Indigenous Synthesis: Learning a New Approach from Old Ways 

Michael Smith,  Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837

Climate gentrification may expose the wick of disparity to the ticking time bomb known as climate change. With numbers showing a larger concern in communities of color, it is worth recognizing the continued pricing out these communities experience due to the profiteering of safer, higher grounds to those wealthier communities, typically White. Climate gentrification can be seen in places that are hit by natural disasters such as Puerto Rico and Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and Katrina, respectively. These disasters have been capitalized on by real estate agents, wealthy communities, businesses through “disaster capitalism” (Naomi Klien, 2017), a rush to grab land and buildings in order to profit in the wake of a natural disaster. This creates a chain of events which alters these neighborhoods and communities which ultimately affects communities of color–land and buildings are purchased, renovations happen, prices go up, low-income families, mostly people of color, move out, wealthy businesses and communities, mostly white, move in, more renovation to please the new money, etc. A chain which continues to harm rather than help. A chain that can be linked back to the days of colonization and the enslavement of people of color. A chain which disrupted a more symbiotic way of life lived by indigenous people. A way of life that might be the answer to reconciling with the damages of climate change. This paper will seek to expose the problematic issue of climate gentrification, relate it to the historical context of the colonization of the Caribbean, and provide an alternative way of life under the example set by those indigenous communities which have all too often been lost due to the evolution of capitalism from colonization.

Propagandist Rhetoric and the Politicization of Climate Change

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

Climate change refers to the gradual shift of the state of the atmosphere and consequential weather patterns slowly throughout time. Because of the slow and systematic nature of climate change, it is not able to be concretely acknowledged by the senses – one cannot look outside and see, hear, or touch climate change. Understanding of climate change is reliant, therefore, on the language with which it is presented. This research will focus on how specific manipulation of language has been used in media to weaponize the topic of climate change as political propaganda. It will analyze how the wording and presentation of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Assessment Report statements, helped lead to the current state of how climate politics are discussed – and how this discussion has created a space for the denialist industry. This study ultimately aims to provide a broader analysis through applying specific topics in linguistics to case examples of climate change related messages in media to explain the power of subtle persuasion in oral and written messages. These linguistic topics include: Multimodal Framing Perspectives, Narrative Frameworks, Linguistic Polyphony, Multi-voicedness, and Metaphors. Such linguistic elements are found to have a large subconscious effect, where specific wording provides subtle yet strong mental biases to lead audiences toward believing a preferred message. In the case of climate change, media messages have carefully crafted wording that often supports political agendas related to capitalistic endeavors. Finally, this research will discuss how knowledge and understanding of propagandist strategy in language can and should be taught to future generations to promote the linguistic skills necessary to extract scientific fact from media information to generate organic and intelligent political opinions in regards to science. 

Cryptocurrency and Climate Change

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

The creation of cryptocurrency has not just changed our economy, but the environment we live in. The process of adding new cryptocurrencies, primarily bitcoin, is called mining, which uses large amounts of energy to enter the crypto circulation. The reason the process is so taxing to the environment is that the mining process ensures that each coin is unique and properly earned, making it an expensive process as well. It is estimated that Bitcoin alone uses “around 136.38 Terawatt-hours of electricity every year–more than the Netherlands, Argentina, or the United Arab Emirates” (Investopedia). This number alone proves that mining is costly enough to the climate that it affects climate change. Also, around 37 kilotons of electronic waste is produced annually due to bitcoin mining, which is all computer systems that emit greenhouse gasses and are not properly disposed of. In this project, I discuss the environmental impact of cryptocurrency. I ask the question if it is worth continuing endorsing digital currencies, and if the effect of them can overall have a positive impact on the environment. This research will adequately address the question of the symposium, and see if it really is too late to fix the impact of cryptocurrency, and what possible hope and change we can find to make this process beneficial to our planet. As I learn about climate change, I want to use my platform to educate people on a topic that can be difficult to understand, yet is one of the most important advances in technology in the 21st century.

Assessing the carbon sequestration potential of natural ecosystems on Bucknell’s campus

Matthew McTammany,  Professor of Biology & Environmental Studies and Sciences, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837. 

Carbon budgeting entails quantifying sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2. However, in plans to reach carbon neutrality, most academic institutions typically only account for and seek ways to reduce carbon emissions from campus operations (travel, food, energy, etc.), purchasing carbon offsets to account for irreducible carbon emissions. In addition to reducing emissions from campus operations, Bucknell could quantify carbon sequestration by natural components of its campus and seek ways to increase potential carbon sequestration to maximize on-campus carbon sinks and reduce the need to purchase costly (and remote) carbon offsets. Students in ENST 208 Environmental Biology have been exploring carbon budgets of a variety of campus ecosystems (the Grove, lawns, the Farm, athletic fields, green roofs, rain gardens, etc.) to determine if they are effective carbon sinks and whether their carbon sequestration could be enhanced by modifying maintenance processes. Potential changes to maintenance of campus ecosystems that could enhance uptake and storage of atmospheric CO2 depend on the ecosystem type in question. For lawns, Bucknell could reduce mowing frequency, allow grass to remain longer when mowed, and mulch grass clippings on lawns instead of collecting it. The Farm already uses methods like cover cropping and organic fertilizers to increase soil carbon, which can lead to effective long-term carbon storage. The Grove and other areas of campus could contribute more to carbon sequestration and storage by mulching leaf material and leaving it on site rather than collecting it and transferring it to compost piles elsewhere and by planting more trees and woody shrubs to take up and store atmospheric CO2 in plant biomass. Ultimately, we hope to estimate how much additional carbon could be sequestered annually by making relatively simple changes to campus maintenance and simultaneously creating a more natural environment on campus.

Living Greenhouse Climate Sensor

Colton Jiorle, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Benjamin Wheatley, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bucknell University. 

The Bucknell Living Greenhouse currently lies dormant and in disrepair. Nevertheless, there is significant educational and scholarly value available to the students and faculty of Bucknell University through research and experiential learning opportunities at the greenhouse (i.e. classroom, seeding, research projects, etc.). Operating under an Internet of Things model, the Living Greenhouse is designed to maintain self-sufficiency year-round, acting as a proof of concept for sustainable living and agriculture. However, the lack of well defined data within the greenhouse prevents the necessary action to create this vision. Specifically, information regarding the interior of the greenhouse could be used to further understand its condition and collaborate with clients such as the Bucknell farm to 1.) determine whether the greenhouse is usable in its current condition, and 2.) what specifications would need to be met to provide a more hospitable and productive space. Our project aims to step in the right direction with the design and implementation of a sustainable device that synthesizes various pre-built sensors to log data surrounding the interior climate of the greenhouse. Additionally, the envisioned low-power device can operate self-sufficiently when combined with a PV solar panel. Not only can this device be readily built to aid the state of the Living Greenhouse, but similar devices can be implemented in virtually any location for similar purposes. Through obtaining these clearly defined metrics, we hope to enable further sustainable development and demonstrate environmental action here on campus.

How Wind & Photovoltaics Can Make Bucknell Carbon Neutral

Nick Mitchell, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837;  Peter Jansson, Center for Sustainability & the Environment, Bucknell University. 

Bucknell has a goal to become carbon neutral campus-wide by 2030—a milestone so far only achieved by a handful of universities nationwide. Actions like the 100 tree planting event and the installation of a 1.6 MW solar array are examples of crucial steps to reach Bucknell’s carbon neutrality goal. Our research project’s scope looks beyond carbon neutrality, rather we are investigating the possibility of achieving a bigger milestone over the next 2-3 decades. The entire electrification of Bucknell via clean energy is a notion that currently appears implausible, however, no feasibility study has yet been done to truly assess the possibility of such an endeavor. Our project will be a first-phase feasibility study to find the means it would take for Bucknell to achieve clean electrification and how long such an endeavor might take to implement. Currently, Bucknell mainly relies on its cogeneration plant and Citizens’ Electric as key sources for its electricity, and it relies on natural gas for the majority of its electricity, heating and cooling. A key part of our study will be a collaboration with AvanGrid Renewables to assess the time-varying total energy output of a potential large-scale wind array that could become the new base electricity generation source for an “electrified” Bucknell campus. By the end of our study, we will determine the total generation capacity of the combination of the large-scale wind array and the required additional photovoltaic capacity (to supplement our new 1.6 MW PV array) and contrast it with Bucknell’s current energy needs. The main goal of this research project is to spread awareness to Bucknell faculty and students that collaborations with renewable energy companies for large-scale wind and PV arrays could be the catalyst to starting the clean electrification of Bucknell.

The Anthropocene Through Poetry

Clara McCormick, Bucknell University, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Duane Griffin, Bucknell University. 

Poetry allows for a broad range of discussions to be had and topics to be addressed artistically and open-endedly. The Anthropocene is the geological human interaction with our life-support system, and there are many negative implications that come as a result of the current practices humans are involved in. I will write a series of poems about the Anthropocene, its consequences, and its positives, while potentially analogizing our impacts on the environment and intergenerational injustices. I will do this by being inspired by other’s poetic works, as well as research involving data collection. The goal of this collection is to spread awareness of the impacts humans have on the planet and each other. Agency and change are necessary in order for the planet to not move on without us. A good Anthropocene is possible. Artistic expression through poetry connects to the human mind differently than evidence-based research and analysis. The poems will cover a broad range of topics, and hopefully provide either hope or fear in the readers’ minds, provoking change. The planet is not ours; we are simply a part of nature. A poetic medium will stand out amongst the abundance of data collection at the symposium. 

From Where I Sit

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

“From Where I Sit” is a collection of poetry meant to take the reader on an educational and emotional journey within the context of the Anthropocene. This project will paint an image of our present environmental and social moment by providing commentary on the past and posing questions regarding the imminent future. Given the historical construction of the Anthropocene and the future that awaits humanity should we fail to act, individuals bearing such consequential knowledge experience increasing hopelessness. The enormity of the Anthropocene as the culmination of humanity’s impact cannot be overstated, and humans across the globe feel the weight of the Anthropocene in a variety of different ways. This collection aims to demonstrate how countercultural empathy and willingness to learn are required to initiate an individual and collective process of understanding, grief, and prevailing hope – despite the environmental disaster that has been brewing for centuries. In engaging with various aspects of environmental justice, these poems explore the plight of many humans facing the results of climate change and environmental injustice, as well as the action necessary for radical change. These works touch on the danger of misinformation, but also the concept of homo deus, or humans as gods, as well as the characteristic hierarchical imbalances of Anthropocene society. Which individuals really drive the future, and how do we reconcile such a hierarchical imbalance of power? In exploring these concepts via historical and contemporary lenses, “From Where I Sit” aims to balance the weight of inaction with the hope for substantive change, giving a picture of humanity and its fellow species as the Anthropocene has affected them – as well as a glimpse of how radical hope can push humanity can change its values, actions, and course in order to build out a future from our hubris.

Restoring Riparian ecosystems and the Anthropocene

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

Ecosystems across the world are under stress because of anthropogenic impacts. Restoring the vitality of these ecosystems (riparian ecosystems in this case) is crucial to help fulfill the UN-Sustainable Development goals and is essential for reaching the UN-Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UN-DER) targets. Our road building has caused accelerated erosion and we have introduced oil and other pollutants that have damaged a large amount of them. Riparian ecosystems are the interface between land and a river or stream and are a big part of the systems that are undergoing massive amounts of destruction due to anthropogenic impacts. These riparian zones are heterogeneous and biodiversity rich due to the fact that they bridge these two terrains and include riverbanks, floodplains and wetlands. In this project I look at the biotic, abiotic and social ways of repairing these zones, where we are seeing these efforts and why they matter.

Cherry Alley Solar

Liam Caulfield, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Peter Jansson, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Bucknell University. 

The use of solar energy as a means of electricity generation is growing rapidly across the world. With this, comes the scramble for public entities to be the first to adopt the technology. The borough of Lewisburg, PA is the latest of these organizations looking to get involved in the solar energy revolution. With this goal in mind, the most important part of solar installation is finding the optimal site to maximize the solar window. Many factors can go into this decision, and in the end, there is never a 100% correct solution. By selecting two locations, we were able to design two arrays as a stepping stone for the town to begin to decrease their carbon footprint. Through the use of tools such as a SunEye and Solar Pathfinder, we were able to conduct site visits, and assess the feasibility of each location. Then, using modeling softwares such as Helioscope, we were able to virtually design an array, and estimate the power generated from each location. The results of this project provide the borough with a legitimate plan to install a solar array to offset their electrical energy use.  

ENGR 100 Engineering Design Experience: Sustainability on Campus

Katsuyuki Wakabayashi, College of Engineering, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837. 

ENGR 100 is a first-year course for all declared engineering majors and any student interested in engineering principles. Enrolling around 200 students, the cornerstone course has been in our course catalog for 30+ years, but this academic year marks the beginning of a three-year-long redesign period. As ENGR 100 is the very first opportunity for faculty to interact and engage with our engineering students, we strive to make the most of this experience for our students and those in the Bucknell community. We decided to offer a pan-disciplinary, project-based version of the course with an overarching theme of “Sustainability on Campus”. We have partnered with the Bucknell Center for Sustainability and the Environment and have worked with the Director of Sustainability, the Bucknell Farm, and the Facilities Office to bring about a wide-ranging environmental sustainability projects for the student teams to work on over their five-week-long hands-on design sessions. Through exposure to local but authentic sustainability issues, the students develop their Bucknell engineering identity, professionalism and communication skills, values and excitement for problem solving, and a sense of community through the common goal. In addition, the students are encouraged to extend their learning beyond the classroom and contribute to larger sustainability efforts off-campus, through a community engagement nearby or an independent project with National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges or United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.  

The poster summarizes our course development efforts to date and highlights select design projects that our first-year students tackled this academic year. Through our presentation we hope to engage in conversations with both campus and community constituents on any feedback on the course redesign, as well as on possible future projects for the ENGR 100 course. The co-coordinators seek fruitful collaborations, partnerships, and support as part of our continuous improvement effort. 

How Wind & Photovoltaics Can Make Bucknell Carbon Neutral

Nick Mitchell, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Peter Jansson, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Bucknell University. 

Bucknell has a goal to become carbon neutral campus-wide by 2030—a milestone so far only achieved by a handful of universities nationwide. Actions like the 100 tree planting event and the installation of a 1.6 MW solar array are examples of crucial steps to reach Bucknell’s carbon neutrality goal. Our research project’s scope looks beyond carbon neutrality, rather we are investigating the possibility of achieving a bigger milestone over the next 2-3 decades. The entire electrification of Bucknell via clean energy is a notion that currently appears implausible, however, no feasibility study has yet been done to truly assess the possibility of such an endeavor. Our project will be a first-phase feasibility study to find the means it would take for Bucknell to achieve clean electrification and how long such an endeavor might take to implement. Currently, Bucknell mainly relies on its cogeneration plant and Citizens’ Electric as key sources for its electricity, and it relies on natural gas for the majority of its electricity, heating and cooling. A key part of our study will be a collaboration with AvanGrid Renewables to assess the time-varying total energy output of a potential large-scale wind array that could become the new base electricity generation source for an “electrified” Bucknell campus. By the end of our study, we will determine the total generation capacity of the combination of the large-scale wind array and the required additional photovoltaic capacity (to supplement our new 1.6 MW PV array) and contrast it with Bucknell’s current energy needs. The main goal of this research project is to spread awareness to Bucknell faculty and students that collaborations with renewable energy companies for large-scale wind and PV arrays could be the catalyst to starting the clean electrification of Bucknell.

Vehicle to Grid Technology

Joseph Roffer, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Peter Jansson, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Bucknell University. 

The purpose of this research project is to better understand what vehicle to grid (V2G) technology is and how it may provide economic benefits to both providers and end-users of the power grid.Power quality is made up of three characteristics: continuity of service (power), voltage accuracy, and waveform quality. Throughout the day, the demand on the grid fluctuates. The goal of the utility is to match the generation to the demand to avoid under or over-generation. On a large long term scale adjustments made to power supply are called the capacity market, day to day medium scale are called the energy market, while small scale minute by minute are called regulation. V2G is a technology in which a subset of electric vehicles (EVs) are specifically outfitted with a bidirectional charging system — the ability to deplete its power back into the grid. The batteries are able to perform bidirectional flow with extreme accuracy. This means that V2G technology has the ability to compete in the regulation market and potential to improve overall power quality. Making a large-scale push to bring better V2G vehicles to market will benefit the grid — improving power quality, thus reducing power waste. EV vehicles that are V2G capable allow for more sustainable living while also providing financial benefits to the users — a clear advantage over fossil-run vehicles. In order to make V2G implementation possible there are three major needs: policy changes to allow for certain innovations – bodies such as IEEE and SAE, business models, and manufacturer buy-in to the technology.

Walnut Acres Digital Museum

Natalie Ring, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Shaunna Barnhart, Director of Place Studies Program, Bucknell University. 

Walnut Acres was an organic farm located in the town of Penns Creek, Pennsylvania that is considered to be one of America’s original organic farms. Founded in 1946, Walnut Acres helped begin the organic agriculture movement in the US. Though the Walnut Acres brand has since been sold, the Walnut Acres Foundation remains intact and is now focusing on documenting the history and influence of Walnut Acres. We have been building a digital museum, featuring interactive exhibits to share this history with the broader public.  This includes a historic timeline detailing their influence on the organic foods movement and a digital copy of  Fear Not to Sow Because of the Birds, a book of essays by Walnut Acres’ founder, Paul’s Keene. Along with these interactive exhibits, the Walnut Acres digital museum exhibits the organic farm’s equipment artifacts. The museum highlights each artifact’s significance not only in evolving Walnut Acres into a successful company, but also by maintaining its core value of sustainability. In order to give a comprehensive representation of the farm equipment, the museum details their unique mechanics in relation to influence on Walnut Acres’ development, as well as historic and present day images of the artifacts. In order to build this digital museum, we had to to research into the history of the organic foods movement and Walnut Acres Farm, in addition to finding the best software to display these exhibits, utilizing Squarespace as a website builder, along with Knightlab’s Timeline JS and FipbookHTML5 to build the interactive elements of the museum, all while ensuring that the Walnut Acres Foundation is able to maintain them outside of Bucknell University’s influence, the partner which helped to build these exhibits.

The Disproportionate Effect of Climate Change on Developing Countries 

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

As the Earth’s climate continues to rise, poorer countries are disproportionately affected by climate change. Throughout less-wealthy countries, their fragile food supply, poorer living conditions, and a lack of economic resources makes them more vulnerable to the damages of changing climate. Previous research indicates that the global increase of climate has raised temperatures in these areas to levels that are not sustainable for growing crops, maintaining water supply, and fostering the resources necessary for peoples’ survival. Further research shows that poorer countries have less ability than wealthier countries (who emit a significantly higher amount of greenhouse gasses) to recover from the physical damage done by climate change and to find substitutes for the resources that the rising climate has diminished. This project uses data from the IPCC AR6WG2 report and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to examine how rising climate has depleted necessary resources in poorer countries, and how they struggle to recover from this destruction. My findings indicate that, although every country will be negatively impacted by climate change, poorer countries will be the first to experience major damages and are likely to be the most affected by them. However, I also gathered numerous actions that could be taken to alleviate the pressures of climate change on these countries, such as adaptation policies, specially-allocated financial aid, and overall reduction in greenhouse gas emission.

How can we grow enough good with industrial nitrogen that depends on fossil fuels? 

Benjamin Kittay, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837. 

The Haber-Bosch process has allowed for the human race to effectively feed billions of individuals around the world. More specifically, it allows 4x more people to eat without having to cultivate more land. This is due to the scientific work of chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch. The results of their work created a process that allows the conversion of nitrogen to ammonia. The process, formally called the Haber-Bosch process, consists of reacting atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen under high temperatures and pressures with a metal catalyst. Its effects were drastic, as it nearly quadrupled the productivity of agricultural land. While this reaped benefits during the industrial revolution, today, we are now faced with many environmental problems due to the use of this process. This is a prime example of the Anthropocene, as humans have produced harmful effects on the environment. This begs the questions: How can we grow enough food while using industrial nitrogen that depends on fossil fuels? Is the benefits of fertilizer use worth eutrophication and biodiversity loss? Currently, stopping the use of the process would leave the world unable to feed about a third of their population. While this number is bleak, I believe there is a hope for cleaner food production in the future, largely centered around the idea of creating ammonia in a cleaner way. I believe the way forward is through work being done by the people at the Plasma Conversion Project. They are striving to extract ammonia by using electricity that does not generate the high levels of CO2 as fossil fuels. In the long run, this would meet multiple UN SDG goals like climate action and responsible consumption and production.

Food Insecurity in the Context of the Anthropocene

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

In the age of the Anthropocene, evidence shows that climate change engenders changes in precipitation which lead to extreme flooding and dryland expansion, influencing agriculture and livestock care and contributing to food insecurity. Especially in dryland and tropical regions, marginalized and minority groups are disproportionately put at risk of experiencing food insecurity due to climate change. In this project, I will explore how the impacts of climate change lead to food insecurity in various parts of the world, and the ways in which these changes particularly disadvantage minorities. This topic is worth examining to better understand how anthropogenic effects negatively impact the daily lives of people and decrease their quality of life. It is also important to better understand food inequality and social injustice regarding access to food. Through this research, I hope to highlight and build on solutions to food insecurity and food injustice as they relate to climate change by reviewing literature relating to these topics and bringing together evidence that these issues are related to the Anthropocene.

Habitat loss and Wildlife Conservancy

Melaina Polan and Noah Sansalone, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837. 

The loss of quality habitat and green spaces has been a growing concern in the United States during the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene has sparked population growth, fossil fuel usage, industrialism, and agricultural advancements that have contributed to degradation of the natural environment. Biodiversity loss and homogenization are directly linked to the Anthropocene and the drivers that are promoting environmental degradation. Efforts to restore and conserve natural habitats are becoming more common on a local and global scale. This project will look at a case study of a Bioblitz conducted in the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area as a local example of efforts to create accessible educational green spaces. This is a notable example as the area features a range of diverse habitats such as a wetland and converts from farm to natural area. These conservancy practices are viable in order to sustain the human population and the natural habitat that we interact with on a daily basis. Through this project, we will promote the need for preservation of natural areas to portray the importance of wildlife and natural habitat. Habitat conservancy will reshape the human relationship with the environment and decrease environmental injustice.

Environmental & Anthropogenic Effects of NFTs

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

NFT stands for “Non-Fungible Token”. They are used to symbolize unique item ownership. They enable us to tokenize items such as artwork, collectibles, and even real estate. They are only authorized to have one legal owner at a time, and they’re protected by the Ethereum blockchain, which means no one else can change the ownership record or copy a new NFT. Even though this is good, it is also bad. Since NFT are backed by the blockchain they have to be mined in order to be created. The mining process negatively impacts the environment because the process is highly energy intensive. In our project we will attempt to find out how the acquisition of NFT’s through mining has negatively impacted the environment? It is important to address this question because NFT’s are becoming more and more popular, which means the impact on our environment will only get greater. It will be essential to dig deeper into its consequences since it is relatively new, we need to make sure it is worth it or not in the future to continue. A 2018 study published in Nature Climate Change found that Bitcoin emissions alone could raise Earth’s temperature by two degrees. This is significant because Bitcoin and Ethereum platforms are similar. Based on this, we can connect this to the Anthropocene being that our research is focusing on environmental impact, which we discussed events such as the industrial revolution, and emission’s negative effects on our environment, air, temperature, energy use and more within our class discussion. NFTs are harming the environment at an increasing rate, and could cause detrimental effects. Even though progress is being made to make NFTs more “green”, the rise of NFTs is currently bad for the Earth.

Ocean Acidification and Calcifying Organisms

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

One of the most important implications of the Anthropocene is that humans have altered the environment and humanity has become a force of nature. An example of this is that rising carbon dioxide emissions due to fossil fuel combustion, is harming calcifying organisms (the organisms that use calcium for their skeletons and shells) by reducing the rate that these organisms can form their skeletons and shells or by dissolving them all together. Carbon dioxide dissolved in the ocean lowers the ocean’s pH, causing the ocean to be more acidic. Calcifying organisms’ shells are made of calcium carbonate, and acidification decreases the carbonate ion concentration, making it challenging for calcifying organisms to build their shells and weakens pre existing shells. This is especially problematic when the affected organisms are at the base of the food chain. The combustion of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere has drastically increased from pre-industrial times and continues to increase, as a result, the oceans are absorbing much more carbon dioxide and chemically altering the ocean. Ocean acidity continues to increase at an alarming rate, and if nothing is done to limit carbon dioxide emissions, diverse oceans may quickly turn into jellyfish farms. In this project, I will explore the predicted future of calcifying organisms with the continued increase in ocean acidification. With this research, I hope to contribute to discourses in decreasing ocean acidification that promote the future wellbeing of calcifying organisms through exploring the implications of ocean acidification and ecological impacts of the future of the world’s oceans.

A World of Waste

Dan Venezia, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837.

This poster focuses on the biogeophysical relationship that humans have with waste. Under out capitalist structure, consumerism has created a society in which our species produce immense waste. Specifically, in the United States and how our capitalist society has further worsened this issue, and how we have become dependent on the cycle of waste. Through the marketing nature of our media, as well as how we place landfills in lower income regions which perpetuates inequality. The waste that is created by humans seriously impacts nature, for example, there are over 3,000 active landfills in the United States. Landfills are notorious for not only producing toxins which are harmful to wildlife, but they are also a primary source of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, the human impact on our physical surroundings, through waste, has serious implications on our environment and our relationships with one another. Finally, it promotes better methods of waste management, as well as a critique on consumerism in the United States. There are many up and coming “waste to energy” facilities that address the issue of massive landfill waste and convert it into something that is beneficial for society and the environment. These facilities can provide hope to future generations, as well as a change in our view of waste and consumption.

Agriculture in the age of the Anthropocene

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

“Without agriculture it is not possible to have a city, stock market, banks, university, church or army. Agriculture is the foundation of civilization and any stable economy.” Modern-day agriculture supports seven and a half billion people and it has led us to this level of advancement in our society and luxury in our lives that no other humans have experienced before. But at what cost? Our farming techniques used today to sustain our population’s eating habits and diets are not very sustainable. The replacement of vegetation for farmlands releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thus increasing our global temperatures and releases a whole set of chain effects contributing to the effects of the anthropocene. Our actions of merely living on this planet has proven to become a dominant influence on our climate and the environment. This project will explore ways in which our culture of mass agriculture and farming techniques adds to our ecological footprint in the age of the anthropocene. Additionally, through looking at case studies and research, we will look at why it’s not too late to change our ways of agriculture and provide suggestions for ways of farming that are both sustainable and able to feed our massive population.

Is it too late for the Amazon Rainforest 

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

Is it too late to save the Brazilian rainforest? Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. It is also home to about 400 tribes and plays a critical role in regional climate and global carbon storage. In this project I review the literature on deforestation and how climate change is altering regional climate patterns and threatening extinction of forest tribes and species through the lens of the Anthropocene, which forces us to think from a global perspective and on a geologic time scale. Not only is it the job for Brazilians to facilitate change, but it is also the responsibility of the rest of the world. The Brazilian government dismisses conservation efforts and denies the problem even exists, but several Brazilian business coalitions are already pushing back. The cattle industry, for example, might not seem like an expected candidate for progressive policy, but international importers face increasing pressure from their consumers to be more transparent and shift away from deforestation, and towards more sustainable practices. The carbon storage and regional climate issues are reversible if the Amazon is allowed to recover, but biological and cultural extinction are forever. A healthier Amazon is in the interest of not just the international community but also Brazilians, who could suffer greatly should deforestation rates cross a point of no return.

Will Outdoor Sports Need to Adapt Due to Climate Change?

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

Sports improve mental and physical wellbeing and development, geopolitics, and national identity. In this project I explore how climate change is negatively impacting the world of outdoor sports. Late summer is the time when many athletes head back to practice where they are exposed to extreme heat and humidity, where heat-related illnesses are the leading cause of death or disability. The cause of this is climate change, which is heavily impacted by greenhouse gas emissions due to human activity. Solar energy that is absorbed on Earth’s surface is radiated back into the atmosphere as heat. As heat makes its way through the Earth’s atmosphere and back out to space, greenhouse gasses absorb much of it. If there are more greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere then heat will stick around on Earth’s surface, warming the planet. The National Weather Service heat index gathers information that includes a combination of air temperature and relative humidity to capture how it feels outside. A Climate Central analysis of 239 locations in the United States shows that 198 cities have experienced an increase in the annual average number of days with heat index temperatures of 90°F or higher over the last four decades. A “danger” day occurs when the combination of heat and humidity makes it feel like it’s 105°F or hotter. As the issues described are happening in the world today, it is in fact, not too late. Sustainability can be the answer. Examples to tackle greenhouse gas emissions include rooftop solar panels, solar water heating, small-scale wind generation, fuel cells powered by natural gas or renewable hydrogen, geothermal energy, as well as structural change to move away from fossil fuels. This all plays into the larger picture of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and in turn, positively affects outdoor sports.

Coral Bleaching: It’s Not Too Late 

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

As the climate crisis becomes progressively worse, coral bleaching is a more common phenomena negatively affecting Coral Reef ecosystems in oceans across the globe. In this project I am planning to demonstrate how climate change is causing coral bleaching, and why bleaching events pose a large risk to coral reefs. I will discuss strategies to mitigate coral bleaching events to demonstrate it is not too late for the survival of coral reefs. I am particularly focusing on coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the world’s largest coral reef. As human activity such as burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, global surface temperatures and sea temperatures rise. Today, sea temperatures are nearing 1.5 degrees Celsius and higher due to human activities causing climate change. Warming sea temperatures are linked to coral bleaching events occurring in coral reefs because of the breakdown in the relationship between the corals and their symbiotic zooxanthellae, or algae. During bleaching events, the coral expel the algae and lose their color, or bleaching, and become very weak. This leads to a higher risk of mortality of the coral reefs. The Great Barrier Reef has experienced three major bleaching events in the last decade alone due to the warming climate. The GBR is expected to see even more frequent bleaching events as sea temperatures continue to warm. Coral reefs will likely be able to survive sea temperatures of 1.5 degrees celsius. However, in an emission scenario where sea temperatures were to surpass 1.5 degrees celsius and reach closer to 2 degrees celsius, coral reefs are less likely to be able to survive a bleaching event, resulting in their mortality. However, It is not too late to take measures in preventing coral bleaching from occurring in coral reefs. 

How the World of Dance is Changing the World

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

For this project, I will be taking an in depth look at movement based art – choreographed performances – to see how they speak about climate change and what messages they bring to worldwide discussions. As a student in GEOG 257, Climate Change, I am learning about the effects of climate change. In both the poles there is drastic melting of the ice sheets leading to increased sea level, while towards the equator there are more disastrous hurricanes, posing a humanitarian threat as well as environmental. Though climate challenges differ from location to location, there is an overarching theme between numerous choreographers and artists. I will be comparing performances from artists around the world such as The Global Water Dances spearheaded by Marylee Hardennergh and Jody Sperling’s Bringing the Arctic Home, taking both choreographer statements and personal reactions into account. With the symposium theme being Hope, Agency, and Change, the goal of this project is to combine and summarize the messages brought from the various works, and use those messages to inspire a new audience.

Community-Based Strategies: Lewisburg Climate Action Plan 

Maggie McConnell, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Shaunna Barnhart, Director of Place Studies Program, Bucknell University. 

As temperatures increase around the globe, communities are anticipating or experiencing localized, unique climate effects. Rising temperatures are not the only concern as communities confront intensified weather events, droughts, and resource scarcity. Recognizing these realities is important so that as a people we can devise plans to curb carbon emissions as significantly as possible and create strategies to respond to any inevitable climate effects. Lewisburg Borough in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), and Bucknell University, are drafting a preliminary climate action plan to address Lewisburg’s current greenhouse gas emissions and generate equitable and people-centered objectives to lower these emissions and foster a happier and healthier community. Since August 2021, a technical team led by Lewisburg Neighborhoods has been collaborating with the Lewisburg community through a 17 member task force to produce a draft plan to be voted on by the Lewisburg Borough. ICLEI, a global network centered on sustainable development, provides training on how to produce a greenhouse gas emissions portfolio and how to create an effective community taskforce and climate action plan. The climate action plan consists of a current greenhouse gas emissions portfolio, emissions forecast, reduction scenarios, community vision statement, and action items under measurable objectives. These objectives are broken down into specific sections: Transportation, Energy, Buildings, Sequestration, Flooding, and Disaster Risk Reduction. The goal of the climate action plan is to produce effective and practical action items that will promote the health and quality of life of the Lewisburg community as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Future steps are to elicit community input, finalize the draft plan, and then put it before the Lewisburg Borough for adoption consideration. This poster reviews Lewisburg’s greenhouse gas inventory, analyzes the climate action plan creation process, reviews preliminary public input, and highlights key considerations for the plan development. 

“Carbon Neutrality by 2050”

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

This project will demonstrate both the successes and failures of the US’ current carbon reduction goals as well as address whether the correct steps toward renewable energy are being met. Following the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, and the commitment of member-states to limit warming by 2℃ (ideally 1.5℃), many developed countries created carbon reduction goals for 2030 and carbon-neutral goals for 2050. Of these carbon goals, the Biden Administration has specifically announced its net-zero carbon goal by 2050. While skeptics tout these goals as overly ambitious, environmental proponents know them to be the final chance to keep global average temperatures at sustainable levels. Through examining the carbon reduction policies of three developed countries: Germany, Japan, and the US, the project will expose the key differences within these national policies, highlighting the most effective measures for carbon-neutral successes. The essential research question of this project: can these individual national carbon reduction policies promote global carbon reductions in an effective and timely manner? If not, how then should these carbon goals be organized and what specific measures should be prioritized? In conclusion, this project asserts the importance of variability in renewable and clean energy based on the relevant environmental factors.

Deforestation: Past, Present and Future

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

Deforestation is one of the most environmentally destructive practices waged by humans against the Earth. In my project, I will be detailing the past, present, and future of deforestation and its impact on our planet. For the past, I will discuss the earliest deforestation as the human population began to significantly grow. For the present, I will discuss current research on the scale, environmental effect, and motivations behind current deforestation. For the future, I will discuss the potential future impact if deforestation continues at its current rate, as well as potential strategies to help lower deforestation rates. Humanity must come to terms with our significant impact on the environment. Anthropogenic climate change is a massive, nuanced issue with many problems caused by humans that must be addressed by humans. By giving a clear illustration of our history and current issues with deforestation, coupled with a plan for change going forward, I hope to not only shed light on a pressing environmental issue, but also to show that it is not too late for radical and sustainable change. 

Global Warming’s Contribution to Epidemics

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

Humans have affected the planet and the life of future generations forever in positive and negative ways. Understanding this power we hold is a complex conversation but acknowledging the Anthropocene forces us to confront the long-term effects of the globally interconnected world and what kind of world we are leaving for future generations. This power allows us to not only reflect on the past, but generate discourse on action we can take to enact change in our world currently and in the future. Climate change has been at the forefront of these discussions. There is a lot of denial and refusal of its consequences and severity, but the first step in the direction of change is educating humans on the problem. The effects of climate change can be seen in our day to day lives from constant weather changes to new species showing up in foreign places, and in the spike in infectious diseases. As the planet heats up, animals must move to new locations. This migration puts multiple species in direct contact with unfamiliar species and germs. Community health is at risk with climate change because of the increased globalization and connectivity it causes. COVID-19 has proven to us in the past two years just how interconnected our world is. The spread of infectious diseases such as Lyme disease and Malaria are also high with climate change. We must understand the importance of discussion around climate change because of its consequences for us, animals, plants, and future generations. Open dialogue spreads radical hope and possibility for improvement for our planet. In this project I will be evaluating and creating discussion around global warming and specifically how it has been effecting epidemics and community health. 

Public Perception of Climate Change in the State of Texas

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

In a state with intense political discourse and leadership that rejects the severity of climate change, climate change is an especially polarizing issue in the state of Texas. The dominant research supports a growing concern regarding climate change from Texas citizens, but there is an objection to the dangers of climate change from politicians. In this project, I consulted the Yale Climate Opinion Maps to research the current statistics regarding public perception of climate change in Texas, as well as what is being done to combat the problem within the state government. My findings indicate that 81% of Texans believe that climate change is a threat to humanity and that plans such as the Dallas Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan will cut Texas’s greenhouse gas emissions and work towards carbon neutrality in Texas. My research proves it is not too late to work toward combating climate change in the state of Texas. 

Oh Crop? Is it too Late?

Matthew Dain, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837. 

Heading into the remainder of the 21st century it seems as though humanity will begin to see the negative effects of climate change on various crops. Increase in temperature and more sporadic rainy and drought seasons are a direct result of climate change and are currently hindering effective growth of tropical crops such as cashews, avocados and coffee beans and more. In this poster I will show how climate change has affected tropical crops over the past century, as well as how it will start to affect other crops over the following century. There are growing concerns surrounding wheat and corn farming in particular and this poster will look at projected 50-100 year models in different areas of climate change to determine if it is too late to save some of these crops. These models will also provide us with the ability to reevaluate what we can do as humans to decrease the negative effects we have on the environment in order to hopefully save international agriculture.

Living Building Challenge

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

Construction of new buildings are responsible for 28% of annual CO2 emissions, while standing buildings are worth 40%. As a student in GEOL 257, I learned all about the recent changes in earth’s climate. The most effective way to combat climate change is to reduce our CO2 emissions. On Bucknell’s campus we have already started to take one giant step forward to change, Bucknell has 13 lead certified buildings. But what if we can take it one step further.The living building challenge is a certification to “catalyze change” and improve on all aspects of living. The living building looks at 7 categories: Place, Water, Energy, Health and happiness, materials, equity, and beauty. It requires that all energy and water come from onsite and when building, all the materials must come from nearby locations. Living buildings should lower one’s carbon footprint down to zero because everything is sourced locally and ethically. In this project I am going to look at the living building challenge and ask how feasible a zero carbon emission building is and if a school campus like Bucknell can incorporate some of the living building aspects to build a better tomorrow.

Struggles and New Directions of Indigenous Land Conservation in the Anthropocene

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

Indigenous lands have undergone extensive environmental degradation as a result of climate change, industrialization, and the drive for economic development in the Anthropocene. Tribes have utilized these regions’ biodiversity and natural resources through generations, but are now fighting to maintain ownership in our rapidly-developing society. Historically, government conservation efforts disregarded Indigenous ownership, tokenizing Indigenous identities without involving tribe leaders in policy making. Now, the Biden Administration’s ‘30 by 30’ Plan involves a goal to protect 30% of the United States’ lands and waters by the year 2030, highlighting tribal sovereignty in its policy. The plan provides a source of hope for the future of Indigenous land conservation, as tribe leaders are actively participating in discussions and subsequent implementation. This project explores the complexity of Indigenous land conservation while discussing the 30 by 30 Plan in hopes of sparking discourse about the future of Indigenous land rights and protection. 

Global Warming’s Contribution to Epidemics 

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

Humans have affected the planet and the life of future generations forever in positive and negative ways. Understanding this power we hold is a complex conversation but acknowledging the Anthropocence forces us to confront the long-term effects of the globally interconnected world and what kind of world we are leaving for future generations. This power allows us to not only reflect on the past, but generate discourse on action we can take to enact change in our world currently and in the future. Climate change has been at the forefront of these discussions. There is a lot of denial and refusal of its consequences and severity, but the first step in the direction of change is educating humans on the problem. The effects of climate change can be seen in our day to day lives from constant weather changes to new species showing up in foreign places, and in the spike in infectious diseases. As the planet heats up, animals must move to new locations. This migration puts multiple species in direct contact with unfamiliar species and germs. Community health is at risk with climate change because of the increased globalization and connectivity it causes. COVID-19 has proven to us in the past two years just how interconnected our world is. The spread of infectious diseases such as Lyme disease and Malaria are also high with climate change. We must understand the importance of discussion around climate change because of its consequences for us, animals, plants, and future generations. Open dialogue spreads radical hope and possibility for improvement for our planet. In this project I will be evaluating and creating discussion around global warming and specifically how it has been affecting epidemics and community health. 

The Intersection between the arts and Climate Change 

Maddyson Mallory, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837. 

The intersection between the arts and climate change may provide encouragement for individuals to engage in climate change behavior to combat climate change. Previous studies also suggest that various art forms such as dance and photography have the potential to encourage people to engage with climate change; though, there is little research on the reach and effect of this art. This research will address this gap. For this project, I will research what types of art have had the most influence on climate change as well as how individuals use art to engage with information about climate change. For this project, I will examine how art such as photography and dance have impacted people’s ideas about climate change and how this type of art depicts climate change. I will use data from various sources on climate change and art to analyze the effects of participatory art on climate change and the potential reach that art has. 

Penn Commons Affordable Housing PV System

Christian Sieck, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837;  Peter Jansson, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Bucknell University. 

Penn Commons is a housing development in Lewisburg, PA, providing affordable housing to its tenants across all 6 buildings. Since its construction, the possibility of Photovoltaic (PV) energy has been considered as a way to decrease energy costs for tenants. The buildings were each built with off-center roofs, with the larger side facing South to provide more area for potential PV arrays. To keep the cost of living at Penn Commons consistent, however, the cost of the PV installation should come at no upfront expense to the residents or the housing authority. Instead, the system will likely be paid for with a power purchase agreement based upon monthly energy costs, similar to the ones already paid to Citizen’s Electric, the local utility. Affordable housing projects have shown to have many positive benefits to those who live there and the entire communities where they are built. By adding a PV system to the buildings, the community benefit can be improved by providing renewable energy to the Lewisburg area. To accomplish this project, we completed a preliminary solar feasibility assessment using an online tool, contacted multiple solar vendors to receive a quote, and completed a simple economics analysis for the potential PV system. Hopefully, we will receive at least two bids on the project and can hand that over to the Union County Housing Authority.

Climate Change in Business in Action

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

Major corporations hold immense power and responsibility for impacting climate change, either positively or negatively, through their actions. The way that they publicly express their plans and resolutions in relation to our planet is through their sustainability statements, which are often flashy, graphically-designed web pages and publications. However, it can be difficult to easily see through the greenwashing, or misleading information, of such reports and statements. For my Annual Sustainability Symposium project, I will critically assess the sustainability statements of two contrasting major corporations, analyzing the impact of their actions and integrity of their messaging. While assessing words, images, and marketing/advertising materials, I will ask the following questions: 1) What are the corporations promising?; 2) What actions are the corporations taking to reach these goals?; and 3) Are these actions significant enough to effectively combat climate change? I plan to concentrate on two companies: Exxon Mobil and Patagonia. Through a critical lens, I will identify whether they are committed to eliminating the negative consequences of their place in their industry, and if they are positioned to influence positive change. Looking for sweeping statements made to increase profit or earn society’s approval, I will focus on the human activity that defines the anthropocene. Additionally, I will examine the data within corporate materials, particularly relating to carbon emissions and resource usage. Throughout, I will evaluate whether each corporation is committed and prepared to be the kind of sustainability change maker that offers hope for the future.

Animal Agriculture and Climate Change, What Can Be Done? 

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

Animal agriculture is the industrial farming of animals for widespread meat consumption by humans. This industry contributes to about 15% of greenhouse gas emissions, negatively impacting the environment. Two of the main greenhouse gasses produced through animal agriculture are methane and nitrous oxide. Regardless, meat has become a large component of the western diet and the rise of this industry has contributed to climate change. However, meat does not have to be a staple in the American diet, and switching to a mostly plant based diet and or smarter animal farming could help to greatly reduce human contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. I will demonstrate how animal agriculture is contributing to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions by explaining what gasses are being released into the atmosphere and how. Additionally, I will explain how animal agriculture negatively affects Earth’s landscape and how these emissions affect the human population. Solutions will be presented on how to lessen the effects of animal agriculture on the climate by reducing meat consumption as a society. By switching to a mostly plant based diet while also introducing more sustainable ways to farm meat, it is not too late for western society to make these changes and turn things around. Through a combination of big and small changes there is still hope for the future. 

Music and the Climate Crisis

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

The climate crisis has left many people feeling frustrated, hopeless, and afraid. Many have felt compelled to participate in various forms of activism ranging from policy reform to expressive art. Some have chosen to participate in the climate movement by way of music. Artists are using their talents in an effort to create awareness and generate action addressing the causes and impacts of climate change. In this project, I will discuss how musical activists have successfully played a pedagogical role in the climate movement. I will use data on historical climate change events, the effects of significant protest music, and the music industry’s positive impacts on the climate crisis. This project aims to promote the importance of music and the power of all forms of activism.

Expanding Community Engagement at Walnut Acres

Anna Brown, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Shaunna Barnhart, PhD Place Studies Program Director, Bucknell Center for Sustainability and the Environment. 

Originally founded in 1946, Walnut Acres is considered to be one of the first organic farms in America. The farm has since sold its brand name, but the legacy still survives today through the Walnut Acres Foundation. Walnut acres was a pioneer of its time- promoting preservation, appreciation, and sustainability. It showed the world that the ‘right way’ to farm (defined by the farm’s founder Paul Keene as working with nature) was not out of reach. The Walnut Acres Foundation has worked to restore the long-left legacy of Paul and Betty Keene and revitalize these core ideals in the world of today. Our work expands the foundation’s community engagement by exploring new ways in which we can support, educate, and promote the fundamental values of a truly organic farm. This poster summarizes the work done this past year on-site, including the process of transferring organic certification into the foundation’s management and developing programs to address food insecurity, while also presenting new possible ideas for the foundation’s future. Such possibilities include building a sustainable community through nutritional education specifically designed for young children through the development of take-home activities and on the farm workshops that will both spread awareness and educate the community on sustainable and healthy living choices. By focusing on building a sustainable community, combating local food insecurity, and educating the public on organic agriculture we hope to grow the foundation’s presence in the world of today while maintaining the integrity held by the Walnut Acres of the past. 

Crime and Disaster – The Effect of Climate Change in the Philippines

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

For this project, I will be looking into the impact that climate change has on world politics. Climate change has immense impacts on so many parts of our world and our way of life, and politics, specifically how climate change impacts crime and forces change, are not often thought of immediately when climate change is brought into conversation. While the world we know and live in today does not have the highest crime rates throughout history, the correlation between climate changes and violent crimes is impossible to ignore. Climate change impacts violence, government, and interactions between people. Climate change has been directly linked to many countries, one such as the Philippines. The Philippines are a country that has severe risks with weather change, natural disasters increasing, crime, and so much more. Climate spikes cause violence and aggression to go up in the Philippines which lead to violence and disaster for the residents. Having no crime is better than having crime, so it is better to examine these correlations in order to best figure out a way to improve the way we live and improve everyone’s safety. I will be looking at articles, journals, books, and anything I can find relating climate change to these topics. I have found that the connection between the two is clear if you look hard enough. If we find a way to move forward positively when it comes to these connections, our world will end up a better place.

The Decline of Polar Bear Existence

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

Bucknell Sustainability, is our plan enough? 

Conrad Fite, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837. 

Bucknell University expends large amounts of energy due to its physical size and on campus population. Due to this, there is a large focus on sustainability at Bucknell from not only a practical standpoint through financial implications but also to increase the long-term viability and resilience of environmental and social support systems. Bucknell’s current energy consumption is a byproduct of carrying out its goal of educating the youth of today’s generation. As a result, efforts have been made by the university in the form of a sustainable development plan implementing positive works at Bucknell. Other Student and Faculty-led initiatives have also been put in place independent of the school such as the Bucknell farms, Tesla charging stations, and other forms of sustainable development to make Bucknell more sustainable. As climate change is the great peril of our time, it becomes necessary to examine our individual role as an academic institution in circumventing climate catastrophe In this project I will report the current working initiatives discussed by Bucknell faculty and staff that are aimed at future Bucknell practices to decrease energy consumption and the university’s effects on global warming.With my project, I want to show them the activities that BU is conducting for sustainable development and to possibly expand those initiatives with the town of Lewisburg.

Community and Environmental Change

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

Communities across the world are leaving an ecological footprint. Taking us out of tune with nature, placing us in the Anthropocene era, a time where humans are the greatest influence on the world affecting the environment and climate around us. I bring forth two main ideas, environment and community. So how can we promote togetherness and link our communities to properly support the environment? There are tons of different areas, districts, cities, communities that all differ from each other but it’s urgent we maintain the focus of concepts centering on the idea of striving towards environmentally sustainable communities as we continue to be in the Anthropocene. Our ecological footprint must be lowered and eventually zero; After all our population and need for natural resources are only growing to sustain, which only enlarges our issue. That’s why adapting and working together has never been more important. The issue is bringing people together. Throughout history, we have struggled to come together including politics, amalgamation, etc. However, the same goes for hard times causing collaborative work and innovation. This topic has a lot of uncertainties but by spreading the word and promoting change we can fight it. So, I will present how to promote socio-cultural change and demonstrate effective environmentally sustainable acts to give hope to our future. 

Climate Apartheid and its Effects on the Global South

Amanda Clark, Muhlenberg College, 2400 W Chew St, Allentown, PA 18104; Dr. Richard Niesenbaum: Professor of Biology, Director of Sustainability Studies, Muhlenberg College. 

Climate change is a global phenomenon that will impact every part of our world, but it won’t do so equally. Data shows that nations in the Global South have already begun experiencing disproportionate effects of climate crisis phenomena compared to their counterparts in the Global North due to inadequate health care systems, reliance on vulnerable industries like agriculture, less economic capacity for support after extreme weather events, and other systemic issues caused by institutions crippled by poverty and distrust.Political, economic, and social institutions within nations of the Global South aren’t “naturally weaker” than those of nations in the Global North, they were designed as such through colonial processes of domination and subjugation. By installing oppressive public institutions focused on coercing colonial subjects into serving the extractive purposes of colonial regimes, rather than public institutions designed to protect and serve the people, colonizers maximized the flow of surplus out of colonized communities and into their own pockets. The enforcement of unequal power dynamics during this period of globalization has had lasting impacts on post-colonial societies, contributing to the disparities that we see today between countries’ experiences of the climate crisis. Furthermore, it was through these systems of exploitation that the Global North was able to first industrialize and create the climate crisis that the entire world is now unevenly grappling with. The intersectional problem of global disparities in how nations experience climate change due to colonial histories and present neocolonial realities is termed “climate apartheid.” Throughout my presentation, I will further flesh out the relationship between colonialism, neocolonialism, institutional capacity, and climate change to explain why the climate crisis is so much more severe for the Global South. Finally, I will present solutions that can be integrated into our climate approach moving forward so that we may begin to decolonize our climate. 

Conservation of a rare species: taxonomic uncertainty and the potential role of a narrowly-occurring specialist pollinator

Anais Burnes, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Chris Martine, Department of Biology, Bucknell University. 

Heuchera alba and H. pubescens (Saxifragaceae) are closely related species of the Appalachian Region of eastern North America that are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Heuchera pubescens is currently understood to occupy a range from Kentucky to Pennsylvania, with the distribution of H. alba restricted to Virginia and West Virginia – plus a recently-recorded extension into Pennsylvania discovered with the help of Twitter. In addition to the discovery of H. alba in Pennsylvania, a pollinator known as the alumroot cellophane bee (Colletes aestivalis) was seen visiting its flowers – the first state record of this bee in over a century. The uncovering of H. alba as well as its specialized pollinator in Pennsylvania has challenged historical perceptions of Heuchera distributions in the state, particularly as this relates to current records for H. pubescens. Through a partnership between Bucknell University and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, substantial fieldwork was completed this past summer, including the collections of H. alba samples and C. aestivalis at multiple sites. It was found that records for H. pubescens in the Susquehanna River Valley can instead be attributed to H. alba. This finding has potential implications for the assessment of the true distribution for both species and the genetic status/health of each species in the local region. Our lab will now use population genomics to generate measures of genetic diversity and population structure, with the goal of updating the conservation status for each study species and to inform future conservation management of H. alba, H. pubescens, or both. We also hope to assess the link between genetic structure among H. alba populations and its reliance on a habitat-specific oligolectic bee.

Solanum ‘Deaf Adder’, a New Bush Tomato Species from the Australian Monsoon Tropics

Claire Marino, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Chris Martine, Department of Biology, Tanisha Williams, Department of Biology, Bucknell University. 

Estimates suggest that over 70% of the Australian flora and fauna has yet to be described. Numerous new plant species are still being described each year from across the continent. Here, we investigate one such potential new species currently known to field botanists as Solanum sp. ‘Deaf Adder’, which is named for its only known location in the remote Deaf Adder Gorge within Kakadu National Park, a biodiversity hotspot. It is currently designated as a localized variant of Solanum asymmetriphyllum, and is a close relative to Solanum sejunctum. However, based on the numerous morphological differences between these three plants and their geographical separation within the national park, it is more than likely that ‘Deaf Adder’ is a distinct and separate species. More than 30 morphological characters were measured using either manual methods or ImageJ on a greenhouse-grown female ‘Deaf Adder’ specimen, including leaf length, stem prickle density, and seed count, and then used to document the differences among ‘Deaf Adder’, S. asymmetriphyllum, and S. sejunctum. Data analyses are continuing to be compared across the three taxa, including PCA, ANOVA, and post-hoc testing. Preliminary data suggests that there is clear separation among the three taxa and strong evidence to support that Solanum sp.‘Deaf Adder’ is a distinct species.  The new species is one of only a few bush tomatoes endemic to Kakadu National Park. It is one of three Solanum species occurring here that exhibits functional dioecy, a sexual system in which morphologically bisexual flowers produce non-functional inapeturate pollen. 

Decomposition Sustaining Life-An examination of the Johnson-Su Composting Method

Theresa Dollar, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Mark Spiro, Department of Biology, Jen Schneidman Partica, Bucknell Farm and Garden Manager.

Aeration is important to composting as it feeds microorganisms that break down materials. However, maintenance of these systems can be time consuming and costly. The Johnson-Su composting method produces microbially rich compost while requiring significantly less maintenance compared to other aerated systems. It serves as a viable option for diverting food waste from landfills and is an alternative to synthetic fertilizers that can lead to eutrophication. This research demonstrates a collaborative project with the Bucknell University Farm and Stone Ridge Farm in Northumberland. Two bioreactors were built in each location during the summer of 2022. At each site, one bioreactor includes biochar in the feedstock, while the other does not. Biochar is a very stable form of carbon with a host of benefits including water and nutrient retention, carbon sequestration, as well as the prevention of molds and mildews. It decreases N2O emissions of compost when added to the system. I anticipate that the addition of biochar will result in high quality finished compost and/or a faster composting process.

Charging Ahead: Solar Charging Stations in Anthracite Coal Towns

Wolfgang VonGetzie, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Shaunna Barnhart, Director of Place Studies Program, Bucknell University. 

Advancement in solar energy has increased substantially in recent years. This has caused the cost of solar panels to become much cheaper than before, and more people across the world are taking advantage of this to become more sustainable. However, people can be reluctant to change, and implementing solar panels broadly cannot be done quickly. In order to meet the energy needs of the world with renewable, solar energy, the principles and benefits of solar energy should be communicated to the  general public.  One method to communicate this is to slowly integrate examples of solar energy in practice into community spaces. This is the goal of our solar bench project, where our team has designed a solar bench capable of charging devices such as laptops and cellphones. Working with students from the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center, two solar benches will be constructed and placed at two high schools in central Pennsylvania: Shamokin Area High School and Mount Carmel Area High School. Students are learning about solar energy in their classes at these schools, so with access to a bench that charges their devices at school they will be able to see the application of what they are learning. With this experience, solar energy can become a more normalized energy option. More benches will be constructed in community areas such as parks and libraries, and educational materials such as brochures and additional online resources will be made accessible to the public to further spread awareness of and exposure to the benefits of solar energy in the community.

Tracking Climate Action Commitment at Bucknell

Maya Sabatier,  Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Victor Udo, Director of Campus Sustainability, Bucknell University. 

The problem of modernity driven climate change can be considered the most existential “Hope, Agency, and Change” challenge of equitable global sustainable development and overall human survival on the planet.  In response to this challenge, under Second Nature guidance, chief executives of universities demonstrated agency for hope and change towards a more sustainable society with “The Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments”. Bucknell University is a part of this commitment and in the year 2010 established a Climate Action Plan including the target of carbon footprint reduction of 20% from the 2008 level by the year 2020 as well as attainment of carbon neutrality by 2030. This presentation covers the process of tracking that commitment and compares two platforms used in collecting the data for assessing progress towards the target. The purpose of the comparisons is to evaluate the potential of a semi-automated process of data collection for productivity improvement and the potential of increased reporting frequency. The presentation will cover the progress on Bucknell’s carbon neutrality and the processes used in the assessment and tracking of carbon footprint while comparing three reporting platforms.  

Mission to Carbon Neutrality: Principles and Processes for Bucknell University

Phoebe Blumberg, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Andrew Stuhl, Department Chair of Environmental Studies & Sciences, Bucknell University. 

Bucknell University has a goal of becoming carbon neutral by the year 2030. However, there is a long way to go, and it will not be an easy task. Some alterations can be made possible directly through the University to reduce carbon emissions, but other indirect emissions are much harder for the school to address. For example, it is the responsibility of Bucknell to tackle athletic travel, faculty and staff commute, and business travel to conferences and events, which are all considered scope 3 emissions. In this presentation, I introduce all of Bucknell’s scope 3 emissions, list principles of offsetting carbon emissions, suggest processes of community conversations and fundraising, as well as offer potential offset projects to progress towards the University’s goal. I hope that these offset projects are taken into consideration by the University to better the environment, show their commitment to sustainability, and educate students and the community about environmental efforts that we can all take on. The school’s top priority should be to reduce emissions before offsetting, however offsetting is inevitable for Bucknell to reach carbon neutrality, especially to address scope 3 emissions. This presentation is the result of my independent research project that I created alongside Professor Andrew Stuhl in the Environmental Studies & Science department, and I hope that it can lead to real change made at Bucknell University.

Urban Green Space: The Process of Park Design

Matt McMulllen, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837; Shaunna Barnhart, Director of Place Studies Program, Bucknell University. 

Parks and urban green spaces are an important part of any town or city, although they can often be overlooked. They allow people space to connect with nature and their community, and even offer health benefits such as increased exercise and child development. In the City of Shamokin, we are partnering with a local garden group to help turn a small vacant lot into a community park. It currently has a raised bed garden, with a couple of planter boxes, a rain barrel, and a shed for gardening supplies. Using online garden planning tools such as Gardena, we have been able to craft designs that will improve the site and make it more usable for the community. The proposed design for the park includes three tiers: the first tier will serve as the entrance and a seating area containing an arbor for the entryway, a pergola, benches, plants, and bike rack. The second tier is aimed towards a community garden, fit with multiple planter boxes and two rain barrels. The third tier will be used for more seating, incorporating more benches, and there’s also a shed for gardening supplies. Two obstacles were presented in the design for this park, one of which was the busy state route it is next to. There’s a strong need for a noise buffer, as the sounds of cars and traffic will negatively impact park visitor’s experience. This can be deterred through strategic plantings for sound barriers. The other obstacle is that the lot has no access to electricity, but a need for security lighting. To solve this, solar lights will be installed across the park. The design process for this space explores how parks can be more or less accessible, and the importance of neighborhood convenience.