O’Neill School – Page 19

IU joins new USGS-funded Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

Posted on September 30, 2021 by joboyd

Indiana University is collaborating on a new Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) funded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and dedicated to advancing science in response to the climate crisis in the Midwest.

A consortium of eight universities and natural resource organizations, the Midwest CASC will be hosted at the University of Minnesota and, in addition to IU, will include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the College of Menominee Nation, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Michigan State University, the University of Illinois, and The Nature Conservancy. The US Department of the Interior announced the newest of nine regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers on Sept. 29.

IU’s participation in the center will be led by the Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI), IU’s transdisciplinary hub for environmental change and resilience work. Launched in 2017 as part of IU’s Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge, ERI will contribute its experience working with communities to develop resilience-related tools and resources and implement equitable climate solutions. ERI Executive Director Gabriel Filippelli and IU Distinguished Professor of Biology Ellen Ketterson, who served as the institute’s founding director, will represent IU on the Midwest CASC leadership team. Sarah Mincey, an O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs faculty member, serves as ERI’s managing director. Two other O’Neill School faculty—Shahzeen Attari and Kim Novick—also serve on the institute’s steering committee.

“It’s not enough to measure the impacts of climate change. We also need to enact just solutions that work across sectors, communities, and ecosystems,” said Filippelli. “That’s where ERI really shines, and that’s one of the big things we bring to this new center. We look forward to sharing with our consortium partners our expertise in helping Midwestern communities understand their vulnerabilities to climate change and make plans to become more resilient.”

Together, the Midwest CASC consortium organizations will work closely with federal, state and tribal entities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to support management and protection of land, water, and natural resources with actionable climate science, innovation, and decision support tools.

The CASC will also fund individual research projects and work collaboratively across the consortium on key issues in the region that involve adaptation practitioners. Research will focus on climate adaptation to better understand vulnerabilities to climate change, development of ecologically and culturally appropriate adaptation actions, and creating monitoring methods designed to continuously improve outcomes through changing conditions.

Mincey said the CASC will lead to funding opportunities for faculty within the O’Neill School, and elsewhere within the university, who specialize in key environmental areas the new center will address.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to connect our talented faculty and students at both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses with the research goals of the Midwest CASC,” said Ketterson. “Working with our partners in the region, we will seek to better understand and address the myriad changes being experienced across our lands due to climate change.”

The consortium will pay special attention to tribal concerns and build off the unique and robust experience of Midwest Tribes with adaptation science and practice. This includes a fellowship program for graduate students and a summer research experience for undergraduates designed to enhance tribal participation. Another key focus will be the interplay of natural resources, forestry, streams and wetlands, and agricultural and urban areas—all land uses that are prominent in the Midwest.

The partnership will be effective immediately, with a formal ribbon cutting celebration planned on the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus later this fall.

New study on homelessness in Greene County finds lack of resources to address issue

Posted on September 30, 2021 by JHayes

Laura Littlepage, IU Clinical Associate Professor

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – People who experience homelessness in rural areas are often unseen, sleeping in wooded areas, abandoned buildings or other substandard accommodations. This “rural homelessness” is an issue in Greene County, Indiana, where a new study looked at the number of those affected and suggestions to address the issue.

In a new report, Indiana University O’Neill School clinical associate professor Laura Littlepage detailed the data gathered.

Key findings include:

At least 51 people (24 adults and 27 children) are experiencing homelessness in Greene County, including those who live in buildings with tarps for roofs, missing floors, and no utilities as well as in tents, cars and campers.
Greene County currently has no shelters for those experiencing homelessness.
Rural communities are uniquely positioned to help end homelessness through strong social networks and a commitment to taking care of neighbors.

“Preventative services for at-risk populations are key to decreasing homelessness,” said Littlepage. “Far fewer resources are needed proactively compared to organizations or individuals trying to address homelessness after it occurs.”

To aid in prevention as well as meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness in Greene County, the report details several recommendations, including:

Create a task force of key community partners who are committed to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity, including a volunteer repair program to prevent homes from becoming uninhabitable.
Utilize funds available from the Rural Development, HUD and community action agencies for prevention projects.
Utilize the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which provides a tax incentive to construct or rehabilitate affordable rental housing.
Create a “Help Hub” to list all service providers in the community.

Click here to read the full report.

Why add a minor from O’Neill?

Posted on September 29, 2021 by ebatman

Customize your degree and boost your skillset with a minor or certificate from O’Neill.

Check out the O’Neill Minors Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 11am-2pm in the SPEA Atrium to connect with Lead Academic Advisor Brett Reardon and explore ways you can focus on the environment, health, policy, management, or the arts.

Why add a minor in Healthcare Management & Policy?

Kate Carens, majoring in Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics with a minor in Healthcare Management & Policy

Carens chose her minor because it allows her to tie her passion for healthcare with the business skillset she’s gaining from the Kelley School of Business. Through O’Neill, she’s had the ability to interact with a diverse group of individuals with different perspectives — allowing her to learn how health policies and strategies affect others across industries. By better understanding U.S. healthcare, Carens hopes to be able to cater well-rounded supply chain solutions to healthcare clients while keeping in mind how these decisions affect different patient groups.

Why add a minor in Law & Public Policy?

Jessalyn Bar, majoring in Management and Marketing with a minor in Law & Public Policy

Barr is interested in pursuing law after graduation. She wanted to learn how law and public policy are interconnected — and what that means for society. Her minor has given her a better understanding of the U.S. legal system, including how laws are made and how the branches of government work together. She hopes that this minor will help her hit the ground running in law school and make her a better educated, well-versed citizen.

New study finds recreational marijuana liberalization policies increase maternal hospitalizations involving marijuana but have limited impact on newborn health

Posted on September 27, 2021 by JHayes

A portrait of Dr. Kosali Simon — Kosali Simon

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A new study on state recreational marijuana liberalization found increases in maternal hospitalizations involving marijuana but limited impact on newborn health.

The study is led by Angelica Meinhofer, Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, with coauthors from University of North Carolina Wilmington, RTI International, and from Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (Professor Kosali Simon, a Herman B Wells Endowed Professor and the campus’s associate vice provost for health sciences). The team found that the proportion of maternal hospitalizations with marijuana use disorder increased by 23 percent (0.3 percentage points) in the first three years after recreational marijuana laws were implemented. The increases were larger in states with legalized commercial sales of marijuana.

The study (forthcoming in the Journal of Health Economics) was released today as a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Researchers studied the effects of both medical marijuana laws (MML) and recreational marijuana laws (RML) on perinatal health (issues affecting women from three months before childbirth up to one year after childbirth), an important question for policy makers as marijuana use among pregnant women increased 103% between 2003 and 2017. As of today, 17 states have implemented recreational marijuana laws and 36 states and DC implemented medical marijuana laws.

Additional key findings include:

RMLs lead to a decrease in maternal hospitalization involving a tobacco use disorder diagnosis, yielding a net zero effect over maternal hospitalizations involving any substance use disorder after RML.
RMLs were not associated with statistically significant changes in newborn health, suggesting limited impacts.
MMLs were not associated with statistically significant changes in maternal substance use disorders nor newborn health.

The types of newborn health outcomes examined included low birth weight, low gestational age, congenital anomalies, respiratory conditions, feeding problems, neonatal drug withdrawal syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and prenatal exposure to noxious substances.

“These findings are neither an endorsement nor an indictment of marijuana use. That’s for each patient and their doctor to discuss,” said Simon. “What this study tells us is evidence on the impact of the laws by looking at data close to 16 million hospital births in 34 states over years 2007-2018 as well as birth certificates in all states from 2007-2019.”

To read the full article, click here.

Indiana residents largely support decarbonization as partisan opposition continues over climate change, economic concerns

Posted on September 20, 2021 by JHayes

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Decarbonizing the energy system is necessary to address climate change, yet the transition to low-carbon energy resources has been slow. Climate change remains a politically polarizing issue across the United States. Now, a new study from researchers at Indiana University details what residents of Indiana, a fossil fuel dependent state, think about the current and future energy mix and the state’s energy policy.

In the new report, Deidra Miniard, a PhD student at the O’Neill School for Public and Environmental Affairs, and Shahzeen Attari, associate professor at the O’Neill School, interviewed residents across Indiana to identify the motivations and perceptions behind their preferences for energy policy as well as their support of or opposition to local and national energy policies.

Previous work found that citizens across the U.S. have a shared vision of a future that relies on renewable energy sources, but partisan division impacted policy support. This new report dives deeper into the previous work with new key findings that include:

A majority of people want a decarbonized future energy mix for the state of Indiana, reducing carbon and relying primarily on renewable resources (particularly solar and wind) and significantly decreasing the use of fossil fuels.
Support for decarbonization is driven by goals of protecting the environment and public health, reducing pollution, improving the economy, using affordable and available resources, and holding polluters accountable.
Opposition to decarbonization is driven, in part, by concerns about the economy and jobs (particularly in the coal industry), lack of familiarity with some renewable sources (hydroelectricity, geothermal, biomass), and concerns about who benefits from policies.
Climate change is not a strong motivating factor and was rarely discussed by participants unless prompted. Climate change is a concern primarily among Democrats and Independents.
Among partisan differences, a higher proportion of Democrats are in support of decarbonization compared to Republicans, with more Democrats citing environmental factors and climate change as motivators whereas more Republicans described economic concerns.
Participants remain risk averse to nuclear energy.

“When people look to the future, they agree that they want an energy system that relies primarily on low carbon energy sources, though there is division on the policies to get there,” said Miniard. “Our work shows, for Indiana, a fossil fuel-reliant state, participants still want a decarbonized future. However, climate change isn’t the most salient motivating factor. Rather, participants are driven by nuanced reasons dependent upon energy resource and energy policy.”

Spring Break Abroad: Poland

Posted on September 17, 2021 by ebatman

Make the most of your 2022 spring break by studying abroad. We have programs – and scholarships – for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Here, Prof. Frank Nierzwicki shares the benefits of studying abroad with a spotlight on Poland. Interested? Submit your application by October 1.

What makes the Poland program special?
NIERZWICKI: Many reasons! Students will have lectures from Polish faculty members, in English, on topics that are common in both Europe and the United States — like urban development, community development, COVID-related local issues, and many more.

We’ll be visiting the capital, Warsaw, which was completely destroyed during WWII. We’ll also visit Krakow, which had very limited damage during the war and is home to some of Poland’s religious and cultural treasures. The trip to Auschwitz is a very moving experience that many prior students on this spring break trip say has given them a personal understanding of the Holocaust.

What type of interactions can students expect to have in Poland?
NIERZWICKI: The Polish people predominately speak English in the areas where we are traveling, and they truly like Americans. They may even ask you if you know their relatives in Chicago!

Why should students study abroad?
NIERZWICKI: I think it is very important for American students to venture outside of our country to experience other cultures and have discussions with Polish faculty and students.

What is one fun fact about you?
NIERZWICKI: I really enjoy eating Polish food! I will make sure students expand their culinary experience on this trip.

What is your favorite part of running international programs?
NIERZWICKI: Helping my students experience Polish food and customs — and also the wondrous transformation of Warsaw into a modern European city following WWII.

What do students have to say about the trip to Poland?
BRAYTON SPANN, former trip member: Poland is one of the more affordable travel destinations in Europe. Traveling was always expensive, and I knew it was something I wanted to do later in my life. When I was presented with the opportunity to study abroad in Poland with one of my favorite professors, my interest was immediately piqued. I took it upon myself to learn more about the trip and knew that this was something that I had to do!

Public parks management nationwide are not proactive about climate change, new research shows

Posted on September 10, 2021 by JHayes

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Parks, nature preserves and other green spaces are an integral part of the landscape of any urban area. These green spaces promote health and quality of life; they are also essential in counteracting continued climate change.

Until now, the extent of planning by the management of parks and recreation departments (PRDs) to adapt to climate change was unknown. A new report, “Climate change impacts and urban green space adaptation efforts: Evidence from U.S. municipal parks and recreation departments,” surveyed more than 400 PRD directors across the United States, examining the effects of climate change on these spaces and how well local PRDs are proactively preparing for climate change.

The study is authored by James R. Farmer, associate professor at Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs; Yuan (Daniel) Cheng, who obtained his Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the O’Neill School; Stephanie Dickinson, academic specialist at Indiana University; Scott Robeson, professor at Indiana University; Burnell Fischer, clinical professor emeritus at Indiana University; and Heather Reynolds, associate professor at Indiana University.

The following key findings were produced:

PRDs across the United States are largely unprepared for climate change.
Many PRDs are unlikely to initiate plans to adapt or take remedial action until substantial climate change is experienced firsthand.
The highest level of planning and implementation is for planting trees. However, widespread planning for water infrastructure (i.e., storm water capture) and an overall reduction of water usage has not started.
Overall, PRDs across the United States have not fully recognized the impacts of climate change and changes to adapt are largely just beginning.
Areas that suffer from heat and droughts, as well as those impacted by storms and floods, reported more progress in adaptation plans. Those with fewer impacts are less likely to make preventive adaptations.
The U.S. is not uniform in its acceptance of and action on climate change.

“Some administrators in PRDs choose not to accept the science and believe climate change is hoax,” Farmer said. “Unfortunately, climate change is not a hoax. I wish it was.”

The study found that, collectively, PRDs across the United States are not adapting soon enough to climate change. Instead, they tend to adapt to immediate problems rather than take a preventative approach. Additionally, a lack of resources often means that the most immediate needs receive attention. Concerns moving forward largely center around gaps in preparation that could, ultimately, negatively impact the ecological health of urban green spaces and the health of people who live nearby.

“Urban green infrastructure is critical for human health,” Farmer said. “Using greenspaces for recreation and physical activity, which help bolster both physical and mental health, as well as reduce heat island effect, are just a few examples of their utility.”

Farmer said PRDs should work with elected leaders and philanthropic organizations to advocate for green infrastructure funding. The key, he said, is to be creative to protect these critically important areas with more comprehensive and proactive planning.

Spring Break Abroad: Cayman Islands

Posted on September 8, 2021 by ebatman

Make the most of your 2022 spring break by studying abroad. We have programs – and scholarships – for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Here, Prof. Stephen Glaholt shares the benefits of studying abroad with a spotlight on the Cayman Islands. Interested? Submit your application by October 1.

What makes the Cayman Islands program special?

GLAHOLT: It takes place at a research station, which allows us resources (like sampling and analysis equipment) plus experts in the field of reef conservation and marine biology. Secondly, during our eight pre-trip classes, we prepare for the trip by learning fish and coral identification and developing projects. Even though we only have a week on island, we can be highly efficient with our time.

Why should students study abroad?

GLAHOLT: It’s a chance to have a completely novel experience. That’s why I’d do it! For my program specifically, it’s a rare opportunity to learn about and work in marine ecosystems. Also, my program works hard to make a positive impact on the island. The goal is to always leave the island better than we found it. This is achieved through research (in science and policy) and conservation efforts to minimize our ecological footprint. Lastly, Little Cayman has an extremely low number of residents, and those that own property don’t spend much time on the island, which is mostly filled with vacation houses of uber rich people, so the island has been highly protected from human impacts. This makes it a rare opportunity to see what a healthy coral ecosystem looks like — something many reef biologist believe the next generation will never get to witness. I hope they are wrong.

What is one fun fact about you?

GLAHOLT: I dream of one day being a “snorkologist” which (I believe) is my own creation of a job in which I give snorkeling tours but communicate the science behind what they are seeing … the whole time. If that’s not a fun fact, at least it’s a weird one!

What types of students should apply to study abroad in the Cayman Islands?

GLAHOLT: Students interested in marine biology or island conservation. Don’t let lack of funds or GPA discourage you. I don’t care about your GPA and I will work hard to get funding for you. Just share with me why this abroad program is important to you, and I’ll help guide you through the process of applying.

What is your favorite part of running international programs?

GLAHOLT: Listening to the students after the first time in the water. It reminds me of my first time snorkeling in the Caribbean. The joy of that experience is relived over and over again each year. It’s also nice to get to know the students at a level that only happens after spending a lot of time together in a comfortable environment.

Spring Break Abroad: Berlin

Posted on September 1, 2021 by ebatman

Make the most of your 2022 spring break by studying abroad. We have programs – and scholarships – for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Here, Prof. David Audretsch shares the benefits of studying abroad with a spotlight on Berlin. Interested? Submit your application by October 1.

What makes studying abroad in Berlin so special?

AUDRETSCH: Berlin is a city like no other. It is the feel, the culture, the people that make Berlin so special. It is a city of vivid and puzzling contrasts. Recovering from a tortured history, Berlin celebrates freedom, diversity and heterogeneity, like nowhere else I’ve been. The city has learned that the only way to overcome the past is to learn about it, acknowledge, embrace it, and own it. Destroyed by the devastation wrought by National Socialism, divided by a Wall, occupied by four contentious powers, Berlin has struggled to regain its freedom and not only celebrates but leverages it to make the city not just one of the acclaimed entrepreneurial hot spots in Europe, but in the entire world. It is a city with vast culture, functional infrastructure, and green spaces. There is nowhere else in the world like Berlin.

Why should students study abroad?

AUDRETSCH: Jobs. Overseas and international educational experiences provide a host of valuable learning outcomes. You’ll gain international and inter-cultural skills, along with competencies that are highly valued by employers — not just overseas or in international organizations, but in almost every organizational and geographic context, spanning the public, non-profit, and private sectors.

Volumes of research back this up. An overseas study experience ranks among the best investments that a student can make in terms of their job prospects and long-term career achievements. Study abroad provides students with a clear competitive advantage moving into the post-COVID pandemic global era. Students with the requisite inter-cultural and international skills, as well as capabilities to succeed in a globalized society and economy will thrive; those that do not will be left behind.

What skills do students gain from studying abroad?

AUDRETSCH: Studying abroad gives students the skills to thrive in inter-cultural contexts and with people from diverse backgrounds. Students acquire vital communication skills and the ability to make decisions in new, complex, and uncertain situations. This research highlights a set of specific competencies students gain with an overseas educational experience: experiential learning, cultural awareness, courage, thirst for learning, problem solving skills, self-sufficiency, perspective, advanced social skills, appreciation of diversity, and initiative.

What is one fun fact about you?

AUDRETSCH: As a young assistant professor, I played acoustic guitar and sang in a student band that won the Middlebury College talent show contest. Our best song was “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (The Who).

What types of students should apply to study abroad in Berlin?

AUDRETSCH: An authentic interest, curiosity, and commitment to the learning experience in Berlin — along with an openness to intensive immersion for a week — makes all the difference.

For a closer look at the program, check out this video discussion between Professor Audretsch and Kaitlyn Lattimer from O’Neill’s International Office.

HRA-IU Student Group Receives Superior Merit Award

Posted on July 27, 2021 by ebatman

BLOOMINGTON, IND. — The Human Resource Association at Indiana University (HRA-IU) was recently awarded a 2020-2021 superior merit designation by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for providing superior growth and development opportunities to its members.

HRA-IU is a student group that promotes professional skill-building and networking for students interested in human resource management. During the 2020-2021 academic year, the group organized virtual site visits, promoted job opportunities and workshops, and hosted speaking events with experts on topics like minimum wage and vaccinations in the workplace. Some members also attended a conference with HR professionals from across central Indiana.

“It’s inspiring to watch these students work together and draw from their coursework to encourage each other to grow professionally. It’s truly a student-led effort,” said Daniel Grundmann, HRA-IU faculty sponsor and senior lecturer in the Human Resource Management program at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. “I know they’ll make similar contributions to their future workplaces.”

The SHRM Student Chapter Merit Award program encourages the development of more effective student chapters and distinguishes outstanding activities and projects. Chapters are recognized based on operations, chapter programming and professional development of members, support of the human resource profession, and SHRM engagement. SHRM student chapters have the opportunity to earn an award based on the number of activities they complete during the merit award cycle, the most recent one of which lasted for May 1, 2020, to April 20, 2021.

“The hard work of HRA-IU shows the future of the [HR] profession is, indeed, in good hands,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM president and CEO. “I applaud their accomplishments and ability to foster innovative programming, development, and interest in HR as we navigate changing workplaces.”