An analysis of the impact of the Gaia Theory on Ecology and Evolutionary Theory

This paper investigates the impact of ideas published within the Gaia theory (as set out by James Lovelock in 1979), on the study of Ecology and Evolutionary Theory. Developments within both disciplines have been influenced, and shaped by the Gaia theory and the paper discusses these. The development of the Daisyworld model, which highlighted for ecologists the importance of interactions within an ecosystem between the biota and the abiotic world, contributed to the understanding of biodiversity. The Gaia theory also predicted the causal link between increased biodiversity and increasing stability of populations. The Gaian influence on the development of Evolutionary theory can be found in the idea that life on earth works with the abiotic environment as a self-regulatory system. This idea became the foundation of Earth System Science. These developments have had a wider significance to the study and understanding of science in general. The theory has demonstrated the need for a new way of looking at the development and sustainability of life on earth

Building brains, forging futures: the pediatrician's role

AbstractRecent leaps in the understanding of early brain growth and child development provide us with scientific underpinnings for strategies to improve child health outcomes. Genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors impact the growing child and have a profound impact on lifelong health and function. Recent advances in knowledge concerning the biologic underpinnings of brain development provide a better understanding upon which to base interventions. All growing children experience stress. However, if children are stressed in a manner that exceeds their coping capability, the stress is considered toxic. Toxic stress can impede the cognitive and social emotional growth of the developing brain. Pediatricians have the opportunity to intervene through screening for families at risk, supporting optimal parenting, and linking in a team fashion with other providers of care for young children to support development

Expanding Digital Collections at Binghamton University Libraries

In this poster, we show the connections that can be made between our collections managed on ExLibris Rosetta, the ORB, and Omeka--including the benefits and challenges involved with using multiple platforms for collections. This poster was part of a poster presentation at the The Library is Open: Academic Libraries Conference 2018, organized by members of the Empire State Library Network

The Evolving Institutional Repository--the Teenage Years

This poster was presented at SUNYLA 2018. It shares the growth of the Open Repository at Binghamton (the ORB) from its conception to its current state, including how the collections have grown with both scholarly research, visual exhibits and other creative scholarly output

Hanging In, Stepping up and Stepping Out: Livelihood Aspirations and Strategies of the Poor Development in Practice

In recent years understanding of poverty and of ways in which people escape from or fall into poverty has become more holistic. This should improve the capabilities of policy analysts and others working to reduce poverty, but it also makes analysis more complex. This paper describes a simple schema which integrates multidimensional, multilevel and dynamic understandings of poverty, of poor people’s livelihoods, and of changing roles of agricultural systems. The paper suggests three broad types of strategy pursued by poor people: ‘hanging in’; ‘stepping up’; and ‘stepping out’. This simple schema explicitly recognises the dynamic aspirations of poor people; diversity among them; and livelihood diversification. It also brings together aspirations of poor people with wider sectoral, inter-sectoral and macro-economic questions about policies necessary for realisation of those aspirations