Search Results (322)

Urban sustainability challenges demand integrated frameworks capable of addressing the dynamic, non-linear nature of cities. This study explores how the principles of the circular economy and complexity theory intersect to support systemic transformation in sustainable urban planning. Through a systematic literature review of 71 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025, we analyze conceptual, methodological, and practical articulations across multiple thematic axes, including circular governance, urban metabolism, regenerative design, adaptive planning, digital integration, and environmental justice. Bibliometric and content analyses were conducted using Scopus metadata, VOSviewer for thematic clustering, and the StArt software (Version 3.4) to structure article selection. The findings reveal that circular economy provides practical tools for resource efficiency and regeneration, while complexity theory offers an adaptive framework to navigate uncertainty, emergent behaviors, and feedback dynamics. The synthesis suggests that their integration enables a more holistic and resilient approach to urban transformation. However, gaps remain in social inclusivity, long-term assessment, and the operationalization of complexity-informed planning. This study contributes to advancing a transdisciplinary agenda for circular and adaptive urban futures, offering insights for scholars, planners, and policymakers aiming to reconfigure cities within planetary boundaries. Full article

The justice system has increasingly applied AI techniques for legal judgment to enhance efficiency. However, most AI techniques focus on decision-making outcomes, failing to capture the deliberative nature of the real-world judicial process. To address these challenges, we propose a large language model-based multi-agent framework named AgentsBench. Our approach leverages multiple LLM-driven agents that simulate the discussion process of the Chinese judicial bench, which is often composed of professional and lay judge agents. We conducted experiments on a legal judgment prediction task, and the results show that our framework outperforms existing LLM-based methods in terms of performance and decision quality. By incorporating these elements, our framework reflects real-world judicial processes more closely, enhancing accuracy, fairness, and societal consideration. While the simulation is based on China’s lay judge system, our framework is generalizable and can be adapted to various legal scenarios and other legal systems involving collective decision-making processes. Full article

This entry explores the multifaceted intersections of gender and digital technologies, offering a comprehensive analysis of how structural inequalities are reproduced, contested, and transformed in digital contexts. It is structured into six interrelated sections that collectively address key dimensions of gendered digital contexts. It begins by addressing the gender digital divide, particularly in the Global South, emphasizing disparities in access, literacy, and sociocultural constraints. The second section examines gendered labor in the tech industry, highlighting persistent inequalities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, employment, and platform-based work. The third part focuses on gender representation in digital spaces, revealing how algorithmic and platform design perpetuate biases. The fourth section discusses gender bias in AI and disinformation, underscoring the systemic nature of digital inequalities. This is followed by an analysis of online gender-based violence, particularly its impact on marginalized communities and participation in digital life. The final section considers the potentials and limitations of digital activism in advancing gender justice. These sections collectively argue for an intersectional, inclusive, and justice-oriented approach to technology policy and design, calling for coordinated global efforts to create equitable digital futures. Full article

This article presents a theological framework of a Theology of Living, which seeks to reimagine the task of theology as a lived, communal and practical enterprise. Departing from purely systematic or disembodied approaches, this theology emphasises the relational and contextual dimensions of Christian faith. The embedded nature of theology acknowledges that theological reflection is always situated within particular histories, cultures and communities. The deliberative dimension foregrounds the necessity of intentional, dialogical discernment in response to complex moral and spiritual challenges. The embodied aspect affirms that theology is not merely spoken or written, but enacted through the rhythms of everyday life, worship and service. Drawing upon pastoral experience, biblical reflection and theological discourse, this article proposes that such an integrated approach to theology not only bridges the gap between doctrine and practice but also reclaims theology’s vocational role in forming individuals and communities shaped by love, justice and hope. Full article

In an era marked by accelerating ecological degradation and widening global inequalities, prevailing patterns of resource extraction and consumption are proving increasingly unsustainable. Driven by hyper-consumption and entrenched linear production models, the global economy continues to exert immense pressure on planetary systems. This communication article calls for a fundamental paradigm shift from the long-standing assumption of resource abundance to a framework of responsible scarcity. Drawing from recent data on material throughput, on the transgression of planetary boundaries, and on the structural and geopolitical disparities underlying global resource use, this article highlights the urgent need to realign natural resource governance with ecological limits and social justice. A conceptual framework is proposed to support this transition, grounded in principles of ecological constraint, functional sufficiency, equity, and long-term resilience. The article concludes by outlining a forward-thinking research and policy agenda aimed at fostering sustainable and just modes of resource utilization in the face of growing environmental and socio-economic challenges. Full article

Despite decades of ongoing efforts to address gender equality, female physicians, particularly women of color, continue to face significant barriers in medicine, which are exacerbated by microaggressions. In this qualitative study, 133 female physicians recalled experiences with microaggressions and the impact of these experiences on their professional identities and career progression. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: (1) disregard for professional status; (2) undermining contributions; (3) intersectionality; (4) impact on career mobility and professional confidence. Further, there was one emerging theme: leadership and culture. The results underscore the compounding effects of microaggressions for female physicians with intersecting identities. Highlighting the application of social identity theory, intersectionality, and organizational justice, this study provides a comprehensive view of the impact of microaggressions on female physicians, offering new perspectives on the intersectional nature of discrimination and its effects on professional identity and career satisfaction. Full article

As global environmental challenges intensify, there is an increasing need to equip younger generations with the knowledge, values, and sense of responsibility necessary for a sustainable future. This study explores how environmental citizenship education (ECE), implemented through a nature-based learning program within a Nature and Science School (NSS) in Türkiye, was experienced and interpreted by primary school pupils in relation to their development of understanding of sustainability and environmental citizenship. NSSs, integrated into the formal education system by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, offer inquiry-driven and experiential learning in natural settings. The study took place in Talat Göktepe Grove, a biodiverse site including forest and marine ecosystems, where a four-month ECE program was conducted. A holistic single-case study design was employed, drawing on pupil diaries and semi-structured interviews. A total of 88 pupils engaged in structured outdoor activities addressing biodiversity, sustainability, and the climate crisis. Initially, pupils described environmental citizenship through individual actions. Over time, their perspectives expanded to include civic participation, environmental rights, and collective responsibility. Their reflections also revealed a more nuanced understanding of sustainability, encompassing concepts such as ecosystem balance, renewable energy, and environmental justice. The study provides insight into how nature-based education may support meaning-making around environmental citizenship and sustainability in early education. Full article

Planetary health is a transdisciplinary concept that erases the dividing lines between individual and community health, and the natural systems that support the wellbeing of humankind. Despite planetary health’s broad emphasis on justice, the promotion of science-based policies, and stated commitments to fairness, equity, and harm reduction, the criminal justice system has largely escaped scrutiny. This seems to be a major oversight, especially because the criminalization of mental illness is commonplace, and the system continues to be oriented around a prescientific compass of retribution and folk beliefs in willpower, moral fiber, and blameworthiness. Justice-involved juveniles and adults are funneled into landscapes of mass incarceration with ingrained prescientific assumptions. In non-criminal realms, such as obesity, there is a growing consensus that folk psychology ideas must be addressed at the root and branch. With this background, the Nova Institute for Health convened a transdisciplinary roundtable to explore the need for a ‘Copernican Revolution’ in the application of biopsychosocial sciences in law and criminal justice. This included discussions of scientific advances in neurobiology and omics technologies (e.g., the identification of metabolites and other biological molecules involved in behavior), the need for science education, ethical considerations, and the public health quarantine model of safety that abandons retribution. Full article

The events of 2020 reached a fever pitch with the May 25th murder of George Floyd, but earlier on the same morning, a chance encounter between dogwalker Amy Cooper and birding enthusiast Christian Cooper also laid bare enduring social relations. As video footage of the encounter spread across social media, it sparked both public outrage and discourse regarding Black nature enthusiasts. Employing a historical-interpretive method informed by conversation analysis and guided by “whiteness as property,” I assemble news articles, social media posts, and video footage to analyze the events in Central Park and their aftermath. To unsettle existing paradigms regarding who we imagine are entitled to the great outdoors, I identify potential collaborative partners across scales who can further the goals of education, recruitment, and visibility for Black nature enthusiasts and professionals. I demonstrate how expanding environmental justice to include anti-Black racial violence allows us to recognize that the specter of lynching defies geographic boundaries, diffusing across space and time, occasionally coalescing to defend white privilege and historic racial orders. Full article

The purpose of this study is to describe Thich Nhat Hanh’s naturalism and nondualism and to situate his views in a “trans-different” perspective. I ask whether his thoughts are compatible with other worldviews that work with the notion of justice. I first describe Nhat Hanh’s attitude towards nature. I then demonstrate how his non-separation from nature paves the way for an interconnectedness with all and how his nonduality leads him to a universal belonging. Finally, juxtaposing Nhat Hanh’s nondualism and a justice-oriented approach, I argue that in a “trans-different” perspective different approaches to suffering and peace may learn from each other and complement each other. Full article

Weight stigma remains a pervasive issue in contemporary society, impacting individuals’ psychological well-being, social inclusion, and access to opportunities. This study explored the lived experiences of overweight women, focusing on body image, stigma, and engagement with dominant health and beauty norms. Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, online in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 women aged 25 to 51, primarily residing in southern and eastern Europe (Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Romania, and Bulgaria), with three participants from the United Kingdom. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes: workplace discrimination, pressures during pregnancy and the postpartum period, ambivalence toward body positivity movements, and the emotional toll of stigma, including extreme coping strategies. Participants described being marginalized professionally, scrutinized publicly and within families, and caught between ideals of inclusivity and persistent societal rejection. The findings emphasize the psychological burden of weight-based discrimination and the superficial nature of many body acceptance campaigns. This study calls for structural changes in healthcare, media, and employment practices to support body diversity and dismantle entrenched biases. By centering the voices of overweight women, the research contributes to broader discussions on embodiment, social justice, and intersectionality within the field of body image scholarship. Full article

Climate-amplified extreme heat events are particularly dangerous for city dwellers. Nature-based solutions such as urban greening may serve as an effective preventative strategy against extreme heat. Driven by historical injustices such as redlining, disadvantaged communities often face limited green space and a heightened risk of vulnerability to extreme heat in urban environments. This paper investigates community engagement strategies for heat-vulnerable community participation in urban greening research as a part of a broader transdisciplinary environmental research praxis focused on multistakeholder co-creation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with community leaders in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods in New York City to explore community co-creation in the design and implementation of tree planting, and compared these themes with interviews with urban tree professionals and other community groups. Overall, the participants agreed on broad themes of environmental justice, intergenerational engagement, community building, and socioecological relationships, although community leaders differed in both a greater emphasis of experiential knowledge and reduced focus on volunteer community stewardship. The findings inform our research process and associated community engagement, including building online resources and addressing community-specific concerns during the research process. We conclude by recommending future steps for facilitating multistakeholder conversations to build inclusive and equitable urban greening heat-adaptive strategies. Full article

Background: Forensic investigation of child homicides presents unique challenges due to the vulnerability of children and the complexity of distinguishing between natural, accidental, and intentional manner of death. A multidisciplinary approach integrating traditional forensic methods with emerging technologies is crucial to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective legal outcomes. Methods: This review examines current and emerging forensic techniques used in neonate, infant, and older child homicide investigations. It highlights advancements in postmortem imaging, histological examination, microbiological analysis, toxicology, and molecular autopsy. Results: Traditional forensic autopsy remains the cornerstone of child homicide investigations, providing critical insights into external and internal injuries. Histological examination enhances diagnostic accuracy by detecting microscopic evidence of trauma and infectious diseases. Postmortem imaging techniques are complementary for better identifying fractures, soft tissue injuries, and vascular abnormalities. Forensic toxicology plays a key role in detecting poisoning, while postmortem microbiology aids in identifying infectious causes of death. Furthermore, advancements in molecular autopsy and genetic testing have significantly enhanced the identification of hereditary conditions linked to sudden unexplained deaths in children, especially in cases involving multiple child fatalities within the same family, where forensic investigations are needed to accurately differentiate between natural causes and potential criminal involvement. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach incorporating traditional autopsy with postmortem imaging, histological examination, toxicology, postmortem microbiology, and molecular autopsy is essential for comprehensive forensic analysis, promoting both justice and prevention of fatal child abuse/homicide. Future research should focus on standardizing forensic protocols and exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in forensic investigations. Full article

Promoting sustainability in higher education is a social and environmental imperative. This paper explores how and why volunteering at a campus community garden (CCG) can serve as a unique context for promoting sustainability. Twenty-five undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 27, who had volunteered at a campus garden, participated in individual semi-structured interviews. A majority of participants identified as female (80%) and Asian American (52%). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we first found students were motivated to volunteer for personal and academic reasons as well as to learn more about gardening. Childhood gardening experiences influenced participants’ re-engagement as adults. Second, building social connections and spending time in nature, especially when living in an urban area, sustained students’ engagement in the garden, whereas time constraints and physical tasks made it challenging to volunteer. Finally, the findings suggest that volunteering promoted pro-environmental behaviors. Students felt that their volunteer work allowed them to make a positive environmental impact. Participants also gained new environmental knowledge and skills, which encouraged them to adopt environmentally friendly lifestyle changes, advocate for environmental and social justice issues, and reflect on how they might integrate pro-environmental behaviors into their future careers. Full article