Maria Booker
Project: Are Informal Settlements Surrounding the Korle Lagoon at Higher Risk of Malaria?
Organization: SWITCH
Location(s): Acra, Ghana
Duration: May 15-July 1, 2011
Intent: To review the sources of pollution to the Korle Lagoon and the resulting environmental, economical, and social impacts of that pollution. The project will also research the existing risk of malaria to the current informal settlements around the lagoon by addressing the infrastructure and crowding hazards. Finally, this project will assess current prevention programs, goals, and financing for malaria control within the country.
Martin Booker
Project: Vulnerability and Resilience of Coastal Communities to Flooding and Sea Level Rise
Organization: UNESCO-IHE
Location(s): The Hague, The Netherlands
Duration: May 31-June 30, 2011
Intent: To research the effects of climate change in urban Netherlands, specifically studying the vulnerability and resiliency of cities under flooding and sea level rise risk due to imminent climate change. Both governmental and private approaches to dealing with this issue will be investigated.
Shannee Green
Project: Singapore’s National Water Agency
Organization: PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency
Location(s): Singapore
Duration: May 16-June 29, 2011
Intent: To determine the political, economic, environmental, and social issues that arise when constructing eco-cities. This project will evaluate sustainability and urban water management in the eco-cities and analyze the adaptability of the model to other cities around the world.
Maria Hoerig
Project: The Power of Knowledge: Tools to Build A Brighter Future in Manu
Organization: CREES
Location(s): Manu Biosphere, Amazon Rainforest, Peru
Duration:May 18-June 23, 2011
Intent: To evaluate the relationship between people and their environment and the effect of community projects that can improve that relationship. This project will launch education network programs that will become self sustaining and provide people of the region with tools in language, technology, and business management. These tools will enable them to provide input in regional and national decision-making.
Deborah Joy Ingram
Project: Global Sustainable Water Policies for Florida Adaptation
Organization: Australian Water Association
Location(s): Sydney and Brisbane, Australia
Duration: May 20-June 30, 2011
Intent: To compare sustainable policies from other countries and regions to derive best practices and their possible applications for Southwest Florida. Climate change, population expansion, and degradation of natural resources pose many challenges in agriculture, tourism, and economic growth in Florida. Policies of countries that successfully deal with such challenges with limited water resources will be assessed.
Fiona Lyons
Project: Climate Adaptation Policy with Regards to Vulnerability and Resiliency: A Comparison Between the Tampa Bay Area and the Netherlands
Organization: UNESCO-IHE
Location(s): The Hague, The Netherlands
Duration: June 1-July 13, 2011
Intent: To research the similarities and discrepancies in climate adaptation policies between the Netherlands and Tampa Bay region. The project will identify key stakeholders who are the leads in climate adaptation policymaking. A comparison will be drawn to identify how each location is planning for coastal resilience.
David Mesa
Project: Acid Mine Drainage in Rural Farming Communities in Boyaca, Colombia
Location(s): Sogamoso and Boyaca, Colombia
Duration: May 17-June 28, 2011
Intent: To determine the impact of coal mining on local water resources in Colombia. The impacts will be identified based on community, surveys, and analytical data of samples from the field. In turn, the information will allow developing future work, which can examine the optimum strategies for protecting the human and ecological health of the community.
Maryhelen Shuman-Groh
Project: Water Issues in Dominica
Organization: Caribbean Conservation Association
Location(s): Portsmouth, Dominica
Intent: To research and observe the current measures applied to control runoff from agriculture, development, and sewage that may be impacting tourism – reefs in particular – and make recommendations for possible mitigation.
Valloree Skiles
Project: Unintended Negative Impacts of Ecotourism on Wildlife in the Galapagos Islands
Location(s): Cuzco, Peru, Quito, Ecuador, and Galapagos Islands
Duration: June 15-July 16, 2011
Intent: To investigate the effects of climate change resulting in weather pattern change, sea level rise, etc., and the negative impacts of ecotourism on wildlife in the Galapagos Islands. The direct effects of tourism include replacing the existing natural habitat or by polluting the environment by creating more infrastructure. The indirect effect include the introduction of invasive plants, overfishing, and disturbance of coral life. Past and present data will be collected to assess the damage of ecotourism.
Patricia Smith
Project: Direct Observation of Maintenance and Operation of Ecological Sanitation Systems in Rural El Salvador
Location(s): San Salvador, El Salvador
Duration: June 13-July 25, 2011
Intent: To observe the maintenance and operation of two types of ecological sanitation systems, compost and solar latrines, that have been installed in rural El Salvador. During the project, the probability of waste being reused, the financial obligation, harm to the environment, health effects, social and cultural acceptance of the systems, and simplicity of installation and maintenance will be observed.
Jo-Anne M. Swensson
Project: Sustainability for Law Enforcement Agencies: Researching Sustainability Methods for Law Enforcement Agencies While Ensuring the Continued Integrity of Public Safety and Finding Cost-Effective and Best Practice Methods from a Global Perspective
Organization: Scotland Yard
Location(s): London, United Kingdom
Duration: May 15-June 25, 2011
Intent: To develop a comprehensive sustainability plan for the City of St. Petersburg, Florida Police Department. Various topics in law enforcement operation such as energy and alternative energy sources, waste, purchasing, transportation, technology, and their political and economic impact on the organization will be addressed to create a plan of action to become more sustainable.
Nikki Van Doorn
Project: The Role of Water in Developing Corporate Sustainable Strategies in the Textile Industry
Organizations: Water Footprint Network and Interface
Location(s): Enschede, the Netherlands and Halifax, United Kingdom
Duration: May 15-July 24, 2011
Intent: To investigate the current status of the textile industry, examining the challenges regarding sustainability and how sustainable planning in the textile industry positively impacts water shortages.
Leah Van Winkle
Project: Floating Structure: A Feasibility Analysis
Organization: DuraVemeer
Location(s): Hoofeddrop, The Netherlands
Duration: May 15-July 24, 2011
Intent: To research the Aquatecture in the Netherlands as a potential resource to adapt to climate change. The feasibility of Aquatecture, such as floating houses, will be studied in climate change adaptation. The final stage of this project will look at the application of Aquatecture to Tampa Bay to determine if it is a realistic solution to local climate change adaptation.