Student Spotlights

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Fairfax County Water Management – Part III , article
Private developers are key players in the management of water within the County, as they can provide some of the best opportunities to achieve a sustainable future due to their real investment of resources in local communities. Fairfax County has several areas within it, which currently or will soon meet most definitions of what makes an area urban.
Date: Mar 04, 2019
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Fairfax County Water Management – Part II , article
[In Part I of his three-part series, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (EWR) graduate student Joe Riley-Ryan introduced the need for careful sustainability planning using Fairfax County, Virginia as an example. This week, Riley-Ryan dives deeper into issues such as watershed protection, grey water reuse, and protecting aquatic ecology.] Public water supply source protection and demand reduction have been implemented in a variety of ways in Fairfax County, Virginia. One of the two main drinking-water sources for the County is the…
Date: Feb 25, 2019
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Fairfax County Water Management – Part I , article
[In this three-part series, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (EWR) graduate student Joe Riley-Ryan provides an overview of current practices being employed in Fairfax County, Virginia, to ensure a safe drinking water supply, and promote the principles of urban ecology and sustainability. Additionally, Riley-Ryan offers his thoughts on opportunities for improvement.] It has become widely recognized that major populations centers currently impose stress on the natural environment and will increasingly do so in the future. These areas will require more…
Date: Feb 18, 2019
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Leadership at Work: XMNR Alumni Jobs , article
Addressing global sustainability requires innovation and leadership on the part of diverse stakeholders working together to solve complex problems at multiple scales. We already have sufficient science and technology to address most environmental challenges; what we lack is effective leadership to create new opportunities for sustainable development. Leadership begins with individual self-awareness so that you can listen to, communicate with, and influence others. Leadership also requires working with diverse team members on project management and organizational development. It requires knowledge…
Date: Feb 11, 2019
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Sustainable Smart Mobility (Part II) , article
[In Part I of this two-part series, Online Master of Natural Resources student Marshall Distel explored transportation infrastructure innovations and the potential role of autonomous vehicles in sustainable development and urban mobility. In this final installment, Marshal delves deeper into connected and autonomous vehicles, their impact on transportation, policy, and sustainability.]
Date: Feb 07, 2019
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Sustainable Smart Mobility (Part I) , article
[In Part I of this two-part series, Online Master of Natural Resources student Marshall Distel explores transportation infrastructure innovations and the potential role of autonomous vehicles in sustainable development and urban mobility.]
Date: Jan 31, 2019
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A Living Nexus of Global Sustainability , article
Dust coated my hair, lined my throat, and stung my eyes while an open Jeep transported me deeper into the Thar Desert. The one-way sandy trail was unforgiving; dunes bounced me around while the sun beat a steady cadence across my back, and I contemplated how people managed to live in such a desolate place.
Date: Jan 17, 2019
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Sustainability and the Private Sector , article
In recent years, the concept of corporate sustainability has come to the forefront of debates on how to achieve global sustainability. Corporate sustainability is often discussed in conjunction with sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, but it can be defined simply as a corporate management paradigm that has evolved away from the traditional growth and profit-maximization model into a new model that recognizes the importance of environmental protection, social equity and economic development (Wilson, 2003).
Date: Dec 06, 2018
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Integrating Resilience and Happiness – Part II , article
[In Part I of this two-part series, published on November 5th, John Hicks discussed Copenhagen’s holistic approach to climate change adaptation that not only protects the city from impacts of climate change but simultaneously enhances the quality of life for its citizens. In this final installment, John introduces some of Copenhagen’s world-renowned climate resilience projects, including innovative greenspace and a commitment to cycling as sustainable urban transportation.]
Date: Nov 12, 2018
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Integrating Resilience and Happiness – Part I , article
Denmark is consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world. Many have hypothesized various reasons for the happiness scores, but even Danes themselves shrug their shoulders when asked why their country always dominates happiness surveys. It is well documented that they have high-quality healthcare, education and welfare benefits. Many attribute Danish happiness to the cultural phenomenon known as “hygge,” which values intimate personal interactions with family and friends.
Date: Nov 05, 2018