8411 research outputs found
Sort by
Whole Human Pedagogy: A Novel Framework for Education Abroad Praxis
Full text linkThis dissertation theoretically derives and qualitatively explores a novel framework called whole human pedagogy for education abroad. Drawing on Thompson (2017) and hooks (1994), as well as decolonial theory and critical pedagogy, this dissertation sets forth whole human pedagogy with four tenets—embodiment, emotions, belonging, and becoming—which collectively provide a framework for designing and analyzing education abroad programs. This qualitative study collected data from seventeen practitioners who work with undergraduate, U.S.-based, outbound education abroad programs via semi-structured interviews about their perspectives on theory and practice regarding whole human pedagogy. Findings offer preliminary confirmation of whole human pedagogy’s applicability to education abroad programming. Data gathered from participants informs several subthemes for each tenet—including embodied sensory engagement, emotional reflection, relational reciprocity, and personal transformation—as well as recommendations for application in program design, program leadership training, and institutional administration. Whole human pedagogy contributes to the field by proposing specific targets for improving the quality of learning interventions for education abroad while decentering Euro-US epistemological supremacy, which contributes to the decolonization of U.S.-based education abroad pedagogy
The Impact of the Jordanian Education System on Syrian Refugee Identity
Full text linkJordan currently hosts 1.3 million Syrian refugees, with 48% of those refugees being children. Many of these children are currently enrolled in the Jordanian education system, both in host communities and in refugee camps like Za’atari. As such, the future of education for these children holds a great deal of importance, especially because education plays a significant role in the shaping of cultural identity and can have a considerable impact on a child’s future success. This exploratory research is based on the opinions of six Syrian refugee fathers from the Irbid community in the North of Jordan. It examines Syrian identity, the Jordanian curriculum, and the impact this schooling has on Syrian refugee children and their cultural identity. Ultimately, this study found that although most parents view their children’s education as being of good quality, the education that Syrian refugee children receive is not fully culturally affirming, as they are not taught about Syrian culture, civilization, or current events.
Keywords: Refugees, Identity, Intercultural, Education, Syrian Identity, Syrian Refugee Educatio
Uncovering Chimborazo’s Catchments: Insights into the fluvial network, stream characteristics, and hydrological patterns in Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo, Ecuador
Full text linkAndean headwater streams play a crucial role in the provisioning of ecosystem services and supplying water to downstream communities. This study sought to analyze trends in hydrological patterns in the páramo of the southwestern aspect of Volcán Chimborazo in central Ecuador, as well as to provide a more complete survey of the fluvial network given the lack of existing data and its importance in water resource management. Measurements of stream elevation, grade of slope, water temperature, pH, width, depth, turbidity, velocity, and discharge, as well as geomorphological characteristics of catchments such as slope and permeability, were taken at 19 sites across eight streams with flowing water and compared with climate data from the 19-day period. Observed changes in the physicochemical characteristics of streams, especially elevated water temperature and lack of climatic influence on discharge, reflected a diminished degree of glacial influence on streams, likely due to rapid recession. True kryal streams no longer exist in the area, and the peak water threshold of glaciers may have been reached. More variable precipitation patterns and the transformation of multiple perennial streams into intermittent or ephemeral streams, even during the wet season, support evidence of a changing hydrological regime, which increases pressure on water availability in the sub-basin for agricultural and domestic uses and leaves communities more vulnerable to flooding. Climate change will continue to impact the region’s fluvial network, and more widespread hydrometeorological monitoring is needed to prepare localities for either decreased or more variable streamflow
Acceso a la salud de mujeres migrantes venezolanas en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (2024) / Female Venezuelan Migrants’ Access to Healthcare in Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (2024)
Full text linkEsta investigación se enfoca en indagar y describir el acceso al sector de salud en la población de mujeres migrantes venezolanas con trabajos como monotributistas que residen en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA). En la última década, Venezuela se ha enfrentado a una crisis económica y humanitaria. Esta crisis ha provocado una ola de migración sin precedentes por todo el mundo. Dentro del Cono Sur, Argentina se cataloga como el sexto país receptor de migrantes venezolanos. Considerando las leyes de migración y el sistema de salud universal en Argentina, me propuse describir las barreras de acceso a la salud en mujeres migrantes venezolanas. A través de un estudio cualitativo, entrevisté a cuatro migrantes venezolanas, de entre 18 y 39 años, quienes habían residido menos de 6 años en CABA. Al aplicar un modelo de barreras de acceso a la salud, analicé sus experiencias. Las barreras de acceso que identifiqué fueron geográficas, económicas, administrativas, culturales y de aceptabilidad. Mis hallazgos indicaron que la condición de migrante y las comparaciones con el sistema de salud venezolano, impactan en su acceso al sistema de salud en Argentina. Esta investigación enfatiza la importancia de contextualizar la identidad del migrante para prestar servicios que sean sensibles a la cultura del migrante. De tal forma, se puede atender efectivamente las necesidades de la población migrante venezolana en Argentina.
This study aims to explore how female Venezuelan immigrants with independent jobs access the healthcare system in the city of Buenos Aires. In the last decade, there has been an ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. This crisis has prompted an unprecedented wave of immigration across the globe. Within South America, Argentina ranks sixth as a recipient for Venezuelan immigrants. Considering Argentina’s universal health care system and its immigrations laws, I sought out to describe the barriers to access that female Venezuelans face when approaching the health care system. Through a qualitative study, I interviewed four Venezuelan women between the ages of 18-39, who had resided in Argentina for less than six years. By applying barriers to access models, I analyzed their experiences. I found the dimensions of their barriers to be geographical, economical, administrative, cultural, and acceptability based. The findings indicate that the participants’ migrant identities and frequent comparisons to the Venezuelan health care system, heavily impacted their perceptions and access to the Argentinian health care system. This study emphasizes the importance of contextualizing migrant identities to create culturally sensitive health care services, and better tend to the needs of the Venezuelan community in Argentina
Anuran diversity and abundance across two sites with varying levels of light pollution in El Valle de Antón, Coclé, Panamá
Full text linkThe impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on anuran populations has been a subject of growing concern in ecological research. Anurans are particularly susceptible to the impacts of artificial light due to their nocturnal nature and an extensive exposure throughout various stages of life histories. Exposure to artificial light has been shown to impact the larval development and reproductive behavior of anurans. The impacts on anurans juvenile populations suggest a relationship between light pollution and anuran abundance. This study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that ALAN negatively affects the abundance and diversity of anurans. Field surveys were conducted in areas with and without ALAN, and lux levels were measured across various anuran species. Contrary to expectations, comparisons between areas with and without ALAN revealed no significant difference in anuran abundance, with ALAN habitats showing a higher diversity index. However, the preference of anurans for areas with 0 lux may still suggest a relationship between light pollution and anuran habitat choice. While average lux comparisons across anuran species supported differential effects of light pollution, statistical significance was only observed for one species. Nevertheless, the observed light tolerance of heavily pigmented eggs, such as those of S. albomaculata, to ALAN suggests paths for further investigation. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of the impact of ALAN on anuran communities and emphasizes the importance of further investigation in this emerging field of study
Community knowledge of shark ecology, abundance, and species composition in Wichubwala, Nalunega, and Porvenir communities in the Guna Yala Comarca, Panamá
Full text linkSharks play a critical role in marine ecosystems as apex predators that exert top-down control of lower trophic levels. In recent decades, global shark populations have declined to unprecedented levels, triggering a cascade effect that threatens ecosystem functioning and, therefore, coastal community livelihoods that rely on marine resources for food and income. It is known that shark populations are vulnerable and on the decline due to anthropogenic stressors such as fishing and coastal development, but shark species composition and abundance are difficult to monitor due to the evasive nature of sharks, the often remote and inaccessible location of certain shark populations, a lack of support for shark conservation efforts, and deficient baseline data. The Guna Yala comarca, a semi-autonomous Indigenous territory located on the eastern Caribbean coast of Panama, is home to high levels of marine biodiversity, specifically in coral reef ecosystems. Guna Yala’s 49 island communities practice subsistence fishing; marine invertebrates and fish are the principal protein source for communities. In the Guna Yala region, baseline data on shark species composition and abundance does not exist. Consequently, long-term shark abundance trends are not well understood in the area. It’s important to understand shifting marine biodiversity and community composition in the comarca because these changes will directly impact access to food and other marine resources, threatening food, job, and cultural security. Although there is a lack of empirical quantitative research in the area, Guna communities hold valuable and diverse knowledge systems surrounding shark species composition and abundance due to their comprehensive understanding of marine ecosystems that results from the deep reliance of the communities on marine resources. The aim of this study was to examine the perspectives of Guna people on shark species composition, abundance, long-term trends, personal sentiments, and cultural significance of sharks to understand the potential of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) as a viable method for evaluating shark ecology in Guna Yala using a semi-structured interview technique. Interview participants were asked a series of 3 yes/no and 2 open-ended questions. Responses were recorded, translated from Spanish to English, and grouped in order to identify main themes. Analysis revealed that the majority (93%) of participants believe that sharks are important to ocean health and the majority of those asked (71% of 7 participants) said that they have observed a decline in shark abundance over the years. Nine different shark common name types were mentioned as having been observed, including the critically overfished hammerhead shark. There was low consensus regarding the question of cultural significance, indicating that ‘cultural significance’ may be interpreted in different ways and is difficult to quantify. Comparing interview responses with past shark abundance research in Panama and other LEK-based studies suggests that in Guna Yala, interview-based research surrounding ecological trends could be an effective and important tool in furthering our understanding of how shark communities are being altered by climate change—an initial step in identifying the impacts that changing population dynamics will have on the greater environment and on human communities
Queerness in Oaxaca: Perceptions of the LGBT+ Community
Full text linkThis study examines how young Oaxacans perceive the state of LGBT+ acceptance in Oaxaca. In particular, this study surveys a general university student population, in comparison to the perceptions of a focus group of LGBT+ identifying young people. Focus group data was collected through a survey combined with a thirty-minute interview with four participants, while university data was collected through a survey distributed to 31 students at the Language School of Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca. Results from both groups found that participants’ perceived their peers as more accepting than their family or Oaxacan society at large. A significant minority believed that people who defied traditional norms of gender expression were less accepted by society, both outside and within the LGBT+ community, than those who conformed to traditional gender norms; because tradition is so key to this kind of acceptance, Muxes are generally seen as more socially acceptable than other gender-nonconforming individuals. An overwhelming majority believed religion to be the primary cause of homophobia in Oaxaca, with traditional values and education as a leading second
Beyond the Binary: Analyzing Transgender Legislation in Spain and Its Implications for Equality and Rights
Full text linkSpain is considered one of the leading countries in LGBT+ acceptance and rights with their progressive laws, gaining a name for itself as a haven for those within the community. In this research paper, I investigate the evolution of transgender legislation in Spain into the current day and how it impacts the public perception and gender affirmative care available to trans people. Focusing primarily on the passage of Trans Ley 4/2023 and the windows it opened in Trans rights. Looking into the improvements made in Trans laws, from Ley 3/2007 to current day. Additionally, this paper will look into attempted blockages of trans legislation, as was the case in 2023, when Partido Popular (right-leaning political party) in Madrid rolled back on rights obtained in the Trans Ley 4/2023. The rise of far-right political parties in Europe has had a detrimental effect on preserving and obtaining fundamental rights for trans people, especially trans youth who usually do not have the proper resources to undergo gender reassignment surgery or receive gender-affirming care. Overall, I focus on the social and legal reactions to legislative victories and losses in LGBT+ rights and the impacts they have on trans people in Spain
The Efficacy of the Legal Infrastructure of Proportionality in Contemporary Armed Conflicts
Full text linkProportionally in armed conflict is one of the key principles of international law, playing a crucial role in ensuring that both civilians are protected in armed conflict, but also that a military is able to accomplish its goals. This paper attempts to discern if the international legal infrastructure is well equipped to deal with proportionality in armed conflicts, especially in regard to contemporary armed conflicts. In an attempt to answer this question, this paper explores the existing legal infrastructure, looking at International Humanitarian Law as a moral system and International Criminal Law as the accompanying legal system to see how they define and deal with proportionality. This is followed by a discussion of the challenges that exist in regard to prosecuting violations of proportionality, and how this is compounded by contemporary armed conflicts. This paper finds that as a moral system, IHL is well equipped to deal with proportionality; however, ICL is lacking in terms of upholding proportionality. It suffers both from structural issues, and a lack of clarity for which revisions are needed
Assessing the impacts of anthropogenic activities on coral reef health in Ushongo, Tanzania using coral diversity and parrotfish abundance as indicators
Full text linkCoral reefs, covering two-thirds of our oceans, are vital and diverse ecosystems, earning them the nickname of “rainforests of the sea”. Despite occupying only 1% of the ocean’s floor, they support 25% of all marine species, providing shelter, nursery ground and food, all the while also protecting the coast and providing job opportunities for local communities. Considered keystone species, coral reefs are highly sensitive to disturbances caused by pollution, climate change, but also anthropogenic activities such as coastal development, destructive fishing practices and tourism, endangering their existence and the entire marine ecosystem. Parrotfish, a crucial resident of these ecosystems, often indicate reef health as they maintain ecological balance through their diet and bioerosion activities. However, in Tanzania, a nation highly dependent on fisheries, increased anthropogenic activities have intensified pressure of coral reefs, making it imperative to evaluate these ecosystems’ health to facilitate conservation efforts. Using rotational quadrants and line transects, coral diversity and parrotfish abundance were assessed in three sites of various anthropogenic impacts: Ushongo Reef (high impact), Fungu Zinga Reef (medium impact), and Maziwe Reef (low impact). The findings demonstrate the highest parrotfish abundance in Maziwe Reef with 128 individuals out of 154 and the highest coral diversity with a value of 2.225. However, when compared to their H-max, Fungu Zinga demonstrated the highest diversity in of itself (H = 2.176, H-max = 2.890), making it the most diverse reef out of the three. Overall, it can be concluded that anthropogenic activities do have significant impacts on coral reefs in Tanzania by decreasing their overall health. However, a mild level of disturbance can also aid with species diversity as they allow space for corals of various characteristics to thrive