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Exploring the Interface Between Planetary Boundaries and Palaeoecology
Get PDFABSTRACTThe concepts of planetary boundaries are influential in the sustainability literature and assist in delineating the ‘safe operating spaces’ beyond which critical Earth system processes could collapse. Moving away from our current trajectory towards ‘hothouse Earth’ will require knowledge of how Earth systems have varied throughout the Holocene, and whether and how far we have deviated from past ranges of variability. Such information can inform decisions about where change could be resisted, accepted or where adaptation is inevitable. The need for information on long‐term (Holocene) change provides an interface for palaeoecology and sustainability that remains underexploited. In this position paper, we explore this interface, first discussing the need for long‐term perspectives and introducing examples where palaeoecology has been used in defining safe operating spaces and constraining limits of acceptable change. We describe advances in quantitative methods for analysis of time‐series data that strengthen the contribution of palaeoecology to the concepts of planetary boundaries and safe operating spaces. We consider the importance of issues of scaling from landscape to regional and global scales in operationalising planetary boundaries concepts. We distil principles for this field of research going forward and introduce three case studies which will form the basis of research on these topics
Nonlinear classification capability of quantum neural networks due to emergent quantum metastability
Get PDFThe power and expressivity of deep classical neural networks can be attributed to nonlinear input-output relations. Such nonlinearities are at the heart of many computational tasks, such as data classification and pattern recognition. Quantum neural networks, on the other hand, are necessarily linear as they process information via unitary operations. Here we show that effective nonlinearities can be implemented in these platforms by exploiting the relationship between information processing and many-body quantum dynamics. The crucial point is that quantum many-body systems can show emergent collective behavior in the vicinity of phase transitions, which leads to an effectively nonlinear dynamics in the thermodynamic limit. In the context of quantum neural networks, which are necessarily finite, this translates into metastability with transient nonergodic behavior. By using a quantum neural network the architecture of which is inspired by dissipative many-body quantum spin models, we show that this mechanism indeed allows one to realize nonlinear data classification, despite the underlying dynamics being local and linear. Our proof-of-principle study may pave the way for the systematic construction of quantum neural networks with emergent nonlinear properties
BAAL–Cambridge University Press Seminar 2024 – Virtual exchange as an equity, diversity and inclusion-compliant approach to language education:A Global South–North research-informed seminar
Get PDFESG performance and financial distress during COVID-19: the moderating effects of innovation and capital intensity
No full textPurpose: This study examines the relationship between Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and financial distress in times of uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach: Thomson Reuters ESG database, Compustat and Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) were used to derive a final sample size of 1,572 firms and 11,618 firm-year observations from 2003 to 2022. Fixed-effects regression was used to analyze the data. Findings: It was found that increasing ESG involvement leads to an increase in Z score (i.e. lower financial distress), and this impact was more profound during the COVID-19 period and also when firms' innovativeness increased. However, during the COVID-19 period, increases in capital expenditures weaken the positive effect of ESG on financial distress. Research limitations/implications: This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the impact of ESG performance on financial distress and the nature of this relationship during times of uncertainty such as COVID-19. Practical implications: This study offers insights to managers and practitioners when developing their corporate financial strategies, particularly financial distress management, showing the potential benefits of innovativeness and capital intensity during turbulent times similar to COVID-19. Originality/value: Little knowledge exists on how ESG engagement helps weather financial distress during periods of uncertainty due to external shocks (e.g. COVID-19). This paper looks at the effect of ESG engagement on financial distress and how capital intensity and innovativeness could influence this relationship while giving fresh insights into the impact of COVID-19.</p
The Possibilities and Limits of Dialogue in a World of Political Populisms
No full textThis special edition of The Journal of Dialogue Studies is composed of papers which engage with and explore the possibilities and limits of dialogue in a world in which there would appear to be a rising tide of political populisms that have been challenging existing political norms, institutions, and processes. The movements associated with such populisms have of been led by ‘charismatic’ leaders who make an appeal to ‘ordinary people’ over and against ‘the establishment’. In the process, they employ contentious and polarising rhetoric which brings serious challenges to social cohesion, civility, and truth in public life. This special issue brings together articles written by researchers from across a range of academic disciplines and fields of practice, drawing also on insights from dialogue theories an dialogue practice, in order critically to explore the dynamics of such political populisms and their impact on the communicative possibilities and limits of dialogue
Popular movie effects on advanced finance course performance:flipped classroom vs in-class view
No full textPurpose: Interest in using popular movies in higher education has flourished, but determining their actual impact remains tricky. Some studies suggest these movies can positively affect student satisfaction, yet many criticize this method as ineffective or lazy. Our study compared two ways of using popular movies – watching them in class versus a flipped approach – for an advanced finance module. We aim to examine the best teaching delivery of watching popular movies in an advanced module. Design/methodology/approach: This study compares two teaching methods during movie screenings: a didactic flipped classroom (Group 01) and in-class viewing (Group 02). The sampling frame was final-year finance students from a public university. It was conducted over two academic years and involved 190 students aged 20–23. These students were split into two groups: G01, with 93 students, and G02, with 97 students. The study focused on the movie “Big Short,” chosen for its relevance to the Fixed-Income Securities course (the advanced module). Findings: Our findings indicate both methods led to high student satisfaction, with no significant difference between in-class viewing and the flipped approach. However, the understanding of the advanced module significantly increased overall. Importantly, using popular movies as flipped material resulted in better student grades compared to in-class viewing. This suggests that while using popular movies is a beneficial teaching method, employing a didactic flipped classroom approach yields superior outcomes for students. Practical implications: This research offers practical insights for instructors, highlighting the value of utilizing popular movies in advanced education. It suggests incorporating movies as learning materials can enhance student satisfaction, particularly when employed within a flipped classroom framework. Importantly, the study reveals that adopting the flipped classroom approach yields superior academic outcomes compared to traditional in-class viewing. Thus, instructors teaching advanced modules should consider integrating popular movies within flipped classrooms to not only enhance student satisfaction but also improve academic performance. Originality/value: Our research investigates popular movies' efficacy, particularly in advanced finance education. While previous studies have explored using movies to enhance student satisfaction, this study investigates it further by comparing two delivery methods: the didactic flipped classroom and traditional in-class viewing. While both methods effectively increase student satisfaction, the didactic flipped classroom significantly improves academic performance. This highlights the innovative potential of the flipped approach in promoting deeper learning and suggests practical implications for instructors seeking to enhance both satisfaction and academic outcomes in advanced courses.</p
The future for sport officiating research:an expert statement
Get PDFResearch, coverage, and understanding in sport officiating related scholarly activity have increased markedly in the last decade. Sport officials (referees, judges, umpires) have been historically underrepresented in the sport management, psychology, and physiology literature, but this collection of experts provides avenues for collaboration and exploration that can contribute to understanding systems, individuals, and initiate real-world changes for sporting organisations, policy makers, and officials themselves. Focused and organised around the key research areas and priorities of physiology, decision making, psychology, mental health, management, and training and development, this statement offers detail on the development of the research and associated literature and provides proposals for future scholarship linked to each of the key research areas.</p
Walking with teachers:A study to explore the importance of teacher wellbeing and their careers
Get PDFTeacher turnover and retention is a global challenge. It appears that in times of teacher shortages, policymakers often focus on recruitment. Yet, it could be argued that focussing on retaining experienced teachers not only addresses teacher shortages but provides additional benefits to the teachers, their students, and the teaching profession. The aim of this interpretive case study was to investigate the views of experienced primary school teachers. Twelve teachers, who had taught in English primary schools for more than five years, participated in walking interviews. The research looked at the areas where teachers want to feel supported by the culture of the school, created by the leadership team.</p
Mobile channel as a strategic distribution channel in times of crisis: a self-determination theory perspective
Get PDFThe Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted the worldwide economy, particularly the restaurant sector. To face these challenges, the multi- and omni-channel approaches have been embraced by several firms, especially with the integration of mobile channels and social media. However, no research is conducted to investigate how this integration can be successful in times of crisis, such as pandemic. Therefore, drawing upon the self-determination theory, the present study aims at addressing this research gap by exploring, from both the restaurant owners’ and customers’ perspectives, how an anti-food waste mobile app called Too Good To Go (TGTG) – the largest social case in Europe, is perceived as a strategic distribution channel in the time of pandemic. Based on 18 in-depth interviews with restaurant owners and 22 with customers in Paris, findings highlight the success factors for restaurants to achieve their digital strategies. Theoretical and practical implications, and future research perspectives are presented
The Making of a Writer:Olga Merino's Five Winters in Russia
No full textThis article offers a study of Spanish writer Olga Merino’s (1965) autobiographical work, Cinco inviernos (Five Winters, 2022), which is an adaptation of the ‘Russian notebooks’ that she wrote during her time as a correspondent in Moscow (1993‑98). Russia stands as a geographical and emotional space for the young journalist to acquire knowledge, and the notebooks emerge as Merino’s physical representation of her own formation as a writer. Merino captures her life experiences, reflects on political issues, rewrites her critical comments on literature, as well as on other disciplines and arts (e.g. journalism, linguistics, translation, music, cinema), and discusses the strategies she adopts to write. Her five winters in Russia manifest themselves as a process of self‑learning that would initiate her into the writing of her first novel (Cenizas rojas [Red Ashes], 1999) and the development of other stories.<br/