Gala

A recent article generating lots of buzz features a study by Dr. Bilal Butt, released just 2 weeks ago about wildlife/cattle co-existence in Kenya. https://lnkd.in/eUz-MDHM But did you know about the Gale case study he wrote with Marlotte de Jong called “Guns or GPS Units? How should African protected areas combat the ivory poaching crisis?” The first part of that title refers to the seminal decision of the case: how should the Mugie Conservancy, located in Kenya, prevent the poaching of wild elephants in the future? Four options are considered: the historical, technological, communal, and militaristic approach. Each is described in detail through a story presenting the positions of the various parties involved with running the conservancy. While the case addresses the benefits and drawbacks of each approach, it does not provide a definitive “correct” solution, instead prompting the reader to come to their own conclusion. It’s this aspect of the case that’s sure to engage students and learners! Check it out for yourself here: https://lnkd.in/ens9DcBu

Heads up! WDI is running a virtual exchange programs that will connect young people from United States to the Middle East and North Africa! if you’re interested in climate entrepreneurship, take a look! https://lnkd.in/evmxBjiD

This weekend we’ll be looking at one instructor using Gala to inform others about sustainability topics: Brandon Marc Finn! Finn’s latest study has focused on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the mining of copper and cobalt has led to the city of Lubumbashi's involvement in global industry. In the study, Finn recontextualizes the history of the last hundred years in terms of labor, socio-economic dynamics, and exploitation. Contradicting the idea that large cities exert the most influence over history, the study places Lubumbashi “at the center of historical geopolitical events over the 20th and 21st centuries.” Finn is currently using Gala to help teach others about his work, and is helping to build a library of urban sustainability cases at UM SEAS— stayed tuned for more news about that in the future! Read the study for yourself: https://lnkd.in/ea2DsP6q

SEEKCommons is searching for 9 fellows for the 2025 SEEKCommons Fellowship! If you’re a graduate student or early-career researcher and are interested in building pathways for collaborations across Science and Technology Studies, Open Science, and socio-environmentalism, follow the link below to apply! https://lnkd.in/g8YEK--T The SEEKCommons Fellowship is an open technology, socio-environmental research initiative designed to produce more open practices in socio-environmental and climate action research, and facilitate collaboration between network members on common tools, issues, and challenges. Please share with anyone who might be interested. The fellowship will be accepting applications up to December 15th.

Exciting news to share! The SEEKCommons core team will be meeting with custom software developer Atomic Object and members of the Gala team today and tomorrow in Chicago! SEEKCommons: a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded collaboration between the University of Notre Dame, University of Virginia, University of California, Davis, and The HDF Group— is working to extend Gala in order to create an open and editable resource hub, to house tools, resources, and curricular modules for integrating data stewardship frameworks into participatory socio-environmental research. The SEEKCommons core team includes Dr. Luis Felipe Murillo, Dr. Rebecca Hardin, Edward Waisanen, Dr. Sarah McCullough, Gerd Heber, Lane Rasberry, Dr. Melissa Viola Eitzel Solera, Dr. Mayra Sánchez Barba, Matías Milia, John Readey, and Insha bint Bashir. These institutions are working together to study and promote openness in technology and learning. At this meeting with Atomic Object, they’ll be gaining some insight on curating, documenting, and sharing concrete socio-environmental data solutions. The meeting will also serve as the launch of a development sprint that will integrate WikiData into Gala for rich, open, module metadata. Good things to come!

Today, we’re taking a look at the legacy of Gustavo Gutiérrez-Merino Díaz, a professor emeritus from the University of Notre Dame who recently passed away. Gutierrez was a priest of the Dominican Order and an author, one of the first proponents of liberation theology, an ideology which seeks to uplift people around the world living under political oppression. Gutierrez in particular wished to examine and complicate the causes of economic inequality in Latin America and abroad. He received several awards throughout his life, including the Prince of Asturias Award, and was inducted into the Legion of Honor. A memorial mass will be held in his honor on Monday, November 11, at 5:15pm EST, which will be livestreamed here: https://lnkd.in/eq6PNDKG

Today we’re once again talking about NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s work around the Great Lakes! The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) is working with NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory to model the future of the Great Lakes. Due to climate change and other factors, flooding has become more common, presenting new hazards for coastal communities. Using weather and satellite data, CIGLR is able to model future climate scenarios, identifying areas which may become vulnerable. They can also use this data to predict the amount of ice cover over the lakes, which can affect not only the local environment, but commercial shipping and fishing industries as well. By comparing data taken from the Arctic, CIGLR can gain insight into how ice cover may be affected by climate change. One product of this data collection is the GLOFS, or Great Lakes Operational Forecasting System, which provides navigational data to ships transporting goods across the Great Lakes. This is just one example of a helpful climate tool developed by NOAA and their partners! Read more about NOAA’s Great Lakes forecasting: https://lnkd.in/e6ytAHm

Glad to see this! https://lnkd.in/e56g2WWK

This week, we’re taking a look at another initiative involving Sea Grant NOAA: the Ox Creek Collaborative Partnership! The Ox Creek Collaborative Partnership seeks to restore Ox Creek, a river in southwestern Michigan which runs through Benton Harbor City into Lake Michigan. Industrial pollution, illegal dumping, and disinvestment in local infrastructure have all served to tarnish its beauty. The City of Benton Harbor, Abonmarche Incorporated, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, as well as the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and University of Michigan, are all working together with Michigan Sea Grant to apply for funding and build this project into a reality. According to a city resolution by Benton Harbor, the vision for the banks of the cleaned-up Ox Creek includes “bike paths, lighted walkways, pedestrian bridges, outdoor classrooms, and new commercial development and housing opportunities”. Read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/eFRZQpew

We’re delighted to see renewables becoming more accessible around the world! Many countries which currently serve as sources of raw materials for new technologies are looking into clean and renewable sources for their own power generation. For just one example highlighting this, check out “Fueling the Energy Transition: Can a Congolese community affordably electrify with renewable resources?”, a case by Calli VanderWilde, Tyler Fitch, and Jose Alfaro. This case examines electrical development projects in the context of a small city (also known as a microgrid) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/ebYMBB2A https://lnkd.in/e6BQqKD8