Inequitable Access to Clean Water

Chloe Segal, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Duane Griffin, Department of Geography, Bucknell University. 

Water is absolutely paramount! Every single living thing on Earth requires water to survive. Water is responsible for the process of photosynthesis, which produces breathable oxygen, and oxygen, aside from water itself, is indeed what is required for human survival. Humans and humanity more broadly, have entered the era of the Anthropocene Epoch, where human activity has become the largest driver of environmental change. We have reached a point where human activity has actually altered the water cycle, which is resulting in a global water crisis. As of 2015, 29 percent of people across the globe suffer from a lack of access to safely managed drinking water. More than double that number are at risk for water contamination from improper wastewater management (National Geographic Society 2019). A countless number of people die every day due to the inequitable access to clean water. In some regions of the world, clean water is simply not available, whereas in other regions abundant clean water is available, but is too expensive to use. In this project, I will be investigating the inequitable access to clean, fresh water through the lens of the Anthropocene. I will be investigating questions surrounding the role humans have played in generating these clean water inequalities, what this looks like on a global scale, and what this means for humanity long-term.  

Inside our Minds

Alana Bortman, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837. 

What is simmering inside the American psyche? With political divides, shifting opinions, a new generation of youths rising up and sharing their views, and changes in leadership, humans are constantly processing new information and changing accordingly, consciously and subconsciously. At the same time, driven by human activities, climate change is forcing our planet to experience global temperature rise, increased occurrences of extreme weather events, and other dangerous impacts. There is a psychological link to explore, as human activities impacting climate change are directly affected by human thoughts and beliefs. To better understand the hidden minds of humans through psychology and potentially unlock the key to kick starting impactful change, we will explore a set of digitally collaged images that express the relationship that Americans have with climate change. In this poster, we will explore how the Yale Program’s “Six America’s” is able to digest and show trends in the way Americans are thinking about climate change, ultimately showing how psychology can save our world from climate change.

Wasted Photography

Lauren Rader, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Duane Griffin, Department of Geography, Bucknell University. 

Humans have a colossal impact on our life support system, creating long-term impacts on global civilization. One of the primary human-created problems is the amount of waste accumulated. As humans inhabited the Earth during the Anthropocene, we have had detrimental effects on the environment. While recycling and composting are encouraged, they are not practiced nearly enough in society. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, municipal solid waste generation amounts to about five pounds per person a day. At Bucknell, I have noticed the mass amounts of waste incurred by myself, and my peers. St. Catharine’s street, where many Bucknell students attend weekend house parties over the weekend, on a Sunday morning is riddled with litter and single-use plastic cups. The dumpsters outside dorm buildings before spring break are piled past the brim with bags full of trash. Where does all of this trash go? Does Bucknell truly recycle? While I am unsure, I will surely find the answers through this photo essay. I intend to raise awareness surrounding the immense amount of waste accumulated in the Anthropocene and encourage viewers to contemplate their respective impacts on the environment. I hope that this project promotes change amongst Bucknell students. In this photo essay, I aim to exhibit the places trash ends up at Bucknell and in and around Lewisburg, and research the impacts waste has on the Anthropocene.