Tag: community

Place Studies Summer Projects: Pilot Study for Envision the Susquehanna

October 10, 2014 / Rachel Chou / 0 Comments

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.

Buck hopes that this survey will thoroughly capture the opinions and voices of the community, and that his report will encourage and inspire more conservation work in the Susquehanna, by revealing the significance that it has in many peoples lives.

Read the report Buck contributed to here: Pilot Study of Conservation Attitudes

Place Studies Summer Projects: Saints of Coal Township

October 10, 2014 / Rachel Chou / 0 Comments

The sisters of St. Casimir are a community of women religious, a congregation founded by Venerable Maria Kaupas in 1907. To this day they continue the mission of Mother Maria Kaupas: ministering in the United States and across the world, and their faithful involvement in education, social justice ministries, parish, and health care, with a focus and commitment to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged.

This summer, Jen Bush focused her research on Mother Maria Kaupas, and her fellow sister of Saint Samir, creating an ethnographic documentary that would capture their stories. She began by familiarizing herself with ethnographic film documentaries, and then practiced using the video equipment and editing software that she would need to progress her project.

By the end of the summer, she was able to conduct four interviews with two of the sisters at the Motherhouse of Saint Casimir in Chicago Illinois, as well as two individuals in Mt. Carmel, PA.

Through the project, she wishes to preserve the history of Mt. Carmel, and the influential work that the sisters of St. Casimir have done in their surrounding community, in the United States, and across the world.

What is Place?

January 24, 2014 / Haley Thomas / 0 Comments

During the fall semester of 2013, the Place Studies Initiative of the Bucknell University Environmental Center hosted “Understanding Place,” a series of discussions about various concepts used to define and comprehend “place.”

The talks, which were free and open to the public, were delivered by students, faculty, and community members. During the fall of 2013, the following presentations were given:
“Identity” with geography professor Adrian Mulligan

“Rarity” with biology professor Chris Martine

“Headwaters” with English professor Alf Siewers

“Natural” with geography professor Duane Griffin

“Boundary” with international relations professor Jason Cons

“Local” with professor of rural sociology, Clare Hinrichs

Supported by the Bucknell University Environmental Center, the Place Studies Initiative undertakes and supports research within the social sciences and environmental humanities that examines the nature and role of place in human experience. The purpose of the Place Studies Initiative is to facilitate and encourage research on the human dimensions of environmental issues.