples and experiences relevant to urban landscape management
- 12.5 pts
Climate change is one of the most important issues of our time. This subject covers the basics of climate science - including climate change, natural variability, extremes, climate scenarios, and detection and attribution - and how this translates into impacts on society, ecosystems and economies. The subject focuses on the production of climate science and data and how its creation, analysis, and use informs decisions made from multiple perspectives and across multiple levels, including governments, industry and communities. The subject has a particular focus on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. To develop practical skills, students are required to apply knowledge from the course to develop and justify various stakeholder positions, policies, or business cases. Students will build climate profiles for relevant stakeholders in order to assess and debate how national or other circumstances frame responses at the local, state and international level.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This subject aims to analyse the key concepts underpinning the sustainable use of water within the context of integrated river basin management. Lectures draw on extensive experience in water and river basin management, particularly in Australia and China including guest lecturers from industry practitioners. The subject focuses on the analysis of complex water resource systems that involve multiple sources of water supply and multiple water uses including agriculture, urban, industrial, recreation and the environment. The subject builds on students’ knowledge of sustainability, economics and resource management.
While the principles of resource management are learnt in the context of water and river basins, they can be applied in a range of natural resource management scenarios. Students contemplating a career in any aspect of natural resource management will find this subject of value.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics include:
- Water resource governance and planning
- Water supply
- Wastewater and drainage
- Integrated water resources management - river catchments and basins
- Environmental water demands
- Water resource economics
- Principles of water resource modelling: optimisation and simulation
- Various systems of allocating water between multiple supplies and demands
- Water accounting in time and space
- The balance between economic and environmental uses of water
- Water information services
- River basin management
- Fishways and river restoration.
- 12.5 pts
The subject provides an understanding of the economic analysis of market and government decisions affecting the environment. Topics include economic principles used in analysing private sector decisions on resource use and preservation, externalities and public goods reasons for government intervention, the theory and practice of benefit cost analysis, case study illustrations to water, forests, greenhouse gases and biodiversity.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
The subject has a strong practical component with a five-day field camp during the week before the mid-semester break involving student-led environmental monitoring. There is also a semester long project to design and implement an environmental monitoring program supported by weekly practice classes.
Component skills taught in this subject:
- Conceptualising environmental responses
- Selecting and using environmental measurement techniques (considering scale issues)
- Analysis of environmental monitoring data.
This subject is a critical foundation for a career for environmental engineering but is also relevant to civil and other engineering disciplines where environmental impacts of engineering projects must be addressed to ensure sustainable engineering solutions.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Selection of measurement techniques and consideration of measurement scale, conceptualising environmental responses to human activities, environmental sampling and monitoring design, systematic review of causal evidence, statistical analysis of environmental effects, risk assessments for occupational health and safety during environmental field programs.
- 12.5 pts
This subject develops the skills to understand and assess the social impacts of development, including international development projects, resource management, and proposed infrastructure or new policies. We do this in two ways: by looking at how to assess the impacts of proposed projects, and through evaluation techniques for existing developments or projects. In each case we develop practical skills and interdisciplinary techniques to appraise and evaluate impacts. These techniques draw from anthropology, development studies, and the policy sciences, and move beyond simple summative assessments and financial accounting. We consider the social and environmental contexts in which any form of appraisal is embedded, and the capacities of different actors (from the state to NGOs and community groups) to avert or mitigate negative impacts through learning, negotiation, and citizen participation. Examples, some presented by guest speakers, are drawn from Australia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. At the completion of the subject students will have developed the conceptual skills to understand the impacts of development; be familiar with the range of methodologies and techniques used in impact assessment; understand development evaluation; and will be able to apply this in critical evaluation of the impact of projects and programmes.
- 12.5 pts
This subject introduces and analyses critical concepts and terms central to debates over climate change, including risk and uncertainty, adaptation and mitigation, burden sharing, and problems and issues relating to regimes, strategies and policy instruments for addressing global warming. The subject considers the rise of climate change as a policy problem. It reviews and analyses the history of climate change policy as it has evolved nationally and internationally. It examines the interactions between national and regional climate policy, including in Australia, the United States, the European Union and China. It analyses debates and concerns that have led to the evolution of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and more recent arrangements. Students will consider a range of policy instruments, including carbon taxes and emissions trading, and technologies that have been proposed or deployed to address this issue. This subject enables students to understand the evolution of a critical global environmental issue. It offers insights into technical, political, ethical and ecological issues that have framed climate change policy, particularly since 1992, and enables students to think critically about and participate in developing policy in this domain.
- 12.5 pts
This subject provides an introduction to critical concepts and issues related to environmental policy development and implementation, with specific reference to national and international policy domains. Students are introduced to relevant concepts, theoretical issues and practical tools for policy makers. They consider case studies relating to climate change, ozone depletion, water, land degradation, forest preservation, waste and 'sustainability planning'. These case studies include Australian, developing country and international dimensions and considerations. The subject is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. Students will gain a practical understanding of issues confronting policymakers for a range of environment problems and solutions available to them.
- 12.5 pts
The subject focuses on the development and critical assessment of a range of past, current and proposed environmental policies in Australia, Europe, the US and other parts of the world. The subject covers a range of topics including energy, transport, biodiversity loss, fisheries management, rural and urban water use, air pollution, and climate change. Policy instruments covered in class include taxes, rebates, fees, permit trading, bans, informational policies, and legal instruments. Real-world issues and real-world policy responses are compared and discussed. The subject equips students with a set of economic principles and decision-framework that can help develop arguments for or against environmental policies. Students will learn about innovative policy solutions as well as policies with potential pitfalls and unintended consequences.
- 12.5 pts
It is perhaps obvious that human behaviour is having a negative impact on our environment. Behavioural change, thus, is pivotal to ensure a more environmentally sustainable future. However the question of behavioural change is vexed. Some argue that humans are ‘naturally’ greedy and selfish, others suggest that we are ‘puppets’ - the victims of the social structures engendered by capitalism, and yet others trust that good behaviour will follow from the ‘truth’; knowledge about environmental problems. These and other views of behaviour set up particular change strategies. The above examples suggest three strategies for changing behaviour: provide people with incentives that will lead them to ‘choose’ different behaviours, or the transformation of social structures such as capitalism and patriarchy, or the provision of environmental education.
This subject examines the question of behavioural change from a number of disciplinary perspectives (psychology, sociology ecology, marketing and economics). Each discipline ‘sees’ the problem differently and this allows us to map insights and gaps in these knowledges. These purported differences can be understood and reconciled; behaviour is show to be a function of the physical, social and psychological aspects of social practices. This allows for a more holistic understanding of behaviour and the strategies that might create behaviour change.
NB: This subject uses a ‘flipped classroom’ mode of delivery. Most weeks require the watching of a vodcast prior to attending a 2 hour seminar. The success of the seminars and student learning is governed by individuals’ preparation and participation. This subject covers a lot of theory and requires active engagement. The consideration of societal behaviour change will likely engender a consideration of your own behaviour, including as a student.
- 12.5 pts
This subject will focus on the complex topic of climate change mitigation. Climate change mitigation includes actions we take globally, nationally and individually to limit changes in the global climate caused by human activities. Mitigation activities are designed to reduce greenhouse emissions and/or increase the amount of greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere by greenhouse sinks.
The subject will provide a critical and multidisciplinary overview of strategies for climate change mitigation but focuses on the technical feasibility and effectiveness of different mitigation options in the many different sectors that emit or sequester greenhouse gases. We will discuss in detail the emissions profiles and potentials for reducing emissions in energy systems, transport, buildings and industry, but we also include agriculture and land based systems and new breakthrough technologies. The subject will discuss the criteria and considerations for evaluating climate change mitigation, assess the feasibility in a technical and economic sense and the potential transformation pathways.
The strengths and weaknesses of mitigation strategies will be discussed in the context of national and international frameworks and economies. It will be demonstrated that climate change mitigation cannot be achieved by a single action but that multiple approaches may be necessary to achieve meaningful mitigation and that many societal sectors will be required to take action.
- 12.5 pts
This subject focuses on climate change adaptation, and in particular its environmental, political, social and policy dimensions. It explores the ways which climate change poses risks to human wellbeing, and the ways these risks can be managed. It draws on examples from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, and in particular from the teaching staff’s concurrent research on climate change adaptation in small islands. The explains that adaptation and its success can be thought of and approached in multiple ways, shaped in part by existing interests and the varied and dynamic places in which adaptation is being consciously or unconsciously implemented. The subject also highlights that adaptation poses as well as addresses risks, and that decisions about adaptation need to be considered critically and iteratively. The subject is taught in an intensive mode. Topics include:
- Issues of complexity, uncertainty, knowledge, power, and practice in researching and implementing climate change
- The relationship between adaptation and other processes of change, including development
- Strategies for change at global, regional, local and individual scales, their inter-relations and how they may be facilitated.
- 12.5 pts
The course covers the fundamentals of setting and achieving bushfire management objectives for ecological and fire protection purposes in natural ecosystems. It covers the contents of a fire management plan, setting objectives, developing fire prescriptions, undertaking monitoring and evaluation of the management process, and review.
- 12.5 pts
The Asia Pacific region is of crucial importance to Australia and to the future management of global forest resources. The region has over half the world’s population and countries with the fastest growing populations and economies. This is placing increased demand on forest resources in the region and elsewhere. There are extensive spiritual and cultural associations between people and forests in this region and an extensive history of forest use and development. In this subject students experience the diversity of connections between forests and people in Laos and Vietnam to illustrate the importance of forests to local and national development, and contemporary forest policy and management challenges in the region. The program includes policy briefings and site visits to conservation and production forests, local village forests, hydropower and plantation development projects and small- and large-scale forest industries.
- 25 pts
This subject consists of a two-week field class in China in July with some pre-departure (in semester 1) and post-field-trip (in semester 2) workshops/seminars in Melbourne. The subject is designed to develop students' interests in Asia, in China in particular, and in the interactions between society, economy, government, and the environment. While in China, students will interact with local communities, academics and environmental managers who will inform them about issues and processes in China. These interactions will be supplemented by site visits and household interviews. The field trip will be under the supervision of the subject coordinator. Students are responsible for the cost of travel, accommodation and food.
- 12.5 pts
This subject provides students with advanced level analysis and interpretation of the range of issues associated with the conservation and management of cultural environments. The subject advances student knowledge of cross cultural issues as they relate to natural and cultural resource management in diverse socio-cultural environments and examines specific issues pertaining to the evaluation and management of cultural resources. The range of topics includes conservation trends; world heritage cultural landscapes; heritage and conservation management tensions; valuing nature through diverse knowledge interfaces; and the reclamation of ethnographic images and objects by indigenous and local peoples
- 12.5 pts
This subject consists of a 12-day field trip to East Timor with a series of compulsory pre-departure information sessions and a post-trip workshop.
The subject is designed to develop students’ understanding of the Asia-Pacific region and in particular of the complex geographies of sm. all island and post-conflict states. Students will gain an in situ appreciation of the historical and contemporary issues relevant to East Timor and develop their empirical and analytical research skills while carrying out small group research into the impacts of conflict, climate and culture on social and economic development and the environment. While in East Timor, students will participate in a number of rural, urban and remote site visits during which time they will interact with local communities, civil society leaders, academics, government and aid organizations.
The field trip will be under the supervision of the subject coordinators. Students are responsible for the cost of airfares, internal travel, accommodation and food.
The East Timor field subject (GEOG30026/ GEOG90025) involves a full program of activities comprising travel to and around East Timor, including across remote and rough terrain using various modes of transportation (car, boat, foot). Students will be provided with privileged access to local Timorese communities and experiences, in both an urban, regional and rural setting. The East Timor Field Course can be emotionally and physically demanding and will include a level of personal intensity and challenge, and students are expected to manage their own personal health and safety.
- 12.5 pts
This subject provides an overview of the horticultural industry from plant production to installation and establishment of plants in the landscape. It introduces plant propagation techniques and plant growing systems; site analysis, with specific reference to the properties of urban soils and related issues affecting plant performance; plant quality; planting techniques; plant establishment; water delivery and management issues; and the plant maintenance activities during production and at planting that are required for designed landscapes to succeed.
- 12.5 pts
This subject explores the identification, selection and design use of plants in urban landscapes. The content includes an introduction to botanical nomenclature, plant selection, sources of information, planting design, planting plans, the design use of major plant groups, and recognition and identification of representative plants. Case studies of plant use and management in urban landscapes and relevant site visits are also discussed.
- 12.5 pts
Green infrastructure is the network of natural and designed vegetation elements within our cities and towns, in both public and private domains. Green infrastructure includes traditional green elements such as urban parks, gardens and trees, as well as newer green roofs, green walls and rain garden technologies. Green infrastructure provides a number of significant economic, social and environmental benefits and is an effective means of helping to adapt our buildings, communities and cities to future climate change conditions. In this subject students will gain insights into aspects of planning, design and management of green-infrastructure . The use of green infrastructure as ‘living architecture’ and the design considerations involved will be discussed. At the building scale, this will include an understanding of the improved energy efficiencies provided by green infrastructure and their role in building star energy rating systems. At the neighbourhood and landscape scale, the role and function of different green infrastructure technologies and systems will be discussed, including roles in ameliorating urban climates, improving urban water retention, use and quality providing more liveable urban communities for people and wildlife.
- 12.5 pts
This subject explores the design, specification and management of green roofs and walls. The content will include guidelines and policies supporting green roofs and walls, relevant typologies and categories of use, requirements for successful design, construction and maintenance, development of specifications and project management and local and international case studies. Students will gain a thorough understanding of green roof and wall design and function, the benefits provided to cities and people and gain hands on experience through practical activities and visits to local project sites.
- 12.5 pts
Sustainability Governance & Leadership (SGL) is one of two core subjects for the Master of Environment course, and is designed to develop the knowledge and skills you will need to succeed as a sustainability leader in a world of complex challenges and global change. This subject provides you with a strong foundation in interdisciplinary understanding of critical concepts and issues, and how they relate to policy, management, leadership, and governance in a range of contexts and across different scales and sectors. You will learn to anticipate and envision environmental change, and design and implement strategic plans to manage impacts or create positive pathways.
Exploring the broad agenda of sustainable development, SGL considers concepts and principles fundamental to the understanding of interdependent human-nature systems, including ecology and biodiversity, social justice and equity, technology, and issues of global change. SGL covers:
- Different perspectives on sustainability;
- Global and local environmental challenges, including for water, energy, food, and human communities in relation their natural and built environments;
- Vulnerability and resilience in complex social-ecological systems;
- The processes of policy design and implementation in these areas;
- The economics of sustainability, and the role of business and innovation in building a sustainable future; and
- Recurring management, governance, and leadership issues for achieving environmental sustainability.
SGL includes extensive use of scenario-based learning and simulation activities.
- 12.5 pts
Sustainable Landscapes combines social and ecological disciplines to consider the management of urban and rural/regional landscapes for sustainable futures. Subject teaching includes weekly lectures and a 1x weekend field trip to observe and discuss management of landscapes for sustainable outcomes. Australian and overseas case studies are drawn upon to cover the following topics:
- the meaning and significance of sustainability in the context of urban, urban fringe, rural, and regional landscapes and their futures;
- rural and urban land use, and drivers of current and future landscape change, including fragmentation, social change and transformation, biodiversity loss, industrialisation, intensification, pollution, sovereignty, and security;
- assumptions around land ownership, ethics and economics that influence issues of environmental security, commons and sustainable regional futures; · the utilisation, degradation, and management of rural and urban biophysical resources for sustainable futures, including maintenance of ecosystem services and processes;
- the involvement of different stakeholders in decision making for regional, service, rural, fringe and urban areas, including the role of relationships and social features such as politics, memory, and values; and
- the role of governance, including institutions, deliberative democracy, empowerment; and community based natural resource management in navigating landscape change.
The content and the issues raised will draw upon and integrate theory, knowledge and practices from different disciplines familiarising students with systems theory and how it is integral to framing an understanding of landscape management. Theories of complex adaptive systems, social ecological systems, uncertainty, resilience and complexity will also frame the investigation of these issues. Landscape ecology sciences, social sciences (including cultural geographies) and policy frameworks will be drawn upon in analysing and evaluating landscapes and their futures, with a strong focus on community-based knowledge systems. Students will engage deeply with the literature that informs these ideas and will develop a critical understanding of their value and limitations.
- 12.5 pts
Topics considered in this subject include premium principles, including variance principle, Esscher principle, risk adjusted principle; applications of utility theory, premium calculation and optimal reinsurance retention levels; reinsurance problems; stochastic ordering; comparisons of random losses in terms of risk measures; ruin theory, explicit solutions for the probability of ultimate ruin, the effect of reinsurance on ruin probabilities.
- 12.5 pts
This subject will give an overview of the tools required to operate successfully in an organisational environment. The focus of the subject is the internal workings of an organisation and specifically addresses three main areas: working with people, managing budgets and understanding basic accounting, and managing processes and projects.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
The aim of this subject is for students to develop familiarity and competence in assessing and designing computer programs for computational efficiency. Although computers manipulate data very quickly, to solve large-scale problems, we must design strategies so that the calculations combine effectively. Over the latter half of the 20th century, an elegant theory of computational efficiency developed. This subject introduces students to the fundamentals of this theory and to many of the classical algorithms and data structures that solve key computational questions. These questions include distance computations in networks, searching items in large collections, and sorting them in order.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics covered include complexity classes and asymptotic notation; empirical analysis of algorithms; abstract data types including queues, trees, priority queues and graphs; algorithmic techniques including brute force, divide-and-conquer, dynamic programming and greedy approaches; space and time trade-offs; and the theoretical limits of algorithm power.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This subject introduces the fundamental concepts of computing programming, and how to solve simple problems using high-level procedural language, with a specific emphasis on data manipulation, transformation, and visualisation of data.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Fundamental programming constructs; fundamental data structures; abstraction; basic program structures; algorithmic problem solving; use of modules.
The subject assumes no prior knowledge of computer programming.
- 12.5 pts
The physical, social and engineering sciences make widespread use of numerical simulations and graphical representations that link underlying their theoretical foundations with experimental or empirical data. These approaches are routinely designed and conducted by researchers with little or no formal training in computation, assembling instead the necessary skills from a variety of sources. There is an art to assembling computational tools that both achieve their goals and make good effective use of the available computational resources.
This subject introduces students to a wide range of skills that are commonly encountered in the design and construction of computational tools in research applications:
- Formulation of the task as a sequence of operations or procedures that express the context of the assigned problem in a form accessible to digital computing (Mathematica).
- Implementation of this formulation using computer languages appropriate for numerically intensive computation (C, C++, Fortran)
- Modularization of computationally intensive tasks, either as user-written procedures or existing libraries (for example BLAS, lapack)
- Documentation of the code to explain both its design, operation and limitations (LaTeX)
- Instrumentation of the code to verify its correct operation and monitor its performance (gprof)
- Optimization of the code, including the use of parallelization (OpenMPI)
- Visualization of data using graphical packages or rendering engines (Geomview, OpenGL)
- Interaction with the code through a graphical user interface (Python, Matlab)
These skills are introduced to the student by undertaking a short project that is selected in consultation with the Subject Coordinator.
- 12.5 pts
This subject will provide an understanding of your university studies within Victorian schools through a substantial school based experience.
The subject includes a placement of up to 20 hours within a Victorian school classroom, offering an opportunity to collaborate as a Tertiary Student Assistant (TSA) under the guidance of a qualified teacher.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
Environmental problems are highly complex and challenging to analyse and are often addressed through modelling. Being skilled at environmental modelling is a core professional requirement for an Environmental Engineer. This subject focuses on environmental modelling methodology including the steps of model conceptualisation, model construction, model evaluation and model application using a range of energy, water and waste models. The subject complements ENEN90032 Environmental Analysis Tools and ENEN90028 Monitoring Environmental Impacts which provide other core environmental engineering skills. It provides modelling skills for a wide range of discipline based subjects such as ENEN90006 Solid Wastes, ENEN90034 Environmental Applied Hydrology and ENEN90027 Energy for Sustainable Development. The subject is of particular relevance to all Environmental Engineers but is also of relevance to a range of engineering and environmental analysis disciplines that require advanced modelling skills.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
The relationship between theoretical and empirical understanding and their use in model conceptualisation and construction will be explored. This subject introduces a range of environmental modelling techniques applicable to different environmental problems. In this subject students will conceptualise and construct, evaluate and utilise their own model to undertake a technical evaluation of a specified range of potential solutions to an environmental problem. Students will also develop professional judgement skills to critically evaluate models and model results.
Specific topic areas:
- System conceptualisation
- Model construction and validation (computational accuracy)
- Model evaluation
- Calibration and optimisation
- Model uncertainty assessment techniques
- Issues of appropriate model complexity
- Students will have an opportunity to review a modelling topic of their choice.
Students will use a numerical programming language to undertake modelling tasks and will be required to learn some programming skills in the subject.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
The aim of this subject is to help students develop capability to effectively summarise environmental variables met in the course of research and design, to select appropriate statistical models describing the data structure, and to conduct statistical inference on underlying processes. Students will apply a variety of models from a conventional or Bayesian approach to solve the problems at hand and derive deterministic or stochastic inferences from them.
The subject is composed of four wide-ranging topics from exploratory data analysis to spatial modelling. At the beginning of each topic, students are provided with a set of data from environmental research, and a number of analysis tools are conveyed in the lectures. The mathematical aspects of the subject build on concepts developed in fundamental engineering mathematics and statistics courses from undergraduate courses. It supports student learning in the capstone design and research projects where data analysis skills are assumed.
The subject provides a fundamental skill for a career in environmental engineering where the ability to analyse and communicate the meaning of time series and spatial data sets are expected.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Specific topics include:
1. Exploratory Data Analysis
- Summary statistics and probability models
- Analysis of variability and hypothesis test
- Linear regression and verification/validation.
2. Time Series Analysis
- Introduction to multivariate analysis
- Principle component analysis
- Stochastic forecast and verification.
3. Methods for Multivariate Data
- Multivariate linear regression
- Principle component analysis.
4. Analysis of Spatial Data
- Simple spatial interpolations
- Analysis of spatial variability
- Spatial models and Kriging.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This subject forms one of the core units in the Masters of Energy Systems and the overall aims are to introduce the students to the tools and skills needed to analyse energy systems. To accomplish this overall aim, the subject introduces material and energy balances used in energy system calculations, and introduces and applies the Laws of Thermodynamics to simple energy systems.
This subject, together with ENGR90028 Introduction to Energy Systems, ENGR90030 Non-Renewable Energy, SCIE90014 Renewable Energy and ENGR90032 Energy Supply and Value Chains provide the core technical content for the Masters of Energy Systems.
The ability to analyse existing or new proposed energy systems is essential in assessing the merits and economics of our energy supply. This subject gives the students the opportunity to learn and apply these fundamental tools and skills with relevant and realistic energy systems.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics include:
- Thermodynamic properties
- Equations of state
- The conservation of energy in and around energy processing systems
- Evaluation of enthalpy changes with and without phase change
- Simplified energy balances for batch, steady-state and adiabatic systems
- Estimation of heats of combustion
- Simultaneous material and energy balances
- Entropy, the Second Law of Thermodynamics and Carnot’s principle
- Simple thermodynamic cycles
- Exercises in process optimisation and the solution of ill-defined process problems.
- 12.5 pts
AIMS
This is an introductory subject to Geograhpic Information Systems (GIS) and Geographic Information Science, both practically and theoretically, at postgraduate level. Spatial information is ubiquitous in decision making. Be it in urban planning, in traffic or disaster management, in way-finding, in issues of the environment, public health and sustainability, or in economic contexts: the question of 'where' is a fundamental one. Spatial information is also special in many respects, such as its dimensionality and autocorrelation, its volume, its links to the Internet of Things (things are always located somewhere), to social networks (which exist in space and time), to streaming data from sensors everywhere, or to intelligent (location-aware) systems. The subject provides the foundations for more specialized subjects on spatial data management, spatial data analysis and spatial data visualization, and is of particular relevance to people wishing to establish a career in the spatial information industry, the environmental or planning industry. It is also suited for every postgraduate student who is looking for solid GIS skills.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
We will discuss representations and analysis of this information in spatial information technologies, from location-based services to geographic information systems. Topics addressed are observing the environment; spatial and spatiotemporal data representations, spatial analysis and spatial communication. The practical part will introduce to GIS in a hands-on manner, starting in individual software training and then applying new skills in a team-designed GIS project.
- 12.5 pts
This subject focuses on the advanced language required for successful graduate study in English. In this subject students will develop critical approaches to researching, reading and writing. They will also develop the ability to plan and present confidently on a research topic and to write a literature review fluently and accurately. Particular attention is paid to grammatical and stylistic aspects of written and spoken academic discourse. Students write and present on a research topic that is relevant to their field of study.
- 12.5 pts
Linear models are central to the theory and practice of modern statistics. They are used to model a response as a linear combination of explanatory variables and are the most widely used statistical models in practice. Starting with examples from a range of application areas this subject develops an elegant unified theory that includes the estimation of model parameters, quadratic forms, hypothesis testing using analysis of variance, model selection, diagnostics on model assumptions, and prediction. Both full rank models and models that are not of full rank are considered. The theory is illustrated using common models and experimental designs.
- 12.5 pts
This subject is designed to provide students with detailed training in statistical methods as applied to the design and analysis of projects undertaken by postgraduate students, across all disciplines.
- 12.5 pts
What conclusion can be drawn from a pool of data? How can a scientist draw meaningful conclusions while not overreaching? How can modelling help the scientist interpret data? This subject will address these questions by teaching students critical thinking and data analysis skills. After completing this subject students will understand the basic principles of sampling and experimental design, how the results of statistical analyses are reported, the statistical thinking behind common statistical procedures and will be able to carry out a range of standard statistical techniques.
- 12.5 pts
Modern science and business makes extensive use of computers for simulation, because complex real-world systems often cannot be analysed exactly, but can be simulated. Using simulation we can perform virtual experiments with the system, to see how it responds when we change parameters, which thus allows us to optimise its performance. We use the language R, which is one of the most popular modern languages for data analysis.
- 12.5 pts
The subject offers a range of projects in modules that offer experience in laboratory techniques and computational methods; the relative weights are indicated in the module descriptions. Students must select four projects with a combined weighting that contains at least 25% Computational Physics and 25% Laboratory Physics. The laboratory projects include nuclear physics, particle physics, diffraction, electronics, atomic physics, optical physics and astronomy. The computational projects are designed to develop programming skills and to introduce a range of numerical methods commonly used in physics research will be based on model problems in physics; these may include electronic structure theory, molecular vibrations, stellar structure, quantum spin systems, large-scale magnetic systems and gravitational lensing by point masses. Some projects may be offered that merge laboratory and computational work with approximately equal weighting.
- 12.5 pts
What is conflict of interest? What should a scientist do when he or she finds fraud is occurring on a scientific research team? How does a scientist write and defend an animal ethics submission and get it approved? What are the ethical issues associated with peer review? This subject is intended to give students a broad overview of research ethics in a scientific context. It will include topics on scientific integrity; conflicts of interest; data recording management; authorship and peer review; animal experimentation and regulations; privacy and confidentiality of records; and, finally, research in humans.
- 12.5 pts
Why is it essential that scientists learn to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences? What makes for engaging communication when it comes to science? How does the style of communication need to change for different audiences? What are the nuts and bolts of good science writing? What are the characteristics of effective public speaking?
Weekly seminars and tutorials will consider the important role science and technology plays in twenty-first century society and explore why it is vital that scientists learn to articulate their ideas to a variety of audiences in an effective and engaging manner. These audiences may include school students, agencies that fund research, the media, government, industry, and the broader public. Other topics include the philosophy of science communication, talking about science on the radio, effective public speaking, writing press releases and science feature articles, science performance, communicating science on the web and how science is reported in the media.
Students will develop skills in evaluating examples of science and technology communication to identify those that are most effective and engaging. Students will also be given multiple opportunities to receive feedback and improve their own written and oral communication skills.
Students will work in small teams on team projects to further the communication skills developed during the seminar programme. These projects will focus on communicating a given scientific topic to a particular audience using spoken, visual, written or web-based communication.
- 12.5 pts
As a scientist, it is not only important to be able to experiment, research and discover, it is also vital that you can communicate your research effectively in a variety of ways. Even the most brilliant research is wasted if no one knows it has been done or if your target audience is unable to understand it.
In this subject you will develop your written and oral communication skills to ensure that you communicate your science as effectively as possible. We will cover effective science writing and oral presentations across a number of formats: writing a thesis; preparing, submitting and publishing journal papers; searching for, evaluating and citing appropriate references; peer review, making the most of conferences; applying for grants and jobs; and using social media to publicise your research.
You will have multiple opportunities to practice, receive feedback and improve both your oral and written communication skills.
Please note: students must be undertaking their own research in order to enrol in this subject.
- 12.5 pts
This subject involves completion of an 80-100 hour science or technology work placement integrating academic learning in science areas of study, employability skills and attributes and an improved knowledge of science and technology organisations, workplace culture and career pathways. The placement is supplemented by pre- and post-placement classes designed to develop an understanding of science and technology professions, introduce skills for developing, identifying and articulating employability skills and attributes and linking them to employer requirements in the science and technology domains. Work conducted during the placement will be suitable for a graduate level of expertise and experience. While immersed in a work environment, students will be expected to challenge themselves by accepting roles and responsibilities that stretch their existing capabilities. They will interrogate the requirements of specific careers and continually monitor their own progress towards developing the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to thrive in these roles.
Students will be responsible for identifying a suitable work placement prior to the semester, with support of the Subject Coordinator. In the semester prior to your placement you should attend Careers & Employment (C&E) employment preparation seminars and workshops as well as accessing other C&E resources to assist you in identifying potential host organisations http://careers.unimelb.edu.au . You should commence your approaches to organisations at least 4 weeks before the placement. More information is available on the subject webpage here: https://science.unimelb.edu.au/students/internship-subjects/Science-Technology-Internship-Masters. If you have problems finding a placement you should contact the Careers and Industry team in the Faculty of Science (contact details can be found under the specific study period on the Dates and Times page).
On completion of the subject, students will have completed and reported on a course-related project in a science or technology workplace. They will also have enhanced employability skills including communication, interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving, organisational and time-management, and an understanding of career planning and professional development. | https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/master-of-environmental-science/what-will-i-study/ |
What do we learn in the Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering?
* Understanding of organism-environment interactions and the ecosystem: Ecosystems are very complex. Water, temperature, light and nutrients circulate around the world and this influences a diverse range of organisms. Ecology is a study of these complex relations and contributes to proper management of the ecosystem.
* Scientific identification and resolution of environmental problems: There exist a vast number of environmental problems, including development, resource and energy misuse and depletion, pollution and sustainability. The division presents comprehensive solutions in these areas.
* Ecology-based environmental design and landscape architecture: Environmental plans are being established through spatial analysis to systematically create a more beautiful environment.
* Formation and restoration of a sustainable ecosystem: Ultimately, the goal of these environmental disciplines is to create a sustainable ecosystem. Ecological engineering enables ecological restoration based on thorough research and rigorous analysis. This includes the development of ecological cities and ecological parks.
What is the Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering?
In terms of academic approach, Korea University’s Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering differs from environmental engineering departments at other universities. Environmental engineering emphasizes engineering mechanisms and processes aimed at environmental purification and pollution preventionwhereas environmental science and ecological engineering is a comprehensive discipline based on ecological principles encompassing various fields such as pollution prevention, ecofriendly applications and environmental restoration. It is this ecological approach that paves the way to the creation of a sustainable society and preservation of the ecosystem. Instead of developing countermeasures to existing environmental problems, the division emphasizes environmental technology that helps to prevent problems from arising in the future. A set of integrated ecology-based solutions should be presented to resolve environmental problems.
* Institutes: Universities involved in environmental research, Korea Forest Research Institute, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, Korea Environment Institute, Institute of Health & Environment, National Institute of Meteorological Research, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, KRIBB (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience Biotechnology) etc.
What characteristics are you looking for in students?
How bright is the future of environmental science and ecological engineering?
“Wanna Be Greener” is the slogan of the Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering. The ultimate goal of society is clean water and air, verdant forests and ecological parks throughout cities, commercialized renewable energy and an economic structure that derives high added value without sacrificing the environment. As society advances by the day, there is an ever-growing demand for a higher quality of life. To build a sustainable society, it is crucial to develop a system for integrated environment management from pollution prevention to purification. The Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering improves the environment and ecosystem based on ecological principles and contributes significantly to creating a sustainable society by training experts in related fields.
Previously, environmental engineering has focused on reducing environmental pollution. Pollution purification and clean production technologies were regarded as a common solution to environmental problems. However, it is apparent that sustainable development cannot be achieved without guaranteeing the health of the ecosystem, on which the future of humankind relies on. In other words, eco-friendly and sustainable development will only be possible through ‘cooperation’ between human society and nature. The interdisciplinary education at Korea University’s Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, which emphasizes a comprehensive approach to environmental problems, trains environmental experts for a sustainable society and compensates for the limitations of other environmental departments. Our division is regarded as the blue ocean of academia. | http://eco.korea.ac.kr/english-introduction-main-menu/introduction-sub-menu/faq |
greenUP! mission:
greenUP! provides environmental education for businesses helping Nevada cut down on waste, reduce valuable resource consumption and fight climate change in an environmentally safe and cost-effective manner.
The purposes for which greenUP! operates are:
- To serve as a coalition for organizations and individuals interested in environmental issues.
- To educate the general public and organizations regarding environmental issues including but not limited to energy efficiency, green business programs and education about sustainable business topics, and climate change.
- To serve as a resource of sustainability expertise, networking and inspiration to create a more sustainable business culture and economy in the Truckee Meadows, Nevada, California and nationwide.
- To promote voluntary sustainability strategies that fit the needs of unique environments and the capacity of businesses everywhere.
- Seek to establish public/private partnerships to encourage sustainability innovation across government, education, nonprofit and for-profit business sectors.
- To act as a fiscal agent and to seek funding for select sustainability initiative and projects that are consistent with greenUP!’s purpose, which are approved annually by the greenUP! Board of Directors. | https://greenupnow.biz/greenup-purpose/ |
PAX ARCTICA is organizing the CORAL LIBRE Expedition in July 2017 in CUBA. The goal of the Expedition, organized in partnership with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and University of Sydney is to document the health of coral reefs in Cuba. This eco-scientific adventure will serve as the basis for a docufiction film which will cover both the expedition at sea as well as subsequent on-land developments.
The main goal of the expedition will be to document the baseline health of the major coral reef ecosystems of Cuba. This will involve using high-resolution photography and cutting edge 3D photomosaic technology of the reefs that will be analyzed using recently developed automated machine learning methods on our Coral Net platform (coralnet.ucsd.edu). These photographic surveys will provide important data on coral reef health by providing data on living coral cover, coral diversity, macro algae cover, coral disease and mortality. This data will be critical for the informed conservation of Cuban coral reefs. The research team will be led by coral reef ecologist and Scripps Project Scientist David Kline. It will also include Oscar Pizarro and Nader Boutros from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics at the University of Sydney.
This docufiction film will be directed by Philippe Azoulay. It focuses on two young women, battered by life, who meet in Cuba. They encounter incredible characters, discover an unexpected world and share a transformative journey in a country where ‘joie de vivre’ trumps life’s difficulties. During a scientific expedition on a dive boat, the coral reef research team (David Kline, Oscar Pizarro and a graduate student) meet Johanna, the inquisitive young cook on the research vessel. The film will follow her daily journey on the boat as well as the island of Cuba. We will share and discover this young woman’s experience, as she struggles in an unknown world. After a night of partying, she misses the departure of the research vessel and finds herself stranded in Havana. Alone with little money, she meets another young woman, who is also going through an existential crisis. Their friendship and shared adventure lead them to a wake-up call, where they question what is important in their lives and contemplate love and happiness. The film is a journey between land and sea, yesterday and tomorrow, rational and irrational. A search for meaning, where the need to live in harmony with man and nature becomes a quest for both the young women and the audience.
The marine ecosystems of Cuba are largely undocumented and unknown but are vital to the economy and sustenance of the large coastal communities of Cuba. They are likely some of the healthiest remaining Caribbean coral reefs with large populations of sharks, groupers and other large top predators. These reefs represent a largely untapped source of revenue relating to ecotourism, sustainable fisheries and bioprospecting. However most of these important benefits will be lost if overfishing and unsustainable development degrade these critical marine ecosystems. Without a baseline of the health and biodiversity of the marine ecosystems of Cuba it will not be possible to substainably manage and protect these ecosystems from the rapid economic and social development already occurring with the recent thaw in US-Cuba relations. A series of expeditions will be planned to determine the baseline ecosystem conditions of the coral reefs of Cuba. In this first mission we will focus on the coral reefs of Jardines de la Reina, one of the most spectacular Cuban coral reefs.
Luc Hardy is an entrepreneur, veteran adventurer, environmental advocate, photographer, author, film producer and member of the Explorers Club of New York. Luc graduated from Ecole Centrale Paris with an engineering degree. Through his company Sagax, Luc has been investing in and advising technology startups for over 30 years. He is Vice-President of Green Cross France & Territories, the environmental NGO founded by Mikhail Gorbachev. His curiosity for the world and his love of adventure stem from his origins in Brittany. He continues to travel extensively, photographing and reporting from remote places in order to raise awareness for global causes. His expeditions have included: Greenland (2007 and 2011) and the Canadian Arctic to study the effects of climate change; several Polar and Himalayan expeditions; and the North Pole in 2011. His books include: Antarctic Adventure (2004), Greenland Impressions (2007), Arctic Transitions (2008). He is also the producer of the documentary film The Pursuit of Endurance, which was released in April 2015, screened in numerous festivals worldwide as well as at the United Nations in New York on Sept 15. 2015. Luc lives in Connecticut and in France.
Dr. David I. Kline is an Associate Project Scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. He is a coral reef ecologist who studies the fate of coral reefs in a high carbon dioxide futureon molecular to ecosystem scales. In particular he collaborates with computer vision scientists, engineers, chemists and physiologists to develop new techniques for studying the impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems. He has led or co-authored over 45 high impact peer-reviewed publications with over 2000 citations. He studies the ecology of corals and reef communities, and how reefs will change under the plethora of stresses they face, both local (e.g. pollution and disease) and global (warming and ocean acidification).
Philippe Azoulay is an appreciated documentary/film director. With experiences on stage, TV and in photography, he shot and directed various music videos and two documentaries before founding a film production company as an independent filmmaker: Rosebud Productions. This allowed him to direct several award-winning shorts, as well as producing and directing many documentaries broadcast worldwide. He subsequently founded another production company: Az You Like Films. He is also an environmentalist who took part in movements and events such as “One billion rising”, “Summit of Consciences” and “24 hr meditation for the ocean”.
Your contribution will help finance the expenses and fees associated with bringing three scientists from top-notch institutions to the expedition location as well as purchase and rent photographic and 3D-filming equipment.
Key note speech, projection of the Expedition’s film to private audience of your choice (dates and location to be agreed upon).
Credit in the film to be produced after the Expedition.
Please contact Luc Hardy at [email protected] for any questions. For larger contributions, please contact: [email protected]. Please email at [email protected] to organize for a personalized presentation. | https://www.paxarctica.org/coral-libre-cuba-2017 |
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About This Project
Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands
On remote tropical islands, coral reefs can be affected by the impacts of strong waves and historical overfishing. This project will focus on the effects those impacts have on the coral reefs of Easter Island and Salas y Gómez. Imagery of the benthic communities will be recorded using advanced digital photomosaic technology, as described by Gintert et al., (2012). The images will provide data on the overall health of the coral reefs through time.
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About This Project
Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands
On remote tropical islands, coral reefs can be affected by the impacts of strong waves and historical overfishing. This project will focus on the effects those impacts have on the coral reefs of Easter Island and Salas y Gómez. Imagery of the benthic communities will be recorded using advanced digital photomosaic technology, as described by Gintert et al., (2012). The images will provide data on the overall health of the coral reefs through time.
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Coral reef fish communities in the Seychelles are highly diverse and remain less affected by the direct impacts of human activities than those on many other coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. These factors make them highly suitable for a detailed survey of the impacts of the 1998 mass coral mortality, which devastated the coral faunas of the region. Using underwater visual census (UVC) techniques, fish communities were sampled in three localities in the southern Seychelles and one locality in the northern (granitic) Seychelles. Initial surveys were undertaken from the latter site in 1997. Surveys were undertaken at all sites during the coral bleaching episode in 1998 prior to any major changes in the reef fish communities. Repeat surveys were undertaken in 1999 one year after the coral mortality. Over 250 fish species were sampled from 35 families. Results suggest that changes in the overall fish community structures are not great, despite massive changes in the benthic cover. Significant changes have been observed in a number of individual species. These include those most heavily dependent on live coral cover for shelter or sustenance. Future potential changes are discussed, and potential management interventions are considered. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. | https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/the-impact-of-the-1998-coral-mortality-on-reef-fish-communities-i |
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News - June 2002
In Focus
BSoUP Meeting - Wednesday 17 June
In Focus
The latest issue of the Society's newsletter 'in focus'
is back from the printers and in the post. Members should receive a
copy in the next few days in a brown sealed envelope.
Although the cover and contents of the latest issue
appear on this site, none of the articles included will appear on
this site until two months after publication. If you are not a member
and would like to receive three issues of 'in focus' a year when it
is published, then why not join BSoUP?
Ken Sullivan, our newsletter
editor
and June Photo Techniques presenter.
Alex Mustard, Focus On winner
and Main Event speaker
Tony White, before the bite
BSoUP Meeting - Wednesday 17
June
Last night's meeting of the Society kicked off with
a presentation by Ken Sullivan on 'A different kind of light'. Ken
explored different lighting techiques, including ring flash,
illustrating his talk with some excellent examples of the same
subject matter using different types of flash.
The Focus On competition 'Macro' attracted 34
entries. The winner was Alex Mustard with a balanced light shot of a
flamingo toungue mollusc viewed through the adjacent whips of its
coral host. Runner-up was Anita Marshall's macro shot of a goby taken
in Bonaire using a 105 macro lens. Ken Sullivan took third place with
his ring-flash balanced light shot of a lion fish from below and in
front, with the blue surface as a background.
The Main Event was presentation by Alex Mustard
entitled 'Capturing coral reefs on their best behaviour - taking
images that illustrate the workings of the reef'. Alex, a marine
biologist, prefers to take images that illustrate aspects of coral
reefs that show movement and interactions between the reef and its
inhabitants. Starting with herbivores, Alex took us up the food chain
to the larger predators, illustrating his approach to photography
with some beautiful images.
Thanks to Gill and Leslie (our mystery Committee
member) for standing in for John Langford.
Overheard
Tony White apparently got seriously bitten by a
shark whilst taking photographs of a bait ball in South Africa
recently and is now sporting some impressive bite marks on his
arm!
Our beloved Hon. Sec. has had the collar removed
from his neck and is off to watch other BSoUP members dive in the Red
Sea next week. Sadly, Pat can't dive for another six weeks, although
he 'may snorkel'.
Underwater Photography is a web magazine edited by
Peter Rowlands with articles by BSoUP members and others.
The June/July issue of Underwater Photography (no.
7) is now available for download free at Underwater
Photography. | http://www.bsoup.org/News/2002/2002_06.php |
Foreword by Dr Alexander Mustard. About the author and acknowledgements. How to use this book. Introduction. List of figures. SECTION 1: COMPOSITION. 1. The Big Picture and Why Composition Matters: Aesthetics and Photographic Intent. 2. Subject Selection: The Right Things in the Right Frame at the Right Time. 3. Light. 4. Viewpoint. 5. Image Depth Perspective. 6. Background and Space. 7. Lines, Shapes and Vectors: Real and Perceived. 8. Contrasts. 9. Colour. 10. Organising the Whole Picture. SECTION 2: EASY-TO-REMEMBER REFERENCE MODELS FOR UNDERWATER COMPOSITION. 11. The Reference Models. SECTION 3: ADVANCED TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE YOUR COMPOSITION. 12. Understanding Dynamic Range. 13. Natural Light Photography. 14. Remote Lighting Techniques. 15. Split Level Images. SECTION 4: POST-PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES TO FINE TUNE YOUR COMPOSITION. 16. Rescuing Composition Errors and Enhancing Good Composition. 17. Image Manipulation. Glossary. Index.
This book led to Paul Colley being granted Associateship of the Royal Photographic Society for the contribution that it has made to the research, education and application of photography. See more at: http://www.rps.org/member/profile/paul-colley
Paul Colley is a diving instructor, INON UK underwater photography instructor, lifetime Vice-President of the Royal Air Force Sub-Aqua Association, and has won international underwater photography competitions to gold medal standard. He writes regularly for diving magazines, websites and his own blog. Now he shares his methods and approach with you.
'Excellently written, highly informative and well-executed... the essential guide on this subject': Diver (magazine). 'This book could just be the key to unlocking a new level in your photography career': UWP magazine. 'An ideal gift for any serious underwater photographer': SCUBA (magazine). 'This book will arm and inspire you to transform your underwater photographs, whatever camera you use': Alex Mustard (from the Foreword). | https://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Winning-Images-with-Any-Underwater-Camera-Paul-Colley-Alex-Mustard/9781909455047 |
A significant component of the IB and NIST’s mission is to produce well-rounded global citizens equipped with the skills and passion to go out and make a difference in the world. Simon Hilbuorne, NIST alumni (class of 2010), embodies this core value.
Simon developed a passion for the ocean and sea life at a young age and spent a lot of time exploring Thailand’s underwater wonderlands. He pursued his passions academically as well, as he wrote his IB Extended Essay in Geography on coral reefs in Chonburi province.
Nowadays, Simon is a Marine Biologist, ocean conservationist, and underwater photographer based in the Maldives. Simon's excellent photography has recently been featured on the cover of the British Scuba magazine.
Learn more about Simon and his photography and conservation work at discoverinteresting.com/. | https://www.nistgeographic.com/post/nist-alumni-feature-simon-hilbourne |
The article discusses aspects of digital theater and the author's consideration of the digital in theatre. The author presents an analysis of ACT Oedipus, proposing to re-examine theatre in light of the effects of digital technology. She explores a number of themes relating to the theatre, which...
- Extreme Vacation Shots. Story, Derrick // Macworld;Aug2008, Vol. 25 Issue 8, p84
The article offers tips for using digital cameras in underwater and aerial photography. It emphasizes the importance of choosing a waterproof housing for camera during underwater photography and states that a good underwater shot happens around coral-laden reefs wherein the coral offers...
- BOOM OR BUBBLE? Fitzsimmons, Dominic // Media: Asia's Media & Marketing Newspaper;6/26/2008, p38
The article examines the condition of the digital sector of China. According to the author, almost half a billion U.S. dollars were put into the sector in just one week in April 2008. However, the author states that many of these investors have yet to produce a profit. The author discusses the...
- Unlocking Your Camera's Potential. Havlik, Dan // Popular Mechanics;Apr2008, Vol. 185 Issue 4, p24
The article presents five ways to set new digital cameras. It is stated that a high ISO (or light sensitivity) should be selected to make a better picture. It is advised that the bulb should be skipped to amp up camera's ISO for low-light shooting. The selective focus is suggested to be...
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Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "Digits Over the Air" in the January 2008 issue, the do-it-yourself (DIY) camera jib in the November 2008, and "Stellar Video, Just Smaller" in the December 2008 issue.
- CLOSING THOUGHTS. // Digital Quick Guide: Step-by-step Composition Techniques for Dig;2005, p92
The article discusses the significance of the book to the works of photographers. If the person follows the guidelines given on the book, it will be enjoyable because he can learn to manipulate the result of digital photography thus making it a worthwhile experience for the photographers, their...
- PTZ SECURITY CAMERAS. ANKENEY, JAY // Sound & Video Contractor;Sep2008 Buyers Guide Supplement, Vol. 26, p16
The article presents the capabilities and features of pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) cameras. These are surveillance cameras that combine analog or more commonly digital camera mounted on a motorized control with communication capabilities to a remote-monitoring site. They also have automated or...
- Photo Imaging -- picture the future. // Tech Trader;Apr2010, Vol. 2 Issue 3, p14
In this article, the author comments on the future of online photography and printing in Australia. The author mentions that despite being considered a sleeping giant, it has the potential to be a large growth engine. He adds that the country is set to witness strong growth in total imaging, in...
- The Filmless Present. Snell, Jason // Macworld;Oct2003, Vol. 20 Issue 10, p7
Introduces a series of articles on digital cameras. | http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/88033087/touchless-fingerprint-recognization |
Copyright:
© Matthew Meier 2017 858-504-0469 [email protected] All Rights Reserved
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Keywords:
Acroporidae
Anthozoans: Anthozoa
Bony Fishes: Osteichthyes
Chromis sp.
Cnidarians: Cnidaria
Cup Leather Coral
Damselfishes: Pomacentridae
Fishes
Invertebrates
Karamulon Point dive site
Mushroom Coral
Pacific Ocean
Russell Islands
Soft Corals: Stoloniferans: Gorgonians: Alyconacea
Solomon Islands
Solomon Sea
South Pacific
Stony Corals: Scleractina: Scleractiniak
Toadstool
Toadstool Leather Coral
Umbrella Coral
afternoon
circular fisheye lens
coral bommie
coral reef
late afternoon
marine life
mushroom leather coral: Sarcophyton sp.
ocean > water
overhead
saltwater
sea
sun rays
sunbeam
sunlight
sunshine
underwater
underwater images
underwater photo
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underwater photography
underwater pictures
underwater stock photography
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Email: | https://matthewmeierphoto.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Solomon-Islands-Photos/G0000cDI7NovHBU8/I0000_u09rQduaG0 |
Shallow back reefs commonly experience greater thermal and biogeochemical variability owing to a combination of coral community metabolism, environmental forcing, flow regime, and water depth. We present results from a high-resolution (sub-hourly to sub-daily) hydrodynamic and biogeochemical...
- Call to protect all coral reefs. Bridge, Tom C. L.; Hughes, Terry P.; Guinotte, John M.; Bongaerts, Pim // Nature Climate Change;Jun2013, Vol. 3 Issue 6, p528
The authors discuss then call for coral reef protection as they are observed to have been suffering from decline. They note that decline in coral reef threatens food security and considers the capacity of deep reefs as global refuge in coastal seascape management. They suggest the adoption of an...
- Saving the ocean's forests. Clausen, Lisa // Time International (South Pacific Edition);10/9/95, Issue 40, p98
Reports on the efforts being waged by coastal nations to protect their coral reefs and underwater forests from further destruction. Possible destruction of 70% of coral reefs within the 21st century; Achievement of people of Silkao and Apo Island in southern Thailand to protect their...
- Patrolling the reefs. Ryan, John C. // UNESCO Courier;Mar2001, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p11
Focuses on the efforts taken to protect the coral reefs in Indonesia's Komodo National Park and Bunaken National Park. Use of low-impact fishing techniques; Community involvement in resource management; Reduction of fish bombing through boat patrols; Importance of coral reefs for Indonesia;...
- The endosymbiotic dinoflagellates ( Symbiodinium sp.) of corals are parasites and mutualists. Lesser, M.; Stat, M.; Gates, R. // Coral Reefs;Sep2013, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p603
The evolutionary success and continued survival of reef-building corals under increasing environmental change will, in part, be determined by the composition of their endosymbiotic dinoflagellate communities ( Symbiodinium sp.). Recent research suggests that differences in the phylotype...
- Skeletal records of community-level bleaching in Porites corals from Palau. Barkley, Hannah; Cohen, Anne // Coral Reefs;Dec2016, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p1407
Tropical Pacific sea surface temperature is projected to rise an additional 2-3 °C by the end of this century, driving an increase in the frequency and intensity of coral bleaching. With significant global coral reef cover already lost due to bleaching-induced mortality, efforts are underway...
- Hope for coral reef rehabilitation: massive synchronous spawning by outplanted corals in Okinawa, Japan. Zayasu, Yuna; Shinzato, Chuya // Coral Reefs;Dec2016, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p1295
The article discusses the coral rehabilitation and spawning by outplanted corals in Okinawa, Japan. It states the rearing method for outplants and scleractinian coral species that was permitted by Okinawa Prefecture. An overview on the extensive synchronous spawning of outplanted Acropora...
- Genet-specific spawning patterns in Acropora palmata. Miller, M.; Williams, D.; Fisch, J. // Coral Reefs;Dec2016, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p1393
The broadcast spawning elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, requires outcrossing among different genets for effective fertilization. Hence, a low density of genets in parts of its range emphasizes the need for precise synchrony among neighboring genets as sperm concentration dilutes rapidly in...
- Population distribution, host-switching, and chemical sensing in the symbiotic shrimp Lysmata pederseni: implications for its mating system in a changing reef seascape. Baeza, J.; Guéron, Rodrigo; Simpson, Lunden; Ambrosio, Louis // Coral Reefs;Dec2016, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p1213
Lysmata pederseni, a protandric simultaneously hermaphroditic shrimp that inhabits the tube sponge Callyspongia vaginalis, is monogamous in the central and southeastern Caribbean Sea. We tested the null hypothesis of monogamy in a northern Caribbean population. In the Florida Keys, shrimps did... | http://pdc-connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/100250787/temporary-refugia-coral-reefs-warming-world |
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