Wetlands face pressure from rapid, unplanned urban development. COEXIST helps students to learn about the relationship between human activities and wetlands through stories based on a hero’s journey. We help students create stories, explore actions for change, and share the message among peers.

As we wake up to the unfolding new reality of this global health emergency, cognitions enhanced through mindfulness nurturing will become increasingly important for cooling the waters of a planet under pressure.

This project reviews water levels, proximity to human activity, and colony longevity ability to influence restoration of nesting colonization by examining their impact on the Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork. Using Wading birds as indicator species for changes in the ecosystem, can be interpreted to improve restoration management practices.

Minimal literature is available on qualitative aspects of cacao farming in the Americas, specifically in Colombia, a relative newcomer to the international cacao market. This study will use surveys and interviews to uncover influencing factors in cacao agriculture in the Afro-Colombian community of Jamundí.

We spend 90% of our time indoors where we are exposed to a complex mixture of microorganisms, which can impact human health. We characterized collection efficiencies for two common methods to prevent underestimation of exposure, with implications for allergies and asthma.

Discovery of new antibiotics is needed to combat antibiotic resistance. We found that habitat type had a significant influence on antibiotic producing bacteria in a large urban park. This study demonstrated that examining a wide range of source locations is needed for novel antibiotic discovery.

Antibiotic resistance and lack of novel antibiotics is a public health issue. In this study, we identified 10 antibiotic-producing bacterial isolates from tree hole water. This study demonstrates that various microenvironments should be considered when investigating for novel producers.

The Midwest Climate Summit is expanding regional climate knowledge, accelerating climate action, and catalyzing new partnerships to deepen expertise and strengthen a Midwestern response to the climate crisis. How can the Summit process and outcomes serve as a model for climate action advancement?

Diet is an often unrecognized, but large contributor to our carbon footprint. This project studies Residential Dining at Penn State University. It explores strategies to lower the carbon footprint through dining choices centered around more plant-based foods, sourcing food locally, reducing food waste, and using alternative materials for to-go containers.

Moving production of goods and services closer to the end users can have significant economic and environmental benefits. The carbon emissions and other impacts from thousands of miles of transportation can be eliminated. Local communities can be empowered by retaining employment opportunities.

This research investigates the challenges women face in refugee camps as well as the relationship between social and environmental issues to exhibit how one-off solutions may solve more than one problem and increase overall resilience for female refugees.

To reach solutions that address ocean challenges, there is a need for connections across generations, cultures, and disciplines. ArcGIS StoryMaps compile current research for educating and mobilizing citizen engagement. View at: https://bit.ly/thepowerofconnections

This study examined and provides knowledge on the spatial distribution of forest products manufacturers, major business hotspots, potential business clusters, and factors influencing the location of forest products manufacturers’ in North Carolina State.

This session examines how local institutions are incorporating new strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change in the absence of significant, comprehensive climate policy at the global, federal and state levels.