Search Results (293)

Education is crucial for addressing the global biodiversity crisis and encouraging behaviours that support sustainable resource use and biodiversity protection. Species identification skills are an important part of biodiversity education, but research shows that educational practitioners have limited species knowledge and preferences for certain biodiversity. This study compares UK practitioners’ knowledge, awareness, and perceptions regarding four biodiversity categories (invertebrates, mammals, birds, flowering plants). UK schoolteachers in primary education, secondary science, and geography (n = 192) completed an online survey, comprising an identification test, free listing exercise, Likert scale, and closed and open-text questions. Knowledge was poor overall but highest for birds and mammals, followed by plants and lastly invertebrates. Few respondents correctly identified all six plant species, and none correctly identified all six invertebrates. Identification knowledge was positively associated with age, nature connectedness, and type of university degree. Relative awareness was high for mammals, similar for trees, flowers and birds, and low for invertebrates and other vertebrate groups. Respondents perceived colourful flying species as attractive but species with stinging structures as unattractive. Approximately half the respondents thought it was important for teachers to possess identification skills and two thirds thought that children had poor identification skills. The potential impacts of low invertebrate knowledge and awareness on environmental education are discussed and solutions proposed for teacher training, support, and classroom interventions. Full article

Driven by the digital transformation of territorial spatial governance, traditional urban planning is irreversibly shifting towards a data-driven empirical paradigm. However, constrained by mimetic isomorphism and path dependence, many geography-based regional universities remain trapped in an educational dilemma: they overemphasize morphological representation while marginalizing quantitative decision-making, fostering a structural mismatch between graduate competencies and industry demands. To explore a systematic pathway out of this dilemma, this study chronicles a three-year pedagogical intervention utilizing a mixed-methods design with a historical control cohort (N = 275) within the urban planning program of Gansu Agricultural University—a regional institution situated in a less-developed frontier where territorial renewal demands macro-spatial synthesis over aesthetic forms. The intervention strategically redefined the graduate competency profile as “spatial data analysts”, constructing a pedagogical model comprising foundational algorithmic training, cross-disciplinary faculty collaboration, and real-world Project-Based Learning (PBL), coupled with a restructured, evidence-based evaluation system. Longitudinal tracking and quantitative analyses indicate a structural alignment with elevated educational efficacy. At the macro level of employment trajectories, the proportion of graduates securing knowledge-intensive data positions experienced a structural shift, rising from a baseline of 14.5% to 42.5%, reflecting an enhanced capacity to capitalize on expanding societal demands. At the meso level of practical competence, the award rate in high-level professional competitions increased by 35.4%. At the micro cognitive level, the new evaluation mechanism is associated with a successful redirection of students’ cognitive resources toward algorithmic logic and policy translation (p < 0.001) while highly significantly enhancing their self-efficacy in tackling complex, wicked engineering problems (p < 0.001). Rather than isolating pure causal mechanics, this study interprets these systemic gains as a contextual realignment of academic supply. It provides a context-sensitive, reproducible methodological reference for cultivating professional distinctiveness and reshaping the spatial planning education system in the digital era. Full article

Background/Objectives: Quality improvement (QI) is widely used in global health to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and strengthen service delivery. The Texas Children’s Global Health Network (TCGHN) includes nine independent non-governmental organizations supporting healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with pediatric HIV clinical centers of excellence in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), supported technically by Baylor College of Medicine. We describe the development of a virtual QI Community of Practice (QICoP) to connect geographically dispersed teams and strengthen local QI capacity. Methods: In 2022, QI and global health experts convened to design the QICoP and assess site readiness. Participants were recruited from the sites based on their interest. Meetings were held via Zoom, with attendance, evaluations, and organizer notes tracked. QI tools were used to identify site strengths, challenges, and strategies to improve engagement. Results: From January 2023 to September 2024, the QICoP held 15 sessions, including 3 abstract-writing workshops, averaging 35 participants per session. QI abstract submissions to the annual Network meeting doubled from 2023 to 2024. Across 15 sessions, 83% of participants reported positive experiences. Based on participant feedback and QI sessions from the 2022–2024 Network meetings, we developed a blended QI basics curriculum, recruited site champions to improve communication, and launched a WhatsApp platform to enhance engagement. Conclusions: A virtual QICoP may be a feasible model to support professional development, increase knowledge and idea sharing, and connect individuals across geographies over a shared mission to improve healthcare quality in LMICs. Full article

Diabetes disproportionately affects rural populations in the United States where prevalence and associated complications remain among the highest in the nation. Access to diabetes education and support services is often limited by geography, socioeconomic barriers, and workforce shortages. This study qualitatively explored participant experiences in a telehealth-based Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program. This study uses interview techniques and takes a phenomenological approach to exploring the lived experiences of 27 program participants. Transcripts were analyzed through three cycles of coding to identify shared themes. Four themes emerged: (1) structural benefits of the program, (2) knowledge gained, (3) lifestyle changes implemented, and (4) improved quality of life. Participants consistently emphasized the value of personalized coaching, emotional encouragement, and practical nutrition education. Findings suggest that individualized telehealth coaching plays an important role in diabetes self-management, particularly in rural and underserved populations. By combining personalization with education and encouragement, programs can improve patient engagement, enhance self-efficacy, and support meaningful behavior change. Full article

Urban tourism research has long recognised that understanding cities depends not only on accumulated knowledge but also on the ability to read space, interpret urban form and connect physical settings with cultural meaning. Although these ideas are well established in tourism geography, fewer studies have examined how such skills can be developed through structured learning activities in higher education. This article addresses this gap by analysing the Urban Hunting Game (UHG) as a place-based learning approach designed to strengthen students’ spatial awareness and analytical capacity to interpret urban environments through fieldwork and digital mapping. The UHG was implemented in two European cities, Porto and Kaunas, through distinct pedagogical structures shaped by local conditions. In Porto, students followed a collaborative process using uMap to co-create a single itinerary. In Kaunas, international student groups independently designed thematic routes using MyMaps. This differentiated methodological approach proved advantageous, as it showed how different levels of autonomy and digital engagement influence spatial decisions, interpretive strategies and the narratives that the students construct. Based on student-generated maps and observational notes, the findings show that the UHG enhances spatial literacy, encourages attention to detail and supports the translation of field observation into coherent tourism experiences. This study contributes to tourism geography by illustrating how map-centred, place-based learning methodologies can be adapted to diverse urban contexts and by highlighting their potential to develop interpretive and analytical competences relevant to urban tourism studies. Full article

Contemporary global challenges are characterized by their complexity and cannot be adequately understood from a single disciplinary perspective, but they require knowledge and methods from multiple fields. To prepare students for their future roles as informed decision-makers, fostering interdisciplinary knowledge is essential. In this study, an interdisciplinary learning environment was developed on the topic of sustainable consumption using apple consumption, integrating the disciplines of mathematics, geography and computer science. At the end of the learning environment, students were asked to write a critical statement on whether an apple from overseas is more climate-friendly than a local apple. Written arguments of n = 52 students were analyzed to identify the types of arguments they used and the competencies they gained. Using qualitative content analysis, the data revealed that students referred to ecological, economic, and social aspects in their reasoning. Notably, the findings demonstrate that students did not limit their reasoning to the content explicitly covered in the teaching unit. They also integrated arguments derived from their everyday experiences and personal knowledge, demonstrating the interplay between formal learning and informal understanding. Therefore, this study highlights how interdisciplinary learning settings can promote critical thinking, system thinking, and decision-making in the context of sustainability education. Full article

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element. The bioactivity of Se arises from its incorporation into the 21st amino acid, selenocysteine (Sec). Twenty-five human genes have been identified that encode selenoproteins, each of which contains at least one Sec residue. Selenoprotein functions include antioxidant responses, thyroid hormone synthesis, and maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. Due to its role in critical cellular functions, Se deficiency is associated with morbidities of the cardiovascular system and connective tissue in regions of countries with low soil Se content. While these morbidities are geography-specific and have been mitigated in adults through public health interventions, preterm infants remain susceptible to Se deficiency worldwide. Infants born preterm are deprived of fetal Se accrual in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, a deficiency compounded by higher Se needs than term infants and older infants and dependence on parenteral nutrition (PN) and fortification. In addition, the composition of selenoproteins and selenometabolites in human milk is different from that in formula and PN, yet little is known about the biological impact of these differences. The knowledge gap in optimal Se supplementation is reflected in discrepant guidelines between North American and European/Chinese nutrition societies, whose recommended Se supplementation in preterm infants differs by more than 2-fold. In this review, we describe the biosynthesis, metabolism, and maternal-fetal transfer of Se. In addition, we address how developmentally regulated aspects of metabolism may impact how preterm infants respond to supplementation with different forms of Se. Lastly, we highlight current challenges and recommendations for optimizing Se levels in neonates based on available data. Full article

Traditional fieldwork in Physical Geography courses is considered a key activity to fix concepts and ideas taught in class. Unfortunately, it is a complex and expensive activity. Over recent decades, with the advancement and emergence of new technological tools, part of the traditional fieldwork has been replaced by virtual fieldwork techniques. In this study, we analyzed and evaluated the perceptions of the students in relation to the traditional fieldwork, focusing on the reinforcement of the concepts taught in class. After several extensive fieldwork campaigns, we evaluated a group of Physical Geography students through tests, which assessed perceptions related to learning enhancement, skill acquisition, motivation and environmental awareness, and we confirmed that the traditional fieldwork allowed the students not only to reinforce their knowledge, but also to acquire new skills and improve their understanding of the importance of environmental conservation. Full article

Depopulation threatens livelihoods, services, and cultural landscapes. In the scientific literature, tourism is frequently discussed as a potential lever in depopulation contexts, yet reported demographic outcomes vary widely across settings. We conducted a PRISMA-informed systematic review of Web of Science and Scopus (1993–2025), identifying 268 articles that were coded using a hybrid bibliometric–narrative approach into thematic axes and reported effect directions (positive, neutral, negative). Reported outcomes are heterogeneous and conditional rather than uniform. Tourism is associated with positive demographic trajectories, primarily where it is embedded in diversified local economies, supported by strong social capital, and integrated into coordinated governance and planning frameworks; negative or neutral outcomes recur under tourism monoculture, strong seasonality, housing pressure, and weak territorial regulation. Keyword co-occurrence and narrative analyses identify three dominant thematic clusters (rural development, spatial–cultural transformation, and sustainability) structured around depopulation as the central conceptual node. The geography of knowledge production further indicates a strong European concentration, particularly in Southern Europe, where tourism is explicitly framed as a policy response to demographic decline, while non-European research adopts more analytical and sectoral perspectives. Overall, this review shows that tourism functions as a contingent territorial lever rather than a universal remedy: its demographic associations depend on institutional, spatial, and socio-economic configurations. By systematically organizing fragmented evidence, the study clarifies when tourism is reported to support demographic stabilization, and when it is reported to have no effect or to coincide with continued decline, providing a clearer analytical basis for future comparative research and context-sensitive territorial policy design. Full article

Tire and road wear particles (TRWPs) are formed at the frictional interface of the tire and road surface and consist of polymer-containing tread with pavement mineral and binder encrustations. Their detection in various environmental compartments globally sparks increasing societal and regulatory interest. Solid quantitative information as a basis for managing and mitigating TRWPs in the environment is lacking however. This paper presents and demonstrates a model approach that produces catchment-scale terrestrial and aquatic TRWP mass balances anywhere in the world. A spatially and temporally explicit modelling method was used that builds on publicly available global datasets and process-based open-source modelling frameworks to describe hydrological processes, TRWP releases, fate and transport under a wide range of climatic conditions. High-resolution (<1 km) models were implemented and evaluated by demonstrating consistency with available field data for three watersheds on different continents. The approach provides comprehensive mass balances to underpin management of TRWPs that account for socio-economic, climate, geography and stormwater management gradients. Case study results revealed strong climate-induced differences: the fraction of vehicle-generated TRWPs exported to the estuarine environment varied between 2% (Seine watershed, France) to 18% (Yodo River watershed, Japan), corresponding to an increase in the fraction released to freshwater ecosystems from 20% to 36%, respectively. The modelling framework provides a consistent comparison between watersheds across the world. Limitations of the approach are its lack of local details and the uncertainties stemming from the still-developing scientific knowledge base. Full article

Universities and governments are steadily recognising international students as strategic assets due to their contributions to cultural exchange, global visibility, and economic growth. However, international higher education institutions continue to face challenges in delivering contextually relevant curricula, particularly in disciplines related to urban development, such as urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, and urban management. In these fields, international graduates must navigate complex professional environments shaped by local regulations and socio-cultural norms in their home countries. Accordingly, this study examined the post-graduation employment experiences of international graduates in disciplines related to urban planning and development. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with eleven master graduates (2010–2024) employed in their home countries, data were subjected to analysis using inductive thematic analysis in NVivo 15. Through iterative comparison, the following five major themes were identified: (1) nature of the studied discipline, (2) curriculum design, (3) job classification, (4) employment location, and (5) job culture ecosystem differences. Findings revealed a tension between globally oriented training and locally grounded job expectations. Graduates often face difficulties applying international academic models to local practices, undervaluation of qualifications, and challenges in cultural and professional reintegration. Nonetheless, many leverage their international exposure to introduce innovative solutions, sustainability principles and cross-cultural perspectives in local urban projects. The study highlights the need for context-sensitive curricula and institutional support to bridge global knowledge and domestic employment systems. Such efforts are forecasted to enhance graduate employability whilst reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a competitive higher-education hub in the Asia–Pacific region. Full article

The mainstreaming of remote work has catalyzed the rise of the new tribe, the kinetic elite, a demographic comprising digital nomads and workationers who utilize technology to separate work from geography. Yet, this apparently free lifestyle often leads to a freedom trap, where the collapsing boundaries between work and leisure necessitate intense self-discipline within spaces originally architected for tourism. Drawing on an integrated framework of quality of destination features, service, and experience, this study investigates the antecedents of satisfaction and loyalty for this niche market of mobile workforce. Data were collected from 325 international digital nomads and workationers in Thailand using a purposive sampling approach. The proposed integrated model was empirically tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The analysis challenges the hardware-first paradigm of destination development. Findings indicate that while digital infrastructure (connectivity) and geoarbitrage (value) are non-negotiable baselines, they employ limited influence on ultimate satisfaction. Instead, human infrastructure, specifically the quality of staff and host–community interactions, emerges as the primary determinant in converting a location from a travel stop into a functional home base. These results advocate for a strategic plan toward precision niche marketing, moving beyond a homogenous view of the sector to target the community-seeking segment. Furthermore, the study frames community integration as a core practice of social sustainability, suggesting that for destinations to evolve into vibrant knowledge ecologies, Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) must prioritize community facilitation and smart policies that mitigate the social isolation inherent in nomadic life. Full article

Accurate reservoir water level forecasting is essential for water resource management, flood risk mitigation, and hydropower operation. However, it remains challenging due to pronounced geographical heterogeneity and complex multi-scale temporal dynamics. Existing deep-learning approaches typically overlook explicit geographical and climatic conditioning. They struggle to capture temporal dependencies across multiple time scales. They also exhibit limited transferability across reservoirs with similar hydrological characteristics. To address these limitations, this paper proposes GeoFormer, a geography-aware adaptive Transformer framework designed for reservoir water level forecasting across diverse geographical contexts. GeoFormer integrates three key innovations. First, a Geography-Aware Embedding Module conditions temporal representations on geographical location, climate regimes, and reservoir attributes. Second, an Adaptive Multi-Scale Temporal Fusion mechanism dynamically aggregates information across daily, weekly, and monthly temporal resolutions. Third, a Cross-Reservoir Knowledge Transfer strategy enables effective knowledge sharing among hydrologically similar reservoirs. Extensive experiments on six reservoirs distributed across multiple continents and climate zones demonstrate that GeoFormer consistently outperforms state-of-the-art baselines, including iTransformer, DLinear, and Informer. The model achieves average reductions of 23.7% in RMSE, 19.4% in MAE, and 15.8% in MAPE, while maintaining strong robustness and generalization across geographically heterogeneous hydrological systems. Full article

This study aims to identify students’ perceptions of the teaching strategy employed by teachers during the Geography teaching–learning process, given that the experimental group used Google Earth Pro. The research sample consisted of 229 participants. The research methods were surveys and statistical analysis. The research hypotheses were based on the following premises: the use of Google Earth Pro software could influence students’ perceptions differently in terms of its impact on their personal learning experience and the teaching strategy applied in the classroom as a whole; there could be an association between how students perceived Google Earth Pro software and the benefits of this digital tool as a learning aid and as an integral part of the teaching strategy. The research hypotheses were statistically validated using the statistical test for comparing proportions and means and the chi-square test—Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The research results highlighted statistically significant differences between the experimental group (B) and the control group (A) in most components of the teaching–learning–assessment strategy (method, learning tools and teaching resources used, student organization) but also in terms of students’ interest and motivation for learning Geography, the content taught, the targeted skills, and the time allocated by students to preparing for Geography lessons. GEP brings numerous benefits to the teaching–learning process of Geography, having a positive impact on: understanding the content taught, applying what has been learned and transposing it into a new context, making connections with other disciplines, critical thinking, consolidating prior knowledge, and improving STEM knowledge. Full article

Accurately forecasting demand for intermittent items is essential for effective inventory control, improved service levels, and cost reduction. This study focuses on highly sparse, irregular, and volatile demand patterns and proposes a generalizable multi-source data-driven framework for intermittent demand forecasting, using automotive spare parts as a representative application scenario. The proposed framework integrates Transformer networks, multi-graph convolutional networks (GCNs), and a Mamba-based feature fusion module. The Transformer captures long-term temporal dependencies in historical demand sequences, while the multi-graph GCN incorporates prior knowledge—including traffic geography, socioeconomic indicators, and environmental attributes—to model spatial correlations across multiple supply nodes. The Mamba-based fusion module then integrates temporal and spatial features into a unified representation, enhancing predictive accuracy and robustness. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets of automotive spare parts in China show that the proposed framework exhibits competitive and often superior performance compared with TiDE, FSNet, Informer, and DLinear across multiple forecasting horizons (3-, 6-, and 9-step), as measured by RMSE, MAE, and $R^2$. The proposed approach provides a practical and adaptable solution for forecasting intermittent demand, offering valuable support for dynamic inventory management. Full article