Collaborative workshop: sustainable civil engineering proposals for real settings

The objective is to familiarize students with real civil engineering problems as posed by social agents (e.g. a city council, a neighbourhood association, etc.) and to foster social responsibility, active and cooperative learning, teamwork and sustainability. A multidisciplinary team accompanies students in finding solutions to problems affecting a region, with the goal of training them in how to sensitively deal with complex urban realities and understand the possible impacts and conflicts of their projects for their region and society. Methodologically, this training strategy is based on active teamwork and cooperation applied to a real case. It is also influenced by service learning in that local stakeholders explain their problems to the students and ask for solutions. This initiative is not part of any study plan but is a complementary teaching activity organized by the Civil Engineering School of Barcelona and worth 3 ECTS for participating students. In 2016-2017, the workshop —covering problems related to harbour design, water quality, pedestrian bridges and retaining walls— as conducted in Marina d’Empuriabrava on the Costa Brava, proving to be a very satisfactory experience for students, teachers and local stakeholders in terms of learning and proposals. In 2017-2018 the workshop has been held in El Vendrell (Tarragona). In the next, editions, it is planned to make ongoing improvements in terms of time organization and teamwork evaluation.Postprint (published version

Making the Most of Mentors: Recruitment, Training, and Support of Mentors for Adolescent Girl Programming—Toolkit

Mentors are an important part of many effective programs for girls, yet little information is available about the practical aspects of developing and supporting a successful mentor cadre. This toolkit pulls together lessons, tips, and insights that can be adapted and used to find, train, monitor, support, and evaluate mentors. The information is based on materials from programs for adolescent girls implemented by the Population Council. The resources are applicable to program planners, mentor supervisors, and mentors. All resources may be adapted to local contexts

Esterilización en los animales de compañía

Treball presentat a l'assignatura de Deontologia i Veterinària Legal (21223

Gender labor inequalities in the public sector: the interplay between policy and micro-politics

Purpose This paper aims to describe and explain women's labor participation in the public sector, particularly at the local level. The paper analyses the representation of women employees in the public sector through a case study of a city council in a mid-sized Spanish city. The authors delve into the extent of gender labor discrimination in public administration, exploring a diversity of situations, experiences, and perceptions of women workers in female, neutral, and male-dominated areas in the local administration. Design/methodology/approach The authors have applied a combined methodology of quantitative analysis based on an exhaustive analysis of the list of job posts, and qualitative analysis from the narratives of women workers in biographical interviews, in women-dominated, neutral and male-dominated areas. Findings The authors conclude by providing a clear description of women's representation in local administration. Despite the institutional efforts in applying gender equality norms and public policies in administration, employment and labor market, this article shows the persistent inequality in employment within the administration. The paper demonstrates that public administrations can be seen as gender regimes that tend to reproduce inequality by formal and informal dynamics. This inequality gender reproduction in a supposedly gender-neutral administration reflects discrimination in a labor market. The paper details phenomena relating to horizontal occupational segregation, glass ceilings, sticky floors, and the undervaluing of women's work, among other phenomena. Practical implications The administration should consider two essential factors that endanger gender equality: (1) the demonstrated regression of gender mainstreaming and the effects on women's employment as a consequence of the crisis, and (2) neoliberal governments and extreme right-wing parties (or neoliberal governments and extreme right-wing parties' support, as is the case with the current Andalusian regional government), whose agenda includes the fight against what neoliberal governments and extreme right-wing parties call "gender ideology". Social implications The gap between the effectiveness of gender legislation and actual working practices within the administration has been highlighted. This fact should be a wake-up call for the administrations to strictly comply with gender legislation, given that local administrations are the closest to the citizens. Future research should focus on changes to detect any regression and to prevent losing the improvements already achieved, which can still be very much strengthened. Originality/value This article helps to fill the gap in the literature on gender discrimination in the labor market, which often omits the public sector, especially in local administration, which is the closest administrative structure to citizenship respecting public policies. The article contributes to highlighting the need for an egalitarian labor market in order to achieve optimal performance, commitment and efficiency in egalitarian labor relations in local administration

Girls on the Map: Mapping for Program Planning and Social Change

This guide explores ways in which maps can add depth to the learning process as practitioners design programs for girls. Mapping leads practitioners through a cycle of information collection and analysis. It supports decision-making about where, with whom, and when to work, and how programs can make a real difference in girls’ lives. Programs increasingly recognize the importance of household and community characteristics in shaping girls’ lives, yet it is relatively less common to measure or map community features as part of program planning. Mapping relevant populations of girls and the features of the communities they live in can inform not only where to work but what further investigation is needed to understand girls’ needs. This guide is meant to spark practitioners’ interest in using maps, to make maps accessible, practical, and useful, and to provide guidance on how to keep girls as the center of focus when making programmatic decisions

El Maig : la festa i el ritual de la plantada a Òrrius

Beca IPEC 201

Participació ciutadana en processos de control per la millora de la qualitat de l'aire

Descripció de l'experiència desenvolupada pel Laboratori del Centre de Medi Ambient en el disseny d'un sistema d’avaluació integrador de diferents tecnologies que permeten avaluar de forma individual i total les concentracions de contaminants que es troben en l'aire, sinó també determinar el seu origen.Peer Reviewe

Taller col·laboratiu per acostar els estudiants de l´àmbit d'enginyeria civil i ambiental a problemàtiques reals

L'objectiu és acostar l'estudiantat a problemes reals de l'enginyeria civil a proposta d'un agent del territori per fomentar les competències de treball en equip, la sostenibilitat i el compromís social. Per això, s'ha dissenyat un taller basat en l'aprenentatge actiu i cooperatiu, on un equip multidisciplinar acompanya als estudiants per trobar solucions a les qüestions plantejades des del territori. El curs anterior es va fer a Empuriabrava i enguany s’ha portat a terme a El Vendrell amb una valoració positiva per part de tots els estudiants.Postprint (published version