828 research outputs found
Doug O’Donnell
No full textAuthor, professor and church planter Doug O\u27Donnell brings a message on on Luke 7
Workshop with Doug Buehl
No full textDoug Buehl is a teacher, author, and national literacy consultant. He is the author of the national bestseller Classroom Strategies for Interactive Learning, 4th Edition, 2014, and Developing Readers in the Academic Disciplines, 2011. He is co-author of Reading and the High School Student: Strategies to Enhance Literacy, 2nd Edition, 2007; and Strategies to Enhance Literacy and Learning in Middle School Content Area Classrooms 3rd Edition, 2007
Dr. Doug Hicks – Faculty Author Interview
No full textThe Podcasts@Boatwright debut author is Dr. Doug Hicks, associate professor of leadership studies and religion and executive director of the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement. His new book, With God on All Sides: Leadership in a Devout and Diverse America, describes how our various religious traditions can help build common ground in America and how leaders can and should deal with religious diversity
Anthropogenic Noise in the Alaskan Arctic
No full textAs we study the phenomenon of climate change and its dramatic effects on environments worldwide, nowhere exists a clearer picture of the change than what is happening in the Arctic. As ice melts, erosion consumes coastal communities and Arctic tundra landscapes begin to disappear, it is critical to remember that these dramatic changes are not just visual but also audible. The continual shrinking of sea ice has allowed for an influx of actors operating in the Arctic Ocean who have transformed this once pristine soundscape into a noisy ocean. As the ice continues to melt and human activity in the Arctic increases, it is necessary to consider how these new anthropogenic stressors are affecting marine mammals and other ocean dwelling species that rely on the Arctic Ocean soundscape to meet their most basic needs such a foraging, mating, migrating and communicating with their young.
The rise in anthropogenic noise in the Arctic due to increased shipping, offshore oil exploration and various other factors left unregulated arguably results in negative implications for marine mammals, and by extension, the indigenous inhabitants of the North Slope Borough of Alaska who survive as subsistence whalers. This project investigates the potential to limit anthropogenic Arctic Ocean noise in Alaska by 1) using species occurrence data to map anthropogenic noise threats as a planning tool to inform policy on the way anthropogenic noise is monitored and regulated and 2) considering how future anthropogenic noise law and policy regulations could be monitored through the use of geospatial technologies.
Spatial analyses, such as the initial one attempted here, are an ideal medium for understanding how anthropogenic changes in the Arctic Ocean soundscape could be impacting the species that live there and for communicating this problem to policymakers or other relevant stakeholders who have a responsibility to address the problem. As species, particularly pelagic species, continually adapt to ever-changing ice cover in the Arctic and as subarctic species continue to migrate farther north as water temperatures worldwide rise, being able to spatially capture their movements in relation to anthropogenic noise sources is critical in protecting them. These spatial data and analysis can then become management tools to inform anthropogenic noise law and policy so that much-needed regulation can be put in place. Compiling spatial data to show the possible reaches of harmful anthropogenic noise in a way that can easily be incorporated into already existing marine geospatial platforms and other existing management plans for the area will make it easier for law and policymakers to use the data, and to see how noise pollution fits into the greater regulatory framework for the ecosystems they are managing
A comparison of Environmental Impact Statement methodologies for assessing sound propagation, density determination and impacts on protected marine mammals: BOEMRE & the U.S. Navy
No full textSound in the world oceans is an increasingly important conservation issue as human impact throughout the oceans continues to grow without signs of abatement. Deep-water background noise is reported to be doubling every decade. In the U.S. two major sources of underwater sound are the seismic industry (regulated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE)) and Naval sonar. Both of these agencies are required to follow national environmental protocols, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, (NEPA) in regard to their impacts on the environment. These two sound sources produced (or regulated) by two different agencies generate similar impacts to the marine environment, in particular protected marine mammals that rely on sound for survival.
The assessment techniques used, and the transparency of the agencies involved is highly in question for actions that produce similar impacts. This master’s project analyzes the assessment techniques of BOEMRE and the U.S. Navy concerning underwater sound, exposing the inadequacies and successes of each agency. The analysis was conducted by reading and comparing the techniques used in Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) produced by both agencies from 2004 to the present. A series of recommendations for both agencies was produced to address the need for more streamlined and transparent analyses that will aid in more accurate and dynamic impact determinations for such projects as the upcoming BOEMRE Programmatic EIS in the Atlantic Planning Region.
I have also developed a GIS-based tool that aids in spatial analysis of propagating sound within the marine environment to improve analysis of potential impacts. This tool allows acoustic propagation models run in the computational program MATLAB® to be imported and integrated in the GIS program ArcGIS ® through the Python scripting language. The integration of this propagation data into GIS allows for better visualizations of sound propagation in 360° around the source and from an aerial perspective. It also allows for further geospatial analysis with other geospatial data such as habitat suitability and species distribution, which can allow for more adaptive species impact determinations and adaptive management for both sonar and seismic survey situations
Conservation or Culture? An Analysis of Shark Finning in the United States
No full textEach year, more than 73 million sharks are killed for their fins. In response to declining populations, the United States, has passed federal regulations to ban the finning of sharks within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Many states have taken the ban further to restrict the, sale, trade, possession and distribution of fins. While many legislators, politicians and conservationists believe these bans will protect shark species, others believe that it discriminates against the ancient traditions of serving shark fin soup. This project analyzes shark fin soup consumption and its significance in Chinese culture. It then examines the status of shark populations, shark fin as an economic driver and current international management to explain the importance of shark conservation. As the U.S. is the eighth largest shark finning country in the world, federal and state regulations on shark finning is reviewed to provide a legal basis for the practice in question. Opinions of U.S. citizens on shark finning and cultural traditions are shared as this is the foundation for why this project was chosen. An ethnographic pilot survey disseminated to Chinese, Hong Kongese and Taiwanese Americans in San Francisco, CA, New York, NY and Washington, D.C. offers evidence towards understanding the importance of shark fin in the modern day cultural practices. Survey results found that many respondents hold similar opinions about decreasing shark fin soup consumption. Out of the 77 surveys, 39% of respondents have significantly decreased their consumption. The highest response for the reduction in consumption was for environmental reasons. Additionally, many respondents believe that serving shark fin soup is not as important to them as it is for their family. These results and their comments indicate that this tradition may be diminishing. Opinions from survey material, publications, and personal communication are correlated with peer reviewed science in order to provide policy recommendations. Suggestions for the most appropriate policy alternatives are offered with the desire to come to a nexus of feasible regulation, effective management and cultural acceptance
Evaluating opportunistic sighting records of large whales around South Georgia Island: Changes in distribution, relative abundance, and species composition of sightings and the efficacy of reporting methods
No full textTo examine general population trends of large whales in South Georgia waters, two opportunistic data sets of large whale sightings from 1991-2010 around South Georgia were analyzed: the South Georgia Museum log of whale sightings and British Antarctic Survey whale sighting reports from the Bird Island research station. Bird Island abuts the Northwest tip of South Georgia. The four most-reported species for both data sets were southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and killer whale (Orcinus orca). These totally independent data sets showed comparable changes in abundance through time, thus despite a lack of sighting effort records, inferences could be made about changes in relative abundance.
The number of reported sightings per 5-year period from both data sets increased from the 1991-1995 period through the 2001-2005 period and has since decreased. Species composition of reported sightings has changed over time; southern right whales have become the most sighted species for both data sets with a peak of reported sightings in the 2001-2005 period. Sightings are concentrated around Shag Rocks, at the northwest tip of South Georgia, and along the north/east coastline of South Georgia; sightings in the bays around South Georgia have increased over time. In an area such as the Antarctic with many difficulties associated with conducting research, opportunistic data sources such as these can become invaluable. Although opportunistic data are not ideal, the ability to obtain data that would otherwise be unattainable may make these data sources quite useful.
The reporting method for whale sightings at South Georgia was in desperate need of updating and the historical records were underutilized. To remedy this, I created a web form to report sightings linked on an interactive web map that allows users to view sightings of a selected species over a selected date range. The reporting process is now digital, and past sightings can now be viewed interactively by the public. The web map and form have been uploaded to the South Georgia Heritage Trust web site for use. The South Georgia Museum and South Georgia Government web sites have also been asked to include a link to the web map
Investigating Boat Noise in Wellfleet Harbor, MA
No full textSound plays an important role in marine environments, but growing anthropogenic noise levels in the oceans threaten marine animals’ ability to utilize essential sound signals. Anthropogenic noise pollution from military sonar, seismic airgun arrays, and shipping traffic can harm cetaceans in three ways: by causing physical injury to the animal, by masking biological important sounds in the environment, and by provoking behavioral changes. My research was part of a larger project, which aims to establish a Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) system to detect cetacean vocalizations within and around Wellfleet Harbor in addition to possible acoustic disturbances from vessel noise. The broader study, part of research conducted by Dr. Laela Sayigh at WHOI, will attempt to determine if the vocalizations recorded can be utilized to predict mass stranding events and aid in the mitigation of such events. For my project, I analyzed underwater recordings from the harbor to determine presence of boat noise and ascertain the potential for masking. I made underwater recordings in Wellfleet Harbor, MA from 22 April, 2014 to 23 July, 2014. I analyzed the files to determine boat noise occurrence and characteristics. Overall, boat noise occurred in 32% of all recordings. I concluded that boat presence occurred frequency in Wellfleet Harbor, MA (~1/3 of the time). Boat noise occurrences followed expected day/night cycle patterns, but not expected tidal cycle patterns. Boat noise characteristics varied with deployment period, day/night cycle, and tidal cycle the observed patterns are unlikely to impact the current WHOI project. Boise noise frequency parameters, however, show some overlap with anecdotal dolphin vocalizations and could present problems for detection. I advised project managers at WHOI to adopt a precautionary approach when taking the next steps in the project, and made the following recommendations: WHOI should create boat noise filters for their detectors, conduct longer-term studies of boat noise in the harbor, pair the acoustic data with visual surveys of boats, and explore dolphin behavior in response to boat presence and noise utilizing a combination of acoustics and visual methods
Inaugural address : January 5, 2015
No full textabstract: Gov. Doug Ducey promised "serious reform" of Arizona's public schools in an inaugural address in which he repeated a commitment to limited government. Arizona's 23rd governor struck an optimistic and determined
tone, noting the state's imminent budget deficit but promising it, and other challenges, are "entirely within our power to overcome.
On Campus Video, Featuring Doug Manning.
No full textA videorecording of an interview with author, lecturer, and counselor Doug Manning, conducted by Dr. Gary McCaleb of Abilene Christian University in 1984. Manning discusses the topics of grief, marriage, and self-esteem
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