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Edumadze, John K. E.; Tenkorang, Eric Y.; Armah, Frederick A.; Luginaah, Isaac; Edumadze, Gladys E.
doi: 10.1080/1533015X.2013.876250pmid: N/A
E-waste contains hazardous chemicals and materials that threaten the environment and human health, when improperly disposed. This study examined levels of awareness of e-waste disposal among university students in Ghana, and their proenvironmental decision-making using two outcome variables: knowledge on environmental impact and policy issues (EIPI) and environmental behavior and sustainability (EBS). Reliability estimates (Cronbach's alpha) for the two outcomes variables were 0.91 and 0.72, respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to explore and determine the underlying factor structure for the latent constructs employed as dependent variables; and to verify the factor structure while testing the relationships between observed indicators and their underlying latent constructs. Ordinary Least Square techniques were then used to examine the effects of theoretically relevant covariates on the selected dependent variables. Results indicate satisfactory model adequacy, (χ2=33.59, df = 29; p < 0.255; RMSEA = 0.01). Awareness of e-waste among the students was generally low. Students’ awareness of e-waste contamination of air and soil (effects) was higher than their awareness of acceptable e-waste practices (change strategies) or environmental policy (vision). Gender and level of study were both positively related to environmental behavior and sustainability (EBS). Compared to females, males scored higher (b = 0.192) on EBS. Students in the lower levels of their university education scored higher (b = 0.256) on EBS, compared to those in upper years of university. Also, students in the lower levels of university scored higher on knowledge of environmental impact and policy (b = .0175), compared to those in upper years of university.
Robertson, Jodie; Edgar, Nick; Tyson, Ben
doi: 10.1080/1533015X.2013.876253pmid: N/A
In 2006, dairy farmers in the Aorere Catchment of New Zealand began to investigate allegations that they had a pollution problem affecting the viability of the community's shellfish industry. From 2007 to 2010, the New Zealand Landcare Trust's Aorere Catchment Project (ACP) helped farmers engage in actions to improve conditions in their waterways. Community involvement was a primary objective of the project and served as a major indicator of success. The actions farmers took to protect waterways and resultant improvements in water quality were also used to assess the efficacy of the project. This article discusses the underlying issues, the setting and the project, an evaluation of the project, and the results. Conclusions contrasting the situation in 2007 and 2010 show that great strides were made in terms of community involvement and application of best management practices, and there is evidence that this has resulted in improved water quality and safer conditions for shellfish harvesting.
Takahashi, Bruno; Tandoc, Edson C.
doi: 10.1080/1533015X.2013.876254pmid: N/A
We conducted a survey of environmental journalists in the United States to explore individual, routine, and organizational influences on perceived knowledge of environmental issues. Using the gatekeeping theory, we found that routine and organizational factors, such as orientation to particular sources and affiliation to an organization, predict perceived knowledge. Years of covering the beat, affiliation to a news organization, and orientation to particular sources, particularly scientific and business sources, predicted perceived knowledge. In terms of individual factors, we did not find any significant influence. The relevance of these findings in the context of journalists’ training is discussed.
Pacey, Carol A.; Marsh, Paul C.
doi: 10.1080/1533015X.2013.877711pmid: N/A
Limited public outreach programs about Arizona native fish exist and those that do are passive, fee-based, or Web-oriented, while others limit their geographic range. The program this article addresses sought to improve this situation with development of a state-wide outreach program with a goal to educate Arizona's children about native fish with an objective to generate excitement about these fish in elementary school children. Through on-site school visits using multimedia, interactive play, and hands-on activities, the Sharing Tails ® program educated 33,285 students about native fish from January 2009 through May 2011.
Mullen, Karina C.; Newman, Gregory; Thompson, Jessica L.
doi: 10.1080/1533015X.2013.876302pmid: N/A
Interviews with national park visitors across the country revealed that climate change education through place-based, hands-on learning using repeat photographs and technology is appealing to park visitors. This manuscript provides a summary of the development of a repeat photography citizen science Web site for national parks in Southwest Alaska. Lessons learned from interviews on the Web development process are summarized to inform similar future projects: (a) Hold a face-to-face meeting in the same location with the whole research group, (b) Provide a central document accessible to the entire group listing tasks completed and to be accomplished, (c) Create a well-developed marketing plan to promote Web site, and (d) Incorporate evaluation components throughout the process to ensure clear communication.
Krantz, Shelby; Monroe, Martha; Bartels, Wendy-Lin
doi: 10.1080/1533015X.2013.876305pmid: N/A
The Cooperative Extension Service in the United States can play an important role in educating forest landowners to improve forest resilience in the face of climatic uncertainty. Two focus groups in Florida informed the development of a program that was conducted in Leon County; presurveys and postsurveys and observation provided evaluation data. The Reasonable Person Model (RPM) was a helpful framework for developing the program and explaining results. Landowners desired more information in order to manage their forests in light of climate change after the program than before.
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