Search Results (86)

This article explores the importance of integrating socio-emotional competencies into the formal education of adolescents to promote sustainable development. It argues that social and emotional learning (SEL) not only enhances personal and academic well-being, but also facilitates the building of more resilient and sustainable communities. A scoping review was conducted using a qualitative methodology based on document analysis through matrix-based reviews. The 49 selected studies were analyzed in relation to the personality facets of the Big Five (OCEAN) model. The results of the interventions show improvements in self-efficacy, empathy, motivation, school climate, bullying reduction, and the prevention of mental health issues. It is concluded that a more holistic approach is needed, combining SEL with character education to achieve lasting impacts. Furthermore, interventions must be sensitive to cultural contexts and the specific realities of each school community. Full article

Wave energy converters are a nascent energy generation technology that harnesses the power in ocean waves. To assist in communicating both fundamental and complex concepts of wave energy, a small-scale portable wave tank and wave energy converter have been developed. The system has been designed using commercial off-the-shelf components, and all design hardware and software are openly available for replication. This project builds on prior research conducted at Sandia National Laboratories, particularly in the areas of WEC device design and control systems. By showcasing the principles of causal feedback control and innovative device design, SIWEED not only serves as a practical demonstration tool but also enhances the educational experience for users. This paper presents the detailed system design of this tool. Furthermore, via testing and analysis, we demonstrate the basic functionality of the system. Full article

People spend most of their time indoors, where air quality is crucial to health. In this context, this study conducts a critical review of ventilation strategies in schools to ensure air quality, as well as to guarantee students’ thermal comfort. Based on a bibliographical review, strategies from previous studies are identified and evaluated in order to determine their advantages. After a detailed search, a total of 19 articles were selected, which provides a thorough analysis of the ventilation strategies in school buildings considering thermal comfort. The identified strategies were categorized into natural, mechanical, and hybrid types. The results reveal a prevalence of natural ventilation, which accounts for over 50% of strategies in all climates. Mechanical ventilation is less common and is applicable to around 30% of cases. Hybrid strategies, combining natural and mechanical ventilation, are the least used and only appear in oceanic climates, with a usage rate of 20%. Most studies highlight the lack of air conditioning in many schools, making adequate thermal stress management through ventilation crucial. The results analyzed clearly show a lack of studies with optimal results whose ventilation strategies can be replicated in other similar educational buildings, ensuring thermal comfort and air quality. Full article

The Miné-Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark (aUGGp) in western Japan hosts several geologically significant heritage sites, including the Late Paleozoic Akiyoshi Limestone, the Late Triassic Mine Group, the Late Cretaceous Naganobori copper deposits, and the Akiyoshido Cave and karst plateau. The Akiyoshi Limestone at the Kaerimizu site originated as an atoll reef atop a seamount on an oceanic plate. It preserves approximately 80 million years of ancient marine environments and subduction-related tectonic histories. The Mine Group at the Momonoki site, with its coal-bearing strata, contains fossils of the earliest members of Diptera and Hymenoptera. The Naganobori copper mine at the Naganobori site played a vital role in Japanese society from the 8th to the 20th centuries. Meanwhile, the Akiyoshido site, renowned for its scenic beauty, is one of Japan’s most iconic tourist destinations. Using the IUGS guidelines and geoheritage assessment methodology, we reassessed the value and utilization of these geological heritage sites. The Kaerimizu and Momonoki sites were identified as internationally significant and ideal for scientific research. The Naganobori site was determined to be well-suited for educational purposes with national significance, while the Akiyoshido site was deemed optimal for geotourism with national significance. Full article

In many developing countries, economic growth is often prioritized, sidelining critical issues such as social inequality, pollution, climate change, ocean degradation, and pressing needs for health, education, food, and water management. Traditional linear models in organizations, based on product innovation and hierarchical governance, have been successful in certain contexts but are no longer viable in the face of finite natural resources and environmental degradation. This paper proposes a Systems Approach to Circular Economy as a practical framework for achieving “circular business-driven sustainability”, a concept proposed by major global organizations such as COP-25. This approach redefines sustainability, aiming to generate “sustainable wealth increasing returns” that benefit all key stakeholders, including the environment, society, and the economy. The primary objective of this paper is to introduce a new paradigm that facilitates the transition to more conscious, long-term growth. The proposed circular iterative thinking framework shifts from linear, reductionist thinking to a more holistic, systemic vision, underpinned by disruptive sustainable innovation. This novel paradigm creates positive impacts across the economy, environment, and global geopolitics. The paper demonstrates the application of this framework in two case studies, providing concrete evidence of its utility in real-world scenarios, including Heineken’s sustainable practices at its Meoqui brewery, which recovered methane for energy use, reduced water consumption, and contributed to local irrigation. The results underscore the effectiveness of the Systems Approach to Circular Economy in achieving economic decoupling and enhancing sustainability. Full article

Pursuing sustainable development is increasingly urgent due to resource depletion and environmental degradation, compounded by the need for a green energy transition requiring significant mineral resources. Traditional mining practices result in several environmental impacts, prompting the exploration of alternatives, like mining the ocean floor. This method offers a potentially less invasive way to obtain critical minerals. Notwithstanding, our understanding of the ocean ecosystem, which is crucial to Earth’s life support system, is still too limited. This study aimed to assess an educational intervention on sea mining for polymetallic nodules while improving scientific literacy and system thinking and supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4, 13, and 14. A pre-/post-intervention design was implemented with 17 adolescents (aged 12–16 years) from an underprivileged non-formal context. The mixed-methods approach involved role-playing and modelling activities focused on the question: “Do you agree with mining polymetallic nodules in deep-sea waters”? The Wilcoxon test revealed that the intervention changed participants’ opinions about the theme, showing a statistically significant difference in student responses before and after the intervention (Z = −2.165; p = 0.030). A content analysis showed enhanced argumentation, understanding of Earth’s subsystems, and decision-making abilities. These findings suggest that the educational resource positively impacted students’ scientific literacy on the topic. This approach can be extended to other contexts and inform future investigations. Full article

The Blue School Program is an educational initiative to enhance ocean literacy (OL) by fostering understanding and awareness of the ocean’s importance among students, teachers, and local communities. Through a holistic, interdisciplinary, and intercultural approach, it integrates scientific, cultural, and ethical dimensions of ocean education. This perspective paper examines the program’s implementation in Portugal, emphasizing its contribution to crucial educational domains such as sustainability education, scientific literacy, and citizenship education. The findings highlight notable achievements, including increased school and community engagement and the establishment of robust public-private partnerships, while also addressing challenges such as resource constraints and geographic disparities. By situating the Blue School Program within broader educational frameworks and analyzing its limitations and enablers, this paper offers insights and recommendations to support the collaborative development of Blue School networks and OL initiatives in diverse educational contexts. Full article

The Mediterranean Sea, a global biodiversity hotspot, faces significant threats that compromise its ecological health. While Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, their effectiveness is debated, and empirical data on their impact remain limited. This study evaluates the utility of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) from divers along the Spanish Mediterranean coast to assess perceived abundance of sentinel species in both MPAs and non-protected areas, in relation to empirical data, alongside divers’ attitudes toward ocean threats and conservation strategies. Divers perceived higher abundance and subjective health indicators of key species, such as Posidonia oceanica, octocorals, and top predators within MPAs, which aligns with empirical evidence supporting MPA effectiveness in conserving biodiversity and mitigating human disturbances. Notably, divers showed knowledge gaps, particularly underestimating climate change impacts while overemphasizing pollution threats. Diver education emerged as a critical factor in shaping conservation attitudes, with higher education levels correlating with increased environmental awareness and stronger support for conservation measures. This study underscores the potential of leveraging LEK in marine conservation strategies while acknowledging limitations related to self-reported data and regional specificity, advocating for expanded geographic scope and integration with empirical data in future research. Full article

The production of plastics and associated products, including microplastics (MPs), has been surging over the past several decades and now poses a grave environmental threat. This is because when not appropriately recycled, incinerated, or disposed of in fully contained landfills, plastic waste manifests as a potent pollutant, with vast amounts finding their way into oceans annually, adversely impacting marine life and ecosystems. Additionally, research also confirms there are direct impacts from MPs on water, air, and soil, impacting ecosystem and human health. This study investigated all aspects of plastics and microplastics such as their generation and consumption, their presence in oceans, and their ultimate fate. Next, a comprehensive literature search was performed to identify impacts MPs have on watercourses and soils and eventually on the ocean, taking into consideration the coupled impacts of metals and emerging contaminants adsorbed onto MPs. Then, a model to estimate the number of MPs in oceans and then using toxicity of MPs to humans and aquatic life to estimate when oceans would become toxic to humanity is described. Utilizing the model, it is possible to estimate the year when MPs in the ocean could potentially become broadly toxic, for both humanity and marine life, under different emissions scenarios. The estimates conclude that with the current MP discharge growth, oceans would become toxic to humanity between 2398 and 2456, for MP discharge growth only until 2020, it could be reached between 2408 and 2472, and for emissions ending in 2020, oceans would not become toxic to the humanity. Finally, remediation strategies are described to prevent oceans from becoming toxic to humanity by focusing on various action items such as education and awareness, reducing the utilization of single-use plastic, and conventional and innovative strategies that can be used for the treatment of stormwater and wastewater. Full article

In recent years, with the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, global warming has created a series of complex ecological challenges. Colleges and universities are still in the exploratory stage of constructing low-carbon campuses. This study takes the campus of Zhejiang Ocean University as the research object and obtains carbon emission data from it based on the emission coefficient method by visiting the site and issuing a questionnaire survey. A total of 246 questionnaires were collected in this study, which were quantitatively analyzed to further understand the composition of the carbon emission structure of universities and put forward the corresponding energy-saving and emission-reducing suggestions. This study actively responds to the national call for energy saving and emission reduction and aims to provide a data reference as well as scientific support for the construction of a low-carbon campus. The results show that in 2021, the carbon emissions of Zhejiang Ocean University were 3.39 × 10⁷ kg, of which direct carbon emissions were 3.34 × 10⁵ kg, accounting for 0.99% of the total carbon emissions; indirect carbon emissions were 1.50 × 10⁷ kg, accounting for 44.33% of the total; and other indirect carbon emissions were 1.85 × 10⁷ kg, accounting for the remaining 54.68%. Also, this study found that individuals in colleges and universities pay attention to carbon emissions, but it is difficult for them to maintain a low-carbon approach in daily life. Based on the results of the analysis, this study proposes a series of effective measures to reduce carbon emissions at the campus of Zhejiang Ocean University, unite students in colleges and universities, and fully implement the concepts of energy saving, emission reduction, and sustainable development in college life. Full article

In recent years, environmental pollution has become a global concern, but most of the attention has been paid to the impact of garbage pollution on the oceans, and the pollution of mountain areas has rarely been a concern. However, the amount of garbage in the mountains is also considerable. Therefore, in order to make students pay more attention to the issue of environmental protection, we promoted environmental education and increased environmental awareness to encourage green behavior for the goal of environmental sustainability. Foreign students have a better understanding of environmental protection through mountain cleaning, improve their knowledge of garbage sorting, and work together to protect our environment. Full article

The main problem confronting the world is human-caused climate change, which is intrinsically linked to the need for energy both now and in the future. Renewable (green) energy has been proposed as a future solution, and many renewable energy technologies have been developed for different purposes. However, progress toward net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the role of renewable energy in 2050 are not well known. This paper reviews different renewable energy technologies developed by different researchers and their potential and challenges to date, and it derives lessons for world and especially African policymakers. According to recent research results, the mean global capabilities for solar, wind, biogas, geothermal, hydrogen, and ocean power are 325 W, 900 W, 300 W, 434 W, 150 W, and 2.75 MWh, respectively, and their capacities for generating electricity are 1.5 KWh, 1182.5 KWh, 1.7 KWh, 1.5 KWh, 1.55 KWh, and 3.6 MWh, respectively. Securing global energy leads to strong hope for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as those for hunger, health, education, gender equality, climate change, and sustainable development. Therefore, renewable energy can be a considerable contributor to future fuels. Full article

This study aimed to fill a gap in the sustainable management of the reverse supply chain of Guaiamum and Uçá crab waste in Brazil, an endangered species. The study focused on the circular economy, governance, and recent developments, and identified circular economy practices in the utilization of solid waste from the fishing and collection of these species in extractive regions, in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A systematic literature review was conducted in major scientific databases. The selection of the 20 research publications followed pre-established criteria, including relevance to the SDGs and systematic review methodology. The results highlighted key variables related to the characteristics of by-products and the factors that influence the adoption of circular economy practices, in line with relevant SDGs. The most mentioned by-products include animal feed, organic fertilizer, biofuels, crab shell chitin biocomposite derivatives, as well as Chitosan-based composites for food packaging applications due to their non-toxicity, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. The study also identified future research opportunities covering education, policy, and management, in line with the UN SDGs. This study emphasizes the importance of the circular economy for solid crab waste in Brazil, a country with 12% of the world’s mangroves, which are essential both as a nursery for crabs and for ocean nutrition. It also analyzes current trends and initiatives in the reverse management of Guaiamum and Uçá crab waste, in the context of Supply Chain and Sustainable Management. Full article

Following a design-based research methodology, this investigation develops a pedagogical model to foster ocean citizenship through the application of a design cycle consisting of four phases: (1) preliminary research, (2) planning, (3) action and (4) evaluation. This article presents the results of phases 1 and 2, which define the conceptual foundation of the pedagogical model, and the planning of actions for its implementation in the school environment. The conceptual foundation was established by drawing upon the theoretical principles of a systemic/complex approach to education, along with theoretical-methodological elements compiled from the literature in the field of ocean literacy and ocean citizenship. During the planning phase, six educational activities were defined, to be conducted as part of a citizen science project to monitor the coastal zone. This model was developed with the objective of going beyond theoretical concepts, to offer schools a practical and objective guide for fostering ocean citizenship in basic education. Full article

The assessment of post-disaster recovery is often hindered by limited metric and longitudinal data, in addition to the dynamic and long-term processes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the early stages after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, using the Disaster Recovery Index (DRI). The two initial waves of Study of Tsunami and Aftermath Recovery (STAR) data were used to track the recovery process from 5 to 19 months after the tsunami. The results showed various recovery patterns in three affected areas and five sectors. Furthermore, recovery rates in the medium and heavily damaged areas increased by 2.05 and 7.45 percentage points, respectively, with a 0.33 percentage point decrease in the lightly damaged areas. The social and livelihood sectors showed rapid progress, supported by the establishment of temporary health and education facilities, including Cash-for-Work programs. Meanwhile, other sectors experienced slower recovery due to their complexity. The application of the DRI successfully showed the relative positions across affected areas and sectors over time in a simple way. This confirmed the variety of recoveries in subgroups in the community and suggested the importance of regularly measuring progress using standard metrics to observe long-term conditions. Full article