Ecological Engagement
Featured Assessment on the Impact of Public Transportation Policies in the Philippines Towards Social Equity
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session John Carlo Colot
This study assesses the impact of public transportation policies in the Philippines toward social equity. It focused on how these policies affect accessibility and inclusivity for various socio-economic groups. As urbanization accelerates, the demand for efficient and equitable public transportation becomes critical in addressing social disparities. The study examines key public transportation initiatives, including the modernization of jeepneys, and expansion of rail systems, analyzing their effectiveness in reducing the mobility gap between low-income and higher-income populations. Using a quantitative approach, the study collects data from public transport users across different income brackets. The findings highlight both the successes and shortcomings of current policies in fostering social equity, providing recommendations for more inclusive public transportation planning. The study underscores the importance of ensuring that public transportation policies are not only focused on infrastructure development but also on promoting equal access and opportunities for all social groups, particularly marginalized and underserved populations.
Building to Birfurcate? : The Professionalisation of Mountain Bike Trail Building and Its Implications on the Future of (Sports) Work
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jim Cherrington
Alongside other ‘nature’ sports such as climbing, surfing and fell-running, mountain biking is currently witnessing a global surge in popularity. However, research on the various stakeholders working in such sports, including site managers, committee members, volunteers, and coaches is still limited. Drawing on data from the first ever European mountain bike trail-building survey (n=152) and applying Bernard Stiegler’s duality between memory and bifurcation, this paper asks whether the increasing professionalisation of trail building can help in reconstituting a political economy of (nature) sports that distances itself from cold, calculative forms of ‘employment’ (l'emploi) and instead reconnects people to ‘work’ (le travail) – knowledge and care(ful) practices that encourage communal engagement and ecological stewardship. In doing so, we analyse the forms of praxis that connect trail builders to the landscapes and trails that they work with/on, how these forms of praxis are embodied in specific ‘roles’ and professional expectations, and what such creative practices might offer in the development of (global) trail building standards that accommodate both the collective (or tertiary) knowledge of trail builders, and the emergence of new forms, styles and practices. The paper therefore answers calls for more research that examines the emerging and evolving forms of work in the sports industry, providing novel insights into the negotiation of professional identity in an increasingly global and globalised world.
Interdisciplinary Problem-Based Student Research on Malaria and Its Effects on Rural Communities View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Michelle Young, Kristen Petersen
Interdisciplinary studies integrate knowledge, methods, and perspectives from multiple disciplines to address complex challenges and enrich the learning experience. This approach encourages students to make connections across subject areas, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to view issues from diverse angles. This paper describes a project-based learning interdisciplinary course that was developed by a team of scientists and social scientists at MCPHS University in Boston, Massachusetts. MCPHS, a health sciences institution, is uniquely positioned to provide our students, who are future healthcare providers, with the intellectual tools and skills that will ensure success in their chosen professions. Students who majored in premedical sciences took our course, LIB480, to fulfill their senior year capstone requirement. Designed by biologists, chemists and social scientists in history and public health, the curriculum allowed students various approaches to studying the impact of the disease on the health of people and communities in malaria-rich countries in Africa. Through their investigation, teams of students identified malaria-friendly environments, methods to control malaria’s spread and effects through preventative measures, varied treatments and the health-related international organizations, local officials, and healthcare and public health professionals. We discuss the research topics that the students selected and how they incorporated the natural sciences with the social sciences to propose a better outcome protecting people and communities from malaria. The assessment of the interdisciplinary learning culminated in an individual research paper and a group poster presentation at an internal symposium for capstones.
