Societal ImpactsPub Date : 2024-11-10DOI: 10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100093
Hélder Silva Lopes
{"title":"Educational sustainability initiatives in higher education: An integrative approach to urban areas in northwestern Portugal","authors":"Hélder Silva Lopes","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100093","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100093","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper explores the integration of sustainability and climate change education within Higher Education (HE), emphasizing the societal impact of such initiatives. Through a comprehensive analysis of various educational projects conducted between 2020 and 2024 in Portugal, the research highlights the critical role of education in fostering sustainable development and resilience to Climate Change (CC). Utilizing a participatory-based methodology, including the TIP (Territory, Intervention, Proposal) model, the study involved collaboration among students, experts, and local stakeholders to address urban and environmental challenges. The findings underscore the importance of embedding sustainability into educational frameworks to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle complex environmental issues. Moreover, the projects demonstrated how HE institutions can act as catalysts for societal change, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promoting a multidisciplinary approach. Future research should focus on evaluating the long-term impacts of these educational practices on fostering sustainable behaviors in young people and local communities, crucial agents of change in the face of climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100093"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Societal ImpactsPub Date : 2024-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100091
Rosmawijah Jawawi , Jainatul Halida Jaidin , Roslinawati Roslan , Sheikh Lukman Sheikh Abd Hamid , Daniel Asamoah , Masitah Shahrill
{"title":"Equitable education and social impacts: Examining the learning theories that influence educators' pedagogical practices","authors":"Rosmawijah Jawawi , Jainatul Halida Jaidin , Roslinawati Roslan , Sheikh Lukman Sheikh Abd Hamid , Daniel Asamoah , Masitah Shahrill","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100091","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100091","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-quality, equitable, and inclusive education is essential for both individual and societal advancement. Educators play a crucial role in enhancing educational standards through effective pedagogical practices. This study investigates the influence of learning theories on educators' pedagogical strategies. A survey was conducted with 1845 educators from various educational levels in Brunei Darussalam. While educators demonstrated an understanding of behaviorism and cognitive theories, the results revealed a pronounced preference for constructivism. This approach allows educators to relate prior learning experiences, foster collaborative engagement, and provide constructive feedback. Furthermore, the results indicated that demographic factors, including gender, age, subject area, and administrative duties, affected educators’ pedagogical beliefs. The results emphasize the need for tailored, inclusive, and subject-specific professional development for educators to improve educational standards and promote inclusivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100091"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Societal ImpactsPub Date : 2024-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100092
Abdul-Hanan Abdallah
{"title":"Unpacking the complex relationships between agricultural investments and biodiversity in Ghana","authors":"Abdul-Hanan Abdallah","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100092","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100092","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The expansion of large-scale agricultural investments (LSAI) in Ghana has substantial implications for biodiversity and rural community well-being. This study explores the complex relationships between LSAI and biodiversity, focusing on species richness, evenness, Enhanced Vegetation Index, and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index to assess ecosystem health. Using a mixed-methods approach, we combine panel datasets, remote sensing, and qualitative data to evaluate both ecological and social impacts of LSAI. While LSAI has potential economic benefits, it also poses risks to biodiversity by reducing species diversity and altering ecosystem services essential for rural communities' livelihoods. Our findings reveal that while LSAI increase vegetation cover and species evenness, they frequently lead to the loss of access to critical resources such as fuelwood, medicinal plants, and wild foods, impacting community resilience and social cohesion. These findings underscore the importance of balancing agricultural investments with policies that preserve biodiversity and maintain social equity, ensuring that long-term societal impacts of LSAI do not compromise ecosystem or local livelihoods. It calls for robust monitoring systems, and the inclusion of local communities in decision-making to ensure sustainable development. The study offers critical insights for policymakers and conservationists aiming to harmonize economic development with environmental conservation in Ghana and beyond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100092"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142593347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Societal ImpactsPub Date : 2024-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100090
Robin A. Chang , Nikoo Mohajermoghari , Wang Yu , Agnieszka Wendland
{"title":"Teaching and learning to support climate-neutral transitions: Exploring opportunities and challenges for interdisciplinary design courses","authors":"Robin A. Chang , Nikoo Mohajermoghari , Wang Yu , Agnieszka Wendland","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100090","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100090","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Students’ individual and collective learning processes in interdisciplinary teaching and learning activities that integrate prototype-oriented courses present an opportunity for further exploration. This is particularly relevant given the broader need for capacity-building to support climate-neutral transitions. This contribution draws on an exploratory workshop-in-workshop (WiW) approach to understand and evaluate students learning experiences in an experimental and interdisciplinary design course setting. This experience was embedded in the ENHANCE Alliance, a European network cooperation to innovate research and education in science and technology. The inductive analysis and results from the WiW approach draw upon surveys, group discussions, mapping exercises, and reflections with students. These indicate strong appreciation for problem-based and prototype-oriented teaching along with learning experiences as a part of their individually differentiated but collectively shared learning trajectories. The final insights acknowledge the method as an effective way to enhance instructor-student relationship dynamics and interdisciplinary opportunities. Future improvements to the interdisciplinary design format are discussed and highlight students' desires for open and safe learning environments that are more transdisciplinary in nature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100090"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Societal ImpactsPub Date : 2024-10-19DOI: 10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100086
Joekryno Joni, Siti Nor Amalina Ahmad Tajuddin, Khairul Azam Bahari
{"title":"Young voices, significant influence: Lowering the voting age and young people’s readiness for voting","authors":"Joekryno Joni, Siti Nor Amalina Ahmad Tajuddin, Khairul Azam Bahari","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100086","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100086","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, there has been a notable shift in electoral policies worldwide, particularly regarding the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18. In the context of readiness towards voting, the influence of parents, peers, and social media influencers on adolescents is crucial to consider. Research indicates that teenagers often adopt the political ideologies and attitudes of their parents, which can significantly shape their readiness and approach to voting. This paper thus, seeks to discover young voters’ attitudes towards voting and their readiness for the 15th general election (GE15) in Malaysia. Through a statistical analysis of attitudes and their readiness towards voting, the study uncovers the significant influence of this policy shift. This highlights the implication of young voters in shaping the future of democracy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100086"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142530055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Societal ImpactsPub Date : 2024-10-18DOI: 10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100089
Ibrahim Kabiru Maji , Shuaibu Muhammad , Salisu Ibrahim Waziri , Muhammad Mansur Rabiu , Muhammad Yusuf , Lawali Muhammad , Harir Adamu Isah , Maryam Bala Adamu , Ummukulthum Ibrahim Alkali
{"title":"An assessment of economic loss associated with cataract vision impairment for sustainable development in Borno state, Nigeria","authors":"Ibrahim Kabiru Maji , Shuaibu Muhammad , Salisu Ibrahim Waziri , Muhammad Mansur Rabiu , Muhammad Yusuf , Lawali Muhammad , Harir Adamu Isah , Maryam Bala Adamu , Ummukulthum Ibrahim Alkali","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100089","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The number of affected people with preventable vision impairment in Borno state is increasing at an alarming rate. Statistics have shown that more than 55 % causes of preventable blindness in the state is cataracts [10]. Nevertheless, ensuring inclusive eye health care is important to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, this study examines the direct and indirect societal impacts of the economic loss associated with cataract vision impairment in Borno state. Descriptive statistical method was used to analyze 239 surveyed respondents. The results revealed that about 62.1 % of surveyed participants were with cataract vision impairment and 55.4 % of the respondents were male. The study recommends that policymakers implement targeted intervention strategies to mitigate economic vulnerabilities and productivity loss connected to cataract vision impairment so as to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development in the state.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100089"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142539028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Societal ImpactsPub Date : 2024-10-18DOI: 10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100088
José R. Ferrer-Paris, Ada Sánchez-Mercado
{"title":"The Neotropical Biodiversity Mapping Initiative: Transforming Venezuelan biodiversity monitoring and capacity building","authors":"José R. Ferrer-Paris, Ada Sánchez-Mercado","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100088","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tropical Latin America is home to an enormous share of the world's biodiversity. Despite its immense natural wealth, the region faces a significant deficit of reliable biodiversity data and lacks the local capacity necessary to collect such data. The Neotropical Biodiversity Mapping Initiative (NeoMaps or NeoMapas) is a long-term biodiversity monitoring program. NeoMaps has not only addressed these gaps in biodiversity data in one of the megadiverse tropical countries, Venezuela, but has also emerged as a model for efficiently surveying biodiversity while strengthening the local capacity needed to conduct these surveys. After three nationwide systematic surveys and international field courses in 2006, 2009, and 2010, NeoMaps assembled an invertebrate collection and biodiversity database with over 170,000 records of occurrence and abundance for birds, dung beetles, and butterflies. NeoMaps activities lead to direct outcomes by reducing biodiversity knowledge gaps for three taxonomic groups and training more than 60 conservationists from Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, and Spain. NeoMaps had a broader impact on national capacity building programs, and made important contributions for improving, sharing and applying national biodiversity knowledge.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100088"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142530057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Societal ImpactsPub Date : 2024-10-16DOI: 10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100087
Haruhiko Iba , Apichaya Lilavanichakul
{"title":"Collaboration opportunities for driving sustainable farming systems and local communities: The case of banana cooperatives in Thailand","authors":"Haruhiko Iba , Apichaya Lilavanichakul","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100087","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100087","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing sustainable farming systems is necessary to realize profitable and eco-friendly farms that benefit society. As Thailand is increasingly facing climate crisis, production damage, and economic loss for farmers, alternative solutions for driving sustainable farming are needed. A few farmers may have the financial resources to mitigate climate change and operate sustainable farms. However, not all Thai farmers can adopt sustainable farming systems, particularly smallholder farmers. Collaborating with an international partner may drive sustainable agricultural practices and promote knowledge sharing to alleviate the impact of climate change. Through this, Thai farmer groups and cooperatives can build a more agile local network and balance resource capacities. To address sustainable farming for smallholder farmers, we examine the development of a cross-border supply chain between Japanese farmers knowledgeable in sustainable agricultural practices and less experienced Thai farmers. We explore how the comprehensive agricultural support system cooperatively established by Thailand and Japan encourages Thai farmers to practice sustainable farming, thereby creating a societal impact. The key drivers for implementing sustainable agricultural practices are strong collaboration among organizations in the private sector and agricultural cooperatives, building transparency and support systems, and adapting to the characteristics of the society.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100087"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142530056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Social impacts of the network \"Composing Worlds: Humanities, Health and Well-Being\"","authors":"Marina Lencastre , Rui Estrada , Diogo Guedes Vidal , Hélder Silva Lopes , Elsa Simões","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100085","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100085","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the twenty-first century, the interaction between humans and their ecological, sociocultural, and technological environment poses significant challenges, particularly regarding health and well-being. This paper contends that understanding these dynamics requires an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on the humanities, arts, social sciences, and health sciences. The \"Composing Worlds\" project addresses these issues by fostering interdisciplinary research, training, and cultural innovation, adopting a participatory approach, involving experts from different fields to uncover perspectives on crucial issues. The thematic analysis identifies collective correspondences covering critical thinking in health, environmental sustainability, technological advances, and bioethics. These axes guide transdisciplinary research and cultural activities to address 21st-century concerns. By promoting critical thinking and meaningful research, it aims to create a global narrative with a relational ethical connotation that encourages dialogue and reflection on changing societal paradigms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100085"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Societal ImpactsPub Date : 2024-09-24DOI: 10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100084
Ana Beatriz Devantier Henzel , Flávio Sacco dos Anjos , Ernestino de Souza Gomes Guarino
{"title":"The multifunctionality of rural space: Agriculture and pedagogical rural tourism in the southernmost region of Brazil","authors":"Ana Beatriz Devantier Henzel , Flávio Sacco dos Anjos , Ernestino de Souza Gomes Guarino","doi":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100084","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100084","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The article addresses pedagogical rural tourism developed by farmer families in the southernmost region of Brazil. Three agricultural production units were evaluated, which host students and teachers for classes on agroforestry, agroecology, and natural resource conservation. It is noted that farmers play an important role as educators, highlighting the multifunctionality of rural space and agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101167,"journal":{"name":"Societal Impacts","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100084"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142358814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}