<p>The Lake Bosomtwe impact crater is located in the Ashanti region of Ghana, West Africa. The impact crater diameter from rim to rim is approximately 10.5 km wide with a lake located at the center. Three different districts touch the lake containing 155,000 hectacres of land. There are approximately 7,500 people from 24 villages, and 12 of those villages reside within walking distance of the lake shore. Within the last ten years, the lake has been subjected to overfishing and environmental degradation. The health of the lake has declined due to overfishing and algae blooms caused by improper fertilization rates. Because of these factors, residents of the area have been forced to transition to subsidence farming as their main vocation. According to the Ghana Statistical Service group, 97.6% of the population participates in some form of rural crop farming (Ghana Statistical Service, 2010). Experience with common practices such as crop rotation, fertilizer use, and erosion control is extremely limited. The lake has not been recommended for recreational use due to the excess runoff in the form of agrochemicals, liquid, and organic waste. Caged aquaculture and traditional fishing within Lake Bosomtwe is currently illegal.</p><p><br></p><p>A comprehensive Institutional Review Board (IRB) survey was developed for the six primary research questions to be examined. From these six research questions, 147 specific questions were developed. Three of the 147 questions were to obtain Global Positioning System (GPS) data for community households, pit latrines, and water wells or boreholes. This study sought to interview 10-15 farmers per village, for each of the 12 villages located along the shore of Lake Bosomtwe of their perspective on land use change/cover in the Lake Bosomtwe area, current farming practices, current water sanitation and hygiene practices, and current fishing practices. These surveys were collected in the form of oral responses, for which 118 small-holder farmers were interviewed. Of the participants surveyed, 66% were qualified to answer all questions, and 100% of participants completed the survey.</p><p><br></p><p>Some specific statistical tests were conducted based of market assessment survey. It was determined that no association between gender and level of education existed. Meaning, that female participants interviewed have just as many opportunities as male participants to pursue education beyond Junior High School (JHS). Yield averages between the villages on the north side of the lake with road access and villages on the southern portion of the lake with limited to no road access were determined to be significantly different. It was determined that road access does affect village yield. When comparing average usable yields between villages located on the northern side of the lake with road access or between villages on the southern side of the lake with limited to no road access, these results were not statistically significant. No significant difference in the scores for villages with road access on the northern side of the lake and villages with limited to no road access on the southern side of the lake existed. Therefore, road access does not affect village usable yield. Through statistical analysis an association was determined between people who practice bathing and washing in the lake and those who practice fishing as a form of livelihood.</p><p><br></p><p>Four decision matrices were created to prioritize the following items: Farm Components, technologies to showcase at an appropriate technology center, improved farming practices to showcase through Demonstration Plots, and extension outreach topics. The top three results for the Farm Components were: Appropriate Technology Center (ATC), Demonstration Plots, and a Micro-Credit Union. The top three technologies to showcase as part of the ATC are: PICS Bags, Moisture Meters, and Above-Ground Aquaculture. The three demonstration plots recommended terracing/erosion control, crop rotation, and cover crops. The highest priority extension outreach topics were: basic home/farm finance, improving health through washing stations, and post-harvest loss prevention. The top three priorities of each decision matrix will be the focus of further study, so that these topics can be developed and programs focusing on these needs can be implemented in collaboration with the community partners.</p>

CAPES; EMATER / Um dos maiores problemas ambientais da população brasileira é a falta de tratamento de esgoto, principalmente em comunidades rurais e de baixa renda. O desenvolvimento de tecnologias para saneamento eficientes e de baixo custo precisam ser desenvolvidas para atender a população desfavorecida deste serviço básico. Nesse trabalho foi proposta a implantação de uma tecnologia denominada wetlands construídos, também conhecida por Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto por Zona de Raízes – ETEZR. O objetivo do trabalho foi desenvolver uma proposta de Educação Ambiental não formal para o saneamento, utilizando metodologias de sensibilização para os moradores e implantação desta tecnologia ETEZR na comunidade rural da Colônia Mergulhão em São José dos Pinhais - PR. Com o apoio técnico do Instituto Paranaense de Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural – EMATER e da Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná – UTFPR, foram implantadas 5 ETEZR na colônia, por meio de 3 Oficinas teóricas e práticas, nas quais participaram no total 67 pessoas da comunidade, 5 técnicos da EMATER e 13 da Prefeitura Municipal do Município. Após 4 meses da implantação foram realizadas 2 coletas do efluente bruto e tratado para analisar parâmetros físico-químicos e biológicos. Os resultados avaliados pelos parâmetros químicos DBO, DQO, fósforo, nitrogênio amoniacal comparando esgoto bruto e tratado, demonstram que as ETEZR são eficientes no tratamento de esgoto.Nas 5 estações a eficiência mínima e máxima entre os parâmetros básicos analisados foram de 52,2 a 95,5% para a DBO; 47 a 94,5% para a DQO; 21,5 a 96% para fósforo; 30 a 98% para nitrogênio amoniacal. Os óleos e graxas, e a série de sólidos também obtiveram significativa redução em seus valores quando comparados o esgoto bruto e o esgoto tratado, e os parâmetros biológicos avaliados por meio dos coliformes apresentaram uma redução entre 80 a 99%. Com a aplicação do processo de Educação Ambiental voltado ao saneamento foi possível avaliar a percepção da população para a aceitação da tecnologia de saneamento ambiental utilizando as ETEZR, compreender as necessidades e conceitos de saneamento para a comunidade. : Esta pesquisa avaliou o desenvolvimento da metodologia aplicada pela Educação Ambiental não formal, a fim de proporcionar subsídios ao processo do plano de saneamento rural para o município. / One of the biggest environmental problems of the population is the lack of sewage treatment, especially in rural communities and low-income. The development of technologies for efficient, low-cost sanitation need to be developed to meet the disadvantaged people of this basic service. This work was the implementation proposal of a technology called constructed wetlands, also known as Wastewater Treatment Plant for Roots Zone - ETEZR. The objective was to develop a non- formal environmental education proposal for redevelopment, using outreach methods for residents and deployment of this technology ETEZR in the rural community of Cologne Grebe in Sao Jose dos Pinhais - PR. With technical support from the Paranaense Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Institute -EMATER and the Federal Technological University of Paraná - UTFPR, 5 ETEZR were deployed in the colony through three theoretical and practical workshops, which involved total 67 people from the community 5 technicians EMATER and 13 of the Municipal Town Hall. Após4 months of implementation were carried out two collections of raw wastewater and treated to analyze physical, chemical and biological parameters. The results evaluated by chemical parameters BOD, COD, phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen comparing raw and treated sewage, demonstrate that ETEZR are effective in the treatment of sewage. 5 Seasons minimum and maximum efficiency between the basic parameters analyzed were 52.2 to 95.5% for BOD; 47 to 94.5% for COD; 21.5 to 96% phosphorus; 30-98% for ammonia nitrogen. Oils and greases, and a series of solid also achieved a significant reduction in their values when comparing the raw sewage and treated sewage, and biological parameters evaluated by means of coliforms showed a reduction of 80 to 99%. With the implementation of environmental education process aimed sanitation was possible to evaluate the perception of the population to accept the environmental sanitation technology using the ETEZR, understand the needs and sanitation concepts for the community. This research evaluated the development of the methodology applied by the non-formal environmental education in order to provide subsidies for rural sanitation plan process for the municipality.

CAPES / Esta dissertação aborda como profissionais do jornalismo, através das práticas do cotidiano, se apropriam de artefatos e tecnologias computacionais para trabalhar com Jornalismo Guiado por Dados e, especificamente, com visualizações de dados. Para isso, considera-se que é no cotidiano que as tecnologias são apropriadas por quem as usa, e que este uso leva as tecnologias a uma estabilização, na qual elas deixam de ser percebidas como um elemento estranho. Os modos de uso dos artefatos também são considerados enquanto elementos construtores de identidades. O objeto principal da pesquisa são seis profissionais que fazem uso de artefatos e técnicas do Jornalismo Guiado por Dados no seu dia a dia. Através de entrevistas e observações, foram levantadas algumas maneiras através das quais as práticas e apropriações de tecnologias constroem as identidades de quem faz uso delas e levam os artefatos à estabilização. A análise das práticas do cotidiano colaboraria para uma visão menos instrumentalista no desenho de artefatos e também no ensino de técnicas, legitimando assim os modos de uso de cada pessoa. Para entender essas práticas do cotidiano, são apresentados os conceitos de “táticas” e “estratégias” com o objetivo de situar as relações de poder do cotidiano e como as pessoas podem subvertê-las, e conceitos dos estudos em Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade como SCOT – construção social da tecnologia – e códigos técnicos, para analisar os processos que levam à estabilização de uma tecnologia. Relacionando esses conceitos com o jornalismo, é analisada a conotação de neutralidade dos grandes conjuntos de dados e comparando-a com a ideia de neutralidade da tecnologia. O Jornalismo Guiado por Dados é então relacionado a algumas taxonomias de gêneros e formatos jornalísticos, e é apresentado um breve histórico do uso do computador no jornalismo, para situá-lo dentro do jornalismo de modo geral e nas identidades jornalísticas que são construídas através das tecnologias consumidas no cotidiano. Por sua vez, é apresentado como os produtos jornalísticos derivados de grandes bases de dados propõem outro tipo de relação entre o jornalismo e o público, especificamente através da visualização de dados. São consideradas as possibilidades da visualização como forma de explorar e/ou comunicar grandes conjuntos de dados, assim como formas de leituras que elas propiciam. São descritos alguns processos para produzir visualizações de dados e mostrados exemplos de visualizações usadas no jornalismo, além de descrições de ferramentas de software usadas no Jornalismo Guiado por Dados. Como conclusão principal, defende-se que a legitimação das táticas, assim como uma visão menos instrumentalista e determinista do computar e de outras tecnologias, colaboraria para que mais pessoas se aproveitem dos recursos do Jornalismo Guiado por Dados e das visualizações. / This dissertation looks at how journalism professionals, through everyday practices, appropriate artifacts and computational technologies to work with Data-Driven Journalism and, specifically, with data visualization. For this, we considered that it is in everyday life that technologies are appropriated for those who make use of them, and that this use leads technologies to a closure or stabilization, in which they are no longer perceived as a foreign element. We also consider the way people make use of artifacts as elements that construct identities. The main study subjects are six professionals that make use of artifacts and techniques related to Data-Driven Journalism in their everyday life. Through interviews and observations, we collected some ways through which people appropriate technology, and thus takes them to stabilization and build identities. The analysis of everyday practices would collaborate to a less instrumentalist approach in artifact design and technique teaching, thus legitimating the ways each person makes use of technologies. For a better understanding of those everyday practices, the concepts of "tactics" and "strategies" are introduced, in order to situate the everyday power relations and how people can subvert them, as well as concepts from the Science, Technology and Society studies – STS –, such as SCOT – social construction of technology – and technical codes, in order to analyze the processes that lead to the closure of technology. Relating these concepts to journalism, the neutral connotation of large data sets is analyzed and compared to the idea of technology neutrality. Data-Driven Journalism is then related to some taxonomies of journalistic genres and formats, and a brief history of computer use in journalism is presented to situate it within journalism and how journalism’s identities are constructed through technology consumed in daily life. In turn, is presented how journalistic products derived from large databases propose another type of relationship between journalism and the public, specifically through data visualization. We describe some possibilities of visualization as a way to explore and/or communicate large data sets, as well as some different ways of reading they provide. We also describe some processes and tools for producing data visualization in journalism, as well as some software tools used in Data-Driven Journalism. The major conclusion of this study is that legitimating tactics, as well as a less instrumentalist and determinist approach to computing and other technologies, would help more people in making use of the artifacts and techniques of Data-Driven Journalism and data visualization.

Acompanha: O ensino de química na educação de jovens e adultos: a busca pela construção e apropriação do conhecimento (2) / Esta dissertação “O ensino de Química na Educação de Jovens e Adultos: A busca pela construção e apropriação do conhecimento” tem como pergunta de pesquisa: Quais são as contribuições que um material didático, elaborado com base nos princípios educacionais de Paulo Freire e nas ideias do filósofo alemão Jürgen Habermas podem trazer ao ensino de Química na Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA)? A escolha desses autores acontece por causa das características encontradas no trabalho de ambos, como o diálogo, a problematização, a reflexão, a conscientização e a busca por entendimento. A pesquisa tem ênfase qualitativa, e o seu contexto acontece em um colégio da região leste da cidade de Curitiba, pertencente à rede pública estadual, com os alunos matriculados na modalidade de ensino da EJA. O desenvolvimento da pesquisa se dá em três fases. A primeira foi destinada a conhecer o perfil dos participantes. Para isso foram utilizadas, como instrumento de coleta de dados, entrevistas semiestruturadas coletivas, por meio de uma roda de conversa. A partir desses dados, deu-se início a segunda fase em que foi elaborado um guia de estudos, com a organização de textos que apresenta notícias da mídia e que, com o uso do diálogo, da problematização e reflexão, busca a promoção do entendimento. Com esse guia, iniciou-se a terceira fase da pesquisa, que foi a aplicação desse novo material didático em sala de aula com os estudantes participantes da primeira fase. Após a aplicação, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com os participantes de forma individual. Os dados obtidos foram analisados utilizando a metodologia da Análise de Conteúdo, proposta por Laurence Bardin. Para isso estabeleceram-se as seguintes pré-categorias de análise para a primeira fase da pesquisa: perfil do estudante e conteúdo para elaboração de material didático. Para a terceira fase da pesquisa, as pré-categorias estabelecidas foram: Quanto à percepção do material didático e quanto à forma de uso do material didático. Por meio da análise dos dados obtidos e a aplicação do guia de estudos em sala de aula emergiram as seguintes categorias de análise: expressividade, conhecimento teórico e realidade dos estudantes, tomada de consciência e mudança de atitude. Constatou-se que o desenvolvimento da pesquisa promoveu mudanças e contribuições voltadas principalmente ao desenvolvimento da reflexão acerca dos conteúdos químicos com a vida do estudante e o uso da fala de forma articulada buscando expressar suas dúvidas e opiniões. / This thesis "Teaching of Chemistry in the Youth and Adult Education: The Search for the construction and appropriation of knowledge" has the research question: What are the contributions that educational material, prepared based on educational principles of Paulo Freire and ideas German philosopher Jürgen Habermas, can bring to teaching chemistry in EJA? The choice of the authors Paulo Freire and Jürgen Habermas is because of the characteristic found in the work of both, such as dialogue, questioning, reflection, awareness and the search for understanding. The research is qualitative emphasis, and its context takes place in a school in the eastern region of Curitiba, belonging to public schools, with students enrolled in the teaching mode EJA. The development of the research takes place in three phases, the first was designed to meet the profile of the participants, for it was used as data collection instrument collective semi-structured interviews, through a round conversation. From these data, it began the second phase, which was prepared a study guide for the organization of texts that present the media and with the use of dialogue, questioning and reflection, to promote understanding. With this elaborate study guide, started the third phase of the research was the application of new teaching materials in the classroom with the students participating in the first phase. After application, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants individually. Data were analyzed using content analysis method proposed by Laurence Bardin. For this was established following the analysis of pre- categories for the first phase of the research: student profile and content for development of teaching materials. For the third phase of the research, the pre- established categories were: Regarding the perception of teaching materials and how to use the courseware. Through data analysis and application of the study guide in class emerged the following categories of analysis: expressiveness, theoretical knowledge and reality of students, awareness and attitude change. It was found that the development of research and promoted changes aimed mainly contributions to the development of reflection about the chemical content with the life of the student and the use of speech in coordination seeking to express their doubts and opinions.

Acompanha: O ensino de química na educação de jovens e adultos: a busca pela construção e apropriação do conhecimento (2) / Esta dissertação “O ensino de Química na Educação de Jovens e Adultos: A busca pela construção e apropriação do conhecimento” tem como pergunta de pesquisa: Quais são as contribuições que um material didático, elaborado com base nos princípios educacionais de Paulo Freire e nas ideias do filósofo alemão Jürgen Habermas podem trazer ao ensino de Química na Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA)? A escolha desses autores acontece por causa das características encontradas no trabalho de ambos, como o diálogo, a problematização, a reflexão, a conscientização e a busca por entendimento. A pesquisa tem ênfase qualitativa, e o seu contexto acontece em um colégio da região leste da cidade de Curitiba, pertencente à rede pública estadual, com os alunos matriculados na modalidade de ensino da EJA. O desenvolvimento da pesquisa se dá em três fases. A primeira foi destinada a conhecer o perfil dos participantes. Para isso foram utilizadas, como instrumento de coleta de dados, entrevistas semiestruturadas coletivas, por meio de uma roda de conversa. A partir desses dados, deu-se início a segunda fase em que foi elaborado um guia de estudos, com a organização de textos que apresenta notícias da mídia e que, com o uso do diálogo, da problematização e reflexão, busca a promoção do entendimento. Com esse guia, iniciou-se a terceira fase da pesquisa, que foi a aplicação desse novo material didático em sala de aula com os estudantes participantes da primeira fase. Após a aplicação, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com os participantes de forma individual. Os dados obtidos foram analisados utilizando a metodologia da Análise de Conteúdo, proposta por Laurence Bardin. Para isso estabeleceram-se as seguintes pré-categorias de análise para a primeira fase da pesquisa: perfil do estudante e conteúdo para elaboração de material didático. Para a terceira fase da pesquisa, as pré-categorias estabelecidas foram: Quanto à percepção do material didático e quanto à forma de uso do material didático. Por meio da análise dos dados obtidos e a aplicação do guia de estudos em sala de aula emergiram as seguintes categorias de análise: expressividade, conhecimento teórico e realidade dos estudantes, tomada de consciência e mudança de atitude. Constatou-se que o desenvolvimento da pesquisa promoveu mudanças e contribuições voltadas principalmente ao desenvolvimento da reflexão acerca dos conteúdos químicos com a vida do estudante e o uso da fala de forma articulada buscando expressar suas dúvidas e opiniões. / This thesis "Teaching of Chemistry in the Youth and Adult Education: The Search for the construction and appropriation of knowledge" has the research question: What are the contributions that educational material, prepared based on educational principles of Paulo Freire and ideas German philosopher Jürgen Habermas, can bring to teaching chemistry in EJA? The choice of the authors Paulo Freire and Jürgen Habermas is because of the characteristic found in the work of both, such as dialogue, questioning, reflection, awareness and the search for understanding. The research is qualitative emphasis, and its context takes place in a school in the eastern region of Curitiba, belonging to public schools, with students enrolled in the teaching mode EJA. The development of the research takes place in three phases, the first was designed to meet the profile of the participants, for it was used as data collection instrument collective semi-structured interviews, through a round conversation. From these data, it began the second phase, which was prepared a study guide for the organization of texts that present the media and with the use of dialogue, questioning and reflection, to promote understanding. With this elaborate study guide, started the third phase of the research was the application of new teaching materials in the classroom with the students participating in the first phase. After application, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants individually. Data were analyzed using content analysis method proposed by Laurence Bardin. For this was established following the analysis of pre- categories for the first phase of the research: student profile and content for development of teaching materials. For the third phase of the research, the pre- established categories were: Regarding the perception of teaching materials and how to use the courseware. Through data analysis and application of the study guide in class emerged the following categories of analysis: expressiveness, theoretical knowledge and reality of students, awareness and attitude change. It was found that the development of research and promoted changes aimed mainly contributions to the development of reflection about the chemical content with the life of the student and the use of speech in coordination seeking to express their doubts and opinions.

The purpose of this dissertation was to identify factors that contribute to the sustainability of rural water supply facilities (WSFs). Twenty-four interviews were conducted: 16 from rural communities and 8 from water supply agencies. Key findings are that in order to achieve sustainability of WSFs, there is need to ensure that (1) there is an effective community organisation; (2) communities have the ability to operate and maintain WSFs; (3) communities are able to raise adequate user fees for purchasing spare parts; and (4) that there is a strong backup support at the district level to carry out major repairs. Major threats to the sustainability of WSFs include high poverty levels in communities, weak institutional framework and inability of communities to handle major breakdowns. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

The purpose of this dissertation was to identify factors that contribute to the sustainability of rural water supply facilities (WSFs). Twenty-four interviews were conducted: 16 from rural communities and 8 from water supply agencies. Key findings are that in order to achieve sustainability of WSFs, there is need to ensure that (1) there is an effective community organisation; (2) communities have the ability to operate and maintain WSFs; (3) communities are able to raise adequate user fees for purchasing spare parts; and (4) that there is a strong backup support at the district level to carry out major repairs. Major threats to the sustainability of WSFs include high poverty levels in communities, weak institutional framework and inability of communities to handle major breakdowns. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

The usage of autonomous vehicles is starting to appear in several different domains and the domain of public safety is no exception. Wallenberg Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) has created a research arena for public safety (WARA-PS) to explore experimental features, usages, and implementation of autonomous vehicles within the domain of public safety. Collaborating in the arena are several companies, universities, and researchers. This thesis examines, in collaboration with Combitech, a company partnered in WARA-PS, how the implementation of autonomous vehicles affects the sociotechnical system of a search and rescue operation during a drifting boat with potential castaways. This is done by creating a case together with domain experts, analyzing the sociotechnical system within the case using cognitive work analysis and then complementing the analyses with the unmanned autonomous vehicles of WARA-PS. This thesis has shown how the WARA-PS vehicles can be implemented in the case of a drifting boat with potential castaways and how the implementation affects the sociotechnical system. Based on the analyses and opinions of domain experts’ future guidelines has been derived to further the work with sociotechnical aspects in WARA-PS. / WARA-PS