How do we build sustainable towns? We study, understand, and assist communities in the region as they transition from 19th century economic models to sustainable, 21st century economic systems.

 

 

Coal Region Field Trip

On October 3rd, the Place Studies Program co-sponsored a field trip led by Professor Ben Marsh through the hard coal mining region immediately southeast of Bucknell University. The field trip was a compilation of class and professional field trips that have been run over the years, and was also sponsored by the Environmental Studies Program and the Geography department….

(read more here)

 

 

Mother Kaupas Center updates: Summer Projects 2015

Jennifer Silva and Jesse Scheimreif’s Research Project

This summer, Professor Jennifer Silva worked with her research assistant Jesse Scheimreif ’16 on a study concerning identity and community in the coal region. They were interested in engaging with the local community by interviewing older residents about how the community has evolved over the years. They also wanted to look at the economic opportunities and social support systems available to the young people in the area, such as families and churches…

(read more here)

 

 

Bucknell’s Field Station in Mt. Carmel

The establishment of a Bucknell field station in Mt. Carmel  is underway, an exciting new development that will induce community based student and faculty engagement in the region. The goal of the field station is to have a location off campus to be utilized by Bucknell staff, faculty, and students where “curricular and extra-curricular components of the University can work together to create novel, interdisciplinary learning experiences for students that contribute to the public good of our region”. Over $23,000 in fundraising has been provided by a range of Bucknell administrative units.

(read more here)

 

 

Place Studies Summer Projects: Pilot Study for Envison the Susquehanna

Why is conservation of the Susquehanna River imperative to inhabitants of the river counties along the rivershed? What are the cultural, social, environmental, and economics assets that the river provides?

Buck Doyle explores and answers these questions in his Pilot Study for Envision the Susquehanna, research that was requested by the Chesapeake Conservancy.

In order to generate qualitative data necessary for his research, interviews of land and water conservation officials were carried out. The data obtained from these interviews will be used for the development of a survey that will transpire the fall of 2014, specifically a phone survey that will be allocated throughout the river counties. The results from this survey will expose widespread concerns and perspectives about the watershed, getting a diverse collection of voices from the community.

(Read more here)

 

 

Place Studies Summer Projects: Genuine Progress Indicator

This summer, Zach Moon worked on the creation of a Genuine Progress Index for Pennsylvania, the first of it’s kind.

A Genuine Progress Index, or GPI for short, is a metric used to measure the health of a nations economy. While it is similar to the more commonly known GDP (Growth Domestic Product), the GDI takes into account environmental and social factors that GDP does not include. It allows us to know whether the environmental impact of the production of goods and services hurts or helps the economy.

(Read more here )