Artikel aus merlin - das smart3 Magazin

Water is a critical resource that is essential for human well-being and economic development. Many regions around the world face ongoing water scarcity and competition over water resources. Climate change, other drastic social changes, and population and economic growth can significantly impact the supply and consumption of water. There has been an increasing body of research focusing on the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus. There is a mismatch between the spatial resolution of data availability and the resolution that water resources follow. Lack of quality sub-county water data also makes the research of micro-level food-water dynamics difficult if not impossible. These challenges pose obstacles to the further understanding of water scarcity in the context of the FEW nexus and leaves critical gaps in the research of the nexus. In this dissertation I asked and answered the question: how do socio-economic forces shape localized groundwater depletion and surface water scarcity within the United States at the field and basin scale? Specifically, I tested whether irrigated farm size leads to reduction in groundwater application per unit area and whether an increase in the annual depletion in the underlying aquifer storage increases the probability of an irrigated land transfer, with a Kansas field level dataset and an econometrics approach. I estimated the FEW production and the water footprint of FEW production in every US watershed and compare the water footprint of production against their water scarcity. Then the groundwater reserves and dam storage in watersheds were examined as the buffers for the watersheds' FEW production against water shortages. I mapped the transfers of FEW goods and services and both the virtual and physical water flows from watersheds to US cities. The transportation infrastructure and other infrastructure that supports the FEW transfers are analyzed in terms of their contributions to the movement of FEW goods. This dissertation improves our understanding of how broad structural changes within the agricultural industry are interconnected with the overexploitation of groundwater resources. It is the first study of water footprint accounting with the most recent input data for the whole US food-energy-water system at the watershed level and includes an analysis of cities' infrastructure reliance for food-energy-water transfers and infrastructure as buffers. The transfers of virtual water and physical water were compared. The resulting data and findings from the novel data synthesis will provide insights for consumers, food companies, and other decision-makers at various levels on their connection to water resources in non-local areas. The outcomes of this dissertation will also improve our ability to analyze drivers and solutions to local small-scale watershed water scarcity challenges and allow a quantifiable basis for policy support in the water resources management domain and beyond. / Doctor of Philosophy / Water is an important resource for humans and the economy, but many regions around the world face ongoing water shortages and competition over the limited water resources. The Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus has gained increasing attention as a framework for understanding the complex relationships between water, food, and energy systems. However, research in this area has faced challenges in data availability and data resolution. This dissertation addresses these challenges while exploring how socio-economic forces shape localized groundwater depletion and surface water scarcity within the United States at the field, basin, and city scales. The author tests hypotheses related to irrigated farm size, irrigation water use, groundwater depletion, and the irrigated land transfers. The author estimates the FEW production and water footprint of production in every US watershed. The author also tracks and analyzes the transfers of FEW goods and services and embedded water footprint. Infrastructure's role in delivering FEW goods and buffering against water shortages were also examined. Overall, this dissertation provides insights into the connections between water resources and broad structural changes within the food system, and offers a novel data synthesis that can facilitate the understanding of connections between production and consumption of FEW at various spatial scales and water resources in local and non-local areas. The findings will also help analyze the drivers and solutions to local small-scale watershed's water scarcity challenges, and provide a quantifiable basis for policy support in the water resources management domain and beyond.

This thesis analyses how contemporary exhibition spaces have evolved to meet external pressures of technological and sociocultural changes by exploring the rich potential found in the parallels between theatrical performance and the act of display, with the purpose of understanding the ways in which exhibitions spaces are being designed to interact with the spectator in our present time. By examining four different case studies from contemporary exhibitions, this research demonstrates the performative nature of objects within them, proving that both the object and the environment in which it is situated are not neutral. By drawing clear parallels between the elements at play in exhibitions with concepts in theatrical performance, a more flexible classification of exhibition spaces is proposed, providing a different perspective to probe the meanings these spaces create and the importance of their role in society. / Master of Arts / Exhibition spaces are experiencing a moment of change. Rethinking contemporary classifications for exhibition spaces that are not based on style, but instead on the ways the space itself influences and encourages certain relationships between the displayed object and the spectator, acknowledges the special fluidity of these spaces and their atemporal quality as testimonies of human development. The classification of exhibition spaces used in this work was able to successfully apply Peter Brook's modern theatre theories because of the intrinsic similarities these disciplines have in common, strengthened by the historic intersections they have shared. By the time these lines are being written, exhibition spaces continue to evolve. Therefore, this thesis serves as an addition to the documentation of the progressive transformation of these spaces.

Esta tesis investiga los determinantes y los resultados que la interacción entre las TIC, los sistemas de información, la gestión del riesgo, los nuevos métodos de organización del trabajo y los de la gestión de las personas (todos ellos considerados como factores de co-innovación), así como las relaciones de complementariedad entre ellos, inciden en la prestación de servicios a los clientes de banca minorista y en la percepción de satisfacción de éstos. Incidencia expresada en función de la opinión de los empleados de la entidad financiera. El análisis de estos determinantes permite: (i) esclarecer las relaciones que se derivan de tales factores de co-innovación con respecto a la percepción que de la satisfacción del cliente tienen los empleados del sector financiero; (ii) conocer los factores explicativos de los nuevos modelos de negocio y de eficiencia en la prestación de servicios financieros y (iii) constatar las percepciones internas de cómo las TIC influyen en la gestión comercial en banca. / Aquesta tesi investiga els determinants i els resultats que la interacció entre les TIC, els sistemes d'informació, la gestió del risc, els nous mètodes d'organització del treball i els de la gestió de les persones (tots ells considerats com a factors de co-innovació), així com les relacions de complementarietat entre ells, incideixen en la prestació de serveis als clients de banca minorista i en la percepció de satisfacció d'aquests. Incidència expressada en funció de l'opinió dels empleats de l'entitat financera. L'anàlisi d'aquests determinants permet: (i) aclarir les relacions que es deriven de tals factors de co-innovació pel que fa a la percepció que de la satisfacció del client tenen els empleats del sector financer; (ii) conèixer els factors explicatius dels nous models de negoci i d'eficiència en la prestació de serveis financers i (iii) constatar les percepcions internes de com les TIC influeixen en la gestió comercial en banca. / This thesis investigates the determinants and results that the interaction between ICT, information systems, risk management, new methods of work organization and human resource management (all considered as co-innovation factors) as well as the complementary relationships between them, have an impact on the provision of services to retail customers in banking, and on the perception of their satisfaction. Incidence expressed in terms of the views of employees of the bank. The analysis of these determinants allows: (i) clarify the relationships that result from such co-innovation factors with respect to the perception that employees of the financial sector have about the customer satisfaction; (ii) know the factors explaining the new business models and efficiency in the provision of financial services and (iii) verify internal perceptions of how ICT influence the commercial management in banking.

Due to growing global concern regarding climate change and CO2 emissions, the use of soil as a potential carbon (C) sink has become increasingly recognised as a potential mitigation measure. Global agricultural soil has the estimated capacity for sequestering C at around 20 to 30 Pg (Peta grams) of C over the next 50 to 100 years if correct land management practises are applied. The benefits on improving soil C levels are not limited to reduced CO2 emissions and climate change mitigation however. It is widely accepted that improved organic C levels provide an array of positive benefits, including enhanced soil fertility, soil structure and water holding capacity and generally improve soil biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. Therefore, the pursuit of increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) levels in agricultural soil could create a win-win-win scenario. To improve SOC levels in agriculture, there are two key components that need to be fully effective. The first being the scientific understanding of SOC and its responses to different farming practices and systems. Secondly, the policy and advisory environment needs to be effective and conducive, promoting those practices and systems which are proven to increase SOC levels. This research therefore, explores these two components by conducting a series of investigations into current on-farm practices for managing SOC, the current policy and legislation structure, the quality and extent of farm-facing SOC related advice, and the scope for improving SOC levels through farm management practices and agri-environmental policy. A critical review and synopsis of global, European and national policy and advice was conducted to identify those policies that encourage the improvement of SOC and to highlight those areas where SOC does not currently feature as a management issue. Whilst soil and SOC do not feature heavily at the European or national level, there are a number of mechanisms which have the potential to improve SOC levels through their ability to reach a large audience of farmers and via the promotion of suitable management practices. The review of current policy was supplemented by interviews with those responsible for providing advice to farmers and farmers themselves. The interviewed farmers and advisors were relatively engaged with the subject of SOC although the results demonstrated that there was scope to improve current levels of understanding and practice. The currently policy environment at the national level, was not, in general, creating changes in management practices with those interviewed, so any potential enhancement of SOC that the policy mechanisms had the ability to create, were being missed. A review of the scientific literature regarding SOC and data gathered from subsequent soil sampling under a range of farming practices has allowed for the exploration of the potential and realisation to increase SOC levels through various management approaches. Practices which promote an increased use of organic matter amendments, reduced tillage systems and organic farming systems were of particular focus; with all three demonstrating the potential in improve SOC levels. Combining the social and natural science aspects of the issue of SOC has allowed for an exploration of the potential approaches to improve SOC within English agriculture. Critically, research and development of the subject needs to be improved to further the scientific understanding of SOC in relation to farming practices and land use. Development is also required of current national policy, in particular agri-environment schemes (AES), which despite reaching a wide farming audience, would appear to create minimal management changes and therefore has minimal impact on improving SOC levels. The two sides of this issue, the social and the natural sciences, must be addressed together otherwise a full understanding and an appropriate approach forward cannot be reached. This is why an interdisciplinary approach has been viewed as a suitable research framework for this thesis. The concluding aim of this work is to present a ‘best practice approach’ in terms of physically improving SOC levels by enhancing current advisory pathways and developing an effective policy environment.

Övervikt och fetma ökar i Sverige och i världen vilket utgör ett allt större hot mot människors hälsa. Tidigare forskning har ofta fokuserat på effekter av olika viktminskningsinterventioner. Hur människor upplever att delta i olika interventionsprogram är inte lika ofta i fokus. Studien är genomförd efter att informanterna deltagit i ett 18-månader långt rehabiliteringsprogram där kognitivt och lösningsfokuserat förhållningssätt tillämpats. Hörnstenar i programmet är mat-, motions-, vilo/avslappningsvanor samt tillämpning av kunskaper från kognitivt/lösningsfokuserat förhållningssätt, framförallt sambanden tanke-känsla-handling. Syftet med denna studie var att belysa om personer med övervikt/fetma har upplevt någon förändring av vanor och tankemönster genom att delta i ett rehabiliteringsprogram. Metod: Studien har en deskriptiv design och omfattar två metoder för datainsamling, dels en enkät med både öppna och slutna frågor, dels en kvalitativ intervju. Enkäten skickades till 50 personer och besvarades av 26 (52%). Tretton personer tillfrågades om intervjuer och tre deltog. Data från enkätstudien har bearbetats med beskrivande statistik samt sammanställningar. Data från intervjustudien har analyserats med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet: Enkätstudien visar att informanterna till någon del uppnått egen målsättning med rehabiliteringsprogrammet samt i många fall uppnått någon förändring i mat-, motions- , vila/avslappnings- och kognitiva/känslovanor. Av intervjuerna framkommer tre teman: att ha en målsättning före programmets start; att få balans i tillvaron under pågående program; förändring och att bibehålla balansen efter deltagandet i programmet. Resultatet visar att uppföljningen på informanternas hemorter skulle kunna förbättras. Konklusion: Studien visar att deltagandet i rehabiliteringsprogram för personer med övervikt och fetma kan innebära att gå in i ett förändringsarbete som leder till förändring av vane- och tankemönster kring mat, motion och avslappning. Det är dock viktigt att det finns ett kontinuerligt stöd, även i perioderna mellan och efter vistelserna vid en rehabiliteringsenhet som denna. Studiens resultat bör bidra till ökad kunskap vid utveckling av liknande program, bidra till utveckling av ökat stöd samt ge inspiration till framtida studier.

<p>The aim with this paper is to study the concept of sustainable agriculture. One angle of approach has also been to investigate the role of NGOs, where the organisation FARM-Africa is mostly studied. A field study in the Babati District is the base of the paper.</p><p>Sustainable agriculture is a concept with various definitions and is expressed in different ways. Ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just and humane are some of the keywords within the concept of sustainable agriculture. Over the years, various technologies within the concept have been developed and have proven to be both environmentally friendly and productive, but few of these have been adopted by farmers. Scientists’ experience of agriculture often differs from that of farmers. To get the best result a collaboration between all parts in the society are needed. Participation has a long history within agriculture development. Recent studies have shown that participation is one way to success. People’s participation has therefore become one of the most common concepts within NGOs and also within government departments. Agriculture is an important issue for Tanzania and this is one reason why I have chosen to write about sustainable agriculture.</p><p>My study will show the general oppinion of sustainable agriculture among the interviewees and the general opinion of NGOs like FARM-Africa.</p>

<p>Tanzania is famous for it’s beautiful nature and rich wildlife. Proud of it’s natural heritage, Tanzania has dedicated over 20% of it’s territory as protected areas to shield the wildlife from human interference. But the wildlife is regarded as a menace by the local communities that lives close to the impressive national parks. At the same time, the increasing human population threatens the survival of the large migratory species in the parks by blocking vital dispersal areas.</p><p>This essay describes the human/wildlife conflict around Tarangire National Park and focuses on communities close to park borders. The intention is to examine if a buffer zone could solve the conflict in this area. By studying the political ecology of wildlife conservation in Tanzania, from local to global scale and through a historical perspective, it is concluded that the poor state-society relation as experienced in local communities is a crucial factor for the diminishing wildlife.</p>

<p>I denna uppsats har jag undersökt SFI-lärares inställning till hur man bör beröra ämnet homosexualitet i SFI-undervisningen, genom att analysera lärares svar i 22 enkäter och tre intervjuer. Jag har också gjort en analys av läromedel där jag har undersökt hur hetero- och homosexuella relationer representeras i tre olika böcker avsedda för SFI-undervisning. Syftet har varit att se hur väl litteraturen och lärarnas inställning stämmer överens med de formuleringar som står i läroplaner och kursplaner om tolerans och bekämpning av tendenser till trakasserier, att sätta dem i relation till queerteoretiska resonemang samt att synliggöra ett eventuellt osynliggörande av homosexuella kursdeltagare.</p><p>I litteraturen hittas hundratals exempel på representation av heterosexualitet, men ingen representation av homosexuella relationer. Inte heller berörs ämnet i de kapitel som rör familjekonstellationer, sexualitet eller politik. I analysen av enkäter och intervjuer framgår att de flesta av lärarna som ingår i undersökningen, tycker att man bör diskutera, eller prata om homosexualitet i klassrummet. Vissa hänvisar till att man bör redovisa för den svenska synen på homosexualitet och förklara svenska lagar och normer. Andra hänvisar till att man måste sprida tolerans, acceptans och värna om mänskliga rättigheter. De allra flesta har i sina resonemang de heterosexuella eleverna i fokus; de som antingen ska respekteras för sina åsikter, lära sig att respektera homosexuella eller lära sig om svenska lagar som rör homosexualitet. Endast ett litet fåtal lärare berör i sina svar tanken på de homosexuella eleverna, och i endast en enkät och en intervju tar informanterna spontant upp aspekten att elever kan vara homosexuella utan att det på något vis märks. Många lärare uppger att de tar upp homosexualitet när de diskuterar områden som familj och diskriminering, vilket visar på en ambition att förmedla homosexualitet som en naturlig och integrerad del av samhället.</p><p>I queer- och homosexualitetsforskningen påvisas ofta hur heterosexualiteten som exkluderande norm leder till sämre mående hos de människor som avviker från normen. Heteronormativitet leder till en blindhet inför möjligheten att vem som helst i vår närhet kan vara bi- eller homosexuell, och en brist på medvetenhet om hur man själv reproducerar denna exkluderande norm i sitt dagliga liv. I analysen av enkäter och intervjuer framkommer att många lärare har en ambition att sprida en tolerant och accepterande syn på homosexualitet. Åsikterna om hur och varför detta bör göras skiljer sig dock åt, och förståelsen för de homosexuella elevernas situation lyser ofta med sin frånvaro.</p><p>I analysen kan vi se hur acceptans av homosexualitet ofta beskrivs som ”svenska värderingar” vilket skapar gränser mellan ”de intoleranta invandrarna” och ”de toleranta svenskarna” och försvårar en nyansering av kulturer. Samtidigt finns en tendens att tala om homosexuella som om de varken vore en del av ”den svenska, toleranta kulturen” eller ”de utländska, ofta intoleranta kulturerna”, utan en helt egen, främmande kategori som vi andra kan vara toleranta eller intoleranta inför. Lösningarna på dessa dilemman skulle kunna vara en uppluckring av kategorier, kombinerat med en djupare förståelse för homosexuellas situation och heteronormativitetens innebörd.</p>

<p>In agreement with Agenda 21, Baltic 21 Education and the UN decade for education for sustainable development 2005-2014, Sweden has agreed to reform its educational system in order to support a sustainable development. This thesis aims to examine the implications of education for sustainable development from the perspective of teachers of grade seven to nine by identifying the possibilities, difficulties and knowledge that exists around the concept today. This has been done by combining a literature review and a qualitative case-study, which was conducted through five indepth interviews with teachers. The purpose of these interviews was to identify a few different opinions regarding what sustainable development could imply in the reality of the school and classroom. The most important results derived from this study were: Firstly, that there exist problems in applying education for sustainable development in schools today. The reason for this is a lack of understanding of the need for dealing with sustainable development in schools, as well as a lack of understanding of what education for sustainable development implies for education. The second result of importance was that the teachers who took part in the case-study had knowledge and experiences that could easily be combined with education for sustainable development, but that there is a need for teacher education and training on several levels to increase the possibilities of successfully implementing education for sustainable development in the Swedish school-system.</p> / <p>I enighet med bland annat Agenda 21, Baltic 21 Education och FN:s årtionde för utbildning för hållbar utveckling ska Sverige omorientera sina utbildningssystem så att de stödjer en hållbar utveckling. Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka vad utbildning för hållbar utveckling innebär för lärare i grundskolans högre årskurser,genom att identifiera och undersöka anknutna möjligheter, svårigheter och erfarenheter. Detta har gjorts utifrån en teoretisk litteraturstudie och en kvalitativ fallstudie. Den teoretiska studien baserades på vetenskaplig litteratur såväl som internationella och nationella styrdokument, överenskommelser och undersökningar et cetera. För fallstudien genomfördes fem djupintervjuer med lärare. Detta syftade till att identifiera några olika åsikter om vad perspektivet utbildning för hållbar utveckling kan innebära i skolans verklighet. De viktigaste resultaten som framkom ur denna studie var att det idag förekommer problem med att tillämpa utbildning för hållbar utveckling i skolvärlden. Detta beror dels på bristfällig förståelse för behovet av hållbar utveckling i skolan, och bristfällig förståelse för innebörden av utbildning för hållbar utveckling. Dessutom framkom att de intervjuade lärarna hade mycket kunskap och erfarenhet som är förenlig med utbildning för hållbar utveckling, men att det kommer att behövas lärarfortbildning och utbildning på olika nivåer för att lyckas integrera perspektivet i skolverksamheten.</p>