Capturing the value of biosurveillance “big data” through natural capital accounting

Global biodiversity is in crises. Recognition of the scale and pace of biodiversity loss is leading to rapid technological development in biodiversity science to identify species, their interactions, and ecosystem dynamics. National and international policy developments to stimulate mitigation and remediation actions are escalating to meet the biodiversity crises. They can take advantage of biosurveillance “big data” as evidence for more sweeping and impactful policy measures. The critical factor is translating biosurveillance data into the value-based frameworks underpinning new policy measures. An approach to this integration process, using natural capital accounting frameworks is developed

Understanding the circumgalactic medium is critical for understanding galaxy evolution

Galaxies evolve under the influence of gas flows between their interstellar medium and their surrounding gaseous halos known as the circumgalactic medium (CGM). The CGM is a major reservoir of galactic baryons and metals, and plays a key role in the long cycles of accretion, feedback, and recycling of gas that drive star formation. In order to fully understand the physical processes at work within galaxies, it is therefore essential to have a firm understanding of the composition, structure, kinematics, thermodynamics, and evolution of the CGM. In this white paper we outline connections between the CGM and galactic star formation histories, internal kinematics, chemical evolution, quenching, satellite evolution, dark matter halo occupation, and the reionization of the larger-scale intergalactic medium in light of the advances that will be made on these topics in the 2020s. We argue that, in the next decade, fundamental progress on all of these major issues depends critically on improved empirical characterization and theoretical understanding of the CGM. In particular, we discuss how future advances in spatially-resolved CGM observations at high spectral resolution, broader characterization of the CGM across galaxy mass and redshift, and expected breakthroughs in cosmological hydrodynamic simulations will help resolve these major problems in galaxy evolution.Comment: Astro2020 Decadal Science White Pape

Empowerment through participation: assessing the voices of leaders from recycling cooperatives in São

Abstract This paper describes the findings of a project assessment on empowerment and leadership development of recyclers (catadores), recorded after the third year of the Participatory Sustainable Waste Management project (PSWM), a University Partnership initiative implemented in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. In March 2008, video-taped, structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with leaders from recycling cooperatives and associations in the region, who had participated in the project's capacity-building activities, initiated in 2005. Throughout in-depth interviews, individuals were also asked to produce a timeline diagram highlighting the events that have contributed or hindered their personal development and empowerment within the context of inclusive waste management (coleta seletiva solidária). The interviews revealed the significance of: (i) the organization and mobilization of the recyclers movement (Movimento dos Catadores de Materiais Reciclaveis), (ii) specific events that have empowered or disempowered the recyclers, and (iii) inclusive public policies in waste management as well as community outreach strategies to overcome stigma and marginalization. The personal histories focused on the successions of events and processes supported by the PSWM project until March 2008, which include the development of a collective commercialization network, a pilot experience with a micro-credit scheme for working capital of the coops, participation in meetings

Where Pedagogy and Social Innovation Meet: Assessing the Impact of Experiential Education in the Third Sector

The Vancouver Island Social Innovation Zone (VISIZ) is an innovative collaboration between higher education institutions and community organisations in the Vancouver Island region. The Social Innovation Cohort is a pilot initiative of VISIZ, matching selected social innovation initiatives and social enterprises with financial support, as well as a partially funded full-time co-op student between January-April 2016. During this time, students engage in workshops and education, and have an opportunity to learn together through their paid work experiences in local social innovation initiatives and social enterprises. The goal is to provide valuable learning experiences, apply “classroom‐based” knowledge to the real world, and add capacity to local initiatives. The overall goal is to strengthen and support Vancouver-Island research that connects students and researchers to communities and build a strong eco-system for impact business and social enterprise on Vancouver Island. The findings explore impact in the following specific areas: (a) The extent of student impact through the cohort pilot model including new knowledge, and applied skills in social innovation and social enterprise, and (b) The extent of social change and increased capacity in the community including the tangible outcomes as a result of the collaborations with students and post-secondary institutions. The findings from this evaluation can help inform curriculum development and learning competencies supporting student engaged learning in social innovation. The results will also inform at a systems-level, including variable such as structure, governance and relationships between institutions and community organisations including the match of social innovation needs to relevant supports, assets and challenges in identifying and mobilising these assets

Critical engagements : empathy, subjectivity and changing narratives of water resources through participatory video

This article engages a critical feminist analysis of a community-based participatory video (PV) process focused on water and sanitation issues in underserved settlements of Accra, Ghana and Cape Town, South Africa. With focus on emotions and empathy, we highlight these concepts in relation to participant narratives and shifting subjectivities. In so doing, we consider how arts based engagement (in this case, through participatory video), might serve to foster new ways of relating to water resources and water infrastructures. The analysis highlights how the participants themselves reflect on PV as a vehicle for personal transformation, knowledge co-creation and a ‘watered’ subjectivity. We find that the PV process helps to uncover and identify knowledge gaps on water governance by enabling individuals and communities--often unheard—to participate in civic and political debates around resource governance. While many positive elements were emphasized, we also suggest that there is a need for critical engagements that also address challenges associated with these methods, including limitations with respect to fostering fundamental long-term change in communities. In the conclusion, we broaden beyond our individual case studies to consider implications for community engagement and citizenship practices in the realm of natural resource governance.Science, Faculty ofNon UBCResources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute forReviewedFacult

Empowerment through participation: assessing the voices of leaders from recycling cooperatives in São

Abstract This paper describes the findings of a project assessment on empowerment and leadership development of recyclers (catadores), recorded after the third year of the Participatory Sustainable Waste Management project (PSWM), a University Partnership initiative implemented in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. In March 2008, video-taped, structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with leaders from recycling cooperatives and associations in the region, who had participated in the project's capacity-building activities, initiated in 2005. Throughout in-depth interviews, individuals were also asked to produce a timeline diagram highlighting the events that have contributed or hindered their personal development and empowerment within the context of inclusive waste management (coleta seletiva solidária). The interviews revealed the significance of: (i) the organization and mobilization of the recyclers movement (Movimento dos Catadores de Materiais Reciclaveis), (ii) specific events that have empowered or disempowered the recyclers, and (iii) inclusive public policies in waste management as well as community outreach strategies to overcome stigma and marginalization. The personal histories focused on the successions of events and processes supported by the PSWM project until March 2008, which include the development of a collective commercialization network, a pilot experience with a micro-credit scheme for working capital of the coops, participation in meetings

Social Learning and Paulo Freire Concepts for Understanding Food Security Cases in Brazil

Food insecurity is a wicked, complex, and critical problem. Although evidence supporting a wide range of assertions regarding the outcomes of social learning is still being investigated, its potential to improve food security challenges is growing. Nonetheless, more work is needed to understand when and how social learning-oriented approaches are effective in food security situations. We address this gap by investigating how elements of social learning and Freire’s key concepts are exemplified in existing real-world experiences of food security in rural communities. The case studies in Brazil, Community Seed Banks in Paraíba State, in the northeast and Biodiversity Kit in Guaraciaba, Santa Catarina State, in the south, are examples of small farmers facing and overcoming their limit-situation of food insecurity through celebrating, planting, and saving traditional seeds (landraces). A mixed-methods approach was applied based on semi-structured interviews and a literature review. The key findings show that local initiatives based on the interconnections of social learning and Freire´s concepts have improved food security in two cases. The practice of landrace rescue as a food security strategy is strengthened through a culture of closeness and solidarity, through values that are celebrated in the festivities, community meetings, and other exchanges of experiences. Applications of our conceptual framework in operational interventions show clear potential for generating the necessary changes for a more sustainable world, specifically in food security and sovereignty projects, as described in the cases studies.Peer Reviewe

Social Innovation Cohort: Impact Report

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