Russia's search for ontological security and the Ukraine invasion

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 astounded political commentators across the globe. Seemingly nonsensical from a physical security perspective, the announcement of invasion resulted in economic sanctions against Russia, the rapid decline of President Vladimir Putin’s reputation in the international sphere, and dissent amongst Russian citizens. This article contends that while invasion is difficult to justify from a physical security approach, the pursuit of ontological security is a convincing and meaningful explanation for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Unpacking how biographical narratives and behavioural patterns sustain a state’s sense of Self demonstrates that Russian state selfhood was reaffirmed through invasion. This argument is developed in reference to masculinist narratives surrounding the Russian Self, including an imperialist role identity, a masculine Self contrasted with a feminine Ukrainian Other, and a drive to defeat supposed fascist forces within Ukraine. In addition, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sustains ontological security through fitting into a behavioural pattern of consistent conflict. Ontological security is a highly necessary consideration when analysing global conflict, particularly in the case of the 2022 Ukraine invasion

Creating Consistency: The Strengthening of Cal Poly Football’s Brand to Improve Its Fan Base

Collegiate football is the preeminent sport at most universities and is closely observed by a very dedicated and consistent fan base. At California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, the football program has a very minimal following compared to other Division 1 (both BCS and FCS) schools. Since a strong and passionate fan base is absolutely crucial to maintaining consistently high game day attendance rates, Cal Poly immediately needs to explore avenues to reach out to its publics. This study observes how Cal Poly’s football program could increase attendance and build consistency in their fan base by implementing a proactive branding plan

That Time One Person Came to My End-of-Semester Citation Workshops

Recognizing the challenges and stresses many students encounter when citing and paraphrasing, I decided to hold two citation workshops -- one for MLA, one for APA -- at the end of the semester. I created visually appealing presentations in Canva. I got the word out by distributing a flyer for digital signs across campus. A colleague and I disseminated an announcement to professors. An advertisement appeared on the sign above the campus center. Chocolate-covered pretzels were offered as snacks! These efforts resulted in exactly one person -- who didn’t know there was a citation workshop taking place -- wandering into the room. A month later, I can identify several reasons why these well-intentioned workshops were not well attended. Organizing these workshops late in the semester was a chief misstep, but other crucial mistakes included not reaching out to faculty on a broader scale, and assessing what specific citation needs and questions students had. Perhaps the greatest takeaway from the lack of interest and attendance is something we always tell our students: “Don’t wait until the last minute!” Acknowledging the ideas and scholarship of others is a crucial skill that can be reinforced, but not taught, at the last minute. While we address citation in our information literacy sessions, we might approach the topic of citation and paraphrasing in a more comprehensive way throughout the semester, as outlined in the Framework for Information Literacy. We could also reach out to colleagues on campus (including faculty and those working in the writing center) to determine how we can partner to help our students understand the fundamentals of citation

Facebook’s Use in Higher Education

Social networking sites have experienced explosive growth and they have been integrated into the daily lives of many people. While the majority of college-aged students interact on Facebook every day, both research and implementation of Facebook as a pedagogical tool in the higher education classroom is lacking. This research-in-progress study investigates the question, “How can Facebook can be used to enhance educational experiences beyond that of the traditional classroom?” To do so, students from a southwestern university will participate in a multi-round Delphi study. By generating and ranking ideas directly from students, the results will have content validity and may uncover interesting and state-of-the-art ideas. The results will be available for presentation at the conference

Sequoia Pitch Moth in Pines

This fact sheet focuses on the sequoia pitch moth (SPM) (Sesiidae: Synanthedon sequoiae). It includes how to identify, life cycle, damage, and management

Velodrome

This project was approached in a way that enhances the sport of track bike racing through architecture. Track bike racing combines machine and man to form a level of excitement and raw speed that permeate the surrounding environment through sight, sound, and sensation

Supporting the development of students in the pharmacy profession through stakeholder engagement and technology innovation

Pharmacists are experts in safe drug usage, and are uniquely placed to provide professional advice on a range of health related issues. It is crucial that pharmacy education embodies an emphasis on creating independent and responsible learners and prioritises life-long learning in the face of rapid change. Consequently, appropriate teaching and learning modalities are essential to prepare students. Changes in the way patient’s access information and education of pharmacists call for new ways of teaching to prepare pharmacists for a changing profession. The aim of this body of work was to support pharmacy students’ education as teachers and learners through their utilisation of technology to create short educational videos on a range of topics intended for different stakeholder groups including patients and allied healthcare professionals

Biodiversity loss and climate change interactions: financial stability implications for central banks and financial supervisors

Financial risks related to climate change and biodiversity loss are currently being addressed in a largely siloed manner. Neglecting their interconnections, however, may lead to ‘blind spots’ and misestimations of systemic financial risk, potentially undermining progress on both climate finance policy and emerging policy on biodiversity-related financial risks (BRFR). In particular, the ‘risk measurement–based’ approach dominating climate finance policy, which is now being taken up to address BRFR, is poorly equipped to address the radical uncertainty that characterises both types of risks. Furthermore, many BRFR may materalise over a more immediate horizon than climate risks. In this paper, we examine how central banks and financial supervisors are approaching the topic of BRFR in relation to climate-related financial risk. We argue that policymakers should focus upon the broader concept of systemic environmental-financial risks to account for the interactions and trade-offs between both domains of biodiversity and climate change. Instead of seeking evidence of financial materiality before acting, focusing on how the financial system is actively facilitating direct drivers of environmental damage offers a way for financial policymakers to assess potential sources of such risks on the basis of information available today. In turn, policy interventions should aim to reduce harmful flows of finance that may lead to the crossing of dangerous ecological tipping points